‘Just Strange’: Driver Catches Tesla Owner Charging It Through a Power Strip. Does It Work?
'Why not pass it under the gate not over the gate?'
A woman recorded a Tesla driver charging their car with its standard, 12-volt wall plug via a power strip. TikTok user Ashley Lauren (@smash1ftw) posted a clip of the EV juicing up on the popular social media application, where it accrued over 216,000 views.
In a caption for the post, she didn’t seem to think that this was exactly the safest way to go about adding power to the Tesla’s massive, lithium-ion power pack. “Charging a Tesla…through a power strip. That’s one way to get 1.4kW of anxiety,” she penned.
Furthermore, her video shows that the Tesla is parked on a sidewalk and that both the strip and the Tesla charger are fully extended, with little slack to give. Which means that whoever has to cross over the cable needs to be mindful not to trip over it.
Creative EV Charging “Solutions”
Sidewalk charging is a problem that many EV drivers still face. It’s not like there haven’t been solutions for this issue, like this one German arms company came up with. They’ve managed to fit a level 2 EV charging terminal inside of an elongated block that is designed to nestle into a curb. Which means electric vehicle owners can top off their car while parked, without the need for cables mucking up curbs and sidewalks for pedestrians.
However, these solutions aren’t exactly prevalent, which means that folks have to come up with creative ways to power their EVs. This blogger has compiled a list of some helpful tips for folks who live in a townhome or apartment building, but don’t have a dedicated charging spot for their cars.
They write that it’s not uncommon for people to lay extension cables and charging cords over the sidewalk to juice their cars up at night. First, however, they’ll “need to get approvals” from their city/town to ensure they can even do this. That’s because sidewalks are public property. Additionally, they recommend consulting with an electrician for the best charging protocol in this set up. Furthermore, if where you are living is a spot you intend on being in for a long time, you may want to look into getting a dedicated EV charging spot for your vehicle.
No Dedicated Charging/Parking Spot?
InsideEVs previously opined on ways apartment and condo dwellers can also secure charging spots for their homes, too. However, there are potential issues that can arise with this type of setup. Oftentimes, even if you petition a landlord, condo, or co-op board to get an EV charging station installed, ensuring that parking space is designated for you and you alone can be a tall order. Moreover, they may be reluctant to foot the bill for the installation costs. And even if you can get them to agree to have one installed if you pay for it, you may not be able to have your street parking reserved for you and you alone. Which could leave you in a position where you pay for an EV charger, only to arrive home one night and see someone else in your spot.
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Is Plugging Your Tesla Charger Into A Power Strip Safe?
EV drivers may have found themselves in situations where utilizing a “trickle” outlet is the only option they have available to them for juicing their ride. And in some instances, getting that plug to reach may prove impossible, necessitating the need for a power strip or extension cord. But is this safe? According to Bob Vila, “appliances that consume a lot of energy or cycle on and off become dangerous fire hazards when plugged into a power strip.”
The outlet went on to cite refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, and slow cookers as prime examples of appliances folks should refrain from powering with these strip extensions. But what about charging your vehicle via an extension cord or power strip? According to this blog post from Kelley Blue Book, this is probably a bad idea: “Charging an EV? Don’t use an extension cord,” the car analytics firm stated.
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Moreover, KBB states that this is the case because “charging an electric vehicle…requires more electricity than the amount home appliances need.” Consequently, extension cords could “overheat if connected to the charging cable.” So, one might short-circuit their extension cord, increasing the risk of electric shock or even fire. And anyone who’s seen an EV catch fire knows just how horrifying and disastrous it can be. KBB goes on to say that automakers advise against using extension cords, even if one’s standard cable “isn’t long enough to plug into a nearby outlet.”
Lauren’s video shows an instance that isn’t hard to imagine going awry. The EV driver plugged in a Level 1 Tesla charger into a power strip, which is probably connected to an outlet that is either 110 or 220 volts. Most power strip manufacturers, like Anker and Ultraprolink state that their offerings are good for up to 1800 to 2400 amps of power at once. Tesla Level 1 chargers are designed for 120 volts, and are constantly supplying power to the vehicle’s massive lithium-ion power battery. With this constant stream of power hooked to a precariously placed power strip exposed to the elements, that could be a recipe for disaster. Meaning that the Tesla charging setup in Lauren’s video isn’t just jank—it’s dangerous as well.
Commenters Respond
Folks who replied to Lauren’s video also expressed trepidation at seeing the way Tesla charged the vehicle. “This is how fires get started then people blame the car,” one wrote. However, someone else seemed to think that an extension cord would’ve been a better solution, even if KBB advises against it. “Like you cannot afford a [expletive] extension cord!?” they wrote.
Someone else who said that they drive an electric vehicle stated that the Tesla driver in Lauren’s video probably should’ve purchased an ICE car. “Yeah, as an EV owner myself, not everyone should buy one. This is a prime example of that. I love ours and did all the necessary research before my first purchase,” they said.
But there were others who expressed another gripe with the power strip setup, and it’s the amount of time level 1 charging takes to energize a vehicle. “Might as well set up a solar panel on the car. Will be fully charged in 6 months,” one quipped.
“Seven months later it’ll be charged to 80%,” someone else remarked.
And another said, “5 months, 2 weeks, 3 days and 7 hours more to fully charge.”
InsideEVs has reached out to Lauren via TikTok comment for further information.
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