Type 1 to Type 2 EV Cable Adapter, 32A
| What it is | A short adapter between a Type 1 and a Type 2 connection |
|---|---|
| Rated power | 32A, 7.4 kW single phase |
| On a UK home supply | Carries the full 7.4 kW a single phase house delivers |
| Use with | A cable of the matching rating, not on its own |
| Best for | Older Type 1 cars and Nissan Leaf era inlets meeting Type 2 equipment |
What this adapter is for
British charging standardised on Type 2 around 2014, and plenty of good cars sold before that use the older Type 1 inlet. That leaves owners of a first generation Leaf, an Outlander PHEV or a Kia Soul EV looking at Type 2 equipment that will not physically mate with the car. This adapter bridges that gap for AC charging.
It is a short adapter, not a cable. You use it with a charging cable of the same rating or better, and the pair together does the job of a dedicated cable. If you charge at home every day, a full Type 1 to Type 2 cable is neater and there is one less connection to worry about. The adapter is for the times you are away from your own charger.
What it does to charge speed
It carries 32A, which is 7.4 kW on a single phase supply, and that is the most any ordinary British house can give you. Most Type 1 cars accept far less than that, so the adapter will not be what limits the charge. The car's own onboard charger sets the pace: 3.3 kW and 6.6 kW are the common ratings on Type 1 era vehicles.
| Cable | Power drawn at home | Empty to full, 24 kWh battery | Empty to full, 30 kWh battery | Empty to full, 40 kWh battery | Range added per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adapter and cable, car limited to 6.6 kW | 6.6 kW | 4 hours | 5 hours 15 mins | 6 hours 45 mins | about 23 miles |
| Adapter and cable, car limited to 3.3 kW | 3.3 kW | 8 hours 15 mins | 10 hours 15 mins | 13 hours 45 mins | about 12 miles |
Battery sizes here are the ones actually found on Type 1 cars rather than the 60 to 80 kWh packs of newer models. Hours are worked from battery size against power drawn, plus a 13 per cent allowance for what is lost as heat, rounded to fifteen minutes.
Before you order
Check which connector is on your car and which is on the equipment you want to use, and count the pins if you are not sure. Type 1 has five, Type 2 has seven. If you tell us the car and where you are charging we will tell you whether this adapter or a full cable is the right buy, because the two are not interchangeable in every situation.
One thing this adapter will not do is make a rapid charger work. CHAdeMO and CCS rapid charging is a different system with its own cable attached to the unit, and no AC adapter changes that.
How it is built
Built to IEC 62196-2 and CE marked, with an IP55 rating that covers rain and dust on an exposed driveway, and a working range of -30C to +50C. Warranty is two years from the manufacturer, delivery free next working day, returns accepted for 30 days. Free next working day UK delivery and 30 days to return it.
See also: Type 2 to Type 2 cable.
Type 1 to Type 2 adapter questions
Which cars need a Type 1 to Type 2 adapter?
Mostly cars sold before about 2015: the first generation Nissan Leaf, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, the Kia Soul EV, early Vauxhall Amperas and similar. If the inlet on your car has five pins it is Type 1, and Type 2 equipment will not connect to it without an adapter or a Type 1 cable.
Can I use it at a public charge point?
At an untethered Type 2 AC post you use your own cable, so an adapter plus a Type 2 cable will connect. At a tethered post the lead is fixed and this adapter lets a Type 1 car use it. Rapid DC chargers are a separate system and cannot be adapted.
Does the adapter reduce charging speed?
No. It is rated at 32A, which is 7.4 kW, and that is more than any Type 1 era car can accept. The limit is the car's onboard charger, commonly 3.3 kW or 6.6 kW on these models.
Is an adapter as good as a proper Type 1 cable?
For occasional use, yes. For daily charging at home a single Type 1 to Type 2 cable is tidier and has one connection instead of two, which is one less thing to get wet or knocked. We sell both.