There are two types of EV chargers: tethered and untethered. What is the difference between them, though, and which is the better option to go for?

The electric vehicle (EV) market is one of the fastest-growing in the world today. With a projected worth of $350 billion by 2028, it is clear why so many are looking to join the EV revolution. Of course, a vital part of the mass rollout of electric cars will be the availability of charging stations, which means certain choices for users.

If you are considering switching to an electric vehicle, you will need to decide how to charge it. While the number of charging stations at supermarkets and shopping centers is growing daily, there is no place like home for convenience. No queues. No hurry. Schedule EV charging activities whenever you need or when the power is the cheapest.

In general, home EV charging stations can seem like a complex topic, but in truth, they are pretty simple. First, there are two types of EV chargers: tethered and untethered. It is the topic we would like to focus on today. What is the difference between tethered and untethered EV chargers, though, and which is the better option?

The word “tether” means to tie or connect – to fix an object to another object. With tethered EV chargers, the cable used to charge your electric car is permanently fixed to the device. When you want to charge, you park up, retract the cable from the tethered EV charging station, and connect your EV.

CONVENIENCE

The plug-and-go nature of tethered chargers means that, for many, they come as the more convenient solution. Especially just parking up and plugging in appeals to those who might forget or misplace the EV charging cable or even those who do not want to bother with the extra step of connecting both ends.

SECURITY

Your charging cable is permanently attached to a tethered EV charger and cannot be removed. This means you do not have to worry about having your cable stolen from its storage location or overnight while in use.

COMPLETE PACKAGING

When installing a tethered EV charging station, you are installing the entire setup. It means that, while there are certain advantages to being able to choose your own, you do not have to go shopping for cables because they are already included – saving you time and money.

With untethered chargers, the charging cable is not attached when not used. The only permanent installation is a charging port. It means that when you want to recharge, you park up, take your charging cable, and connect one end to your electric vehicle and the other to your untethered EV charging station.

FLEXIBILITY

Suppose your charging area is vast, and your EV charging station will be some distance away from where your EV is parked. In that case, an untethered EV charger might be the best fit. The range of charging cables on offer is vast, meaning that you will almost certainly be able to find exactly what you need. This can include highly long cables – even up to 25 m, if that is what your setup needs.

BACKWARD COMPATIBILITY

Most newer EVs use type 2 charging cables, meaning that for the majority of users, this will be a non-issue. If you have an older Nissan Leaf, though, or if you are visited by friends that do, then they are unlikely to be able to charge at a tethered EV charging station. However, if your EV charger is untethered and you have a type 1 charging cable, they can easily connect and recharge while they enjoy their stay.

FUTUREPROOF

If your setup right now best suits a tethered EV charging station, can you be sure that this will always be the case? For example, a building extension may block your previous parking area, and if your tethered EV charger no longer reaches, then you are out of luck. With an untethered station, it is easy - simply buy a longer cable. This also provides some insurance against EV charging technology. With type 1 cables now largely defunct and type 2 have taken their place, who can say that more innovation will not come along and potentially render a type 2 tethered station obsolete?

Now that you know the key benefits of each type of EV charging station, you are ready to decide which best suits your needs. But whether you choose tethered or untethered, you are likely looking for an easy, smart, reliable, and highly-customizable device that you can tailor to the specific challenges of your setup.

Not every EV charger can meet the requirements – some specialize exclusively in tethered or untethered EV charging stations. No fewer providers offer off-the-peg solutions that do not reflect the individual features of each installation.

At Teltonika Energy, we know every customer has a different setup requiring a unique solution, so we developed TeltoCharge - a premium quality, powerful, and easy-to-use EV charging solution.

TeltoCharge allows you to customize the features of your home EV charging port. You can decide whether to go with a tethered or untethered option, choose preferred connectivity types and power capacity, or choose the color of the EV charger's cover.

In addition, our EV charging device has a robust build to withstand any indoor or outdoor impacts and incorporates strong security options to protect it from unwanted users. With TeltoCharge, a convenient and smart EV charging experience is guaranteed.