Every Polestar sold in the UK (the 2, the 3, and the 4) uses a Type 2 inlet and leaves the factory without a Mode 3 charging cable in the boot. That means the first thing most new owners need to buy is also one of the most important: the right cable for their car and their charger. Get it wrong and you could be leaving kilowatts, and money, on the table every single charge.
This guide cuts through the confusion. We cover exactly which cable each Polestar model needs, why a 3-phase cable is always the right choice, and what the Polestar 4’s optional 22kW charger means for your purchase decision, a detail most other guides miss entirely.
Does a Polestar Come With a Charging Cable?
No. No Polestar sold in the UK (not the 2, 3, or 4) includes a Mode 3 Type 2 charging cable as standard. This catches more new owners off guard than you might expect. Based on our EV Cable Hub first-party data, it is one of the most common first purchases new Polestar owners make, often on the day of collection or immediately after taking delivery.
Polestar’s onboarding materials direct customers to source a cable independently. There is no trickle-charge cable, no granny charger, and no Mode 3 cable in the accessory pack. You will need to buy one before you can charge at home or at the vast majority of public AC charge points.
The good news is that the right cable for your Polestar is well-defined, and once you have it, it will work across every Type 2 home charger, workplace charger, and public destination charger in the UK.
What Connector Does the Polestar Use?
Type 2 (IEC 62196-2): the UK and European Standard
Every Polestar uses a Type 2 inlet for AC charging. The Type 2 connector, formally specified under IEC 62196-2, is the universal standard for EV charging across the UK and Europe. It has seven pins and is capable of both single-phase and 3-phase operation. If you want to understand the connector in depth, our guide to the Type 2 charging cable covers everything you need to know.
- Type 2 connector, 7 pins, 3-phase capable, 32A max, used on Polestar 2 / 3 / 4
CCS for DC Rapid Charging
All three Polestar models also support CCS (Combined Charging System) for DC rapid charging at public fast chargers. CCS uses a different, larger connector with two additional DC pins below the Type 2 pins. When you use a rapid charger on a motorway or at a destination hub, that cable is tethered to the charger. You do not need to own a CCS cable. The Type 2 Mode 3 cable you buy is purely for AC charging: at home, at work, and at public destination chargers.
Polestar 2, 3, and 4 Charging Specs Compared
According to the manufacturer onboard-charger spec sheets published by Polestar UK, all three current Polestar models share the same AC inlet and base charging specification, but there is one important difference on the Polestar 4.
- Columns: Specification | Polestar 2 | Polestar 3 | Polestar 4
- Rows:
- AC inlet | Type 2 | Type 2 | Type 2
- Standard onboard AC | 11 kW | 11 kW | 11 kW
- Max onboard AC | 11 kW | 11 kW | 22 kW (Plus pack)
- DC charging | CCS | CCS | CCS
- Charge port location | Left-rear quarter | Rear | Rear
- Recommended cable | 3-phase 32A 11kW | 3-phase 32A 11kW | 3-phase 32A 22kW (if Plus pack)
Polestar 2 Charging
The Polestar 2 has an 11 kW onboard AC charger as standard (per Polestar UK spec sheets). Its charge port sits on the left-rear quarter panel, the driver’s side rear on UK-spec cars. This is worth noting when you are planning how your charge point is positioned relative to where the car parks.
The right cable: a 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable rated to 11 kW.
Browse our Polestar EV charging cables to see the options we stock specifically for Polestar owners.
Polestar 3 Charging
The Polestar 3 shares the 11 kW standard onboard AC charger and Type 2 inlet. Its charge port is positioned at the rear of the car. DC rapid charging is via CCS.
The right cable: a 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable rated to 11 kW, the same as the Polestar 2.
Polestar 4 Charging (Including 22kW Option)
Here is where the Polestar 4 stands apart. The standard Polestar 4 has the same 11 kW onboard AC charger as the other models. However, if your Polestar 4 has the optional Plus pack, the onboard charger upgrades to 22 kW, confirmed by the manufacturer onboard-charger spec sheets from Polestar UK.
That distinction matters for your cable purchase. A 22 kW onboard charger can only reach its full capability with a 3-phase supply and a 22 kW-rated cable. If you have a 3-phase supply at home, or plan to install one, a 22 kW cable is the right long-term choice for a Polestar 4 Plus.
The charge port on the Polestar 4 is at the rear, the same as the Polestar 3.
Explore our 22kW charging cables if you have or are planning a 3-phase home supply.
Why a 3-Phase Cable Is the Right Choice for Every Polestar
All three Polestar models have an 11 kW onboard AC charger as standard. Delivering 11 kW requires a 3-phase electrical supply and, crucially, a 3-phase cable. This is where many buyers make a costly mistake.
A single-phase Type 2 cable will plug into your Polestar without issue. The Type 2 connector is physically identical whether the cable is single-phase or 3-phase. But a single-phase cable caps your charge rate at 7.4 kW, even if your car can do 11 kW and your charge point is 3-phase capable. That is not a small gap: on a 75 kWh battery, the difference between 7.4 kW and 11 kW is roughly three additional hours per charge cycle.
For a detailed look at the practical differences between these power levels, see our guide to 11kW vs 22kW charging explained.
