Choosing a Charging Cable: Which One Should You Have?
If electric vehicles are new to you, choosing the right charging cable can be a bit overwhelming. You're probably wondering if you should buy a cable at all, and if so, which one is the right one. In this article, we will guide you through this decision-making process and help you become familiar with EV charging modes and the different types of charging cables.
The Importance of the Right Charging Cable
If you bought a home charging station, you will need a cable to connect it to your electric car. The problem is that most charging stations come without a cable. Therefore, you need to buy a charging cable with it. If you use public charging stations (e.g. at a supermarket, gym or office building), you often have to use your own cable to charge your car. If you don't have one, you simply can't charge. And fair is fair, it's always nice to know you have a charging cable in the back of your car in case you end up somewhere unexpected and need to charge your car's battery. That way you don't have to worry.
Choosing the Right Cable for Your Needs
Which charging cable is best for you depends on the facility where you want to charge: at your home charger, at a public AC charging station, at the DC fast charging station or, if necessary, somewhere at a household socket.
Wallbox with Fixed Cable and Type 2 Plug
The most cost-effective and sensible way of charging in everyday life is at your home charging station or at your employer's charging station. Some charging stations have only one charging connection, while others have a permanently installed charging cable. The corresponding plug is almost always a type 2/Mennekes plug. The corresponding cable a mode 3 charging cable. The type 2 plug accommodates three phases and has been the standard in the EU since 2013. This allows a maximum charging capacity of 22 kW (400 V, 32 A) at the charging station.
Mode 3 charging cables are available in several versions with different lengths, smooth or spiral and in different colours. A coloured cable is more noticeable and thus does not easily pose a tripping hazard. The cables are available in single-phase and three-phase versions and for currents of 16, 20 or 32 amps. The higher the possible amperage, the heavier, more expensive and clunkier the charging cable.
AC Charging: Type 2 Plug
A charging cable with a type 2 plug is also needed for public charging points with an alternating current (called AC) connection, such as those usually found at public car parks in the city. The charging capacity of these AC charging points is limited to a maximum of 22 kW, while inverters of electric cars usually use only 11 kW of this, which is, however, generally enough to charge in between during the day.
DC Charging
With the direct current (DC/HPC) fast charging station, as found along motorways and in charging parks, the cables are always fixed to the charging station, so there is no need to buy a separate charging cable for this. fixed. The plug connecting the charging station to the car is called a CCS plug and is larger than the type 2 plug because two strong positive and negative contacts for direct current are added.
Some older models from Japanese manufacturers (biivor example, the Nissan Leaf) charge according to the CHAdeMO standard, which required a separate connector for the charging plug. However, the CHAdeMO connector is a type that is increasingly fading into the background and is becoming rarer on new fast-charging facilities.
Fast charging stations offer charging capacities from 50 to 350 kW, depending on their size.
Schuko Connection: Emergency Charging Cable (Mode 2)
For charging via a regular socket (230 volts), there is a so-called mode 2 charging cable, which is included by the car manufacturer when buying a new EV or can be ordered as an extra. Communication between the electric car and the charging socket is handled by the box that is connected between the car's plug and the connection plug. This communication box is important because it automatically switches off the socket if the cable overheats. Charging with this cable is often sensible in combination with a slightly lower amperage e.g. 10 amps instead of 16. Household outlets are not designed for charging with high power (16A) for many hours. Mode 2 charging cables with an adapter for the red CEE 'high-voltage socket' or the slightly less powerful, because only single-phase, blue CEE 'camping socket' are recommended in possible. These red and blue sockets are better fused and therefore withstand continuous current.