Most electric cars use two different cables depending on where and how fast they are charging a Type 2 cable for home and workplace AC charging, and a CCS connector built into the car for public rapid DC charging. Whether you need to bring your own cable depends on where you are charging: home wallboxes are often tethered and include a cable, public AC chargers usually require you to supply your own, and public rapid DC chargers are always tethered and supply the cable for you. Getting this wrong means arriving at a public charge point without the right cable, or buying a cable you do not need. This guide explains every EV charging cable type used in the UK, which connector your car uses, when you need to bring your own, what length to buy, and whether a Tesla charge cable works on other vehicles. For the wider picture of AC vs DC and charging speeds, see our types of EV charging explained guide.
The Two Situations Where You Need a Cable
Before getting into connector types, the most useful distinction is practical: there are two situations where having your own cable matters.
Home charging with an untethered wallbox. A tethered wallbox has a cable permanently attached; you just pick it up and plug in. An untethered wallbox has a socket on the unit you need your own cable to connect it to your car. If you have or are planning to install an untethered wallbox, you need a Type 2 to Type 2 cable stored at home.
Public AC charging. Most public AC charge points (lamp posts, car park chargers, destination chargers at hotels and retail parks) are untethered; they have a socket but no cable. You need your own Type 2 cable to use them. Public rapid DC chargers are always tethered; the cable is attached to the unit and you do not need your own.
Everything else about charging cables flows from understanding this distinction.
EV Charging Cable Types in the UK
Type 2 the universal UK standard for AC charging
Type 2 is the standard connector for AC charging across the UK and Europe. It is a 7-pin connector that handles both single-phase (up to 7.4kW) and three-phase (up to 22kW) AC charging. Every modern electric vehicle sold in the UK has a Type 2 inlet for AC charging. Every home wallbox, workplace charger, and public AC charge point in the UK uses Type 2.
A Type 2 to Type 2 cable also called a Mode 3 cable connects an untethered charge point to your car. One end connects to the charge point socket, the other to the car’s Type 2 inlet. This is the cable most UK EV drivers need to own.
Who needs one: Anyone with an untethered home wallbox, and anyone who uses public AC charge points regularly.
Lengths available: 5m, 7.5m, 10m, and 15m. For home use, 5m is sufficient for most driveways. For public charging where the charge point may not be directly adjacent to the car’s charging port, 7.5m provides more flexibility. A 15m EV charging cable is long enough to reach across a driveway, garage, or parking space where the inlet is on the far side of the vehicle from the charge point.
CCS (Combined Charging System) for rapid DC charging
CCS is the standard for rapid and ultra-rapid DC charging in the UK and Europe. It combines a Type 2 AC socket with two additional DC pins below it, allowing both AC and DC charging through a single inlet. Most new EVs sold in the UK in the last four years use CCS as their DC rapid charging connector.
You do not need to own a CCS cable. Public rapid chargers with CCS are always tethered; the cable is attached to the charge point itself. You never need to bring a CCS cable to a public charger; it is already there.
Who needs one: Nobody CCS cables are not available as a consumer purchase and are not needed. The rapid charger provides the cable.
CHAdeMO older DC rapid charging standard
CHAdeMO is a Japanese DC rapid charging standard used on older Nissan Leaf models and some Mitsubishi vehicles. It uses a separate, larger connector rather than combining with the Type 2 socket. CHAdeMO is being phased out; no new vehicles launched in the UK currently use it but older Leaf drivers will encounter CHAdeMO connectors at public rapid chargers.
Like CCS, CHAdeMO cables at rapid chargers are always tethered. You do not need to own one.
If you drive an older CHAdeMO vehicle and want to charge at a CCS-only rapid charger, an adaptor may be available for your specific vehicle check with your manufacturer.
Mode 2 the granny charger cable
The Mode 2 cable universally called a granny charger comes included with every new EV. It connects the car to a standard 13A domestic plug socket and charges at approximately 2.3kW. It includes an in-cable control box (ICCB) with built-in safety electronics.
It is not a cable you purchase separately it comes with the car. It is useful for emergency top-ups and occasional use away from home but is not appropriate for regular daily charging. For the full picture of when granny charging is appropriate and when it is not, see our granny charger guide. For a step-by-step on day-to-day home charging, see how to charge an electric car at home.
