Cable or portable charger: which do I need?
Two different jobs. Thirty seconds to work out which is yours.
You need a Type 2 charging cable if...
You have (or are getting) a home wallbox with a socket, or you use untethered public and workplace chargers. The cable connects the charger to your car: 5m to 30m, straight or coiled, 7kW and 22kW, and Type 2 fits every EV and plug-in hybrid sold since 2018.
Browse EV cablesYou need a portable (granny) charger if...
You want to charge from a normal 3-pin socket with no installation: at home, a rental, or a holiday let. A portable EV charger delivers a steady 2.3kW, comes with a carry bag, and is ideal for plug-in hybrids and occasional charging.
Shop portable chargers
Picking the right length? Measure from your charger or socket to your car's charging port, and remember to allow for whether you reverse in or park nose-first. 5m suits a socket close to where you park, 10m reaches across most drives, and 15m to 30m covers large driveways, properties with land and/or outbuildings. Not sure what fits your car? Pop your reg into the lookup at the top of this page.The Cord team
Why buy your charging kit from Cord?
Cables and chargers live outdoors and plug in every day, so build quality is a safety matter, not a luxury.
| Cord | Typical budget kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | ✓Portables capped at 10A in line with UK electrical regulations, with over-voltage, under-voltage and temperature protection in both the charger and the 3-pin plug | ✗Often runs at 13A, which can overheat domestic sockets and does not comply with UK electrical regulations |
| Build | ✓Tested for over 20,000 charges, IP65 sealed against rain and dust, IK10 impact protection | ✗Flimsy plastics, not sealed against British weather |
| Cover | ✓Up to 3 year warranty with UK-based support and easy exchanges | ✗Little meaningful cover, hard to exchange |
| In the box | ✓Carry bag with every portable charger, ready for the boot | ✗Sold bare |
Built to be safe
10A capped portables, tested cables, CE and UKCA certified.
Tested for over 20,000 charges
IP65 water resistance and IK10 impact protection.
Free next working day delivery
Order before 12 noon and charge tomorrow.
UK owned and operated
Real support, easy exchanges, up to 3 year warranty.
Cable and portable charger questions, answered
A granny charger is the everyday name for a portable EV charger: plug the 3-pin end into any standard UK socket and the Type 2 end into your car, and you're charging at 2.3kW with no installation. It adds roughly 8 to 10 miles of range per hour, which is ideal for plug-in hybrids and overnight top-ups.
Every EV and plug-in hybrid sold since 2018 uses a Type 2 connector, so any Cord cable fits. You just need to choose the length and the power rating. Not sure? Enter your reg in the lookup at the top of this page and we'll confirm it for your exact car.
Yes, with a proper portable EV charger. Ours are capped at 10A in line with UK electrical regulations for safe, continuous charging, with over-voltage, under-voltage and temperature protection built into both the charger and the 3-pin plug. Beware budget units that run at 13A: they can overheat domestic sockets and do not comply with UK electrical regulations.
Measure from your charger or socket to your car's charging port, and allow for whether you reverse in or park nose-first. 5m suits a socket or wallbox close to where you park, 10m reaches across most drives, and 15m to 30m covers large driveways, properties with land and/or outbuildings. A longer cable combined with an untethered (socketed) charger can also avoid expensive groundworks.
For home charging, 7kW single phase is almost always the right choice: it matches UK home wallboxes. 22kW three phase suits workplaces and public chargers with a three-phase supply. Good to know: charging speed depends on your vehicle, so you may not achieve the full 22kW; many EVs accept up to 7.4kW or 11kW on AC.
It's about how you like to live with it. A coiled cable stays off the ground while you charge, stays clean and easily retracts: no more wrapping. A straight cable gives you the full reach of its length and packs flat in the boot. Both are the same tested Cord cable underneath.
