Frequently asked questions about charging cables 1. What is the difference between a Type 1 and Type 2 charging connector? Long USB-C cables that come with a carrying wrap like the Anker Powerline+ are ideal for travel, but when you're looking for a long cable to snake from the wall plug to your bed, you'll want the rugged reliability of Uni's Type-C Charging Cable, which also has the benefit of coming in a 15-foot option if you need the absolute longest cable you can without giving up charging speeds. As an EV owner, you might have a lot of questions when it comes to buying an EV charging cable. Keep reading to find answers for all of them. How Long Can an EV Charging Cable Be? If your car supports 7 kW charging only, it won’t charge any faster than 7 kW even if you use 22 kW adapters. The cable length might end up being pointless if your EV has a low charge rate. Battery Size and Fullness What if you have already bought a fast charging cable? EV cables are expensive, and buying a new cable just because the previous one is short may not be the best decision. The good news is that you can extend your EV cable using an additional charging cable.

Before diving into charging cable lengths and key considerations when deciding your charger cable length, you must understand the difference between tethered and untethered chargers. Extension cords come in various lengths and specifications, and you can choose the one that best fits your needs. You can extend all EV cables, including three-pin and tethered cables. Another concern for EV owners is whether an extension cord reduces charging speed. The answer is no. The final charge speed will be the same as your initial charge speed. So, if your charger has a 7.2 kW output, it will remain the same. While the length plays a vital role in the charging speed of an EV cable, it isn’t the only factor. Several other factors collectively act to determine the power output, and thus, the charging speed. Let’s briefly discuss some other factors that influence the charging speed of electric cars. Type of ChargerType 1 and Type 2 connectors are different plugs on the end of the charger cable attached to an electric car. For most electric vehicles produced in the UK from 2018 onwards, the type 2 EV charging plug is the most commonly used. AC chargers come in two types: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 chargers are single-phase only and have a power rating of 3.7-7 kW. They can add 12.5-25 miles per hour. In contrast, Type 2 chargers support three-phase power and have a power rating of up to 22 kW. They can add up to 75 miles per hour. Some three-phase cable chargers support over 40 kW power rating, giving over 100 miles of charge per hour.

Choosing an appropriate length of charging cable is essential. There are no standard guidelines around the best size of EV cables, but the recommended length is between 4m and 10m. That said, you can go for longer cables depending on your requirements. There is no hard-and-fast rule for choosing the length of charging cables. They can be as long as someone wants. However, the longest EV charging cable available in the UK is 20 metres. In the US, the maximum allowed length for EV cables is 25 ft. Do longer charging cables take longer to charge? A long charger cable is beneficial, as you can park your EV away from the charging point and still charge it. A long tethered cable can help you save on installation costs, as you can install the EV charging station closer to the service panel. Overall, a long extension cable means more operational flexibility. Ideal Length of Electric Car Charging Cables Environmental factors also affect charging speed. An EV takes slightly longer to charge in colder climates compared to hotter regions. This effect is more noticeable when you use public charging stations with rapid chargers. Conclusion Therefore, if you have an extremely long CCS charger, it may still charge faster than an extremely short Type 1 AC charger. Max. Charge Rate of the Vehicle and ConnectorsPlease note that length is not the only criteria to consider when selecting an EV cable. Several other factors must also be considered before making the final decision. You can follow this ultimate guide to buying charging cables for electric vehicles. How Does Length Affect Charging Performance? Long cables are convenient. You can park your car far away from the charging station and still charge it comfortably. Thus, long cables are ideal for outdoor use, especially if you charge your vehicle in public areas. However, you must ensure that the additional cable has a power rating equal to or more than your primary connector. If you use a charger with a lower power rating, the overall charging speed may decrease. A member of the XDA Developers forum performed an experiment to prove the relationship between cable length and charging speed. They took three cables of sizes 12″, 36″, and 72″. The experiment concluded that the 12″ cable charged 1.3x faster than the 36″ cable, while the 36″ cable charged 1.7x faster than the 72″ cable. On average, there was a 1.5x reduction in charging speed when the length of the cable was doubled. The output was the same for each cable. Finding the right EV charging cable does not have to be complicated. The right EV charging cable depends primarily on the distance between your car charger and where you park your car. Of course, there are other factors to consider, such as connector type and safety considerations. 4. What charging speed is right for me?