Which EV Charging cable should I buy?

It can be a daunting task figuring out which EV charging cable you should buy for your electric car. Should I get a Single or 3-Phase, 16amp or 32amp, Type 1 or Type 2? In this blog, EasbyEV aims to answer some of your questions.

Should I buy a Type 1 or Type 2 EV charging cable?

The type of cable you need to fit into your electric vehicles charging socket depends on the car and manufacturer. With many electric cars, it is clear whether you need a Type 1 or Type 2 cable. This information is detailed in the driver’s manual. If you are not sure, we have a handy tool on our homepage that will help determine which cable type is best for you, It’s as simple as selecting the make and model of your vehicle. Or you can identify the different types of EV charging cables with our annotated pictures below.

Do I need a 16 Amp or 32 Amp EV charging cable?

Most modern-day charging stations are 32amp, making it more cost-effective to buy a 32amp charging cable because a 16amp cable would charge your electric vehicle slower. As confusing as it may sound, 32amp EV charging cables can still be used in a 16amp charger. 

Should it be Single Phase or 3-Phase cable?

A Type 1 EV cable is only available in Single Phase. However, with a Type 2 cable, you can buy either a Single Phase or 3-Phase. Most homes in the UK will have a Single Phase supply, which means you would only need a Single Phase cable to charge your electric vehicle from home. At workplaces and car parks, it may be that there is a 3-Phase supply, in which case a 3-Phase cable could be more suitable. Please note, 3-Phase EV cables are useable in both a Single Phase and 3-Phase charger.  

A Single Phase 32amp charger will charge at about 7.2kw per hour, and a 3-Phase 32amp charger will charge at about 22kW per hour (3 times quicker). The speed at which your electric vehicle can charge all depends on the onboard charger of your car. For example, a Tesla 3 has an AC onboard charger of 11kW per hour so, even if you used a 3-Phase cable with a 3-Phase charger, it would only charge at 11kW per hour, not 22kW. You should always check vehicle manufacturers for these details.

What length of charging cable should I buy?

Choosing your cable length is a personal choice and can depend on several factors. Many electric vehicles will come with a 3 or 5metre cable as standard but depending on the location of your charger – a longer charging cable might be required. At EasbyEV, we offer electric charging cables in 5m, 7.5m, and 10m lengths to cover most needs. All our EV cables fit neatly into our EasbyEV Protective Cable Bag.