The rise of electric driving has brought numerous benefits, but of course, there are still plenty of obstacles and challenges to overcome. One such obstacle is surreptitious charging, which is particularly common at campsites, holiday parks, and other accommodations. While this is often dismissed as harmless (simply tapping into a small amount of power), it's a serious problem due to the costs and risks.
What is stealth charging?
Secret charging is exactly what you'd expect when you see it. It involves people secretly plugging in a mobile charger while on vacation or staying somewhere where they have access to a power outlet. It's crucial that the person charging hasn't asked permission, and the property owner hasn't given permission.
With surreptitious charging, the owner of the land, accommodation, or campsite is usually unaware that charging is taking place. Therefore, surreptitious charging occurs without permission and without the owner's knowledge.
What are the dangers of secretly charging at the campsite with a mobile charger?
Secret charging received a lot of attention in 2023, and for good reason. Secret charging carries significant risks. Two factors are important. First, there are the risks of charging with mobile chargers at locations that are (probably) unsuitable for this purpose. Second, there are the enormous electricity costs that cannot be offset with the person charging.
Let's start with the first point: you can't simply plug the mobile charger into any outlet and start a charging session. Quite the opposite, because for safe and optimal charging, you need a modern, secure, and undamaged outlet. If you plug the mobile charger into a damaged or outdated outlet and start the charging session, then flop back into your camping chair, you're likely to find the whole thing on fire behind you.
Moreover, surreptitious charging can cause short circuits and plunge the entire campsite into darkness, and charging cables and extension cords lying on the ground (and through the air) can create dangerous situations. Many campsite owners have caught surreptitious chargers by simply following the extension cords from the restrooms to the EV being secretly charged. Any cable (including regular charging cables ) left unattended on the ground poses a risk, and you run a significant risk of damaging the cable itself.
So what about the costs of surreptitious charging? In most cases, these can't be recovered from the electricity user, so they fall on the landlord or campsite owner themselves. It's an undesirable and unfair situation, which in many places already needs to be resolved by passing on electricity costs or increasing the cost of accommodation. The latter solution means that every holidaymaker suffers from surreptitious chargers, all the more reason to put an end to this.
Do people with electric cars only secretly charge at campsites?
If you're under the impression that secret charging only happens at campsites, that's not the case. Secret charging also happens at vacation homes and, these days, even in most places where a power outlet is available in a (relatively) unattended location. If the electric car itself can block the charging cable and the power outlet so they can no longer be seen, this location can be used for secret charging.
The very fact that this is possible and happening in many places is a reason to pay extra attention to it. This also applies to us, as sellers of mobile chargers and strong advocates of safe, reliable, and fair charging.
Can you charge safely and fairly with a mobile charger?
Of course, it's possible to use mobile chargers correctly. This includes charging your electric car with a mobile charger at home or at work if your employer has given permission and allocated a socket. The same applies to charging during your holiday. More and more campsite owners and holiday home rental companies have a special socket that can be used to charge an electric car with a mobile charger. Especially in places where there are no charging stations , it's not uncommon for special sockets to be available for connecting a mobile charger.
Now, it's good to keep the following in mind. Be sure to ask permission before you leave. If you ask now whether you can charge at a charging station or with a mobile charger, you'll also know which charging cable you need or which connection your mobile charger needs to have to use the ignition. We expect that in the future, CEE connections will be widely used at campsites and accommodations, which are installed behind a separate meter. This way, the landlord can offer a 22 kW connection to an empty circuit, and the electricity costs can simply be offset with the people charging their electric cars.
So always carefully examine mobile chargers before ordering a model. The connectors (for both the source and car sides) and the charging capacity are especially important if you want to ensure optimal charging during your vacation.
The power and benefits of mobile chargers during the holidays
Not all campsites and accommodations have charging stations on site. Although the number of charging stations at these locations seems to be increasing weekly, it's far from standard practice, and it's questionable whether all governments will be as eager to impose requirements as the Dutch government. Good connections for mobile chargers are therefore ideal not only for people with electric cars, but also for campsite owners and accommodation providers themselves. Especially if they are located in a region with fewer charging points, this is an excellent way to attract additional bookings. Are you a campsite owner or provider and want to make this a priority? Then make sure you clearly indicate on your website that people with EVs can charge at your location and let them know which socket is suitable for the mobile charger. This is also the best way to prevent surreptitious charging.
Order the mobile charger you need to charge your EV now
Going on vacation soon with your electric car and want to charge efficiently and safely, in addition to fair charging? Order your mobile home charger from us today. We offer numerous models with overheating protection, and all charging products are CE-approved, ensuring you can always use them safely and reliably. This applies not only to our mobile chargers, but also to the charging stations and charging cables you'll find on this page.
Order before 5 PM and we'll make sure your products are shipped the same day, so you can quickly pack your mobile charger in the trunk for your next vacation.
