Charging your EV: plugs and cables explained

EV chargers aren’t one-size-fits-all. Each vehicle has its own needs when it comes to the charging plug, so it’s about seeing what suits. There are lots of different plug types for electric cars, but here’s a quick rundown of the 2 main ones.

Type 1 plugs

These are mostly used in North America and Japan, have 5 pins, and support charging speeds of up to 7.4 kW. OVO’s untethered chargers can work with EVs with a type 1 plug, because customers will be using their own cable to connect to it. 

Type 2 plugs

Considered the European standard, type 2 plugs are very common in the UK, Europe, Australia, and other regions. They have 7 pins and offer faster charging speeds – up to 22 kW at home and 43 kW at public AC chargers. 

Type 2 plugs are used in the majority of EV models sold in the UK, including Tesla, Volkswagen, BMW, Volvo, and Hyundai. That’s why all of OVO’s tethered chargers are made with a type 2 fitting (our untethered chargers can be used with either a type 1 or type 2 plug). Since most UK homes only have single-phase power of up to 7kW, we don’t install 22kW EV chargers. 

How do I know which plug type is right for my EV?

You should be able to find what type of charging plug you need on your EV’s charging port or in its handbook. You can also check with your dealer or lease provider. 

Charging cables: tethered vs untethered

Now that you know what plug type you need to charge your EV, it’s time to choose the right charging cable. There are 2 types of cable – tethered and untethered. 

Untethered cables

An untethered cable unplugs from a socket or charge point and can be carried with you. It’s not attached to the charging unit, so you can plug it into other charging points. 

While this portable cable type is more flexible, you’ll need to bring your own cable whenever you need to charge. And if you buy a standalone untethered charging unit, it won’t come with a cable already. So you’ll need to buy one separately.

Tethered cables

A tethered cable is permanently fixed to the charging unit. It’s always there when you need it, so you don’t need to worry about carrying a cable around or plugging it in each time.

Which is better?

For many EV owners, a tethered cable is the most convenient option. That’s because you don’t need to carry cables in and out of your boot. If you mainly charge your electric car at home, this might be the right choice for you.

Having said that, untethered cables are more flexible as they work with different types of adaptors. There are few reasons why they might suit you best. For example, if you’re often using public chargers while you’re out and about, if you’re thinking of switching cars in the future, or if you have a type 1 connection on your EV. 

When you buy a charger from OVO, you can choose from the following types:

Tethered:

• myenergi (zappiGLO and zappi2.1)

• Indra

• Hypervolt

• Andersen (Quartz, A2 and A3)

Untethered: 

• myenergi (zappi2.1)

• Indra

• Andersen (Quartz)

Cable length: short vs long 

Charging cables come in different lengths, the tethered cables that connect to your home charger usually range from 2 to 10 meters. Longer cables are more flexible, but they’re also heavier and you’ll need more storage space.  

Short cables 

If your home charger is close to your parking spot, a shorter cable is better. The shortest tethered cable you can get from OVO is 5m. 

Long cables

If your charger is mounted on a wall or you need a bit of extra reach, go for a longer cable (6-10m). If you have more than one car to charge, a longer tethered cable will help your charger reach your vehicles. 

When you buy a charger from OVO, you can choose from the following cable lengths:

• Hypervolt: 5m, 7.5m, or 10m

• Indra: 6m

• myenergi: 6.5m

• Andersen: 5.5m (Quartz or A3), or 8.5m (Quartz or A2)

And that’s it – hopefully that’s helped you figure out which cable and plug you’ll need, whether you’re charging your EV at home or on the go.

Take a look at our range of EV chargers to find what works for you.