If you’re thinking about installing an EV charger at your home, you’ll probably see two main options, tethered and untethered. Although it sounds complex, the difference is simple.
A tethered EV charger has a charging cable fixed to the unit. An untethered EV charger has a socket instead. You attach and detach a cable every time you use it.
Either a tethered or an untethered EV charger could work for your car. They’re both functional. The right one for you depends on your individual circumstances. This blog explains how they compare.
What is a tethered EV charger?
A tethered EV charger comes with the cable already attached. That means you park your car, pick up the cable, plug it in and it immediately starts charging (or waits for your preset schedule to kick in). You don’t need to take a cable out of your boot every time.
This is the main reason for choosing a tethered charger. It’s simple, quick and functional, especially if your car is usually plugged in whenever you’re home.
Modern electric vehicles in the UK use a Type 2 connector for home charging. As such, the vast majority of tethered home chargers come with a Type 2 cable. However, some older vehicles used a Type 1 connector for AC charging, so you should always check your car before buying a charger.
What is an untethered EV charger?
An untethered EV charger doesn’t have a fixed cable. Instead, the unit has a socket. When you want to charge your car, you plug a separate cable into the charger, then plug the other end into your vehicle.
This makes the charger look neater when you aren’t using it. It also gives you more choice if you change your car later, need a longer (or shorter) cable, or want to replace the cable without replacing the whole charger. The downside is, of course, that you have to handle the cable each time you charge.
Tethered vs untethered EV chargers: which charges faster?
It doesn’t make any difference. A tethered charger and an untethered charger can charge at the same speed if they have the same power rating.
For example, a 7kW tethered charger and a 7kW untethered charger can both charge at up to 7kW. The charging speed depends on the charger’s power rating, your home’s electrical supply, your car’s charging limit, the cable’s rating, and whether your property has a single-phase supply, as most UK homes do, or three-phase power.
So, tethered vs untethered isn’t really anything to do with charging speed. It’s about convenience vs aesthetics.
Why choose a tethered EV charger?
A tethered charger may suit you if:
- you want the quickest routine at home
- you charge regularly
- you have only one EV
- you don’t want to keep taking a cable in and out of your boot
The main drawback is appearance. The cable stays on the wall, so the charger can look a little bulkier, even when you’ve neatly wrapped the cable.
Why choose an untethered EV charger?
An untethered charger may suit you if:
- you want a neater-looking charger
- you may change your car in the future
- your household uses more than one EV
- you prefer to store the cable separately
The main drawback is convenience. You need to get the cable out, plug it in, unplug it and store it again. In wet or cold weather, that can be annoying.
Which EV charger should you choose?
It’s really up to you. We’ve found that, for most homeowners, a tethered charger is a simpler choice, especially now that the UK has settled on Type 2 as its standard home charging AC connector. However, untethered EV chargers do bring flexibility and a much neater aesthetic.
In simple terms, choose tethered if you want convenience and untethered if you want flexibility and a neater look.
Tethered and untethered EV chargers we install
At Electrical Innovations, we install a range of smart EV chargers, including Hypervolt, myenergi zappi, and Sync EV. The right choice depends on how you want to charge, whether you have solar panels, and whether you prefer a tethered or untethered setup.
Hypervolt
Hypervolt is a smart home EV charger with useful app-based controls. You get features such as scheduled charging, device lock and unlock, real-time energy and cost information, detailed charging analytics, load management event tracking, LED brightness control and solar charging control. The Hypervolt Home 3 Pro is a tethered Type 2 EV charger.
myenergi zappi
Choose the myenergi zappi if you want smart charging and solar charging options. It includes fuse protection, Wi-Fi and Ethernet connectivity, a 3-year warranty and compatibility with all plug-in vehicles.
Flexibility is one of its biggest advantages. The zappi is available as either tethered or untethered, so you can choose whether you want the convenience of a fixed cable or the cleaner look of a socketed unit.
Sync EV
The Sync EV charger is suitable for both residential and commercial use. It’s WiFi and Ethernet-enabled, has a Type 2 socket with auto-lock, and offers dynamic charging up to 7.4kW at 32A. It also has an interchangeable front fascia and is fully compliant with Smart Charge Points regulations. The Sync EV is a good example of a Type 2 untethered EV charger.
Sync EV
The Sync EV charger is suitable for both residential and commercial use. It’s WiFi and Ethernet-enabled, has a Type 2 socket with auto-lock, and offers dynamic charging up to 7.4kW at 32A. It also has an interchangeable front fascia and is fully compliant with Smart Charge Points regulations. The Sync EV is a good example of a Type 2 untethered EV charger.
Which one is right for you?
If you’re not sure whether a tethered or untethered charger is best for your home, our team is here to help you decide.
If you want the simplest daily routine, we may recommend a tethered charger, such as Hypervolt or a tethered myenergi zappi. But if you prefer a neater-looking charger with no fixed cable on the wall, we may recommend an untethered option, such as Sync EV or an untethered myenergi zappi.
We’ll also consider your other objectives and existing electrical installations, such as solar panels or a battery storage system. Your EV charger should work in tandem with these, as well as your electricity provider, to help reduce your charging costs.
Our team assesses your home, your vehicle, your charging habits and any future plans, such as changing your car or adding solar panels. We can then recommend the right charger and install it to recognised national standards.
Get in touch for more information about how we help you source the right tethered or untethered EV charger for your home.
