EV drivers warned against viral Tesla charging trick deemed ‘unsafe’

Charging wait times can be a source of frustration among EV drivers, despite the network rapidly expanding across Australia. And to help speed up a single charge while parked roadside, some motorists are turning to an alarming hack – one that’s ill-advised and considered “unsafe”.

The wet towel trick has reportedly been around for years with people across the US having tried, and raved, about it on social media. As the name suggests, it involves placing a wet cloth over the charging cable handle, which can be prone to heating up, especially on hotter days.

It’s understood it tricks the charger’s temperature sensors, designed to prevent overheating, which can ultimately help the car charge faster. While the cables themselves have temperature protection, the handles can become extremely hot in direct sunlight.

Does the EV charger wet towel hack actually work?

Now, it seems, the charging method has made its way to Australian shores with local EV drivers questioning if it really works.

“I’m curious as to how (and if) this actually works,” one motorist said in an online forum for Aussie cars this week, while sharing details of the hack. Others, equally curious, admitted they didn’t know anything about it.

However straight off the bat many were skeptical with one reminding others that “electricity and water don’t mix particularly well.” Another thought, “it can only be very, very, very stupid.”

Another extreme wet rag supercharger test. Plugged in at 2% SoC – ramped up to 147kW as normal and thermal throttled at 34% down to 58kW. Slapped that room temperature soaking wet rag and it climbed back to 119kW where it hit the internal charge profile limit. Amazing! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/0o6VGgdhc9

— Out of Spec Studios (@Out_of_Spec) August 31, 2020

Tesla advises against using wet towel

Addressing the claims on social media last week Tesla warned against the so-called hack, apparently years after the trick first began circulating among the EV community.

“Placing a wet cloth on Supercharger cable handles does not increase charging rates, and interferes with temperature monitors creating risk of overheating or damage,” the car manufacturer shared on X.

“Please refrain from doing this so our systems can run correctly, and true charging issues can be detected by our systems.”

EV expert and Professor of Future Urban Mobility, Hussein Dia, agreed telling Yahoo News Australia “it is not a recommended safe practice.”

“Tesla systems have sophisticated thermal management solutions and any interference with temperature monitoring may prevent safe operating procedures and create safety issues and hazards,” he said.

Simply put, it’s not smart, he said.

Tesla’s official charging account on the Elon Musk-owned social media platform recently warned against the practice. Source: X

How long does it take to charge an EV in Australia?

Tesla Superchargers are said to be the fastest charging method when away from home. They can add up to 282 kilometers of range in just 15 minutes. Tesla is the only car manufacturer to create its own network of charging stations, while rivals rely on the publicly built system.

In Australia, some rival options include the Chargefox, Evie Networks, BP Pulse and NRMA networks, which all have fast-charging options, however, they’re not known to be as fast as Tesla’s Superchargers.

EV charging times across the Australian charging network. Source: Transport for NSW

Generally speaking, level 3 roadside fast chargers, often found on highways and motorways, can add 150-300km with a 10 to 60 minute charge. Level two slow chargers, commonly found in shopping center car parks, can add up to 45km with a 2 to 5 hour charge.

Meanwhile, level 1 single-phase chargers, used domestically, take between 5 to 16 hours to add 10-20km, according to Transport for NSW.

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