Guide, 3 min read
Tethered or untethered EV charger?
Tethered has the cable permanently attached. Untethered means you plug your own cable in. The installation, the speed and the certification are identical.
Get a price
Where does it need to go? Two taps and a postcode gets you a price.
What actually differs
Only convenience and appearance. Both deliver 7kW on a single-phase supply. Both need the same dedicated circuit. Both get the same certificate.
Tethered means walking up and plugging in one-handed, with nothing to lift out of the boot and nothing to put away wet. Untethered means a smaller, tidier box on the wall and a cable you carry.
Choose tethered if
- You park the same way, in the same place, every day
- The unit is in a garage or somewhere sheltered
- You want the least friction on a dark wet evening
- You do not want a cable living in the boot
Choose untethered if
- The unit will be on a front elevation where a coiled cable would look wrong
- You might change to a car with a different connector
- You want the option of a longer cable later
- The parking is shared and a permanently attached lead invites use
The connector question
Every modern EV sold in the UK uses a Type 2 connector for AC charging, including Teslas. The old Type 1 connector appears only on early vehicles such as the first-generation Leaf.
That is why the connector argument for untethered is weaker than it was. Unless you are running an early car, a Type 2 tethered lead will fit whatever you buy next.
Next step
Send us the postcode and we will tell you what your property needs.
Send the postcode and what the property is, and we will come back with the quote or the one question still outstanding.
Questions
EV charging questions on this
Is a tethered charger slower?
No. Both deliver the same power. The cable makes no difference to the charge rate.
Can a tethered cable be replaced if it is damaged?
Yes, though on most units it is a job for the installer or the manufacturer, not a plug-in swap. It is one small argument for socketed units.
Which is more secure?
Untethered, marginally, because there is nothing attached to steal. In practice cable theft from home chargers is rare, and units lock the cable during charging.
Get a quote
Get an EV charger quote for your property
Five fields. We reply with either a fixed price or the one thing we still need to know.
- No cost, and no obligation to book anything
- Your details are never sold on or passed around
- A fixed price for the work described, in writing
Would rather talk it through? Call 07487 696567.