Type 1 older standard, rare in the UK
Type 1 is a 5-pin AC connector used on some older electric vehicles including early Nissan Leafs and some older Mitsubishi and Renault models. No new EVs sold in the UK use Type 1. If you have a Type 1 vehicle, your car likely came with a Type 1 to Type 2 adaptor cable that allows it to connect to standard UK Type 2 charge points.
Cable Types at a Glance
| Cable type | Used for | Tethered at charge point? | Need to own one? |
| Type 2 to Type 2 | Home and public AC charging | Sometimes (home wallboxes vary) | Yes if your wallbox is untethered or you use public AC chargers |
| CCS | Public rapid and ultra-rapid DC charging | Always | No |
| CHAdeMO | Public rapid DC (older Nissan/Mitsubishi) | Always | No |
| Mode 2 (granny cable) | Domestic socket emergency charging | N/A comes with the car | No comes with the car |
| Type 1 to Type 2 | AC charging for older vehicles | Varies | Comes with older vehicles |
Tethered vs Untethered Wallboxes How This Affects Your Cable Needs
This is the most common source of confusion for new EV owners setting up home charging.
Tethered wallbox: The cable is permanently attached to the unit. You pick up the cable, plug it into the car, and charging begins. No separate cable needed. The trade-off is that the tethered cable suits a specific connector type almost always Type 2 for UK vehicles so if you change vehicles in the future, you may need a different wallbox or cable.
Untethered wallbox: The unit has a Type 2 socket. You need your own Type 2 to Type 2 cable stored near the charger. More flexible if you have or might have vehicles with different requirements, but requires the cable to be managed and stored.
Most homeowners with a single Type 2 EV choose a tethered unit for convenience. Untethered is more common for households with multiple vehicles or commercial installations where vehicles vary.
When choosing between tethered and untethered at installation stage, our team advises on which suits your setup. For the full picture of home charger choices, see our home EV charger installation page.
What Length Cable Do You Need?
For home charging:
5m sufficient for most driveways where the wallbox is on the adjacent wall to where the car parks. The most common choice for standard home installations.
7.5m useful where the charge point is on a different wall from where the car inlet sits, or where the driveway is wider than average.
10m for longer driveways, garages where the car parks some distance from the charger, or situations where the car may be parked in slightly different positions.
15m EV charging cable (3-pin or Type 2) for maximum reach. A 15m granny cable (Mode 2 with 3-pin plug) is the longest commonly available domestic charging cable and suits situations where no dedicated charge point is accessible and a socket is some distance from the parking space. Note that a 15m Mode 2 cable is not a substitute for a properly installed wallbox the longer the cable, the more voltage drop occurs and the more the load is stressed on the domestic circuit.
For public charging, cable length matters less the public charge point is fixed and you position the car relative to it. A 7.5m Type 2 cable handles the vast majority of public AC charge point situations.
Tesla Charge Cables: Do They Work on Other Cars?
Tesla vehicles sold in Europe including the UK use a Type 2 inlet for AC charging, the same as all other modern UK EVs. The Tesla charging cable supplied with European market vehicles is therefore a standard Type 2 cable, and it works on any Type 2 charge point. Other cars with Type 2 inlets can also use a Tesla-supplied Type 2 cable.
The confusion arises from the North American market, where Tesla used a proprietary connector. In the UK and Europe, Tesla moved to Type 2 as the standard so a UK Tesla charge cable is simply a Type 2 cable with the Tesla branding.
Tesla Wall Connector: The Tesla Wall Connector is a tethered home wallbox available as a standalone product or installed by an approved installer. It uses a Type 2 connector and is compatible with all Type 2 vehicles, not just Teslas. EV Install Pro is an approved Tesla Wall Connector installer see our Tesla Wall Connector page for more detail.
Buying a Type 2 Cable: What to Look For
If you need to purchase a Type 2 to Type 2 cable for home or public charging, the key specifications:
Current rating: 16A or 32A. A 32A cable supports the full output of a 7kW wallbox. A 16A cable limits charging to 3.6kW regardless of the charger’s capability. For home use with a 7kW wallbox, always buy a 32A cable.
