A 7.4kW EV charging cable runs at 32A single-phase — the standard UK home wallbox spec. It's the right answer for 95% of UK driveways, on 95% of UK EVs. If you're not sure what to buy, this is almost certainly it.
Why 7.4kW is the UK standard
UK domestic electricity supply is almost universally single-phase 100A — that's 230V × 100A = 23 kW maximum total household capacity. A 7.4kW EV wallbox draws 32A, about a third of that. Comfortable for the house, no fuse-trip risk, no DNO grid upgrade needed.
Three-phase domestic supply (which would unlock 11kW or 22kW charging) is rare in UK homes. Most properties built in the last 50 years are single-phase. So 7.4kW isn't a compromise — it's the matched spec for the UK domestic supply.
Connector — Type 2 (Mennekes)
Type 2 — formally IEC 62196-2 Mode 3 — is the European AC standard. Hexagonal 7-pin plug. Compatible with every UK EV sold new since 2018. The cable is Type 2 to Type 2 — same connector at both ends, for use with untethered (socketed) wallboxes and most public AC charge posts.
Charging speed at 7.4kW
- ~25-30 miles of range per hour, depending on car efficiency.
- 50kWh battery (Mini Cooper Electric, Vauxhall Corsa Electric): full charge in ~7 hours.
- 60kWh battery (Tesla Model 3 RWD, BMW i4 e35): ~8.5 hours.
- 77-80kWh battery (Mercedes EQE, Audi Q4 e-tron, VW ID.4): ~10-11 hours.
- 100kWh+ (Mercedes EQS, Tesla Model S Plaid): ~14+ hours; might not finish in a single overnight window.
For typical UK commuters doing 50-80 miles/day, 7.4kW refills the daily mileage in 2-3 hours — easily fits inside Octopus Go's 5-hour off-peak window at 5p/kWh.
Length recommendations
A 7.4kW cable is lighter than a 22kW three-phase cable, so longer lengths are more practical:
- 5m — wallbox right next to the parking spot.
- 7.5m — wallbox 2-4m away.
- 10m — most popular UK length. Comfortable slack regardless of parking direction.
- 15-25m — long driveways, shared drives, charging across a road.
Build quality at 7.4kW
- IEC 62196-2 compliance on the connector.
- IP55 minimum on couplings, IP66 if you'll leave plugged in during storms.
- Halogen-free woven jacket — outlasts rubber 5-10× in UK weather.
- 3-year minimum manufacturer warranty.
Pairing with the right wallbox
Almost every UK home wallbox is 7.4kW single-phase by default — including Ohme, MyEnergi Zappi, Hypervolt, Pod Point Solo 3, Project EV, Easee, Andersen A2.
What 7.4kW won't do
Won't charge from public DC rapid (CCS) — those are tethered to the rapid post. Won't push 22kW even on a 22kW wallbox — single-phase supply is the bottleneck. Won't speed up a slower-onboard-charger PHEV (Outlander, Mercedes EQ A35e etc.) — the car caps at its onboard rate.
Tethered vs untethered consideration
If your wallbox is tethered (cable permanently attached), you don't need to buy a separate Type 2 cable — you have one already. Buy a 7.4kW Type 2 cable when: you have a socketed wallbox; you charge at public AC posts; you want a spare for a holiday let or visiting friends; or your tethered cable has been damaged. See replacement cables.