On almost every ferry, no: you cannot charge your EV during the crossing. Vehicle decks are built to park cars, not power them, and most operators offer no sockets for passenger vehicles at all. The practical answer is to treat the crossing as a gap in your charging plan — arrive with the charge you need for the other side, and plug in on land.
Key Takeaways
- Most ferries offer no EV charging at all; the car deck is for parked vehicles.
- A few crossings offer bookable low-power charging — confirm with the operator, vessel by vessel.
- Plan the trip around chargers at each end, and board with the charge your onward drive needs.
Why Most Ferries Have Nothing to Plug Into
A ferry’s electrical system is sized for the ship: lighting, ventilation, galleys and navigation. Spare capacity for dozens of cars drawing power for hours is a different design problem, and most vessels were never built for it. Three practical barriers keep it that way:
- No sockets on the car deck. Deck power points, where they exist, serve the crew and refrigerated freight, not passenger cars.
- Safety rules come first. A charging car is an active electrical load on a moving vessel. Operators manage fire risk on the deck conservatively, and unattended charging does not fit that approach.
- No standard offer. Unlike a public charge point on land — the kind described in our guide to how EV charging stations work — there is no common booking, payment or connector arrangement for shipboard charging.
The Exception: A Few Crossings Offer Bookable Charging
A small number of newer vessels and routes have begun offering charging as a bookable extra, with limited spaces per crossing. Where it exists, it is arranged in advance, may carry a fee, and varies by vessel — the same route can have charging on one sailing and none on the next. Treat any onboard session as a bonus top-up, never as the charge your onward journey depends on.
Plan the Crossing Around the Chargers on Land
The reliable strategy is to move the charging to the two ends of the trip:
| Stage | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Before the port | Charge to the level your onward drive needs, plus a reserve | You cannot count on power during the crossing or in the port queue |
| At the terminal | Use a port or nearby charger only if one is listed and open | Terminal charging exists at some ports but is not guaranteed; check ahead with the tools in our guide to finding EV charging stations |
| On board | Park, switch off, and leave the car unplugged | Decks are for parked vehicles; crew instructions govern anything electrical |
| After landing | Top up at the first convenient charger if the onward leg is long | Landside chargers are ordinary public charge points with posted prices and access rules |
Remember that not every landside charger will accept every car or payment method; our article on whether you can use any EV charging station explains what to check before you rely on one.
What to Ask the Operator Before You Book
- Does this specific vessel offer EV charging, or only some ships on the route?
- Must charging be reserved in advance, and is there a fee?
- Which connector is provided, and must I bring my own cable?
- Is there a minimum or maximum charge level the crew asks for on boarding?
- Where is the nearest public charger to the arrival terminal?
Ask before you pay for the ticket. If the answers are vague, plan as if there is no charging on board.
Charging at the Far End
Once off the ship, a portable charger covers the stays a fixed wallbox cannot: a holiday home, a relative’s driveway, any stop with a suitable socket and the owner’s permission. The EV-ACS3210E is a 32 A Type 2 portable charger for single-phase supply at about 7 kW, rated IP66. For North American trips, the EV-ACS3210T offers about 7.7 kW from a NEMA 14-50 outlet with six adjustable current steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a normal socket on the ferry to charge my car?
Assume not. Sockets in passenger areas are for small devices, and running a cable to the car deck is not permitted. Only use an onboard charging point the operator explicitly offers for vehicles.
Do any ferries have fast chargers on board?
Onboard offers, where they exist at all, are low-power bookable points, not DC fast charging. Fast charging belongs on land, before or after the crossing.
Should I charge to 100% before boarding?
Charge to whatever the drive on the other side requires, plus a comfortable reserve for queues and diversions. If the onward leg is short, there is no need to fill the battery just for the crossing.
Related Reading
- Where to Find EV Charging Stations: Maps, Apps and Tips
- Can You Use Any EV Charging Station?
- Are EV Charging Stations Open 24/7?
- How Do EV Charging Stations Work?
