Guides
EV charging
guides.
Straight answers on connectors, charging speeds and what actually fits your car. No jargon, no filler.
Buying Guides
Do New EVs Come With a Charging Cable?
Many new EVs ship with only a granny charger or nothing, so you often buy a Type 2 lead separately. Makers frequently drop the Type 2 cable to cut the headline price A granny charger is a slow backup, not a daily wallbox solution Buy a 32A Type 2 to Type 2 lead in a length that suits your parking
Buying Guides
Can I Use Any EV Charging Cable With My Car?
A cable works only if the car-end connector, current rating and length all suit your car and parking. The car end must match your inlet: Type 2 for most cars, Type 1 for older ones A 32A cable is the safe, flexible default and works on lower rated setups Pick 5m, 7m or 10m to reach your charge point comfortably
Compatibility
What Is CCS Charging? Combined Charging System Explained
CCS is the mainstream rapid DC standard, using a Type 2 connector with two extra DC pins for one combined charging inlet. CCS rapid chargers are always tethered, so you never buy a CCS cable The combined inlet handles both home AC and rapid DC Most modern UK EVs use CCS for rapid charging
Buying Guides
EV Charging Connectors Explained: Type 1, Type 2, CCS, CHAdeMO
The four UK connectors are Type 1 and Type 2 for AC charging, plus CCS and CHAdeMO for rapid DC. Type 2 is the UK standard on every EV sold since 2018 You only ever buy a cable for AC charging, never for rapid DC Match the car end of the cable to your car's inlet
Buying Guides
Coiled vs Straight EV Charging Cables: Which to Buy?
Coiled and straight EV cables charge at the same speed, so choose based on storage space and handling rather than performance. Coiled cables save boot space but can feel stiffer and heavier Straight cables handle more easily but need tidy storage Both use the same Type 2 connectors and charge identically
Comparisons
Single Phase vs Three Phase EV Charging Explained
Single-phase charging caps at 7.4kW and covers most UK homes, while three phase enables 11kW or 22kW but is rare in homes. A 22kW cable still charges at 7.4kW on a single-phase home Only some cars can accept 11kW or 22kW AC charging 7.4kW overnight suits the vast majority of UK drivers
Buying Guides
What Length EV Charging Cable Do I Need? 5m, 7m or 10m
5m suits most home driveways, while 7m or 10m is better for on-street parking or an awkward car inlet position. Measure socket to inlet, then add slack for parking and routing Longer cables cost more and are heavier to handle and store Length does not change your charging speed
Comparisons
Tethered vs Untethered EV Chargers: Which Is Better?
Tethered chargers have the cable attached for convenience, while untethered chargers let you plug in your own Type 2 lead for more flexibility. Tethered is quick and tidy for one car and one driveway Untethered is more flexible and future-proof across car changes Both charge at the same speed for a given power rating
Buying Guides
Are Granny Chargers Safe to Use?
Granny chargers are safe plugged directly into a sound wall socket on its own circuit, but not through an extension lead, adapter or smart plug. Always plug straight into a modern, undamaged wall socket Never use an extension lead, multi-way adapter or smart plug Stop if the plug or socket feels hot or smells of burning
Buying Guides
Granny Charger vs Wallbox: Which Do You Need?
A wallbox is your fast daily home charger at up to 7.4kW, a granny charger is a slow 3-pin backup, and most drivers want both. Granny charger ~2.3kW, adds ~8 to 10 miles per hour Wallbox up to 7.4kW, adds ~25 to 30 miles per hour Keep a granny charger in the boot as backup
Compatibility
What Is CHAdeMO Charging? The Older Rapid Standard
CHAdeMO is an older rapid DC charging standard, known from the older Nissan Leaf, now being phased out in favour of CCS. CHAdeMO chargers are tethered, so you never buy a CHAdeMO cable Mostly found on older EVs, with CCS now the mainstream standard Availability may reduce as networks focus on CCS
Buying Guides
Do I Need a 22kW EV Charging Cable? An Honest Answer
Almost certainly not. A 22kW cable only charges faster if your car has a three-phase onboard charger and you use a 22kW AC supply. On a normal UK home a 7.4kW cable is all your setup can use. Most UK homes are single phase, capped at 7.4kW whatever cable you use 22kW needs a three-phase car and a three-phase or public 22kW AC point Buy 22kW only as future-proofing, and know it costs and weighs more
Buying Guides
Which EV Charging Cable Do I Need? The Complete UK Guide
Your car's inlet decides the connector (Type 2 for almost every EV sold in the UK since 2018) and your car's onboard charger decides the power (7.4kW suits most). Match those, then pick a length that reaches your car. Connector: Type 2 for post-2018 EVs, Type 1 for a few older cars Power: 7.4kW for single-phase homes and most cars, 22kW only for three-phase cars Length: 5m suits most driveways, 7m to 10m for awkward parking
Comparisons
7.4kW vs 22kW EV Charging Cables: Which Do You Need?
A cable only carries as much power as your car's onboard AC charger accepts. A 22kW cable will not make a single-phase car charge any faster. 7.4kW (32A single phase) suits most UK homes and most cars 22kW (32A three phase) only helps cars with a three-phase onboard charger Buy 22kW for genuine future-proofing, never because it sounds faster
Comparisons
Type 1 vs Type 2 EV Charging Cables: What's the Difference?
The connector on your car's inlet decides which you need. Almost every EV sold in the UK since 2018 uses Type 2; a small number of older cars use Type 1. Type 2 is the modern seven-pin standard, single or three phase, and it locks in place Type 1 is an older five-pin single-phase connector on some pre-2018 cars Your cable's car end must match your inlet; the charger end is Type 2 either way
How-to
How to Stop EV Charging Cable Theft: Fixes That Actually Work (2026)
Cable theft is almost always opportunistic, so a visible lock is usually enough to send a thief to an easier target. Lock the connector, add a lockable holster on a driveway, and take the cable with you when you can. A connector lock is the cheapest, most effective deterrent A lockable holster secures the cable end on a home charger The best free habit is simply not leaving the cable out unattended
Buying Guides
Best Portable EV Chargers (Granny Chargers) UK 2026
The best portable EV charger for most UK drivers is a recognised-brand 3-pin unit with the right cable length, led by the Cord Lite Type 2. Six picks for brand, value, app control, adjustable current and gentle draw Cable lengths from 5m to 10m to suit driveways or on-street parking Adds around 8 to 10 miles of range per hour, best as a backup