Renault Zoe EV Charging Cable

The Chameleon charger changes the usual advice

Almost every car on this site quotes a three phase number it can never reach in Britain. The Zoe is the exception worth knowing about. Renault's Chameleon charger takes 22 kW on three phase across the 41 kWh Z.E.40 and the 52 kWh Z.E.50, and the Q210 and Q90 versions went to 43 kW, which is fast AC rather than DC.

At home that still comes out at 7.4 kW, because a house has one phase. But at a public 22 kW AC post, of which there are plenty in UK car parks, a Zoe with a three phase cable charges roughly three times faster than a car capped at 7.4 kW. That is the one genuine case for buying the three phase lead, and it is why we list it.

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 columns are the 41 kWh Z.E.40 of 2017 to 2019 and the 52 kWh Z.E.50 of 2020 to 2024, both usable figures. The 22 kW row is the one that separates the Zoe from everything else on the site.

DC rapid charging was never standard on a Zoe. The 50 kW CCS socket was a paid option on the Z.E.50 in Iconic and GT Line trim only, and the R90 and Q90 have no DC capability at all, so on most Zoes on UK roads the Type 2 cable is the whole charging story.

Which length for a Zoe

The inlet is in the nose, dead centre, behind the Renault diamond, which hinges open to reveal it. Being central it does not favour one side of the car and it does not mirror for right hand drive, which makes the Zoe one of the easier cars to judge.

Nose in towards the charge point and 5 metres is plenty on a 4.1 metre car, and it is the position the port is designed around. Reverse in and the lead has to come back down the length of the car, which is 10 metre territory. Choose on the real distance from inlet to charge point, not the distance on the drawing, and never buy it tight.

How these cables are built

Standards are IEC 62196-2 and CE, protection is IP55, and the specified working range runs -30C to +50C.

On the three pin side the standard is IEC 62752, with CE marking, IP67 sealing and a -30C to +60C range. It carries a two year manufacturer's warranty, ships free on next working day delivery, and can go back inside 30 days.

Related: Renault 5 E-Tech EV Charging Cable, and Renault charging cables for every other model we cover.

Renault Zoe charging cable questions

What cable does a Renault Zoe use?

Type 2 to Type 2. For home charging the 32A single phase lead is right. If you use public 22 kW AC posts, the three phase version is genuinely faster on a Zoe, which is unusual.

Is a three phase cable worth it on a Zoe?

On this car, often yes. The Chameleon charger accepts 22 kW on three phase, so at a 22 kW AC post the Zoe charges about three times faster than a 7.4 kW car. At a house it is still 7.4 kW.

How long does a Zoe take to charge at home?

From empty at 7.4 kW, around six and a quarter hours for the 41 kWh car and about eight for the 52 kWh Z.E.50. On a 22 kW AC post the 52 kWh car is nearer two and three quarter hours.

Where does a Zoe plug in?

The centre of the nose, behind the Renault badge, which flips up to reveal the socket. There is no nearside or offside to get wrong.