Type 1 to Type 2 Charging Cable
Quick recommendation
A Type 1 to Type 2 charging cable connects an older electric car that has a Type 1 inlet to a Type 2 charge point, which is what every home wallbox and almost every public post in Britain uses. For most Type 1 cars the 16A version is the right buy, and that is unusual advice worth explaining.
Type 1 is a single phase connector. It physically cannot carry three phases, so there is no 22 kW version of this cable and never will be. The ceiling is 7.4 kW on the 32A, and almost no Type 1 car can reach it: the i-MiEV, iOn, C-Zero, Ampera, Outlander PHEV and the standard Nissan Leaf all cap between 3.3 and 3.7 kW. On those cars the 16A delivers everything the car will take and the 32A charges no faster.
Four cars justify the 32A: a Nissan Leaf with the optional 6.6 kW charger, an e-NV200 with the same option, the Ford Focus Electric and the Kia Soul EV of 2017 to 2019. If you are not sure which charger your Leaf has, the 32A cable still works perfectly on a 3.3 kW car, it simply costs £10 more than you needed to spend.
One check before you order. A Type 1 inlet has five pins, a Type 2 has seven. Look at the socket on your car. The Nissan Leaf changed from Type 1 to Type 2 in 2018 and the Kia Soul changed in 2019, so the year matters as much as the badge. If yours is Type 2, you want the Type 2 to Type 2 cable instead.
Cables come in 5m and 10m. Take 10m unless the charge point is on the same side of the car as the inlet and close to where you park.
Type 1 to Type 2 Cable Options
| Cable | Max Charge Rate | Best for | 5m | 10m |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 1 to Type 2, 16A | 3.7 kW | Most Type 1 cars, which cap between 3.3 and 3.7 kW | £130.99 | £156.99 |
| Type 1 to Type 2, 32A | 7.4 kW, though no Type 1 car exceeds 6.6 kW | Leaf or e-NV200 with the optional charger, Ford Focus Electric, Kia Soul EV | £140.99 | £172.99 |
Built to IEC 62196, CE certified, IP55 sealed and rated from -30C to +50C. Two year warranty, same-day dispatch on working-day orders placed before 2pm and we price match any UK retailer.
Type 1 to Type 2 Charging Cable FAQs
Which Type 1 to Type 2 cable should I buy?
The 16A suits most Type 1 cars, because the i-MiEV, iOn, C-Zero, Ampera, Outlander PHEV and standard Nissan Leaf all cap between 3.3 and 3.7 kW and cannot use more. Choose the 32A only for a Leaf or e-NV200 with the optional 6.6 kW charger, a Ford Focus Electric or a 2017 to 2019 Kia Soul EV.
Is there a 22kW Type 1 charging cable?
No, and there cannot be. Type 1 is a single phase connector with five pins, so 7.4 kW is the physical ceiling for the standard, and no Type 1 car sold in the UK accepts more than 6.6 kW anyway. Any listing offering a 22 kW Type 1 cable is describing something that does not exist.
How do I tell if my car is Type 1 or Type 2?
Count the pins in the car's socket. A Type 1 inlet has five, a Type 2 has seven and is flat along the top edge. Year matters too: the Nissan Leaf moved from Type 1 to Type 2 in 2018 and the Kia Soul in 2019, so two cars wearing the same badge can need different cables.
Will a Type 1 to Type 2 cable work at a public charge point?
Yes, at any untethered Type 2 post, which is the common kind in Britain. The Type 2 end plugs into the post and the Type 1 end into your car. It will not work at a post with its own cable already attached, because that cable will be Type 2 at both ends.
What length Type 1 cable do I need?
5m is enough when the charge point is on the same side of the car as the inlet and close to where you park. 10m is the safer choice for a public bay, a wallbox on the opposite wall, or a car that has to reverse in. Measure the route the cable takes around the car rather than the straight line.