To drive electrically, you need a charged battery. There are numerous charging points such as mobile chargers, private or business charging stations and of course public charging stations and complete charging plazas. With most options you need a charging cable, because most charging points are not equipped with a fixed, proprietary charging cable. And that is where it can get tricky. There are many different types of charging cables, but which one do you need and what is the difference?
Three different types of connections, but only one can be the standard
Although it is often about type 1 versus type 2, there are actually three different types of connections that can be found on charging stations and electric cars. In Europe, it has been decided that Mennekes, or type 2, is the standard connection. This means that almost all European car brands only put cars on the market with a type 2 connection on the car.
The reason for this is quite simple. The few types of charging cables for the car made it damn difficult to easily charge the electric car. If there had been no standard connection for the charging points and EVs, there would have been a big chance that you would have had to take three or more different types of charging cables with you in your car to be able to charge everywhere.
In Asia and America it was also decided to make one connection the standard. Unfortunately they did not choose type 2, like in Europe, but type 1 has become the standard in these areas. This means that imported cars from Asia and America often have a type 1 connection. There are exceptions to this, because there are car brands that adapt the export cars for the European market.
Type 1 and type 2 are most common, but they have other names
Type 1 is the standard in the US and Asia, but is also known by the more technical name J1772 and Yazaki. This also applies to the European type 2, which is called Mennekes (after the maker). There is no difference between type 1 and J1772. There is also no difference between type 2 and Mennekes. These are literally different names for exactly the same connection.
Does the charging cable only concern the connection for the car side?
Before we look at the connection you have on your car, it is important to also pay attention to the other side of the charging cable. After all, there is also a plug that you plug into the charging point. This can be a type 1 or type 2, but it does not stop there. There are also other plugs, such as the Schuko (standard household plug in Europe), CEE plugs, ChaDeMo (with 4 pins), CSS plugs and Tesla connections.
Adapters are available for most options, but it is always better to put the right plug on the right socket. Not only because this gives you a higher efficiency, but also because it is safer in most cases.
When do you need a type 2 (Mennekes) charging cable for your electric car?
You need a type 2 charging cable when you have a connection on the car for 7 pins. These are almost all European car models. You cannot use a type 1 charging cable for a type 2 charging socket, because it has 5 pins.
When do you need a type 1 (J1772) charging cable for your electric car?
Here it is the opposite. If you have a 5-pin connection on the car, you need a type 1 plug (i.e. charging cable). This can only be used to charge on 1 phase. You cannot use a type 2 charging cable for a car with a type 1 connection, because it simply does not fit.
Adapter plugs
Because it can be difficult with type 1 and type 2 charging cables and the different car models that drive around in the Netherlands, it is practical to have an adapter plug for charging in your car. With this you can connect a type 1 charging cable to a type 2 socket and vice versa.
Can you fast charge with a type 1 or type 2 charging cable?
With a type 1 socket, you can only charge on 1 phase. If you have a type 2 connection, you can also charge on 3 phases. At an optimal mains voltage, this results in a charging capacity of 22 kW, which is considerably more than its 1-phase counterparts. However, this does not even come close to fast charging, because for that you need charging speeds of at least 50 kW (although you increasingly encounter 200 kW and more).
For fast charging you need special plugs (CSS and ChaDeMo), but with fast chargers these charging cables are already in the pole, so you do not need a separate charging cable. You hardly see fast chargers at companies and homes, which is mainly due to the requirements for the power network and the (much) higher price of the fast chargers. You will mainly find fast chargers along the main roads in Europe, including numerous fast charging plazas that are built by larger companies such as Fastned. In these places you do not need a special charging cable to charge your car.
Charging speeds and number of phases
It's not just about the plug on the charging cable. On the contrary, because the length of the cable and the maximum charging capacity are also important when looking at what type of charging cable you need for your car.
If you need a type 1 charging cable, you can look at:
This is only about the number of amps you can charge. Type 1 charging cables cannot charge on 3 phases. This automatically means that the list of possible charging cables with a type 2 connection is longer:
- 1-phase 16A charging cable with Mennekes connection
- 1-phase 32A charging cable with Mennekes connection
- 3-phase 16A charging cable with Mennekes connection
- 3-phase 32A charging cable with Mennekes connection
In these cases, the number of phases must also be considered. Always choose a charging cable that can at least handle the power of the charging point and the electric car. If you do not do this, you limit the speed at which your electric car is charged and that is not ideal in most cases.
Order the right charging cable for your electric car from us today
With the above information it is easy to find the right charging cable for your electric car and your situation. In some cases you need different charging cables, such as a charging cable for home, one for charging at work and a granny charger (with Schuko plug) for the holiday. Of course this also largely depends on personal preference and the budget you want to use for buying charging cables.
Not sure which charging cable is best for your situation or car? Please contact us so we can help you personally and make finding the right charging cable even easier.
