Charging at home · 4 min read
Should I Buy a Socketed or Tethered EV Charger?
Tethered means the cable is permanently attached. Socketed means you plug your own cable in. Here's how to pick.
Most people don't think about this until it's too late
Choosing a home EV charger is one of the first decisions new EV owners need to make. While all chargers will deliver electricity to your car, there are important differences between socketed and tethered chargers that could affect convenience, cost and future flexibility.
A simple analogy
Think of it like a garden hose. A tethered charger is like having a hose permanently attached to your outdoor tap — always there, ready to use. A socketed charger is like having a tap without a hose attached: you connect the hose you need, and if it gets damaged, you replace the hose rather than the entire tap. Both options work well. The choice depends on what matters most to you.
What is a tethered EV charger?
A tethered charger has a charging cable permanently attached to the unit. When you arrive home, you simply plug the cable into your vehicle.
- ✓Quick and convenient — nothing to fetch
- ✓No need to store a separate cable
- ✓Ideal if you always charge the same vehicle
- ✓Neater day-to-day experience
- ✓Cable cannot always be replaced separately if damaged
- ✓Cable length is fixed
- ✓Less flexible if you change vehicles
What is a socketed EV charger?
A socketed charger has a charging socket rather than a permanently attached cable. You connect your own charging cable when needed.
- ✓Damaged cables can usually be replaced
- ✓More flexibility over cable length
- ✓Better suited to households with multiple EVs
- ✓More future-proof
- ✓Slightly less convenient day to day
- ✓You need somewhere to store the cable
Which charger should I choose?
If convenience is your priority, a tethered charger is a great option. If you want maximum flexibility and the ability to replace your cable in the future, a socketed charger may be the better long-term choice.
Did you know?
Charging cables are exposed to the elements and everyday accidents. Being trapped in a garage door, driven over or damaged while moving around the driveway are more common problems than many EV owners expect.
Carautonomy tip
A home charger may last longer than your current car. Think about future vehicles, not just today's EV.