Single-phase vs three-phase: If your charger or destination charge point supports three-phase charging (22kW), you need a three-phase cable. For standard single-phase home charging (7kW), a single-phase 32A cable is sufficient.
Cable quality and insulation: EV charging cables carry sustained high current. Cable quality matters for both safety and longevity cheap cables with inadequate insulation degrade faster and present fire risk at the connector contacts. Buy from reputable sources rather than lowest-price online marketplaces. If your home circuit is older or you’re unsure whether it can carry sustained 32A load, see preparing your home electrical system for EV charger installation.
Connector locking: Type 2 connectors lock into the vehicle during charging preventing the cable being removed while current is flowing. Confirm the cable’s connectors comply with IEC 62196-2 (the European standard for Type 2 connectors).
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of charging cable do I need for an electric car in the UK?
Most UK EV owners need a Type 2 to Type 2 cable for home and public AC charging, particularly if their home wallbox is untethered or if they use public AC charge points. The Mode 2 granny cable that came with the vehicle covers emergency domestic socket use. You do not need to own a CCS or CHAdeMO cable; rapid chargers at public locations supply these cables tethered to the charge point.
Do I need to bring my own cable to a public EV charger?
It depends on the charge point type. Public AC chargers, including lamp post chargers, car park chargers and destination chargers, are usually untethered and require you to bring your own Type 2 cable. Public rapid and ultra-rapid DC chargers are generally tethered and supply the cable. Check the charge point listing on Zap-Map before travelling to confirm whether it is tethered or untethered.
What is the difference between Type 2 and CCS?
Type 2 is the AC charging connector used for home charging, workplace charging and public destination chargers. CCS (Combined Charging System) is the DC rapid charging connector used for fast public charging at motorway services and charging hubs. CCS combines a Type 2 connection with two additional DC pins. Most modern UK EVs have a combined inlet that accepts both Type 2 and CCS connections.
What length EV charging cable do I need?
For most home installations, 5m is sufficient. For wider driveways or where the charge point and car inlet are on different sides, 7.5m or 10m provides more flexibility. A 15m cable provides maximum reach where the parking space is further from the charge point. For public AC charging, a 7.5m cable can provide useful flexibility across different parking layouts.
Does a Tesla charging cable work on other cars?
In the UK, yes. Tesla vehicles supplied in Europe use the standard Type 2 connector for AC charging, so a Tesla-supplied Type 2 cable can work with other compatible Type 2 vehicles and charge points. The North American Tesla connector is different and is not the standard connector used for UK AC charging.
What is the difference between a tethered and untethered EV charger?
A tethered charger has a cable permanently attached to the unit, so you simply pick it up and plug it into your car. An untethered charger has a socket on the unit and requires you to supply your own Type 2 cable. Many homeowners with a single vehicle choose tethered charging for convenience. For guidance on which option suits your setup, see our home EV charger installation page.
Can I use a 3-pin plug to charge my EV?
Yes, using the Mode 2 granny cable supplied with your vehicle. A standard 3-pin socket typically delivers around 2.3kW, which can add roughly 8–10 miles of range per hour depending on the vehicle and conditions. It is useful for occasional or emergency charging but is generally not recommended as the main method for regularly charging a full EV. See our granny charger guide for more information.
Get the Right Home Charging Setup
Understanding which cable you need is the first step. Getting the right charger installed tethered or untethered, the right power output, correctly specified for your vehicle and driveway is what the site survey is for.
EV Install Pro is OZEV-approved and NICEIC-registered, installing home EV chargers including the Ohme ePod, Andersen Quartz, and Tesla Wall Connector across our service area. Every installation includes smart charger configuration and a full Electrical Installation Certificate as standard.
For a full breakdown of charger types and power outputs, see our 3kW vs 7kW vs 22kW comparison guide. For what installation costs, see our EV charger installation cost page. For available grants, see our EV charger grants page. For location-specific installation information, see our location page or find your area: Barnet, Croydon, Ealing, Richmond, Watford, Westminster, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth, Tower Hamlets, Sutton, and Brent.
Request a quote or contact us to arrange a no-obligation site survey.
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