What is a type 2 charging cable?

The Type 2 charging cable and the charging station form a double unit. Charging cables - or simply chargers in the context of charging and electric vehicle charging - together with the charging box ensure that the lithium-ion batteries of electric cars, bicycles, scooters, boats or scooters "refuel". They provide energy for electric vehicles (EVs) in the form of electric power. The function of the charging cable is to provide a power connection between the charging station and the car. The type 2 charging cables are high-tech, especially the portable type 2 charging cable, which actually take over the electronic functions of the charging station. The electronic device provides communication between the charging device of the electric vehicle on the one hand and the charged charging box on the other.

Which car uses the type 2 charging cable?

Almost all EVs or PHEV made from 2015 onwards use the type 2 charging cable. The difference in charging cable per car is in charging power number of phase. The type 2 charging cable comes in 1 phase up to 16 amps, 1 phase up to 32 amps, 3 phase up to 16 amps and 3 phase up to 32 amps. Quickly find your brand and type and see which charging cable is most suitable for your car.

Charging cable type 2 - 3 phase

The type 2 - 3 phase charging cable is a charger for electric driving with a capacity of 11 or 22 kilowatts. The newer electric models in particular are suitable for faster 3-phase charging. Charging is faster because the current (Amps) can be charged through the cable in 3 phases. Thus, the same number of Amps (usually 16 or 32) can be used to charge three times faster. As electric cars get an increasingly larger battery, and thus range, it is also important to achieve higher charging speeds. This can be done with a Type 2 - 3 phase charging cable.

Charging cable type 2 - 1 phase

The Type 2 - 1 phase charging cable is the smaller brother of the 3 phase variant. This charging cable has a maximum charging capacity of 32 amps and can be used to charge both AC and DC electric vehicles. Especially cars with a smaller battery such as plugin hybrids or older electric models are still only suitable for 1 phase charging. There is the Type 2 - 1 phase charging cable for 32A that is suitable for a maximum charging capacity of 7,4kW. Then there is the Type 2 - 1 phase charging cable for 16A, that has a maximum charging capacity of 16A.

It is possible to charge a car suitable for 3-phase charging with a 1-phase charging cable. However, the car's full charging capacity cannot then be used. An important advantage of the type 2 -1 phase charging cable compared to the 3-phase variant is that it is thinner and lighter. It is therefore easier to use and easier to store. Moreover, 1 phase charging cables are cheaper to buy. 

Difference between type 1 and type 2 charging cable

There are two types of charging cables for electric cars: Type 1 and Type 2. Both types of cables serve the same purpose of connecting the car to an external power source to charge the battery. However, there are some important differences between the two types of cables. Type 1 cables are less common, and they are usually found on older models of electric cars. Type 2 cables are more common, and they are usually found on newer models of electric cars. The main difference between the two types of cable is the connector. Type 1 plugs have a round connector, while Type 2 plugs have a rectangular connector. Another difference is that Type 2 cables can handle higher voltages, meaning they can charge the battery faster. As a result, Type 2 cables are generally considered more efficient than Type 1 cables. The difference between the Type 1 and Type 2 charging cable mainly focuses on which connection it can be connected to. The Type 1 charging cable was developed for countries like China, Japan and America. In these countries, a single-phase connection is widely used. In the Netherlands, together with most European countries, 3-phase is mostly used. For this, you need a type 2 charging cable.

The Mennekes type 2 charging cable

If you want to charge from a charging point (or socket) without a cable connected, you need a type 2 charging cable. Usually this is when using an AC (alternating current) charging point or a household charger with universal socket on a public network. Electric cars have built-in inverters. It is actually a converter, also called an integrated charger. It converts the current from AC to DC and then routes the current to the electric car's battery. Currently, this is the most common charging method for electric vehicles. Most chargers also use AC current.

How do I choose a type 2 charging cable?

If you need a charging cable, you'll want one with a Type 2 connector. The process for selecting a public cable is as follows:

1. Choosing the right plug for your car. Check whether your car has a Type 1 or Type 2 connector. Some older car models may still have a type 1 connector and will need a Type 1 charging cable.
2. Choose a cable with the right length. We recommend a type 2 charging cable of 5 metres as a good compromise between ease of use and storage convenience. Coiled charging cables further increase storage convenience without compromising on length. 
3. Check your means of charging. Do you need a charging cable to connect to a charging station or wallbox? Or do you need a portable charging cable to connect to a household power outlet or commando power socket. 
   
4. Check your maximum charging capacity. i.e. if your car has a charging capacity of 11kW. We recommend using a charging cable of atleast 11kW for optimal charging speeds. However, please be aware that a 22kW cable is perfectly capable of charging at 11kW.
   

Tip: Search for your car in our database.  We are happy to reccomend you the right charging cable for your car model and your charging needs. 

Buy Type 2 charging cable

Your vehicle will still be charged regardless of the type 2 cable you buy. For example, if you buy a 3-phase cable with 22 kW, it will also allow you to charge a vehicle that only has a maximum charging capacity of 7.4 kW. For a list of current electric cars compatible with type 2 charging cables, click the link below. Or find the right type 2 cable for your electric car here - Find my Charging Cable