EV owners look to save money by ‘going commando’
But is it safer to pay for a 'fancy' home charger?
Hello, I’m Tom Riley, and welcome back to The Fast Charge, a British EV newsletter.
In today’s edition… As people's purses are pinched, are more EV owners looking at ‘going commando’ instead of installing a wallbox?
Elsewhere... Newly published research reports that most people have seen EV chargers at supermarkets… Karaoke in cars… And a Chinese carmaker may partner with Nissan in Sunderland.
As always, if you have any comments or feedback, please reply to this email or use the links below.
EV owners look to save money by ‘going commando’
Context… Last week, I wrote about how the government could be considering ways to take a slice of the revenues being drawn through smart home chargers. As a result, I heard from numerous readers, many of whom concluded it was a bad idea and that such a move could lead to more people sticking with ‘dumb’ home charging points, where the meter readings cannot be easily split up from a home supply.
However… Based on my research during the week since, across various social media forums on Reddit and Facebook, it seems even without the threat of greater tax on home charging, increasingly, EV owners are choosing to buy or take advice on installing ‘commando sockets and granny cables’ instead of paying a premium for ‘fancy’ home chargers. Likewise, owners of multiple EVs have suggested to each other ‘going commando’ as a low-cost back-up if both cars need to be charged.
Why ‘go commando’? The simple reason is that most standard 7.4kW home chargers cost from £900 to buy and install. Meanwhile, a commando socket can cost significantly less, with many drivers reporting online being able to buy the sockets, cables, and get them installed for well under £400. In previous years, many switchers to EVs haven’t had to worry so much about the cost of home chargers, as many get included in company car packages or via dealership deals. However, this is going to happen less as a growing proportion of people’s first EVs will be used, not new.
Hang on, what is a ‘Commando Socket’? They are plug sockets capable of delivering high power. They were not designed with EV charging in mind, instead, you’re more likely to see them in industrial spaces, at marinas, or caravan sites. However, fundamentally, they’re like any socket in your home. Which makes them very cheap and available at all good DIY retailers (Amazon sells ones with a cable included at around £160. Here’s one on ‘evonestop’ for £300). You’ll still need an electrician to install them at home, but without going through a home charging company (which will subcontract the install), you can reduce your time and financial costs significantly. And still benefit with up to 7.4kW power, just like a standard wallbox. Learn more.
The downsides are… Drivers going with this route will not get the benefit of all the features that the UK regulations say ‘smart chargers’ should have. So, no clever integrations with solar panels or selling power back to the grid in future. Albeit it’s suggested by drivers online that you can still manage your charging so it’s cheaper overnight, as most cars have mobile apps that enable connection to your energy supplier. As an example, many have pointed out using their commando sockets with the UK’s biggest EV tariff, Intelligent Octopus Go.
At HMRC… We used to have a line we’d tell journalists about tax schemes which went ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is’. And I do get the sense with commando sockets that people will not only miss out on wider energy benefits by settling for one, but, as they are not designed with EVs in mind, they could be unsafe if not installed properly. Although when you see that even Tesla sells a commando adapter, you do start to wonder whether, maybe, how your electricity gets into the car doesn’t matter, as long as it’s installed safely.
However… Focussing on why people are considering commando sockets ignores the real debate. And that is… why do nearly all home chargers cost around £1,000? They’ve always, always, ALWAYS, struck me as uninventive products at inflated prices. My belief is that the next wave of EV buyers will not pay so much for them. I paid a grand for the MacBook I’m writing this on. My heart was pounding when I made that payment. How the hell do companies expect Jenny and Joe Public to fork out on a plastic box with a socket over taking themselves to Spain for two weeks.
Fundamentally… The market needs to be more affordable and transparent on costs, as you don’t have to spend long in EV groups to find people warning newbies about getting “conned for a fancy plug” that is “overrated and overpriced”. I have included various screenshots in this story from the past couple of months. You don’t have to look hard to find endless comments online about commandos. To me, the acceptance of these sockets is daft to ignore, and perhaps more should be done to promote the wider, value-adding nature of home chargers. As it’s evident from the steady rise in searches on Google that people are looking at them.
Got an opinion? Let me know in the comments or directly!
