Comment A woman recorded a Tesla driver charging their car with its standard, 12-volt wall plug via a power strip. TikTok user Ashley Lauren (@smash1ftw) posted a clip of the EV juicing up on the popular social media application, where it accrued over 216,000 views. In a caption for the post, she didn’t seem to think that this was exactly the safest way to go about adding power to the Tesla’s massive, lithium-ion power pack. “Charging a Tesla…through a power strip. That’s one way to get 1.4kW of anxiety,” she penned. Furthermore, her video shows that the Tesla is parked on a sidewalk and that both the strip and the Tesla charger are fully extended, with little slack to give. Which means that whoever has to cross over the cable needs to be mindful not to trip over it. Creative EV Charging “Solutions” Sidewalk charging is a problem that many EV drivers still face. It’s not like there haven’t been solutions for this issue, like this one German arms company came up with. They’ve managed to fit a level 2 EV charging terminal inside of an elongated block that is designed to nestle into a curb. Which means electric vehicle owners can top off their car while parked, without the need for cables mucking up curbs and sidewalks for pedestrians. However, these solutions aren’t exactly prevalent, which means that folks have to come up with creative ways to power their EVs. This blogger has compiled a list of some helpful tips for folks who live in a townhome or apartment building, but don’t have a dedicated charging spot for their cars. They write that it’s not uncommon for people to lay extension cables and charging cords over the sidewalk to juice their cars up at night. First, however, they’ll “need to get approvals” from their city/town to ensure they can even do this. That’s because sidewalks are public property. Additionally, they recommend consulting with an electrician for the best charging protocol in this set up. Furthermore, if where you are living is a spot you intend on being in for a long time, you may want to look into getting a dedicated EV charging spot for your vehicle. No Dedicated Charging/Parking Spot? InsideEVs previously opined on ways apartment and condo dwellers can also secure charging spots for their homes, too. However, there are potential issues that can arise with this type of setup. Oftentimes, even if you petition a landlord, condo, or co-op board to get an EV charging station installed, ensuring that parking space is designated for you and you alone can be a tall order. Moreover, they may be reluctant to foot the bill for the installation costs. And even if you can get them to agree to have one installed if you pay for it, you may not be able to have your street parking reserved for you and you alone. Which could leave you in a position where you pay for an EV charger, only to arrive home one night and see someone else in your spot. Is Plugging Your Tesla Charger Into A Power Strip Safe? EV drivers may have found themselves in situations where utilizing a “trickle” outlet is the only option they have available to them for juicing their ride. And in some instances, getting that plug to reach may prove impossible, necessitating the need for a power strip or extension cord. But is this safe? According to Bob Vila, “appliances that consume a lot of energy or cycle on and off become dangerous fire hazards when plugged into a power strip.” The outlet went on to cite refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, toasters, and slow cookers as prime examples of appliances folks should refrain from powering with these strip extensions. But what about charging your vehicle via an extension cord or power strip? According to this blog post from Kelley Blue Book, this is probably a bad idea: “Charging an EV? Don’t use an extension cord,” the car analytics firm stated. Now Trending ‘The Overall Vibe Was Total Chaos’: Los Angeles Tesla Driver Pulls Up to Tesla Diner. Then She Tries To Order From Her Car