Will charging an EV via a three-pin domestic socket damage the battery?
I would like to purchase an EV but I am unable to have a home charging point installed for a while yet. Will it damage the battery if I charge the car via a 2.3kw 3-pin domestic socket, the extra time it takes is not an issue for me. I am getting conflicting advice from dealers for example. There is little guidance/info on their websites. I always thought it was best to slow charge batteries because they last longer or are EV batteries different?
Asked on 14 July 2025 by G Buchanan

As a general rule it is possible to charge an electric vehicle from a standard domestic socket, but many manufacturers recommend this is only done in case of emergencies while some do not recommend it at all, primarily due to safety concerns. While using a domestic socket will not cause harm to your EV's battery, typically the wiring in your home is not designed to support outputting at close to its capacity of 3kW for many hours at a time. Home charging points are designed for this purpose and have numerous safeguards to reduce the chances of a fire, as well as being able to charge at a faster rate. If you are unable to have a wallbox installed we would suggest using public charge points the majority of the time and only use a standard domestic socket as a last resort.
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