Everything electric vehicle drivers need to know about UK campsite EHU bollard rules, destination EV chargers, and aerodynamic packing.
Can You Plug an Electric Car Into a Campsite 16A EHU Bollard?
As tens of thousands of UK campers switch to electric SUVs, estates, and electric campervans, one rule is critical to understand before arrival: **you must never plug a 3-pin EV granny charger into a standard pitch EHU bollard without explicit permission from the site owner.** Campsite electrical ring mains are designed for intermittent 1kW–2kW kettle and heater loads, whereas an EV draws a continuous 2.3kW (10A) for 12+ hours, which can overheat pitch wiring and trip the entire field.
Thankfully, a rapidly growing number of UK campsites and holiday parks now install dedicated 7kW–22kW Type 2 EV destination chargers in their main reception car park.
- Towbar Cargo Boxes Beat Roof Boxes for EVs: Mounting a cargo box on the rear towbar instead of the roof reduces aerodynamic drag by up to 15%, preserving 30–45 miles of motorway range.
- V2L (Vehicle-to-Load) Camping: If your EV features a 3.6kW V2L adapter (such as Hyundai IONIQ 5, Kia EV6/EV9, or MG4), you can power induction hobs, coffee machines, and airbeds straight from your car battery on non-electric grass pitches!
- Rapid En-Route Top-Ups: Plan a 20-minute rapid charge at the final supermarket or hub 15 miles before reaching remote rural sites in Cornwall, Wales, or the Highlands.