A guide offering advice on which cable you need and things to consider when buying a charging cable for your electric car.
Last updated: Feb 13, 2024 • 7 min read industrial power outlet
Complete Guide on EV Charging
Cost of Charging an Electric Car
How to Charge an Electric Car
EV Charging Connector Types and Speeds
You’ll need a charging cable to plug into most public chargepoints, and at home if you choose a charger without a tethered cable. This guide is to help you pick which charging cable you need.
* Please be aware that smart charging cables and adapters aren't permitted on the Pod Point Network.
You'll need to use a charging cable if you want to charge from a chargepoint (or socket) that doesn't have a cable attached. Typically, this will be the case when using AC chargepoints on public networks or home chargers that have universal sockets.
While you will generally get a lot of use out of a charging cable, in some situations it won’t be required because the chargepoint will already have a cable attached.
For example, you can choose to get a tethered chargepoint installed at home while rapid chargers, and a handful of public AC chargers, also have tethered cables attached.
Find out more about the different socket and EV connector types.
Tip: Your car will almost certainly come with a charging cable. However, some only offer cables that work with domestic 3-pin plugs. We recommend you check with whoever you are buying/leasing your electric car from that a Type 2 charging cable will be provided.
If you don’t have one or want a spare, you can order one from Pod Point when purchasing a home charger.
EV charging cables connect to the chargepoint socket on one side and to the vehicle socket on the other side.
If you need a charging cable, then you will want one with a Type 2 connector. The process for selecting a public cable goes as follows:
Tip: For public chargers to remain safe and in service, it's important to only use approved charging equipment. Adapters and "smart cables" currently on the market shouldn't be used for public charging as they pose a safety hazard and could damage the chargepoints.
* Though the Mitsubishi Outlander can only draw 16A, getting a 32A, 7kW cable would be recommended should you be likely to use this cable for any other electric car in future
Tip: Check our vehicle guides to see your car’s max charging rate.
If your car can draw three-phase electricity, we recommend spending a little extra and getting a three-phase cable. While you are unlikely to have three-phase power at home, you never know when you might find a three-phase charging point and the additional charge rate is always a bonus.
This will depend on your typical use as an EV driver. If you’ll need a cable to reach your chargepoint from a wider distance, a longer cable will be best for you. But if you don’t want your cable to take up too much space and are usually able to park next to your charger, a short cable will work fine.
For a compact solution that maximises usability, we like to recommend a cable length of 7.5m.
A cable with a current rating of 32A is best for fast charging. This type of cable will charge your electric car faster than a 16A cable, but it’s thicker and heavier to facilitate the higher current.
If you’re looking to use a rapid charger, you won’t need a separate cable as this type of chargepoint is fitted with a tethered cable.
EV charging cables are not all the same and come in different variations. With a connector on each end, the side inserted into the chargepoint socket should always be a Type 2 connector. On the other end, going into the vehicle socket is either a Type 1 or Type 2 connector.
Electric car charging cables can also have different current ratings. Your cable should match the car’s maximum AC charge rate or be higher. Plus, cables can vary in length, with longer cables offering more reach and shorter cables being easier to store.
There isn't necessarily a correct option to go for, generally a tethered charger is more practical, with a longer cable being offered and ensuring that it is always available. Universal chargers on the other hand are the more flexible of the two options, allowing you to take the cable with you, if you're willing to sacrifice a bit of cable length.
Some key things to consider before making your choice are;
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