Most electric cars in the UK use one plug for everyday charging, Type 2, and one for rapid charging, CCS2. The cables in between differ in charging mode, current and length. This guide explains the four charging modes, the plugs you’ll come across and which cables you actually need to buy.
Published 05/11/2026 · By Voldt® product team
One cable, two ends
Car end
Type 2
almost every car
Type 1
older and imported cars
In the cable
Mode 3: plain cable, no electronics
Mode 2: control box near the plug
Charger end
Type 2 socket
wallbox or public charge point
Three-pin socket
granny charger
Commando socket
portable charger
Fixed cable
on DC rapid chargers
Key points: the words you’ll see
AC
Alternating current, converted inside your car.
DC
Direct current, converted inside the charger.
Mode 2
Portable charger with a control box.
Mode 3
Plain cable from a wallbox or public charge point.
Type 2
The standard AC plug in the UK and Europe.
CCS2
Type 2 plus two DC pins, for rapid charging.
01 · AC and DC
What’s the difference between AC and DC charging?
Where the power gets converted: inside your car with AC, inside the charger with DC.
The grid supplies alternating current (AC), but a battery stores direct current (DC), so something has to convert one into the other. With AC charging, that’s the car’s built-in charger. That’s why the speed is capped by your car as well as by the charge point or wallbox: depending on the model, cars accept anything from 3,7 kW on some plug-in hybrids to 22 kW on AC.
Fig. 1
Where the power is converted
AC charging
Grid
Charge point or wallbox
Your cable
Car’s built-in charger
Battery
DC rapid charging
Grid
Station’s converter
Fixed cable
Battery
Source: IEC 61851-1. The highlighted box converts AC into DC.
With DC rapid charging, the converter sits inside the charging station and the power goes straight into the battery. That takes far more power and a thick cable, liquid-cooled on the fastest units, so DC chargers always come with their cable attached. You never need to buy a DC cable yourself.
02 · Charging modes
What’s the difference between Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables?
Four ways of connecting a car to power, set out in the standard IEC 61851-1.
Mode 1 connects a car straight to a socket, with no protection or signal in the cable, up to 16 A. It isn’t recommended, and modern cars need a control signal, so in practice they can’t charge this way. Mode 2 adds a control box to the cable, close to the plug. It protects against leakage current and tells the car how much it may draw. That’s a portable charger, for a 3-pin socket (where 13 A is the limit) or a commando socket, up to 32 A.
Fig. 2
The four charging modes
Mode 1
Household socket
No control in the cable
Not recommended
16 A
Mode 2
3-pin or commando socket
Control box in the cable
Portable charger
32 A
Mode 3
Wallbox or public charge point
Control in the charging point
Type 2 cable
63 A
Mode 4
Fixed to a DC rapid charger
Control in the charger
Rapid charging
DC
Source: IEC 61851-1
Mode 3 is a plain cable between a wallbox or public charge point and the car. The control sits in the charging point, so the cable needs no electronics, and Type 2 allows up to 63 A on three phases. Mode 4 is DC rapid charging, where the cable is part of the charger. For everyday charging, you’ll only deal with Mode 2 and Mode 3.
Voldt® tip
Don’t let a portable charger’s control box hang from the socket. Rest it on the ground or hang it up, so its weight doesn’t pull on the plug.
03 · Plugs
Which plug types do electric cars use?
Type 2 for AC and CCS2 for DC on almost every new car, with Type 1 and CHAdeMO on some older ones.
Type 2 is the AC plug on public charge points, socketed wallboxes and almost every car sold in the UK. CCS2 is a Type 2 inlet with two large DC pins added underneath, so one inlet on the car takes both your Type 2 cable and a rapid charger’s CCS2 plug. CCS2 is the rapid charging plug on new cars sold in the UK.
Fig. 3
The four plugs, seen from the front
Type 2
AC charging
Standard
CCS2
Plug on a rapid charger
Standard
Type 1
Older and imported cars
Older cars
CHAdeMO
Older Asian models
Being phased out
AC and signal pins
DC pins
Older plugs
Source: IEC 62196-2 and IEC 62196-3, simplified drawings
Type 1 sits on older and imported cars, which you charge at Type 2 charge points with a Type 1 to Type 2 cable. CHAdeMO, a DC plug on some older Asian models, is being phased out. You can bridge it with a CCS2 to CHAdeMO adapter, but not every car works with one, so check your car before you rely on it.
