Electric Car Charging Cables Explained

As an EV owner, you’ll need to know how to charge your car and the differences between the charging cables which are available. Not all electric car charging cables are the same and whilst some are compatible with quick charge points, others aren’t.

With this in mind, it’s worth spending some time to make sure you’re clued up on where you can charge your EV and what cables you will need. In this blog, we’re looking at the different charging cables and their function.

When you buy an electric vehicle, you’ll also receive a set of charging cables. This will include a single set of cables, with a domestic 3-pin plug on one end, and the correct plug type for your vehicle on the other.

This gives you everything you need to charge your vehicle at home as you’ll be able to plug it straight into the mains. However, if you’re planning to charge your EV whilst you're out and about, you’ll need a different type of cable to utilise the various electric vehicle charging points which are dotted about.

A cable which is only used for home charging is known as a tethered cable and a cable which allows you to use external charging points is known as an untethered cable. With an untethered cable, you can keep this in your car and use it to charge at compatible charge points, whether that be at a service stop, car park or workplace.

Another varying feature is the connecting pin on the cable, which is categorised as either Type 1 or Type 2. Each type of cable is compatible with different charge points and vehicles, so it’s important to make sure you’ve got the right one.

A Type 1 charging cable will feature 5 pins arranged in a circular formation and can’t be fixed in place once plugged in. With a Type 1 cable, it’s expected that you’ll be able to get around 4 miles of driving distance for every hour your EV is on charge.

Type 2 cables are noticeably different with a 7-pin connection arranged in the shape of a ‘D’. These cables can be locked in place once plugged in and are much more efficient, delivering roughly 32 miles of driving distance for every hour of charge.

Charging speeds are split into four categories – slow, fast, rapid and ultra-rapid. Those categories might seem fairly self-explanatory, but there’s a bit more detail you should know about electric car chargers.

Slow chargers are rated up to 3kW and include charging at home from a 3-pin domestic plug socket. Since the kW rating on slow charging is low, this means the time it takes to charge a battery to 100% is longer. In fact, it can typically take up to 12 hours, so it’s best to use this charging speed if you’re plugging in overnight.

Fast chargers are a little bit faster than slow chargers and are rated at either 7kW or 22kW, depending on the charging unit speed. With the 22kw charger, you’ll be able to charge your EV’s battery in a couple of hours, whilst the 7kw charger can take up to 6 hours. Fast chargers are relatively common and you’ll find them most often in car parks or outside office buildings.

The next step up is rapid charging which offers charging speeds on average of about 43kW to 50kW. Rapid chargers can take up to an hour to charge a battery, although in some cases it can take as little as half an hour.

These chargers typically provide around 100 kW to 150 kW, however in some cases it can be up to 350 kW. This level of power allows EVs to be charged to around 80% of their capacity in roughly 20 minutes, making them perfect for a quick pitstop mid-journey.

Ultra-rapid chargers have a beefier plug compared to fast and slow chargers – that’s the part of the plug that uses the CCS and CHAdeMO standards, meaning the vehicle can access rapid charging where available.

Superchargers are specific to the Tesla brand, however in the context of the above categories, would be considered an ultra-rapid charger. This is because the Superchargers are able to provide a Tesla with 150kW, which can also charge the battery to 80% in about 30 minutes.

Only Telsa models are able to take advantage of the supercharger network, however, if you’re a Tesla owner, you will be able to make use of the general charge points with a cable adapter.

Now that you know everything you need to know about charging an EV and the cables you’ll need, you’re in the perfect position to consider a brand-new electric car. For a quieter, more relaxed driving experience that lessens your impact on the environment and reduces your carbon footprint, take a look at our range today.

We also have plenty of information in our news section dedicated to electric cars to guide you through the technology and the difference in driving experience.