Type 2 to Type 2 EV Extension Cable 5m, 10m and 15m

Why an extension cable rather than a longer cable

An extension is the answer when the charger is fixed and the car is too far away. A wall unit with its own lead attached cannot be swapped for a longer one, and a post in a car park is wherever the installer put it. This cable sits between the two and buys you another 5, 10 or 15 metres.

If your charger has a socket rather than a fixed lead, a longer charging cable is usually the tidier buy. Reach for an extension when the lead is captive, when you park on the road, or when a second space at the house needs covering without a second installation.

What it does to charging speed

Nothing you will notice. A cable does not set the charge rate, the car and the charge point negotiate it between them, and this cable simply has to be rated for what they agree. Pick the 32A version and it carries 7.4 kW, which is everything a single phase British supply has to give. The 16A version tops out at 3.7 kW, so buy it only if the charger itself is a 16A unit.

Each figure is the pack size divided by the power actually drawn, with 13 per cent added for charging losses and the result rounded to the quarter hour. Range added per hour assumes a year round 3.5 miles per kWh rather than a best case figure.

Which length to buy

Measure from the charge point to where the car's inlet sits when it is parked as you normally park it, then add two metres for slack and for the run up the car's flank. Five metres covers a car parked one space further along or turned around on the drive. Ten metres is the common choice for on street parking outside the house. Fifteen metres is for a detached garage, a shared car park, or a charger fitted at the far end of a long drive.

Keep the joint off the ground if you can, on a hook or a low wall, so it is not sitting in a puddle. Both ends are sealed to IP55 but water pooling around a connector is worth avoiding on any brand.

How it is built

The cable meets IEC 62196-2, carries the CE mark, is sealed to IP55 and is specified from -30C to +50C. The conductors are sized for continuous current rather than a short burst, which is what a charging cable spends its life doing. Backed by a two year manufacturer's warranty, with free next working day delivery and a 30 day return window. Free next working day UK delivery, and a 30 day return if it turns out you needed a different length.

See also: Type 2 to Type 2 cable, 10m cable, 15m cable and 15m tethered cable.

EV extension cable questions

Can I use an extension cable with a tethered home charger?

Yes, that is the main reason people buy one. A tethered unit has its lead fixed to the wall box, so the only way to add reach is to extend it. Plug the extension into the charger lead and the car into the extension, and make sure the extension is rated at or above the charger current.

Does an extension cable slow down charging?

No. The charge rate is set between the car and the charge point, and the cable only has to carry it. A 32A extension carries the full 7.4 kW a single phase home charger delivers. Resistance over 10 or 15 metres of correctly sized cable costs a fraction of a per cent, not minutes.

Which amperage do I need, 16A or 32A?

Match the charge point. Most home wall boxes fitted in the UK in the last few years are 32A units, so the 32A extension is the safe buy and it works on a 16A charger too. Only choose 16A if you know the charger is a 16A model and you want to spend less.

Can I leave it plugged in outside overnight?

Yes. Both ends are IP55, which covers rain and dust on a driveway, and the cable is rated from -30C to +50C so a British winter is not a problem. Lift the join off the ground where you can so it is not sitting in standing water.

Can I join two extensions together?

We do not recommend it. Every additional joint is another point to get wet and another connection to warm up. If 15 metres is not enough, a single longer charging cable into a socketed charge point is the better answer.