Type 1 EV Charging Cables

Type 1 is the older J1772 standard, fitted to the early Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, first-generation BMW i3 and other pre-2018 EVs. If your charge port is a square 5-pin, Type 1 is what you need. Since UK wallboxes are almost universally Type 2, what most owners actually want is an adapter cable that bridges the two: see our Type 1 to Type 2 range.

20 products
Type 1 Charging Cables for UK EV owners

Which car is it?

We'll preselect the variant that fits.

We read your charge port, max AC rate and phase from DVLA data, then take you to the exact variant.

20 products

Choosing a charging cable

Type 1 (J1772) is the older AC charging standard for electric cars, used by a small list of legacy UK EVs and PHEVs from before 2018. Square 5-pin plug, single-phase only, max 7.4kW. If you bought your car new in the UK in the last six or seven years, you almost certainly need Type 2, not Type 1.

Cars that use Type 1

  • Nissan Leaf: 2011-2017, 24kWh and 30kWh original Leaf only. Mk2 Leaf (2018+) is Type 2.
  • Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV: Mk1, 2014-2018. Mk2 (2019+) switched to Type 2.
  • Mitsubishi i-MiEV: 2010-2014. All variants.
  • BMW i3: first-gen, 2014-2017 (60Ah and 94Ah). Refresh i3 from 2018 switched to Type 2.
  • Ford Focus Electric: 2013-2017. UK-imported only.
  • Vauxhall Ampera (PHEV): 2012-2015.
  • Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross PHEV: early variants pre-2021.
  • Kia Soul EV: Mk1 only, 2014-2018.

If your car is on this list, this is your shelf. If it isn't, you need Type 2 cables.

Connector spec

Type 1 (formally SAE J1772) is a square 5-pin AC connector developed in the US. Single-phase only (no three-phase pins). Max current 32A, max power 7.4kW at 230V. The connector includes an integrated locking lever: push down to release after charging.

Cable types we stock

  • Type 1 to Type 2: for charging older Type 1 cars from modern UK Type 2 wallboxes and public posts. Most useful: see our Type 1 to Type 2 cable range.
  • Type 1 tethered cable: replacement tethered cable for older Type 1 wallboxes (usually superseded by full wallbox replacement now).
  • Type 1 portable (granny): 3-pin to Type 1 for emergency / occasional charging of older Leafs and Outlanders.

Charging speed

Type 1 caps at 7.4kW (32A single-phase): same as Type 2 single-phase. So a Mk1 Nissan Leaf on a Type 1 cable charges at the same speed as a Mk2 Leaf on a Type 2 cable when both are on a 7kW wallbox. The connector type doesn't affect speed; the supply does.

Length

Same logic as Type 2. 5m for tight driveways, 7.5-10m for typical UK homes, 15-25m for awkward layouts. Type 1 cables are generally available in fewer length variants than Type 2 simply because the market is smaller.

Where Type 1 is going

Type 1 is end-of-life for new car sales. No new EV has been launched in the UK with Type 1 since 2018. The Nissan Leaf (last major Type 1 car in the UK) moved to Type 2 with the Mk2 in 2018, and is moving to CCS Combo 2 with the Mk3 in 2025. So Type 1 is a legacy support market: cables for cars already on the road, not for new sales.

That doesn't mean it's unimportant: there are still ~50,000 Type 1 cars in active UK use, and they need cables. We stock the lengths and ratings these cars actually need, with proper UK warranty support.

The Type 1 to Type 2 question

If you have a Type 1 car and you charge mostly at modern Type 2 wallboxes (home or public), you need a Type 1 male (car) to Type 2 female (cable input) adapter cable, sometimes called a converter cable. We stock these in 32A single-phase only (Type 1 doesn't support three-phase). It plugs your car (Type 1) into a Type 2 wallbox or socketed cable.

Build quality

Type 1 cables get less marketing attention than Type 2, but the same physics applies. Look for IP55+ couplings, halogen-free woven jacket, IEC 62196-2 compliance, 2-year minimum warranty. Cheap Type 1 cables on marketplaces are often older-stock that's been sitting unused; they degrade in storage. Buy from a UK retailer with current stock turn.

Pairing

Pair with a cable bag for boot storage and a wall holder if you charge daily at home. Most older Type 1 cars have the charge port at the front, so cable management is slightly different from typical Type 2 layouts, measure before buying length.

Questions

Will this work with my car?
If your car uses Type 2 (most UK EVs from 2014+), yes. Check your charge port: hexagonal 7-pin = Type 2, square 5-pin = Type 1. Older Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, and early BMW i3 use Type 1.
How long does delivery take?
In-stock items ship same-day if ordered before 16:00 on a working day. Standard delivery is next-working-day across mainland UK. Northern Ireland, Channel Islands and remote Highlands take 2-3 working days. Free delivery on orders over £150.
What is your returns policy?
30-day returns on unused, unregistered items in original packaging. We refund the full purchase price minus original outbound shipping. For items installed or registered to a customer account, only the manufacturer warranty applies.
What warranty do these come with?
Every product on our shelf carries a minimum two-year manufacturer warranty. We administer warranty claims directly: ship the replacement next-day and collect the original at no cost to you.

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