Mercedes E Class Charging Cable
Quick recommendation
The Mercedes E300de is the unusual one in this catalogue: a plug-in hybrid built around a diesel engine, sold mostly to people covering serious annual mileage. The W213 E300de of 2019 to 2023 charges at 7.4 kW on AC. The current W214 charges at 11 kW. The diesel is what makes the cable decision interesting, because owners of this car rarely need the battery for a long journey. They need it for the thirty mile leg at each end, which means what actually matters is whether the pack is full again by morning.
Every E-Class plug-in hybrid takes a Type 2 to Type 2 Charging Cable, whether it is the E300de diesel or the E300e petrol, which use the same charging hardware. Mercedes puts the socket at the rear of the car rather than on a front wing, so check which side yours is on before measuring.
Get the 32A single phase cable. Certification aside, the electrical point is simple: the 22 kW lead is designed for a three phase supply, almost no British house has one, and a single phase caps everything at 7.4 kW. On a W213 that is the car's own maximum anyway, so nothing is lost. On a W214 the 11 kW charger could go faster, but only at a workplace or commercial site with three genuine phases, where a full charge falls from 4 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes.
The 16A cable doubles the time on a W213, from 2 hours to 4 hours. That sounds survivable until you remember this is a car charged every night rather than twice a week. Two extra hours a night, every night, to save thirteen pounds once.
A 13 amp socket is a realistic overnight charge for a battery this small. Our Type 2 to 3-Pin Charging Cable fills a W213 pack in about 6 hours 45 minutes and a W214 in around 12 hours 30 minutes, which makes the domestic socket a genuine option for the older car when it is parked away from home. Six miles an hour is modest, but on a plug-in hybrid it is the difference between starting a journey on electricity and starting it on diesel. Our guide explains the household socket route in detail.
For the smaller diesel and petrol plug-ins there is the Mercedes C-Class charging cable page, and for the SUV the Mercedes GLC 300e charging cable page. Everything Mercedes is listed in Mercedes EV charging cables, and our IP ratings guide covers the sealing figures below.
Certification runs to CE against IEC 62196 Type 2. Weather protection is IP55 for the Type 2 to Type 2 cables and IP67 for the Type 2 to 3-Pin, and nothing here minds temperatures between -30C and +50C, or +60C for the 3-pin. UK orders qualify for same-day dispatch on working-day orders placed before 2pm and the warranty is 2 years from the manufacturer.
Mercedes E300de Charging Times by Generation
W213 E300de, 2019 to 2023, 13.5 kWh pack, up to 34 miles WLTP electric
Maximum onboard AC charging speed: 7.4 kW, single phase
| Cable Type | Max Charge Rate | Empty to Full | Range Added Per Hour | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 - 1-Phase, 16A (5m / 10m) | 3.7 kW | 4 hours | approx. 9 miles | Twice the time for a small saving |
| Type 2 - 1-Phase, 32A (5m / 10m) | 7.4 kW | 2 hours | approx. 19 miles | Best Fit at home |
| Type 2 - 3-Phase, 32A (5m / 10m) | 7.4 kW (car limited) | 2 hours | approx. 19 miles | No gain over the 32A single phase |
| Type 2 to 3-Pin (5m / 10m) | 2.3 kW | 6 hours 45 mins | approx. 6 miles | Fills overnight from a house socket |
W214 plug-in hybrid, 2024 onwards, 25.4 kWh pack, up to 68 miles WLTP electric
Maximum onboard AC charging speed: 11 kW, three phase
| Cable Type | Max Charge Rate | Empty to Full | Range Added Per Hour | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 - 1-Phase, 16A (5m / 10m) | 3.7 kW | 7 hours 45 mins | approx. 10 miles | Uses up the whole night |
| Type 2 - 1-Phase, 32A (5m / 10m) | 7.4 kW | 4 hours | approx. 20 miles | Best Fit at home |
| Type 2 - 3-Phase, 32A (5m / 10m) | 11 kW (car limited) | 2 hours 30 mins | approx. 29 miles | For 22kW posts and workplaces |
| Type 2 to 3-Pin (5m / 10m) | 2.3 kW | 12 hours 30 mins | approx. 6 miles | Ideal backup |
Mercedes does not publish a usable capacity for either pack, so these times are worked from the quoted gross figures and are a slight overestimate. Cold mornings and fast dual carriageway miles will each pull this number down.
Mercedes E300de Charging Cable FAQs
What charging cable does a Mercedes E300de use?
Order the 32A single phase Type 2 to Type 2 cable for a Mercedes E300de. Both the W213 and the W214 fill their batteries fastest on that lead when it is plugged into a home wallbox, and it is the same cable the petrol E300e uses.
Does the newer E-Class plug-in charge faster?
Per hour, yes. The W214 Mercedes E-Class plug-in has an 11 kW three phase charger against the W213's 7.4 kW single phase unit. At home the difference disappears, because a house supplies 7.4 kW to either car, and the W214 then takes longer overall because its battery is nearly twice the size.
Do I need a 22kW cable for a Mercedes E300de?
Not for a W213 Mercedes E300de, which cannot exceed 7.4 kW under any circumstances. On a W214 the 22 kW cable does unlock the full 11 kW, but only at a site with three real phases, and it makes no difference whatsoever on a domestic supply.
How long does a Mercedes E300de take to charge?
About 2 hours from empty for the W213 Mercedes E300de on a 32A cable at home, or 4 hours for the larger W214 battery. From an ordinary 13 amp household socket those become roughly 6 hours 45 minutes and 12 hours 30 minutes.
What cable length works for a Mercedes E-Class?
This is a 4.95 metre car with the charging socket at the back, so a 5m lead only stretches if the wallbox is close to the rear of the parking space and on the correct side. Where the unit is mounted by the front of a garage, or the car is reversed in, the 10m removes the problem entirely.
Is it worth charging an E300de from a 3-pin socket?
On a W213 Mercedes E300de, yes. The pack is small enough that a household 13 amp socket fills it in about 6 hours 45 minutes, so a night away from home still leaves you with a full electric range in the morning. The W214 battery takes 12 hours 30 minutes the same way, which is a top up rather than a full charge.