EV Charging

What to check before installing EV charging

Charging an electric vehicle from a marina or boatyard supply comes down to available capacity as much as the charger itself. A standard shore supply is often limited to a single-phase circuit, and running a car charger alongside the boat's own shore power draw can trip a breaker if the two are not planned together, so check the total load before adding a charge point.

Connector type matters for compatibility: most UK installations use a Type 2 connector, and the charger's rated output in kW determines charging speed far more than the cable itself. An RCD suited to EV charging is generally required as part of the installation, separate from standard marina RCD protection, since charging current is continuous rather than intermittent.

Cable routing in a marine or dockside environment needs weatherproof connections throughout, and any fixed wiring should be sized and fused for the charger's full rated current, not just its typical draw.