Buying Guides
What Cable Do You Need for a Hypervolt Charger?
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Hypervolt home chargers are available in both tethered and untethered versions, so the cable you need depends on which you have. A tethered Hypervolt has the cable permanently attached, so you plug the built-in end into your car with nothing else to buy. An untethered Hypervolt has a socket, so you supply your own Type 2 to Type 2 charging lead rated to match the box. Check your unit first, and if you need a lead the Type 2 charging cables range covers the common lengths and power ratings. To confirm exactly what your car takes, run your registration through the cable finder.
At a glance: Hypervolt cable needs
| Your Hypervolt | Cable you need | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tethered (cable attached) | None, it is built in | Plug the attached end into your car |
| Untethered (socket only) | Your own Type 2 to Type 2 lead | Match power and length to your setup |
| Single-phase home | 7.4kW Type 2 lead | Standard for most UK homes |
| Type 1 older car | Type 1 to Type 2 lead (untethered only) | Charger end is always Type 2 |
Does a Hypervolt come with a cable?
It depends on the version. A tethered Hypervolt ships with the charging cable already attached, so you take the end and plug it into the car. An untethered Hypervolt has a socket on the front instead, which looks tidier when idle but means you provide your own Type 2 to Type 2 lead. Check yours: a fixed cable means tethered, a bare socket means untethered. That single look tells you whether you need to buy anything at all.
Do I need a cable for a tethered Hypervolt?
No. A tethered Hypervolt has its cable built in, so there is nothing extra to buy for everyday charging. You lift the attached connector and plug it into the car. The only lead a tethered owner might keep handy is a spare Type 2 to Type 2 cable for untethered public chargers, which use a socket rather than a fixed cable. For more, see do you need a cable for a tethered charger.
What cable does an untethered Hypervolt need?
An untethered Hypervolt needs a standard Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable, the same universal AC lead used at most untethered public chargers. Both ends are Type 2: one plugs into the Hypervolt socket, the other into your car's charge port. This is an ordinary home charging cable, not a rapid DC lead and not a granny charger. Pick the power rating and length to suit, and it will work with the Hypervolt just as at any Type 2 point.
What power rating should I choose?
For most UK homes, a 7.4kW Type 2 cable is the right choice, since the majority of homes are single phase and 7.4kW is the single-phase ceiling. A 22kW-rated cable only delivers 22kW with a three-phase supply and a car that accepts three-phase AC, which is a minority of setups. On a single-phase home a 22kW cable still charges at 7.4kW, just heavier and dearer. To decide, read 7kW vs 22kW and do I need a 22kW cable.
What length and car end do I need?
Choose 5m for most driveways, or 7m to 10m if your charge port is on the far side of the car or you park at an angle. The car end must match your car's inlet, which for almost every EV sold since 2018 is Type 2, so a Type 2 to Type 2 lead is correct. Some older cars use Type 1 and need a Type 1 to Type 2 cable. The Hypervolt end is always Type 2.
- 5m: standard driveways with the box near the parking spot.
- 7m to 10m: awkward inlet, angled parking, or reaching past a car.
- Unsure of your inlet? See Type 1 vs Type 2.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Hypervolt charger include a cable?
Only the tethered version, which has the cable permanently attached and included. The untethered Hypervolt has a socket instead, so you supply your own Type 2 to Type 2 lead. Check your unit: a fixed cable means tethered and nothing extra to buy, while a bare socket means untethered and needs your own cable.
Do I need to buy a cable for a tethered Hypervolt?
No. A tethered Hypervolt has the cable built in, so you plug the attached connector straight into your car. The only lead you might want is a spare Type 2 to Type 2 cable for untethered public chargers, which use a socket rather than a fixed cable. For home charging the tethered unit is self-contained.
What cable does an untethered Hypervolt need?
A standard Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable, rated to match your setup. Both ends are Type 2 connectors, one for the Hypervolt socket and one for your car. For most UK homes a 7.4kW lead is plenty, since single-phase supplies cap at that rate. Choose a length that reaches your charge port comfortably.
Will a 22kW cable make a Hypervolt charge faster?
Not on a single-phase home. A cable only delivers what the weakest link allows, so a 22kW-rated lead on a single-phase supply still charges at 7.4kW. Faster AC charging needs a three-phase supply and a car that accepts three-phase power. For most homes a 7.4kW cable is the sensible, cheaper choice.
Can I use a public charging cable with a Hypervolt?
Yes, if your Hypervolt is untethered. The Type 2 to Type 2 lead you use at untethered public chargers is exactly what an untethered Hypervolt needs, so one cable covers both. If your Hypervolt is tethered you do not need this at home, but a spare lead is still useful for public sockets.
What if my car has a Type 1 inlet?
You need a Type 1 to Type 2 cable, and only on an untethered Hypervolt, since a tethered one already has a fixed cable. Type 1 inlets appear on some cars sold before 2018. The charger end is always Type 2. Check your car's inlet or use the cable finder if you are unsure.
In short, a tethered Hypervolt is ready to use as it comes, while an untethered Hypervolt takes your own Type 2 to Type 2 lead sized to your supply and driveway. If you need a cable, the Type 2 charging cables range lists the options, and to understand the two charger styles read tethered vs untethered wallbox alongside do you need a cable for a tethered charger.

Written by
Gavin RogersCo-founder · drives a BMW iX2
Gavin runs a BMW iX2 and spends a lot of his time on the gap between a car's headline charging figure and what you actually get at home. A car quoting 11kW three-phase still charges at 7.4kW on a normal single-phase UK house, and that is exactly the kind of thing the site exists to make clear.
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