If you have an electric vehicle in the UK, a type 2 charging cable will become part of your weekly routine. You will plug it in, unplug it, coil it, stuff it in your boot, and do it all again. So, what is a type 2 cable?
Here is what you need to know.
The type 2 connector explained
A type 2 charging cable carries AC power from a charging point into your vehicle. Your car’s onboard charger then converts that AC into DC to fill the battery. Every EV sold in Britain today uses the type 2 format for AC charging.
The connector itself uses a seven-pin design, with each pin serving a specific purpose.
Three pins handle the phase connections for AC power. One provides neutral, another earth. The remaining two manage communication between your vehicle and the charger, agreeing on how much current to draw before power flows.
On a single phase supply, only five of those pins do anything. L2 and L3 sit idle. Connect to a three phase supply and all seven pins come alive, allowing power delivery up to 22kW.
Why type 2 won
Before 2013, manufacturers fitted whatever connector they fancied. One company used one design. Another used something different. Public networks had to install multiple socket types, and drivers carried bags full of adapters.
The European Commission ended that chaos by mandating a single standard. From 2013 onwards, the seven-pin type 2 connector became the required format for all public AC charging points across Europe.
That decision made the type 2 charging cable universal. One cable now works at any AC charger from Edinburgh to Athens. No adapters, no confusion, no incompatibility.
Modes of charging and what they mean
You will see cables described as Mode 2 or Mode 3. These terms refer to how the cable interacts with the power source, not the connector type.
Mode 2 cables (these are portable chargers for 3-pin sockets)
A mode 2 type 2 cable plugs into a standard three-pin domestic socket. One end has the type 2 connector for your car, the other has an ordinary plug for your wall.
Between them sits a control box containing safety electronics. That box limits current to protect your household wiring and communicates with your vehicle to manage the charge.
Power delivery tops out at around 2.3kW. Filling an empty battery takes the best part of a day. Most manufacturers include a mode 2 type 2 EV charging cable with new vehicles, but treat it as emergency equipment rather than your main charging method.
The three-pin socket in your kitchen was never designed for sustained high loads. Using it daily for EV charging risks overheating the outlet over time.
Mode 3 cables (these cables connect your EV to a charging station)
Mode 3 is what you want for regular use. A type 2 to type 2 cable connects your vehicle to a dedicated charging point, whether that is a home wallbox or a public AC charger.
Both ends of the type 2 to type 2 cable have the seven-pin connector. One end plugs into the charging point, the other into your car. The charger handles all communication and safety functions, so the cable itself contains no electronics.
Power delivery depends on your supply. A home wallbox on single phase typically provides 7.4kW through your type 2 to type 2 cable. A three phase charger pushes that to 22kW.
Single phase versus three phase
Most UK homes have a single phase electrical supply. You can tell by counting the fuses in your consumer unit. One main switch means single phase. Three means three phase.
On single phase, a type 2 charging cable delivers up to 7.4kW. That adds roughly 30 miles of range per hour. Leave your car plugged in overnight and you wake up to a full battery.
Three phase supplies triple the available power. Your type 2 to type 2 cable can deliver up to 22kW, adding around 80 miles of range per hour. Charging that took eight hours now takes under three.
Here is the thing worth knowing. A three phase type 2 charging cable works perfectly on a single phase supply. It simply uses five pins instead of seven and delivers single phase power.
The reverse is not true. A single phase cable cannot take advantage of a three phase charger. If you buy a single phase type 2 EV charging cable and later encounter a 22kW public charger, you will charge at 7.4kW instead.
Which should you buy?
Three phase. Always.
A three phase type 2 to type 2 cable costs perhaps twenty pounds more than a single phase equivalent. That premium buys you flexibility for years to come.
Public charging infrastructure keeps improving. Workplaces and car parks increasingly install three phase chargers. Owning a three phase type 2 charging cable means you can use these at full speed whenever you encounter them.
Your home supply will probably remain single phase. That is fine. Your three phase cable works exactly as a single phase cable would. You lose nothing.
Choosing the right type 2 EV charging cable
Beyond phase rating, you need to consider length, current rating, and build.
Length
7 metres is the sweet spot for 99% of drivers.
Type 2 to type 2 cables come in lengths from 3 metres to 20 metres. The right choice depends on where you charge.
At home, measure the distance from your wallbox to your charge port in the worst-case parking position. Add a metre for slack. Most drivers find 5 metres sufficient, but awkward driveways or rear-mounted charge ports may need 7 metres. Plus, an extra 2 metres is always handy!
Weight and storage become issues with longer cables. A 10 metre type 2 EV charging cable weighs noticeably more than a 7 metre one and takes up more boot space. Consider carrying a shorter cable for home and a longer one for public use if weight bothers you.
Current rating
Type 2 charging cables carry either 16 amp or 32 amp ratings. The rating determines maximum power delivery.
A 16 amp type 2 cable handles up to 3.7kW on single phase or 11kW on three phase. A 32 amp type 2 to type 2 cable handles up to 7.4kW on single phase or 22kW on three phase.
Buy 32 amp. The price difference is negligible and you avoid bottlenecking your charging speed. If your charger delivers 7.4kW but your type 2 charging cable only handles 3.7kW, you charge at 3.7kW.
