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.
- 2-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.