This image shows a safe EV cable from Top Charger plugged into an electric Mini

Guides

How to spot an unsafe EV charging cable

Post by Sarah Maxie

Jul 22 2026

Not every EV charging cable on the market is safe. That’s not opinion. It’s been proven in laboratory testing, twice.

In 2023, consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First tested three portable EV charging cables purchased from Amazon Marketplace and eBay. All three failed. They posed risks of electric shock and overheating.

The same year, What Car? ran its own investigation. It tested three more cables from online marketplaces. Again, all three were found to be unsafe.

Every cable tested in both investigations was formally recalled or removed from sale. But unsafe cables continue to appear online, often at prices that look too good to turn down.

Here’s how to tell the difference between a cable you can trust and one you should avoid.

What the investigations found

Electrical Safety First identified its three cables in late 2021 and had them tested by an independent laboratory in 2022. The findings were published in March 2023.

All three cables were Mode 2 devices (a 3-pin plug at one end, a Type 2 connector at the other). Two were from Amazon Marketplace and one from eBay.

The Government’s Office for Product Safety and Standards recalled all three following the investigation.

What Car?’s investigation, published in November 2023, tested three more Mode 2 cables from Amazon and a smaller online retailer.

Each cable was put through five Residual Current Device (RCD) tests. Two failed all five. One passed just one out of five.

The RCD is the component that cuts the power if a fault is detected. If it doesn’t react quickly enough, the user is exposed to electric shock.

All three also had poorly worded safety labelling, unclear water resistance ratings, and plugs that didn’t fit properly into a standard UK socket.

Warning signs to look for

Warning sign	Why it matters
No UKCA or CE marking	A cable without either has not been assessed against UK or EU safety legislation. It is illegal to sell in the UK.
No brand name or manufacturer details	Anonymous cables with no traceable manufacturer offer no accountability. If something goes wrong, there’s nobody to contact.
No Declaration of Conformity available	A legitimate manufacturer will have a Declaration of Conformity on file and should provide it on request. If they can’t, the certification may not be genuine.
Unusually low weight	A 7-metre 32A Type 2 cable should weigh around 4kg. If it feels noticeably lighter, the conductors may be thinner gauge or aluminium rather than copper.
Cheap connector housings	Glossy, thin, or brittle plastic on the connectors suggests low-quality materials. Look for sturdy matte housings that feel solid in hand.
Poorly worded labelling	Vague or grammatically poor safety information on the data panel was a common finding in both investigations. Clear, accurate labelling is a sign of a compliant product.
No IP or IK rating stated	A quality cable will clearly state its ingress protection (IP54 or IP55) and impact resistance (IK08 or IK10). Missing ratings suggest the cable hasn’t been tested.

Why online marketplaces are the main risk

Online marketplaces like Amazon Marketplace and eBay are platforms, not retailers. Under current UK law, they are not legally required to check that products sold on them are safe.

A high street retailer has a legal obligation to take reasonable steps to ensure the products it sells meet safety standards. A marketplace platform does not have the same obligation.

Electrical Safety First has called on the UK Government to introduce laws that would force online marketplaces to verify product safety before listing, not after a complaint or recall.

Until that changes, the responsibility falls on you as the buyer. Checking for the signs above takes a few minutes and could prevent a serious incident.

What a safe cable looks like

UKCA and/or CE marking clearly visible on the cable or connector housing.

Additional independent certification such as TÜV or CB, which means the cable has been tested beyond minimum legal requirements.

A named, contactable manufacturer or seller with a published returns policy and warranty terms.

Clear labelling showing the rated voltage, current, IP rating, and applicable standards.

TPU outer sheath (as required under EN 50620) that stays flexible in cold weather and resists abrasion.

Silver-plated copper connector pins for reduced electrical resistance and corrosion protection.

A weight that matches what you’d expect for the cable length and rating. A 7m 32A cable at around 4kg is normal.

Our approach

Every cable we sell carries UKCA, CE, TÜV, and CB certification.

Our cables come with a three-year warranty, and we’re a registered UK company with a 30-day returns policy.

If you’re unsure about a cable you’ve already purchased, check for the warning signs above. If anything looks off, stop using it and replace it with one from a seller you can verify.