Smart EQ ForTwo EV Charging Cable
Quick recommendation
For a Smart EQ ForTwo the answer depends on where you plug in. At home, on a single phase supply, a 32A Type 2 to Type 2 cable is all you need. The battery holds only 16.7 kWh usable, so 7.4 kW clears it from empty in about 2 hours 30 minutes.
The Smart is the odd one out in our catalogue. From 2020 every EQ ForTwo left the factory able to accept 22 kW of AC, more than many far larger and far dearer cars manage. Between 2017 and 2019 that ability was a paid extra called the 22kW Charger, and cars without it are limited to 4.6 kW. UK adverts and original invoices usually name the option, so check the paperwork before choosing.
Remember that 22 kW is a three phase figure. A British home is single phase and cannot exceed 7.4 kW, so the three phase cable only earns its price if you regularly park at a three phase post. Where you do, it fills this battery in roughly 45 minutes. Charge only at home and the 32A single phase cable is the smarter buy. No Smart of any year has rapid charging, so AC is the only way in.
This is also one of the rare cars where a Type 2 to 3 pin cable works as a plan rather than a panic. At 2.3 kW a flat battery is full in about 8 hours 15 minutes, which is one night's sleep. If you have no wallbox and cover modest daily miles, it can honestly be your main cable.
Cars from the 2013 to 2016 third generation are harder to pin down. Their AC charging is slow, somewhere around 3.3 to 4.6 kW, and we could not confirm one figure, so we have not published charge times for them. A 32A Type 2 to Type 2 cable covers whatever that car accepts.
On length, 5m suits most owners because the car is tiny and parks close in. Take 10m if the wallbox is round a corner, across a shared yard, or you rely on public posts.
Petrol ForTwo models from 1998 onwards have no charging port. Every cable includes a 2 year manufacturer's warranty and same-day dispatch on working-day orders placed before 2pm. Type 2 to Type 2 cables are IP55 rated, Type 2 to 3 pin cables are IP67.
Smart EQ ForTwo Charging Times
Smart fortwo electric drive, 2017 to 2019, standard 4.6 kW charger (16.7 kWh usable)
| Cable Type | Max Charge Rate | Empty to Full | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 to 3 Pin (5m / 10m) | 2.3 kW | 8 hours 15 minutes | Genuinely usable overnight |
| Type 2 to Type 2, 16A (5m / 10m) | 3.7 kW | 5 hours | 16A posts only |
| Type 2 to Type 2, 32A (5m / 10m) | 4.6 kW, car limit | 4 hours | Recommended |
| Type 2 to Type 2, 32A three phase (5m / 10m) | 4.6 kW, car limit | 4 hours | No gain, this car is 4.6 kW |
Smart with 22 kW charging: the 2017 to 2019 option and every 2020 to 2024 EQ ForTwo (16.7 kWh usable)
| Cable Type | Max Charge Rate | Empty to Full | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 2 to 3 Pin (5m / 10m) | 2.3 kW | 8 hours 15 minutes | Genuinely usable overnight |
| Type 2 to Type 2, 16A (5m / 10m) | 3.7 kW | 5 hours | 16A posts only |
| Type 2 to Type 2, 32A (5m / 10m) | 7.4 kW | 2 hours 30 minutes | Best fit at home |
| Type 2 to Type 2, 32A three phase (5m / 10m) | 22 kW | 45 minutes | Best fit at a three phase post |
Smart EQ ForTwo Charging Cable FAQs
Which cable suits a Smart EQ ForTwo?
A 32A Type 2 to Type 2 cable for home use. The pack holds only 16.7 kWh usable, so 7.4 kW takes it from empty to full in about 2 hours 30 minutes. Cars limited to 4.6 kW need roughly 4 hours on the very same cable. Every Smart of every year uses a Type 2 inlet.
Is the 22 kW three phase cable worth it?
Only if you use three phase charge points. There a 22 kW car fills in around 45 minutes, which is remarkable for something this size. At home the supply is single phase and caps at 7.4 kW, so the cheaper 32A single phase cable finishes the job just as quickly for less outlay.
How fast does a Smart charge at home?
About 2 hours 30 minutes from empty on a 7.4 kW wallbox with the 32A cable, whether your car is a 2020 to 2024 EQ ForTwo or a 2017 to 2019 car carrying the 22kW Charger. A 4.6 kW car takes roughly 4 hours. The 16A cable needs about 5 hours either way.
Does my car have the 22kW Charger option?
Anything built from 2020 has 22 kW as standard, so there is nothing to check. On 2017 to 2019 cars it was a paid extra, and UK sellers normally put 22kW Charger in the trim name. Your original invoice, or the advert the car was sold under, is the quickest place to look.
Can a 3 pin cable be my main cable?
For plenty of Smart owners, yes. A 2.3 kW 3 pin lead fills the 16.7 kWh battery in about 8 hours 15 minutes, so a night on charge starts the morning full. That only works because the battery is small. The lead is IP67 rated, though a wallbox remains faster and kinder to the socket.
Is 5m long enough for a Smart ForTwo?
Usually. The car is under three metres long and tends to park tight to the wall, so 5m reaches most home wallboxes. Choose 10m if the charge point sits round a corner, across a shared yard, or you depend on street posts where the bay position keeps changing.