What is a Type 2 charging cable?

A Type 2 charging cable is what connects your electric car to an AC charging station. It’s the standard connector for EVs across the UK and Europe.

If you drive a Tesla, BMW, MG, Kia, Hyundai, BYD, Audi, VW, Ford, Volvo, or Polestar, your car has a Type 2 inlet.

You’ll use one at home wallboxes, workplace chargers, and public AC stations. Here’s everything you need to know about how they work.

The Type 2 connector

The Type 2 connector was developed by Mennekes, a German electrical manufacturer. Its formal standard is IEC 62196-2.

It has seven pins. Three are for AC phase lines (L1, L2, and L3). On a single-phase supply, only L1 is active. L2 and L3 carry power on three-phase.

One pin is neutral (N) and one is protective earth (PE). These are present on every connection regardless of phase type.

The final two are signalling pins. The control pilot (CP) negotiates the charging current between your car and the charger.

The proximity pilot (PP) detects whether the plug is fully inserted and tells the charger it’s safe to begin.

When plugged in, the connector locks into the vehicle inlet. Your car releases the lock when you stop the charging session or unlock the car.

Type 2 vs other connector types

You’ll see several connector names mentioned around EV charging. Here’s how they compare.

CCS uses the Type 2 connector as its top half, with two additional DC pins below. So your Type 2 cable plugs into the top portion of a CCS inlet.

Type 1 is a five-pin connector mostly found on older or Japanese-market EVs. It’s rare on new cars sold in the UK.

CHAdeMO is a Japanese DC standard that’s now being phased out in Europe. Very few new models support it.

Where you’ll use a Type 2 cable

Home wallboxes

Many home chargers in the UK are untethered, meaning they have a Type 2 socket but no built-in cable. The Ohme ePod, Easee One, and Zappi all work like that.

You plug your own Type 2 cable into the wallbox, then into your car. When you’re done, you unplug and store the cable.

Some wallboxes are tethered, with a cable permanently attached. If yours is tethered, you won’t need a separate cable for home charging.

Workplace and destination chargers

Hotels, supermarkets, car parks, and offices often have AC chargers rated between 7kW and 22kW. Most are untethered.

Networks like Pod Point, Char.gy, and Connected Kerb all operate untethered AC units. Without your own cable, you can’t use them.

Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers

DC chargers (50kW and above) always come with a tethered CCS cable. You don’t need your own cable at motorway services or rapid charging hubs.

Your Type 2 cable stays in the boot for AC charging only.

Understanding the ratings

Amperage

Type 2 cables come rated at either 16A or 32A. The rating tells you the maximum current the cable can safely carry.

A 32A cable works with both 16A and 32A chargers. It charges at whatever rate the charger provides, never more.

Always buy 32A. It costs marginally more and future-proofs you if you upgrade your charger later.

Single-phase vs three-phase

Most UK homes run on single-phase electricity, which maxes out at 7.2kW on a 32A cable.

Three-phase supply is common in commercial buildings. A three-phase Type 2 cable can charge at up to 11kW or 22kW depending on the charger.

Unless you know you have three-phase at home (most people don’t), a single-phase 32A cable covers you.

What’s inside a Type 2 cable

The conductors are multi-strand flexible copper, rated to EN 60228 Class 5. Multi-strand copper bends repeatedly without fatiguing.

Better cables use silver-plated copper on the connector pins. Silver plating reduces electrical resistance and prevents corrosion over time.

The outer sheath on a quality cable is TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), as specified under EN 50620. TPU stays flexible in cold weather and resists abrasion and UV exposure.

Cheaper cables sometimes use PVC or TPE instead. PVC stiffens badly in winter. TPE is lighter but degrades faster when left outdoors permanently.

Certifications to look for

A cable with UKCA and CE is legal. A cable with TÜV and CB on top of that has been independently verified to a higher standard.

What length do you need?

Most factory-supplied cables are 5 metres. In our experience, 5m is too short for many setups.

If your charger is mounted near the front of your parking space and your charge port is at the rear, 5m can leave you a metre short.

7 metres is the length most drivers settle on. It reaches comfortably around the car without leaving excess cable on the ground.

10 metres suits long driveways or situations where the charger is further from the parking spot.

How long does a Type 2 cable last?

The Type 2 connector is rated to IEC 62196, which requires a minimum of 10,000 mating cycles. At one charge per day, that’s over 27 years.

A TPU-sheathed cable is engineered to remain functional for 10 years or more with regular outdoor use.

Look for a warranty of at least three years. Our Type 2 cables come with a three-year warranty covering manufacturing defects.

Summary

Type 2 is the UK and European standard for AC charging. If you drive an EV, you almost certainly have a Type 2 inlet.

You need your own cable for untethered wallboxes and public AC chargers. DC rapid chargers have their own cables built in.

Go for 32A, 7 metres, with UKCA and CE certification at minimum. TPU sheath and silver-plated pins are the marks of a well-built cable.