04 · Cable specs
How do charging cables differ in phases, current and length?
Phases, current, length and shape. Together they decide how fast and how practical a cable is.
A three-phase cable works with single-phase cars too, because the car simply uses the phases it can. Current is the bigger choice: a 16 A cable caps any charging point at 16 A, which is 11 kW on three phases, while a 32 A cable allows up to 22 kW and works on 16 A charge points as well. A small resistor in each plug tells the charger which one you’ve got.
Fig. 4
What a cable’s spec tells you
It says
What it means
Type 2 to Type 2
Fits almost every car and every public post.
Mode 3
A plain cable for wallboxes and posts, with no box in it.
Three-phase
Works with every Type 2 car, single-phase ones too.
32 A, 22 kW
The most it can carry. Your car or the post may set a lower limit.
5 m
How far it reaches. Measure from where you park.
IP67
Rain-proof and dust-proof while it’s plugged in.
Example cable for illustration. Source: Voldt® product team
Length is about reach. Longer cables weigh more and take up more boot space, so pick one that reaches the inlet from where you usually park. Coiled cables stay off wet ground and store neatly, while straight ones come in more lengths: Voldt® coiled cables come in 5 and 8 m, straight ones up to 40 m. A 32 A cable is also a little heavier, because thicker cores carry more current with less heat.
Voldt® tip
Measure from where you park to the car’s inlet and add a metre or two. A cable that only just reaches pulls on both plugs.
05 · What to buy
Which cables do you actually need?
Usually one Type 2 cable, plus a portable charger if you charge from a socket.
If you charge at public AC charge points or have a wallbox with a socket, you need a Type 2 to Type 2 cable. If your wallbox has its own cable and you only use rapid chargers on the road, you may not need a cable at all. A portable charger covers the rest: charging from a socket at home, at a holiday home or at work.
Some things you never buy. DC cables come with the rapid charger, and a tethered wallbox has its cable built in. An extension lead is no substitute for a longer cable, because portable chargers shouldn’t be used with one. For help choosing between lengths and currents, read our guide to which charging cable to choose.
Our verdict
For everyday charging, almost every driver needs a Type 2 cable, plus a portable charger if they charge from a socket. DC cables always come with the charger, so your real choices are current, length and shape.
1
Check your car’s inlet first
2
Keep one Type 2 cable in the car
3
Never use an extension lead
Buy it if you charge at public AC charge points or at a wallbox with a socket
Skip it if your wallbox has its own cable and you only use rapid chargers on the road
The two cables most drivers need
Safe use and warranty
- Push both plugs fully home and wait for them to lock.
- Stop using a cable with cracked insulation, bent pins or scorch marks.
- Where your car’s manual differs from this guide, follow the manual.
Voldt® cables and portable chargers are UKCA and CE marked and TÜV certified, with a 3-year warranty. Terms and exclusions are on the warranty and complaints page.
UKCA · CE · TÜV · IP67 · 3-year warranty · 100-day returns
Frequently asked questions about charging cables
Can I use a three-phase cable with a single-phase car?
Yes. The car uses the phases it can, so a three-phase cable works with any Type 2 car.
Do I need my own cable for rapid charging?
No. DC rapid chargers always have their cable attached. It’s built for far more power than an AC cable.
What is the box on a portable charger?
It’s the in-cable control and protection device. It protects against leakage current and tells the car how much current it may draw.
Can I charge a Type 1 car at a Type 2 charge point?
Yes, with a Type 1 to Type 2 cable. The charge point doesn’t mind which plug sits at the car end.
Is a 32 A cable slower on a 16 A charge point?
No. The charge point sets the current, and a 32 A cable simply allows more where it’s available.
Can I charge a CHAdeMO car at a CCS2 charger?
Only with an adapter, and not every car works with one. Check your car before you rely on it.
Voldt® product team, product development and support
Develops Voldt® charging cables and portable chargers and answers the questions that reach Voldt® support.