A 3-phase cable, by contrast, works perfectly on both single-phase and 3-phase supplies. On a single-phase home charger it delivers 7.4 kW, exactly the same as a single-phase cable. On a 3-phase charger (at home or in public), it delivers 11 kW (or 22 kW on a Polestar 4 Plus with the right supply). There is no downside to choosing 3-phase, and the cost difference is minimal.
Our recommendation: always buy a 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable for any Polestar. For the Polestar 4 with the Plus pack and access to 3-phase power, choose a 22kW-rated cable.
Browse our full range of Type 2 charging cables to find the right option for your setup.
What Length Cable Do You Need?
Cable length is less often considered, but it matters, especially given the charge port location differences between Polestar models.
The Polestar 2 charge port is on the left-rear quarter panel. If your home charge point is on the right-hand wall of a garage or the right side of a driveway, the cable needs to travel around the back of the car to reach the port. That adds length you may not have accounted for.
The Polestar 3 and 4 both have their charge ports at the rear, which is generally more accommodating regardless of where your charge point is positioned.
As a starting point, use our cable length guide to work out exactly how much cable your installation needs. In practice:
- 5 metres is sufficient for most home installations where the charge point is mounted close to where the car parks and on the same side as the port.
- 7 metres is the better choice if your charge point is on the opposite side of the car from the port, if you park further back from the unit, or if you want flexibility to charge at a variety of locations without running the cable taut.
We would rather you had a little too much cable than too little. A cable under strain at the connector shortens its working life and risks damage to the port.
Our Recommended Cables for Polestar Owners
To summarise the right cable for each model:
- Polestar 2: 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable, 11 kW rated. Choose 5m or 7m depending on your installation.
- Polestar 3: 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable, 11 kW rated. Same as the Polestar 2.
- Polestar 4 (standard): 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable, 11 kW rated.
- Polestar 4 (Plus pack / 22kW onboard): 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable, 22 kW rated, if you have or plan to install a 3-phase supply.
All of our cables are CE-marked, carry the relevant UK and European approvals, and are specified to the IEC 62196-2 standard for the Type 2 connector. We include a 2-year warranty as standard, and our team is on hand if you have questions about your specific setup.
Explore the full range:
- Type 2 charging cables: our core range, suitable for Polestar 2, 3, and standard Polestar 4
- 22kW charging cables: for Polestar 4 Plus owners with 3-phase supply
- Polestar EV charging cables: our curated Polestar-specific selection
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Polestar 2 come with a charging cable?
No. The Polestar 2 does not include a Mode 3 Type 2 charging cable. No Polestar model sold in the UK does. You need to buy one separately before you can charge at home or at most public AC charge points. This is one of the most common first purchases new Polestar owners make, and we hear about the surprise regularly from our customers.
What charging cable do I need for a Polestar 3?
A 3-phase 32A Type 2 cable rated to 11 kW. The Polestar 3 has an 11 kW onboard AC charger as standard, so a single-phase cable (which maxes out at 7.4 kW) will undersell the car’s charging capability. A 3-phase cable works on single-phase home chargers too, so there is no reason not to choose it.
Can the Polestar 4 charge at 22kW?
Yes, but only if your Polestar 4 has the optional Plus pack, which upgrades the onboard AC charger from 11 kW to 22 kW (confirmed by Polestar UK onboard-charger spec sheets). A standard Polestar 4 charges at 11 kW AC. To benefit from 22 kW you also need a 3-phase electrical supply at the charge point, and a 22 kW-rated Type 2 cable.
Will a single-phase Type 2 cable work on a Polestar?
It will plug in. The connector is physically the same. But it caps your charging rate at 7.4 kW regardless of your Polestar’s 11 kW onboard charger capability. That means slower overnight charges and less energy added per hour. We always recommend buying a 3-phase cable instead. It works on single-phase supplies at the same 7.4 kW rate, and unlocks full 11 kW (or 22 kW) speed on a 3-phase supply.
Where is the charge port on a Polestar 2?
The Polestar 2 charge port is on the left-rear quarter panel (the driver’s side rear on UK-spec cars). The Polestar 3 and Polestar 4 have their charge ports at the rear of the vehicle. This difference is worth factoring into your cable length decision: if your charge point is on the passenger side and you drive a Polestar 2, a 7-metre cable may be a safer choice than 5 metres.
How long should my Polestar charging cable be?
A 5-metre cable is the right choice for most home installations where the charge point is positioned on the same side as the car’s charge port and within normal reach of the parking spot. Choose a 7-metre cable if your charge point is on the opposite side of the car from the port, if you park further back from the unit, or if you want confidence across different charging locations. See our full cable length guide for a step-by-step method.
Do Polestars use CCS for fast charging?
Yes. All Polestar 2, 3, and 4 models use the CCS (Combined Charging System) connector for DC rapid charging at public fast chargers. CCS cables are tethered to the charger, so you do not need to own one. The Type 2 Mode 3 cable you buy from us is for AC charging only: at home, at work, and at public destination charge points.
What is a Type 2 charging cable?
A Type 2 charging cable uses the IEC 62196-2 connector, the seven-pin standard for AC EV charging across the UK and Europe. All Polestars use a Type 2 inlet, as do the majority of other European EVs. Type 2 cables support both single-phase (up to 7.4 kW) and 3-phase (up to 11 kW or 22 kW) operation, depending on the cable’s rating and the supply available.