What cable do I need to charge my electric vehicle?

updated on 27/02/2024

Some of the main questions about charging an electric vehicle, whether you already have an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle or you are planning on buying one, are: Where can I charge my car? Where can I find a charging station? How do I charge my car? How long does it take to charge? What cables do I need? Don't worry. These are the most common and we are here to help you with them.

Electric mobility is relatively new in Spain and it is normal for you to have doubts. More and more drivers are switching to electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, with a wide range of models now available, which increases every year. However, as the number of electric cars increases, more charging stations are installed, thus increasing the range of charging solutions for electric vehicles.

One of the most important elements of chargers is the cable, which is needed to connect the vehicle to the power socket, either at home, work or anywhere else. In fact, many electric vehicle charging stations installed on public roads do not have cables, so we strongly recommend you keep a cable in your boot to charge your vehicle anywhere. Moreover, you will also need it for the charger installed at your private or community garage.

Remember that the Electromaps map shows all of the charging stations available on public roads, many of which will show the information provided by the app's users, such as whether the charging station has its own cable or not.

Therefore, if you already own an electric vehicle or are interested in buying one, you might be interested in checking out the most common type of charging cable needed to charge electric vehicles beforehand.

Type 2 to Type 2 electric vehicle charging cable

Type 2 to Type 2 electric vehicle charging cables, i.e., Mennekes socket to Mennekes socket, are the most common type used at charging stations on public roads or private car parks. These are also the most common type of charging cables used in private garages, which usually have Type 2 chargers installed.

Electromaps uses three-phase Type 2 to Type 2 cables, rated up to 32A, with a protective cap fitted on all connectors and personalised with our logo. The cables are 5 metres long. Please keep in mind that many AC chargers do not have charging cables.

In addition, this cable can be easily stored in a protective case, which is also personalised with the Electromaps logo. We recommend that you always carry the cable and case in your boot, so you can use it when you need to. Carrying a charging cable in your vehicle will avoid unpleasant surprises (and the frustration) of arriving at a charging station that does not have cables, so you can connect your own cable.

V2L Adapter “Vehicle to Load” Type 2 to Schuko

Electric vehicles have been charged to be able to circulate. But now, some models are already prepared to be a power source for other types of products that admit up to 230V and 3.5kW, such as a coffee maker or an electric bicycle, for example. This is possible thanks to the new V2L function that some recent vehicles incorporate, and the “Vehicle to Load” adapter cable. In this way, electrical energy can be sent from the car, through the Type 2 connector, to any conventional electrical device with a standard European plug or Schuko.

Until now, only some models of electric cars allow this “Vehicle to Load” option, therefore this V2L adapter cable is only compatible with the following electric vehicles: Hyundai Ioniq 5, KIA EV6, BYD Atto 3, BYD Han EV, Ford F-150 Lightning, MG ZS EV (2022), and VW ID Models.

Electropass, the keytag that will allow you to streamline your charging processes

In addition to carrying a cable to charge your electric car on any charger, we recommend you to carry an Electropass keytag on your key-chain. With the Electropass keytag, you can charge your vehicle at any time, either in an underground car park with poor mobile phone coverage or on ultra-fast chargers. The Electropass keytag allows you to start charging your vehicle by simply moving it close to the charger. Also keep in mind that you can add several Electropass keytags to the same account, so anyone in your family driving a vehicle can benefit from quick, simple and secure charging services.

Electromaps online store

Remember that Electromaps has an online store, in which you will find the main products to charge your electric vehicle, such as chargers, cables and accessories, the Electropass keytag and many more products. We are constantly adding new products to our range like this bundle of all the products needed to start charging at a lower cost. Check it out on a regular basis to discover our latest products and offers. Make the most of Electromaps!