A 3-pin socket will charge your electric car, but it will do so slowly.
3-pin sockets supply 2.6kW of power, which equates to 8-miles of range per hour. This means you could charge for 10 hours overnight and get 80-miles of range, which probably isn’t 50% of your vehicle’s maximum range.
In comparison, a 32A EV charger offers 7kW to 7.4kW charge speeds (depending on the charger). A 7kW charger adds around 25-miles of range per hour, while a 7.4kW charger adds around 30-miles of range per hour.
EV chargers are significantly faster than 3-pin sockets, but at the same time, they are also significantly more expensive. An external 3-pin socket will set you back around £100, while an EV charger will set you back around £899.
Note that we do not recommend using a 3-pin socket to charge an EV for safety reasons. The sockets can overheat, making them a fire hazard.
This is the price you pay for fast charging speeds. In our opinion, the price is well worth it to make charging at home fast and convenient.
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