Unfortunately, living in the UK means that we are subjected to rain. And lots of it.
And if you’ve recently purchased a brand new electric vehicle, it’s likely that the following questions are running through your mind – can I charge my EV in the rain? Is it safe to charge my EV outside in the rain? Will water damage my EV? Are electric car chargers waterproof?
But worry not – we are here to put the record straight about electric cars and rain.
When talking about water and electric systems together, you instantly start to fret about the dangers. So, it’s only human nature to worry about if the rain will negatively impact your EV charging. Fear of electrocution, or damage to your EV or the charger itself, are prime examples that come straight to mind.
However, when it boils down to EV charging in the rain, you don’t have to worry. With all properly installed, manufactured and regulatory-compliant electric vehicle charging equipment, such as dedicated home chargers and public charging stations, there are no risks attached to charging your EV in the rain – so you can charge your EV come rain or shine.
In fact, dedicated electric vehicle chargers are manufactured to withstand almost all weather conditions, making EV chargers entirely waterproof. Made from water-resistant materials and with high IP Ratings, you can be sure your EV charger has safety and longevity in mind.
So, yes, simply put, you can safely charge an electric car in the rain – in fact, you can charge your EV in nearly all weather conditions – subject to the type of electric vehicle charger you use.
Without getting too technical, an Ingress Protection rating (IP rating), in this instance, is how well the EV charger is protected from external elements – think dust particles and water. In terms of what the ratings mean, you need to pay attention to the numbers.
The first number of the IP rating has to do with solids (dust particles or dirt), ranging from 1 to 6, with 6 being the highest. The second number is related to liquids (including rainwater) and is on a scale of 1-8, with 8 being the highest rating.
It’s important to note that the standard IP ratings for EV chargers at Level 2 (fast chargers rated at 7.4kW) are IP54 and IP55. Ratings of 8 are usually given to objects that can be submerged in water for long periods of time, which home EV chargers do not need. All in all, as long as the charger you use is rated IP54 or IP55, you can relax knowing that your unit is protected from water ingress.
Moreover, when it comes to electric vehicle safety, no electricity will be live until you securely plug the charging connector into your electric car’s charging port, so you don’t have to worry about an electric shock when charging in the rain.
So, yes – you can charge your EV in the rain, and it is perfectly safe to do so. However, you might get a bit wet!
| Our home EV chargers | IP Rating |
| Easee One | IP54 |
| Ohme ePod | IP55 |
| VCHRGD Seven | IP55 |
| Ohme Home Pro | IP55 |
| evec | IP55 |
All our home EV charging points are water and dust-resistant, ensuring you can charge in the rain without a problem. However, some go the extra mile, adding additional layers of safety. The Easee One, for example, has 11 sensors and intelligent temperature measurements, ensuring a weatherproof home charging solution that protects you and your home without fault.
Any electric vehicle charger that is properly manufactured, complies with the regulations, and is installed properly, is entirely safe to charge in the rain. What’s more, the higher the IP rating, the more waterproof your charger. However, one thing to keep in mind is how 3-pin plug EV charging could be impacted by bad weather.
There are many negatives to 3-pin plug charging, including the slow charging speed, mess, and the risk of injury. But there is another cause for concern when it comes down to charging your EV in the rain with a 3-pin plug.
If the distance between your nearest plug socket and your EV requires an extension cable, and your cable is not waterproof or is not sufficiently protected from water ingress, and is caught outside during heavy rainfall, then this could lead to electrical fires, short-circuiting, or electric shocks.
Our advice is to avoid charging your EV during wet weather if you are using an extension cable with your 3-pin plug or to invest in a safe, secure and convenient home EV charger that is manufactured to withstand different weather conditions.
While home EV chargers are frequently checked to uphold the highest safety standards, and the likelihood of lightning hitting your EV charger is minimal, EV chargers are more susceptible to lightning strikes. Therefore, it’s recommended that you invest in a Surge Protection Device (SPD) to ensure optimal protection if you want to charge your EV during a thunderstorm to protect your EV charger, your EV and your home. So, in short, yes, it is entirely safe to charge an electric car in a thunderstorm if you have a Surge Protection Device.
