Charger choice
What EV charging cable do I need?
If you have a tethered home charger, the cable is built in and you do not need to buy one. If you have an untethered charger or a 3-pin socket, you need a Mode 3 cable matching your car's inlet type.
Do you need a cable at all?
It depends on your charger type:
- Tethered home wall charger: the cable is permanently attached to the unit. You do not need to buy a separate cable. See our guide on tethered vs untethered chargers if you are still choosing.
- Untethered (socketed) home wall charger: the charger has a Type 2 socket but no cable. You need to supply and store your own charging cable.
- 3-pin plug (domestic socket): you need a portable EVSE cable (sometimes called a granny cable or occasional use cable). This is different from a Mode 3 wall charger cable.
- Public rapid or ultra-rapid charger (DC): the cable is attached to the charger. You do not supply the cable for DC charging.
What type of cable do I need for a wall charger?
For an untethered AC home wall charger, you need a Mode 3 cable. The connector type on each end depends on your charger socket and your car's inlet:
| Cable type | Charger end | Car end |
|---|---|---|
| Type 2 to Type 2 | Type 2 socket | Type 2 inlet (most EU/UK EVs) |
| Type 2 to Type 1 | Type 2 socket | Type 1 inlet (older Nissan Leaf, some PHEVs) |
Type 2 to Type 2 is the right cable for the vast majority of EVs sold in the UK from 2018 onwards, including all current VW Group, BMW, Tesla, Hyundai, Kia, Renault, and Stellantis vehicles. Type 1 inlets appear mainly on older US-market vehicles (first-generation Nissan Leaf sold in the UK before 2018, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV pre-2020) and are becoming less common.
Check your car's handbook or the inlet on the charging port to confirm your type before buying a cable.
What amperage rating do I need?
The cable must be rated to handle the maximum current your charger can deliver. A 7kW single-phase charger draws 32A. A 22kW three-phase charger draws 32A per phase. The minimum cable rating for a standard home 7kW charger is therefore 32A.
Do not use a cable rated below your charger's output. A 16A cable on a 32A charger is a fire hazard. Most cables sold for home use in the UK are either 16A (for 3.6kW chargers and 3-pin sockets) or 32A (for 7kW wall chargers). Buy 32A for a standard home installation.
What length cable do I need?
Measure the longest distance from your charger to your car's charging port, allowing for slack. Common lengths and when to choose them:
- 5 metres: suitable if the charger is on the same wall as where the car's charging port sits and you always park in the same position.
- 7.5 metres: good for most driveways, particularly if you park in more than one position or the charging port is on the far side of the car from the charger.
- 10 metres: for longer runs, wide driveways, or if the charger is around the corner from where you park. A longer cable is heavier and more cumbersome to store: do not go longer than you need.
What is a portable EVSE cable?
A portable EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) cable, sometimes called a granny cable or Mode 2 cable, lets you charge from a standard 3-pin domestic socket. It has a 3-pin plug on one end and a Type 2 (or Type 1) connector on the other, with a small control box in the cable that handles safety functions.
These cables charge much more slowly than a wall charger: a 3-pin socket delivers a maximum of around 2.3kW, compared to 7kW from a home wall charger. For a 60kWh battery, a 3-pin socket takes around 26 hours for a full charge; a 7kW wall charger takes 8–9 hours. Portable EVSE cables are useful as a backup when away from home or during a wall charger installation, not for regular overnight charging.
Do not use a portable EVSE cable as a long-term solution. The plug and socket heat up under sustained charging load. OZEV and most manufacturers recommend using a dedicated wall charger for regular home charging.
Common questions
Can I use any Type 2 cable with any Type 2 charger?
Yes, as long as the cable's amperage rating matches or exceeds the charger's output. A 32A Type 2 cable works with any AC home charger outputting up to 7kW on a single-phase supply, and can also be used at public Type 2 AC charging points.
Can I leave the cable connected to the charger permanently?
With an untethered charger, leaving the cable plugged into the charger socket when not in use is generally fine. The charger socket has a locking mechanism when a car is connected: when no car is connected, the socket is not live. Some users prefer to remove and store the cable to prevent accidental damage or theft.
Do I need a cable for rapid charging at public stations?
No. Rapid chargers (50kW and above) use DC charging and have their own cable permanently attached to the unit. You connect the charger's cable to your car's CCS or CHAdeMO inlet. You never supply the cable at a rapid charger.
What cable does a Tesla use at home?
Tesla vehicles sold in Europe from 2019 onwards use a standard Type 2 (CCS Combo 2) inlet for AC charging and CCS for DC charging. At a home untethered charger, they use a standard Type 2 to Type 2 cable. Older US-spec Tesla vehicles sometimes require an adapter.
Is a longer cable slower?
For the cable lengths used in home charging (5–10 metres), no: the difference is negligible. Resistance increases with cable length, but at 32A over 10 metres the voltage drop is too small to measurably affect charge speed.
Install a home EV charger
A home wall charger charges your car 3–4× faster than a 3-pin socket. Enter your postcode and we'll match you with OZEV-authorised installers near you.
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