Electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular, but there are still some lingering questions about these new cars. One of these is the charging cable. The charging cable is the connection between your car and the electric socket where you get charged up.
It’s important to understand what a charging cable is, how they work and what they can do. If you’re curious about this topic, here’s everything what do you need to know about EV charging cables:
What is an EV Charging Cable?
An EV charging cable is a device that allows your electric vehicle to be charged at any public or private charging station. The cable connects to your car’s battery pack and plugs into an electric socket at a charging station. This allows electricity from the grid to flow into your vehicle’s battery pack and recharge it.
How long do EV charging cables last?
The lifespan of an EV charging cable is dependent on how often it’s used. The more you charge your car, the faster the cable will wear out. That’s why some people replace their cables every year or two and others keep them for 4-5 years or longer if they don’t use them very often.
The general rule of thumb is that if your car takes an hour or less to fully charge (i.e., Nissan Leaf), then your cable should last at least 5-6 years before needing replacement. If it takes two hours or more (i.e., Tesla Model S), then expect to replace your cable every 2-3 years, depending on how often you drive your car and where you live (more on this below).
There are two primary types of charging cables:
Level 1: This is the most common type of charging cable and it uses a standard 120-volt outlet. Level 1 charging can take up to 24 hours to fully charge your vehicle, but it’s a good option if you need to charge your vehicle at home overnight.
Level 2: A Level 2 charger can charge your vehicle much faster than Level 1 charging and takes less time than Level 3 charging. However, it requires a 240-volt outlet that can cost $1,000 or more for installation.
There are three types of cables that will work with different types of chargers:
Type 1 (SAE J1772) is used by most EVs on the market today. It’s also the most common type of charging cable for residential use.
Type 2 (SAE J1939) is reserved for commercial vehicles and some passenger cars, such as Tesla models. It can be used in homes with a 240-volt outlet, but it’s more commonly found at public charging stations or workplaces.
CHAdeMO is used mostly by Japanese manufacturers like Nissan and Mitsubishi; it’s also found at some public stations in Europe and Japan.
