Electric vehicle owners have been warned about the fire risk of buying potentially unsafe charging cables from third-party manufacturers online.
As part of a wider investigation into the risks of buying products from a range of online retailers, Electrical Safety First (ESF) tested three third-party EV charging cables that were purchased online. Independent lab tests found all three caused a risk of causing electric shocks or overheating.
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While the three cables have now been recalled, ESF has urged EV owners to be aware of the risks of buying charging cables online that do not necessarily meet UK safety standards.
ESF said that lab tests on one of the cables, purchased from eBay, found it presented a risk of electric shock and overheating. Two cables bought through Amazon Marketplace also failed electric shock tests.
ESF chief executive Lesley Rudd said: "Charging your car should never put you at risk and the devices we found for sale via online marketplaces risk turning the everyday task of charging up into a potential hazard. The three cables we tested failed to meet safety requirements and left buyers at risk of electric shock and posed a risk of overheating.
"If you’re looking for a charging cable for your electric car stick to reputable retailers you know and trust to avoid being duped by a dodgy version that is potentially dangerous. If in any doubt, speak directly to the car manufacturer. Motorists need to be aware that shopping for charging devices from third party sellers via online marketplaces is a risky business, as the same laws governing high street retailers don’t apply to these online giants.
"Until the Government introduces laws to force online marketplaces to take reasonable steps to ensure goods sold via their platforms are safe, EV owners and shoppers of all types of electrical goods remain at risk.”
The cables tested by ESF were by FLYNSU (model number B08X4FNJYM), YKS-ESNES (SEVA-24016P) and LECTRON (eBay item number 265388626064). It has published full reports on each test on its website, which also contains a guide to safe shopping online.
The ESF 'Don't Be Electricked' investigation also highlighted the risks of buying third-party e-bike chargers from online retailers, finding versions for sale on Amazon Marketplace that lacked a fuse and did not meet UK safety standards. ESF has previously highlighted the risk of buying e-bike chargers from online third-party sellers, an issue that has also caused multiple fire brigades to speak out.
The investigation looked a broad range of electric devices including extension leads, plug-in lights, hair stylers and portable heaters, and found more than 50 listings of products on Amazon Marketplace, eBay, Facebook Marketplace, AliExpress and Wish.com that failed lab safety tests.
In response to the ESF investigation, Amazon said: “Safety is a top priority at Amazon and we require all products in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations. We have removed these products while we investigate.
“If customers have concerns about an item they’ve purchased, we encourage them to contact us directly so we can investigate and take appropriate action."
An eBay spokesperson said that it takes a "proactive approach" to safety, which was the firm's "top priority".
They added: "We have removed the items that Electrical Safety First flagged to us, and alerted buyers who purchased one of the items within the last 90 days.
“We use block filter algorithms which aim to prevent unsafe products from being listed. These filters blocked 4.8million listings in 2022. If an unsafe product does make it on to site, we swiftly remove it and provide product safety education to the sellers to prevent relisting.
“We also work closely with stakeholders and regulators to keep our platform safe. Our Regulatory Portal enables authorities from around the world to report listings of unsafe products, such as those flagged by ESF, for swift removal.”
Spokesperson for AliExpress and Wish.com said that they had removed the items identified by the ESF investigation. Facebook Express said that it responded to "valid legal requests" from bodies including the Office for Product Safety and Standards, and that neither that body or law enforcement had requested the removal of the listings in line with UK laws.
ESF says that it has now contacted the Office for Product Safety and Standards to report its findings.
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