Electric shock while plugging in my EV charging cable… anyone else had this?

Please go to the doctor. Getting knocked to the ground from a shock could have lasting effects, even if you feel fine.

See a doctor first, then call a mechanic to check it out.

Connie said:
See a doctor first, then call a mechanic to check it out.

Or maybe an electrician if it’s related to the pole, but definitely a doctor first.

izael said:

Connie said:
See a doctor first, then call a mechanic to check it out.

Or maybe an electrician if it’s related to the pole, but definitely a doctor first.

Yes, check your health first and then worry about the technical stuff.

Shocks can lead to muscle or joint issues later, so take care.

With modern EVs, the charging port is dead until the car and charger confirm a connection. Unless you were in the driver’s seat, there shouldn’t have been any voltage on the cable.

Plugging into the EVSE first is recommended to prevent static or grounding issues.

@Kenneth
Thanks for the detailed response. I was alone, the car was off, and the cable is in good condition. Going forward, I’ll definitely plug into the charger first.

sorphia said:
@Kenneth
Thanks for the detailed response. I was alone, the car was off, and the cable is in good condition. Going forward, I’ll definitely plug into the charger first.

That’s a good plan. Plugging into the EVSE first will ground any static buildup safely.

Plugging into the EVSE first grounds the cable, which can help avoid situations like this. EVs aren’t naturally grounded because they’re on rubber tires, so static discharge can happen if the car builds up a charge.

@Gabriel
Would dragging a metal chain from the car’s tow hitch help ground it?

chozen said:
@Gabriel
Would dragging a metal chain from the car’s tow hitch help ground it?

Possibly, though it might only help with static and wouldn’t affect charging.

unknown said:
Does your car have any bi-directional charging? Just curious if it’s possible it tried to send power.

Either way, I’d always plug the charger side in first!

Nope, just regular charging, but lesson learned—plug into the pole first from now on!

unknown said:
In Europe, Type 2 connectors are designed so they’re not live until fully connected. So the electricity should flow through the pins, not through anyone touching the cable.

Yep, it’s a Type 2 in Europe. Only using a slow public charger, so not CCS.

unknown said:
Interesting from an engineering perspective! Which country are you in? I know some regions have high safety standards, but even then, some setups can be risky.

Netherlands. They’re usually very strict with these things here.