Latest EV stories…
📊 The Department for Transport recently published some Autumn 2024 research based on an Ipsos survey with 7,000+ UK adults. One chapter focussed on EVs. It’s an interesting read, my favourite two outtakes were… Firstly, 63% of people reported seeing EV chargers at supermarkets. The next highest location to see them was reported to be car parks (by a much lower 35% of people). Secondly, 1% of respondents said they didn’t like EVs because they were “dangerously silent”. Lol. Find the doc here.
🇪🇺 On the back of the UK’s trade deal with the US and India, now they have added the EU to that list of closer trade partners. In response to the EU Summit, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders commented: “The agreement to protect steel from tariffs and the intention to link the UK and EU carbon markets – a long-held ambition – should pave the way to greater price stability and reduced cost”. As with the US deal, it will be interesting to see how China will react. Historically, both the EU and US have been tougher on the Chinese, whereas we’ve been very soft.
📈 Talking of SMMT, MotorTrader reports that their chief economist, Matthew Croucher, told a conference recently that the reviewed ZEV Mandate is not enough. “The recent changes made to the ZEV Mandate provide improved flexibilities, but our short-term outlooks still show a growing gap between the market and the mandate targets, so we need measures to help stimulate volumes, not just market share.” Read more.
🎤 Great feature by Jasper Jolly of The Guardian about how China has charged ahead on integrating the latest technology into their EVs. Including karaoke, which I think is brilliant. Read more.
📉 Reporting suggests Honda has cut £15 billion from its budget for investing into EVs. Instead, the money will go into building more hybrids. Read more.
📮 The Royal Mail this week unveiled its 7,000th EV. And Minister for Future of Roads Lillian Greenwood MP made an appearance for it. Read more.
🚗 Very interesting comment piece in the FT by its Economics Editor Chris Giles, who remarks how for some higher earners, the EV salary sacrifice schemes are just another example of tax avoidance through the UK’s convoluted benefit-in-kind schemes. Read more (paywall).
🤳 Speaking of Lilian, I have certainly noticed an uptick in the number of EV-related posts she’s making on LinkedIn. I know it’ll be a civil servant doing it on her behalf, but at the very least, it demonstrates that DfT is listening to industry feedback about being more active. See her activity.
📬 Unlike Lilian, if you feel your MP isn’t as engaged in the opportunities and challenges of EV ownership, EVA England has this week launched a new tool (called Charge Up Change) that makes contacting your MP quick and easy. Learn more.
🤔 Shayne Rees from Char.gy pointed out this week how many roaming cards, which are very popular, are charging higher rates for using certain networks. Whereas, when you use the network app directly, the rates are cheaper. One to investigate.
😮 While last month Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, told parliament the new ZEV mandate would cause a “negligible change to the carbon emissions” from cars sold in Britain. In reality, a new analysis by campaign group Transport and Environment suggests it will result in significantly more emissions. Read more.
🙃 Just to caveat this story, readers may recall T&E were quite happy for a relaxed ZEV mandate to occur. Read more about their submission to DfT earlier this year here.
🔋 After the recent announcement that Nissan’s battery partner (AESC) had secured £1bn to build a new plant in Sunderland, Nissan’s CEO told an FT conference last week that a Chinese carmaker may partner with them in using the new gigafactory. See here (paywall). No surprise given AESC is majority owned by Envision, the Chinese battery group.
🙏 Finally… In 10 days, this newsletter will become my main income. Thank you very much to those who have been in touch to support, it means a great deal. But for those who haven’t, I repeat again… If you want a good subscription discount for your organisation, you MUST speak to me before June arrives. I won’t be buying any ‘oh we’re so sorry we didn’t get to this last month’. Also, if you are here purely as an interested driver (aka not in the trade), if you drop me a message, I can offer a special reduced rate. Thank you!
Hi Tom, a commando socket is only safe if you also install a PEN fault protection device and a dedicated circuit from the socket to the consumer unit, otherwise there is a danger of overheating. Once you factor in the cost of the installation work, and the cost of the portable charger from commando socket to car (which cost over £200), there is actually a marginal saving over getting a charger.
Really impressed with Lilian Greenwood's engagement with the industry. She was also at a round table last week - in person - to discuss electric vans. Very positive to have such direct access opportunities with a Minister.