Tethered vs Untethered EV Chargers
The practical differences between tethered and untethered home EV chargers, and how to decide which suits your driveway, car and household.
What the terms mean
A tethered charger has its charging cable permanently fixed to the unit. You unhook the cable and plug it straight into your car.
An untethered (or socketed) charger has a Type 2 socket on the front. You connect using a separate cable, which usually lives in the boot of the car.
Why many drivers choose tethered
Convenience is the main reason. There is no cable to dig out of the boot on a wet evening, and the cable is always where you need it.
Tethered units also reduce the wear on the portable cable that came with your car, which you can keep for charging away from home.
Why some drivers choose untethered
An untethered charger can look neater on the front of a house because there is no coiled cable on the wall.
It also offers flexibility. If a future car has its charging port in a very different position, you simply use a longer or shorter cable rather than being limited by a fixed one.
Things to think about
Consider where your car's charging port is, how far the charger will be from the car, whether other household vehicles will use it, and how visible the charger will be.
Cable length matters with tethered units. During the survey we look at the parking position and recommend a charger location and cable length that avoids stretching or trailing cables.