Renault Scenic E-Tech EV Charging Cable

The cheaper Scenic is the one with the better charger

Comfort Range is 60 kWh usable from a 65 kWh pack with 170hp and 260 to 267 miles WLTP. Long Range is 87 kWh with 220hp and 381 miles on 19 inch wheels. So far so predictable. The charging specification then goes the other way: Renault gives the 60 kWh car a 22 kW three phase charger and limits the 87 kWh car to 11 kW.

We have double checked that, because it reads like a mistake. Renault's own technical specification PDF lists the Long Range at up to 11 kW AC, and the trim names in the UK trade data literally include the words 11kW Charger. One review claims 22 kW on the Long Range and we believe it to be wrong.

What that means for the cable you buy

Three phase ratings describe a supply most British houses do not have, so the working figure at home is 7.4 kW. At home it changes nothing: both cars draw 7.4 kW and the single phase 32A lead is the right buy for either.

At a 22 kW public AC post the 60 kWh car will take the full 22 kW with a three phase cable and fill in a bit over three hours. The 87 kWh car stops at 11 kW however good the lead is. So the three phase cable is worth considering on a Comfort Range and is largely pointless on a Long Range, which is the reverse of the usual advice about bigger batteries.

How long a full charge takes

Figures are calculated rather than quoted: battery divided by power, 13 per cent for losses, quarter hour rounding. Range added per hour assumes a year round 3.5 miles per kWh rather than a best case figure. The 22 kW row applies only to the 60 kWh column. DC rapid charging is 130 kW on the Comfort Range and 150 kW on the Long Range.

One honest note on the 87 kWh figure: Renault's technical PDF calls it usable capacity and Renault's specifications page calls the same number gross. We have used it as published in the PDF, so if anything the Long Range times above are slightly pessimistic.

Which length for a Scenic

The inlet is at the front of the car. We are not going to tell you which side, because Renault UK does not publish it and the two spec databases we checked disagree with each other. It takes ten seconds to look, and it is better than us guessing and you buying 5 metres when you needed 10.

What we can say is that the Scenic is 4.47 metres long, so the front position is a real advantage if you park nose in and a real problem if you reverse in. Nose in towards the charge point, 5 metres. Reverse in, or a wall box on the far side of the drive, 10 metres. The honest way to choose is to measure the real parking position and allow two metres spare.

How these cables are built

The lead is an IEC 62196-2 design, CE marked, IP55 sealed against a British winter and rated from -30C to +50C.

Three pin construction follows IEC 62752, CE marked, IP67 rated, usable from -30C to +60C. Two year manufacturer's warranty. Delivery is free and next working day, and returns are open for 30 days.

Related: Renault Zoe EV Charging Cable, and Renault charging cables for every other model we cover. For a wall box or public post the lead is the Type 2 to Type 2 charging cable.

Renault Scenic E-Tech charging cable questions

What cable does a Scenic E-Tech need?

Type 2 to Type 2 at 32A single phase for home charging. The three phase version only makes sense on the 60 kWh Comfort Range, which is the one with the 22 kW charger.

Why does the smaller battery charge faster on AC?

Because Renault fitted the 60 kWh Comfort Range with a 22 kW three phase charger and limited the 87 kWh Long Range to 11 kW. It is counter-intuitive but it is what Renault's own spec sheet says.

How long does a Scenic take to charge at home?

At 7.4 kW, around ten hours for the 60 kWh car and about fourteen and a half for the 87 kWh. Both are overnight jobs, and an overnight window adds roughly 180 miles.

Where is the charge port?

At the front of the car. Renault UK does not state which side and the databases disagree, so have a look at yours before choosing a length rather than taking anyone's word for it.