Build and materials
You will use your type 2 EV charging cable in rain, frost, mud, and blazing sun. It will get run over by your own wheels, dropped on wet ground, and coiled hundreds of times.
Look for TPU insulation rather than PVC. TPU remains flexible in cold weather when PVC turns stiff. It also resists abrasion and chemicals better than cheaper alternatives.
The connector housings matter too. Reinforced glass-filled nylon handles impacts and temperature extremes without cracking. Rubber overmoulds at the cable entry points prevent water ingress and reduce strain.
Spending an extra forty pounds upfront saves replacement costs later. After two winters of daily use, cheaper cables crack, stiffen, and fail.
Where you will use your type 2 cable
Different scenarios call for different approaches. Understanding each helps you plan.
Home charging
A home wallbox provides the most practical charging solution for anyone with off-street parking. You arrive home, connect your type 2 to type 2 cable, and let the car charge overnight on cheap-rate electricity.
Most wallboxes sold in the UK are untethered. The unit mounts on your wall with a socket, and you supply your own type 2 charging cable. Untethered setups let you choose your cable length and take it with you when travelling.
Tethered wallboxes have a cable permanently attached. Convenient, but you cannot remove it. If you need a longer type 2 to type 2 cable to reach your charge port, you either reposition the wallbox or accept it will not stretch.
Untethered wins for most owners. Keep your type 2 EV charging cable coiled by the wallbox or in your boot, ready for public charging when needed.
Public charging
Destination chargers at supermarkets, hotels, and car parks typically require you to bring your own type 2 to type 2 cable. The charger has a socket, not a tethered cable.
Always carry a cable in your boot. Arriving at a charger without one means you cannot charge.
Some public networks use tethered units with the type 2 charging cable attached. You simply grab the cable and connect. But relying on this is risky. Many sites expect you to bring your own.
Lamp post chargers and residential on-street charging points almost always require your own type 2 EV charging cable. Urban charging relies on you being prepared.
Workplace charging
Employers increasingly install chargers for staff. These follow the same standards as public points. Your type 2 to type 2 cable connects exactly as it would at home or at a public charger.
Daytime workplace charging complements overnight home charging. You spread your energy use across different times and locations, reducing stress on any single supply.
Rapid charging and why your type 2 cable stays in the boot
Rapid chargers delivering 50kW or more use DC power. They bypass your car’s onboard charger entirely and push power directly into the battery.
These chargers use different connectors. CCS combines a type 2 top section with two additional DC pins below. CHAdeMO uses a completely different format, though it is being phased out.
Rapid chargers always have tethered cables. You never need to bring your own. Your type 2 charging cable stays in the boot while you use the attached DC cable.
The type 2 to type 2 cable remains your solution for AC charging anywhere. Rapid chargers handle the fast top-ups on longer journeys. Each has its place.
Caring for your type 2 charging cable
Cables last years with minimal attention. A few habits extend that lifespan further.
Storage
Coil your type 2 to type 2 cable loosely. Tight coiling stresses the conductors inside and can eventually cause failure.
Keep the connectors clean and dry when stored. A dedicated bag costs under ten pounds and protects your type 2 EV charging cable from boot debris.
Inspection
Check the connector pins periodically for corrosion or damage. Bent pins affect charging performance. Corroded pins create resistance and heat.
Examine the cable jacket for cuts or wear, especially near the connector entries. Damaged insulation allows water ingress that causes internal corrosion.
Cleaning
Wipe the connectors with a dry cloth. Dust accumulation affects connection quality over time. Never spray water directly into the connector.
If your type 2 charging cable gets muddy, clean the jacket with a damp cloth and dry the connectors thoroughly before use.
Frequently asked questions
Will any type 2 cable work with my car?
Yes. Standardisation ensures any type 2 to type 2 cable connects to any type 2 vehicle. Check the current rating matches or exceeds your vehicle’s onboard charger capacity.
Some older vehicles used type 1 connectors. A type 2 EV charging cable will not fit these. Check your charge port before buying.
Do I need a type 2 cable for rapid charging?
No. Rapid DC chargers have permanently attached cables. You connect using the charger’s cable, not your own. Your type 2 charging cable handles AC charging only.
Can I charge in the rain?
Absolutely. The type 2 connector is weatherproof when connected. Rain, snow, and sleet pose no safety risk during charging.
Avoid leaving your type 2 to type 2 cable disconnected on wet ground. Water pooling in the connector can cause problems. Either connect it or store it.
How long will my cable last?
Connectors are rated for thousands of insertion cycles. A quality type 2 charging cable should last five years or more with daily use.
Cheap cables may fail sooner, particularly if exposed to harsh weather. TPU-jacketed cables outlast budget alternatives significantly.
What to buy
For most drivers, a 7 metre, 32 amp, 7kw type 2 to type 2 cable handles home charging perfectly.
Avoid the cheapest options. A type 2 EV charging cable from a reputable supplier costs between eighty and one hundred and fifty pounds depending on length. That investment buys reliability, weather resistance, and years of trouble-free use.
Check your vehicle’s manual to confirm its onboard charger rating. Match or exceed that rating with your type 2 charging cable choice. If your car accepts 11kW AC and your cable handles 22kW, you have headroom for a future vehicle upgrade.
Keep your type 2 to type 2 cable in your boot at all times. The one time you forget it will be the day you desperately need a charge.
