Single/Three phase charging cables with your car?
Discussion
Frimley111R said:
If your EV charges at a max of 7kW (on board charger/inverter) I presume you have a single phase charging cable and if it chargers at rates above this it has a 3 phase cable?
a single phase cable (1 live conductor + neutral ) can be used on either a single phase or three phase charge point although on a three phase supply you will only be using one of the phases and the car will only charge at 7kw.a cable with all 3 phases wired end to end (three phase cable) is also compatible with either a single phase or three phase charge point. however, when a three phase cable is used on a single phase charge point, only one of the live conductors in the cable will be utilized and the car will only charge at 7kw. if this cable is connected to a three phase charge point all three live conductors in the cable will be utilized and it will charge at up to 22kw (car dependent).
the cable provided with my Hyundai has all 3 phases wired in the cable so is compatible with a either a single phase 7kw supply or a 3 phase 22kw supply.
strange question for someone running a charge point installation company?
Edited by Tye Green on Friday 21st January 11:32
Edited by Tye Green on Friday 21st January 11:34
Charge speed is limited by the number of phases and max current and the lowest combo of those determined by your car, cable and charge point.
7.2kw is single phase, 32a and the car, cable and charge point all need to be able to deliver that.
If the cable was 16a/3 phase you might get 11kw if the car and charge point both support 3 phase 16a (realistically, if they support 3 phase they’ll support a minimum of 16a)
If you use that cable on a single phase supply you’ll only get 3.6kw even if the car and charge point can both supply 32a, the cable current limit per phase becomes the limiting factor.
In other words (and second guessing why you’ve asked the question), an 11kw cable won’t support 7kw charging, you’ll only get 3.6kw. You’d need a 22kw cable (3 phase, 32a per phase) to cover the most real world situations even though it’s pretty rate to ever find a car and chargepoint that can both charge at 22kw.
7.2kw is single phase, 32a and the car, cable and charge point all need to be able to deliver that.
If the cable was 16a/3 phase you might get 11kw if the car and charge point both support 3 phase 16a (realistically, if they support 3 phase they’ll support a minimum of 16a)
If you use that cable on a single phase supply you’ll only get 3.6kw even if the car and charge point can both supply 32a, the cable current limit per phase becomes the limiting factor.
In other words (and second guessing why you’ve asked the question), an 11kw cable won’t support 7kw charging, you’ll only get 3.6kw. You’d need a 22kw cable (3 phase, 32a per phase) to cover the most real world situations even though it’s pretty rate to ever find a car and chargepoint that can both charge at 22kw.
Frimley111R said:
Thanks guys, I understand the way they work 3 phase/Single phase, I just wondered about the type of cables supplied with EVs.
Tesla gave us a 32a 3 phase monster, BMW gave us a 32a single phase which was much lighter but not as capable (although now you’ve raised it, the BMW didn’t support 3 phase anyway which would make sense). If I was buying I’d buy single phase, as I’ve only come across 1 untethered 3 phase public charger in 7 years. Heres Johnny said:
Tesla gave us a 32a 3 phase monster, BMW gave us a 32a single phase which was much lighter but not as capable (although now you’ve raised it, the BMW didn’t support 3 phase anyway which would make sense). If I was buying I’d buy single phase, as I’ve only come across 1 untethered 3 phase public charger in 7 years.
Lots of the Tesco PodPoint installs have a 2x22kW post now, which is quite handy in the Zoe (which came with a 3 phase cable)Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff