EV Charging Safety with Children and Pets Around

The electrical hazard from an EV charging cable is very low: the connector pins are recessed and are not live until locked into the car, and the system cuts power instantly if anything is wrong. The real risks with children and pets are mostly physical — trips, pulled cables, chewed insulation and the fact that a moving EV is nearly silent.

At home

• Route the cable so it does not cross walkways or play areas; use a cable hook or tidy so it hangs rather than trails.
• Choose a wallbox with a lockable or tethered cable so children cannot unplug or play with it.
• Store portable charging cables out of reach when not in use — a chewed cable is a fire and shock risk and should be replaced, not taped.
• Teach children that the charger is like a cooker: not a toy, not to be touched while it is working.
• Keep pets away from the connector; some are attracted to the warmth or the click of the lock.

At public chargers

• Hold children's hands in charging bays — cars reverse in and out and EVs are quiet.
• Keep them clear of the cable while you plug and unplug; heavy DC cables can swing.
• Return the connector to its holster so it is not lying on the ground.
• Don't leave a pet in the car while fast charging on a hot day unless the car's cabin climate or 'pet mode' is running; check the app rather than assuming.

The quiet-car hazard

Because EVs make almost no noise at low speed, children and pets may not hear one approaching in a driveway or car park. Regulators now require artificial low-speed sounds, but always look before reversing and teach children that a car with no engine noise is still moving.

Replace, never repair, any cable that a pet has chewed or that shows exposed wiring — this applies to the charging cable and to the car's onboard cable alike.