EV charging cable: Type 2, length and how to choose

A Type 2 cable is only for socketed wallboxes: how to tell if you need one

The first question is whether you need a cable at all. It comes down to how your wallbox is built.3racv.com.auView source 4eevastore.com.auView source

Tethered wallboxes have a cable permanently fixed to the unit. The cable is part of the charger. You own it, you don't carry it separately, and you don't need to buy anything extra. Plug in and charge.4eevastore.com.auView source

Socketed (untethered) wallboxes have a Type 2 socket on the front instead of a fixed cable. You supply the cable yourself and carry it in the car. This is also the standard setup at most public AC charging stations in Australia, so a cable you own at home works at the supermarket or the car park too.3racv.com.auView source 4eevastore.com.auView source

If your wallbox is tethered, you can stop here. The rest of this guide is for people who own a socketed wallbox or are deciding between the two.

Most Australian EVs take a Type 2 cable

Type 2 (governed by IEC 62196-2) is the standard AC inlet on virtually all EVs sold in Australia since around 2018.3racv.com.auView source 5chargewise.com.auView source That includes BYD ATTO 3, BMW i4, Hyundai Ioniq, Kia EV6, Volkswagen ID series, Audi Q4 e-tron, Mercedes EQ series, Nissan Ariya, and Renault Zoe. If your car is on that list, a Type 2 cable is the right choice.

Tesla is the exception. Australian Teslas use a proprietary connector rather than Type 2. Tesla does supply an adapter for Type 2 public sockets with some models, and some Tesla owners carry a Type 2 cable for public AC stations. Check what your specific Tesla model includes before you buy a separate cable.

For the connector standard itself (what sits in the socketed wallbox on the other end of the cable), see our guide on the Type 2 charger standard. This guide covers the cable you carry, not the socket on the wall.

Buy the 22 kW cable even on a single-phase home

This is the decision most buyers get wrong. There are two cable ratings in the Australian market: 7 kW (32A single-phase) and 22 kW (32A three-phase).4eevastore.com.auView source 5chargewise.com.auView source The 22 kW cable costs around $30 to $50 more.1chargewise.com.auView source 6evshome.com.auView source The question is whether that premium is worth it when most Australian homes are single-phase.

The answer is yes. A 22 kW-rated cable is fully backwards-compatible: connect it to a single-phase wallbox or a single-phase supply, and it automatically delivers 7 kW.1chargewise.com.auView source 7inchargex.com.auView source The cable doesn't set your charge rate. Your actual speed is set by whichever of three things is lowest: the wallbox output, your home's power supply, or the car's onboard charger. The cable's rating is never the limiting factor on a single-phase home.8evos.com.auView source

So why buy the 22 kW version at all if you're on single-phase? Two reasons worth knowing.

First, many public AC stations in Australia are three-phase capable. A 7 kW single-phase cable may not work at a three-phase-only public charger. A 22 kW cable handles both. Second, if your home ever gains a three-phase supply, the cable's already ready. You're buying once. For the full charger power decision, the 7 kW vs 22 kW wallbox guide covers the onboard charger (OBC) factor in detail.

If you want to understand the difference between Mode 3 (what this cable is for) and Mode 2 (the portable EVSE or granny charger with a built-in protection box), that separate guide explains when a portable EVSE suits instead.

7 kW vs 22 kW cable: what changes

The spec difference is simple. The backwards-compatibility row is why most buyers should pick the 22 kW version.

Which length to buy: 5 m, 7 m, or 10 m

Three standard lengths dominate the Australian market.4eevastore.com.auView source 5chargewise.com.auView source The right one depends on the distance from your wallbox socket to the car's inlet in your actual parking spot.

5 m suits most suburban driveways where the charger is mounted close to where the car parks. It's the most common choice for tight urban setups.4eevastore.com.auView source 5chargewise.com.auView source 7 m is the popular all-rounder: it handles a typical double garage or a modest driveway setback without excess cable to coil up. 10 m suits larger driveways, rural properties, and shared charging areas where the car parks well away from the socket.

A practical way to decide: measure the longest likely distance from the socket to the car inlet, then add 0.5 m to 1 m for routing around obstacles. A cable that is too short puts mechanical stress on the connector over time.

One practical note on the longer lengths: three-phase (22 kW-rated) cables use thicker conductors and are noticeably heavier than single-phase cables at the same length. Factor this into boot storage if you plan to carry the cable regularly.

What does an EV charger installation cost?

What to check on the box: the certifications that matter in Australia

Once you have the right rating and length, one more check protects you: confirm the cable carries the right compliance marks before you buy.4eevastore.com.auView source 5chargewise.com.auView source

RCM (Regulatory Compliance Mark) is the most important one to look for. This is the mandatory Australian market compliance mark, confirming the product meets Australian electrical safety requirements.5chargewise.com.auView source 4eevastore.com.auView source If the cable doesn't carry an RCM mark, don't buy it.

IEC 62196-2 is the connector design standard that governs the Type 2 plug shape and pin configuration.8evos.com.auView source 4eevastore.com.auView source IEC 61851-1 is the EV charging system standard covering Mode 3 operation (how the cable communicates between charger and car). Both are listed on the compliance card or spec sheet of quality AU cables.

TUV or CB certification signals independent third-party testing on top of the self-declared marks.4eevastore.com.auView source Not mandatory, but a useful quality indicator when comparing products.

A note on AS/NZS 3760: you'll see this listed on some AU retailer pages. It's an in-service inspection standard, the test-and-tag regime for electrical equipment in use. It isn't the design or manufacturing standard for a new cable. IEC 62196-2 and IEC 61851-1, plus the RCM mark, are the correct compliance references for a cable you're buying new.

For more on the smart-charging communication layer that sits above the cable, the OCPP smart charging standard covers how a smart charger talks to tariff and solar apps.