What kind of cable do you need for an electric car?

An EV charging cable. Photo:https://www.wissenergy.com/

Choosing a right electric charging cable is not as easy as it might be especially if you are a new electric vehicle owner. Here is our guide for you to choose the most suitable charging cable for your electric cars.

In this guide, you will learn about the difference between type 1 and type 2 sockets. In addition, you will know where you can use your charging cable and what is the most desirable cable length and current rating you need.

Where you need a charging cable?

A charging cable is essential if you charge your vehicle from a chargepoint without tethered cable or if you want to charge on home chargers with universal sockets. In some situations, a charging cable is not required the chargepoint is attached with cables.

What you need to know to choose a charging cable?

First, you should learn what is the difference between type 1 and type 2.

Type 2 cable: The majority of electric vehicles use type 2 charging cables, which are the most common cable format. By counting the number of “pins” in the connection, you can tell if it is a Type 2 charging cable. There should be five holes with real pins inside, plus two more holes at the bottom. The bottom two holes may or may not include pins depending on whether the cable is single-phase or three-phase. The bottom two holes in a single-phase cable may be “missing,” but that is also quite acceptable because they are only required for three-phase charging.

Type 1 cable: Type 1 cables are identified by their five pin connections and a clasp on top that secures to charging ports and prevents the cable from being unintentionally pulled out during charging. While Type 1 cables are capable of charging at up to 7.2 kW, they cannot benefit from the faster charging rates that Type 2 cables are normally capable of since they are not three-phase compatible. It’s possible to find a Type 1 cable if you’re purchasing an older used electric vehicle. However, it’s uncommon to see a car manufacturer introduce a new model with such an outmoded connecting plug.

Then, you should choose an appropriate length and pick a suitable current.

Apart from socket, EV cables vary in length, current rating, and can carry single or three-phase electricity. A short cable is easy to store and is not as heavy as a long cable. However, a long cable can offer you more reach and make safe and convenient home charging experiences available.

It’s crucial to pick a charging cable rated to carry enough power to charge the battery of your electric car at the fastest possible rate. The most common cable types are 16 amp and 32 amp; the latter will be heavier and thicker since a wider wire is required to carry more electricity. Even though your current car’s on-board charger is only equipped for 16amps, it may be worthwhile to get a 32amp cable since you may want to use it for a higher-rated vehicle in the future. 32amp cables are heavier and hence a little more difficult to handle, which deters some individuals.

The last factor you need to know is Phase 1 and Phase 3

There are three distinct phases to the organization of the electrical grid. Charge times increase as phase increases, whereas charge times decrease as phase increases. Phase 1 only utilizes the Phase 1 sector of the grid, but Phase 3 utilizes all of them for quick charging. In order to avoid wasting money, be sure that your electric car can handle three-phase charging before choosing to purchase a cable with three phases. Phase 1 cables typically provide up to 7.2kW of power, however Phase 3 cables may provide up to 22kW, therefore the greater the kW of your cable and charging capabilities, the quicker your car will charge.

The following is our cable examples.