Of course, charging your EV in the rain isn’t a pleasant task, especially if you rely on public EV chargers or require an extension cable for your 3-pin plug charging. An alternative option is investing in a safe and intelligent home electric vehicle charger, making your charging more convenient and cheaper.
View our wide range of the best home EV chargers on the market. Alternatively, call us on 03333 44 96 99 or fill in the contact form below, and one of our team will be in touch.
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This type of electric charger has it's own cable to charge your car.
This type of electric charger requires a seperate cable to charge your car.
Spread over a 60 month period.
Tenants and homeowners are eligible for finance.
You decide the amount of months.
Minimum of £1000.
We will contact you to process the credit application. Approval is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. 13.9% APR representative. T&Cs apply.
Your order is not confirmed until your application has been approved.
We lay SWA cable laid at 600mm deep, with a protective cable warning tape laid 150mm above the cable. These are laid on a sand or sifted sand soil bed then backfilled.
We position overhead cables at a minimum height of 3.5m and are run along a catenary wire. The cable run should not be accessible to vehicles.
Standard Installation
Our instant price is fixed if it falls within our standard installation package plus any additions that you have selected (extra cabling for example). This package covers the majority of homes in the UK. Before we undertake your installation we will carry out a digital survey to check that nothing has been missed. After reviewing the survey results some additional work may be required in order to complete your installation safely and to the required standards. If this is the case, we will contact you well before the installation date and advise the cost of any required work. You can then continue with your installation, or alternatively we will refund you in full if you do not want to proceed.
Included in our standard installation is :
• Fitting of a single phase charge point to a brick or plaster wall or other suitable permanent structure
• Up to 10 metres of cable, run and neatly clipped to the wall between the electricity supply meter / distribution board and the charge point.
• Routing of the cable through a drilled hole in a wall up to 500mm (20 inches) thick if this is needed.
• The fitting and testing of electrical connections and protections required for the charge point.
• An additional three way consumer unit, if required
• Installation of a Type A RCBO in an RCBO enclosure
• Up to 3 metres of plastic trunking to conceal interior wiring.
• An O-pen earth protection device if the charge point requires it. (This is NOT an earth rod)
• Up to 4 hours of labour from your installer to complete the work.
• Electrical testing of the whole installation.
• Handover and setup of the charge point and any app that may be needed.
Not included in our standard installation (additional work) :
• Where the installation requires additional cabling over and above the amount you have told us about.
• Upgrade/replacement of the main incoming supply fuse where the local DNO (eg Northern Powergrid) would need to attend site.
• If the charge point is to be mounted on a post/pedestal rather than an existing wall and where you have not selected a post as an extra cost option in your order.
• Installation of a charge point to a three phase supply.
• Where gas and water mains bonding (earthing) is not in place at your property. If this is not in place, additional work would be required before installation of the charge point.
• Any groundwork that has not been selected during the order process.
A Surge Protection Device is not included in our standard installation.
What else you need to know :
• On the day of installation, please ensure that the area around your consumer unit (fuse box), incoming electricity supply meter and proposed charge point location (including where the cable is expected to be run) is clear and free of obstructions.
• We will need your WiFi password as part of the installation process in order to connect your charge point to the internet. Please have this available for the installer. Details will not be kept.
• The charge point must be on your own designated off road parking.
• The charger will be fixed in line with current guidelines at a height where it cannot be hit by a vehicle.
• Our installers are not able to enter loft spaces; lift floorboards or flooring; take apart any furniture of work above a height of 2m. If you anticipate that any of this may be required, then please contact us and we can discuss in more detail and provide you with a quotation.
• Should there be extreme weather conditions our installers may not be able to continue with you installation if it is not safe to do so (for example flooding). They will always do their best to complete the work where they can.
If you have any questions then please contact our customer service team who will be happy to help. Please also read our terms and conditions.
