AC Charging
EV Charger Cable Length: 5 m vs 7 m and What Fits Your Bay
How to choose the cable length for a tethered AC charger: bay layout, inlet position, handling, tripping risks and when a longer cable is a mistake.
- Prepared by
- VULTAE Engineering Team
- Published
- Reading time
- 1 min
- Sources
- —
Key takeaways
- 1Pick the cable length from the real layout: distance from the charger to the inlet of the cars that use the bay, plus slack. Too short is unusable; too long is heavier, harder to handle and a trip hazard.
- 2Most home and workplace bays work with 5 m. 7 m helps when the charger is far from the inlet or cars park in different directions, but it is heavier and costs more.
- 3Measure with the actual vehicles. Inlet positions vary between front, rear and side.
Short answer: most bays work with 5 m. Choose 7 m when the charger is far from the inlet or cars park in different directions. Measure with the actual cars and avoid cables that lie on the floor.
Choosing by layout
| Layout | Suggested length |
|---|---|
| Charger at the front of the bay | 5 m |
| Charger beside the bay, car nose-in | 5 m |
| Charger centred between two bays | 5–7 m |
| Cars park nose-in and tail-in | 7 m |
| Garage with a wall at the rear | 5–7 m, check inlet position |
Trade-offs
| Shorter | Longer | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Lighter | Heavier |
| Trip risk | Lower | Higher |
| Reach | Limited | Flexible |
| Cost | Lower | Higher |
Handling tips
- Fit a cable holder or hook so the cable is off the floor.
- Do not coil a cable tightly while charging.
- Place the charger so the cable hangs without strain.
- Check the cable after bad weather and wear.
Public sites
Cables are a wear item. See tethered or socket for the choice between fixed cables and sockets, and bay layout for planning the bays.
VULTAE’s wallbox is available with a tethered Type 2 cable, and separate Type 2 cables are available in 5 m and other lengths on request.
Questions buyers ask
- Is 5 m enough for most cars?
- For a charger placed near the middle of a bay or at the front, often yes. Check the inlet position of the cars you serve.
- Does a longer cable charge slower?
- The effect on charging power is negligible at normal lengths. The main differences are weight, handling and cost.
- Can I use an extension?
- Not for EV charging cables: use a single correctly rated cable of the right length.
