When you’re looking for an EV charging cable, you might just think, ‘It’s a cable. They’re all the same’. But much like anything in life, you get what you pay for, and it’s worth going for a name you know and trust.
If I said the letters WAI, you probably wouldn’t know the brand at all. Started in 1978, they’re one of the largest aftermarket parts manufacturers, operating in 14 countries with distribution to more than 105; they provide starter motors, alternators, throttle bodies, window motors etc, all tested to OE specifications.
What is it?
Well, simply put, it’s a charging cable for electric vehicles.
Type 2 Female to Type 2 Male, measuring 5 metres (16 feet) long. It can take 32 amp and up to 415 volts at 22kW.
Part number: EVC22332-5
How does it work?
This is the beefier Three Phase cable; your regular ‘home charging’ cable is most likely Single Phase.
The difference between the two is that Single Phase is when electricity flows through a single conductor; Three Phase, three conductors. In terms of EV charging, that means more power; Three Phase charges at 22kW, whereas Single Phase is 7.4kW.
So if you have a Three Phase charger, you need a beefier cable to handle the extra power. If you come across a 22kW untethered charger while out and about, it also pays to have a Three Phase cable with you; otherwise, you’ll be left charging at just 7.4kW with your Single Phase spec home cable – obviously, all this is dependent on what your vehicles in-built AC charger can handle.
What’s it like?
Hefty. Because of the thicker Three Phase wire, the charging cable weighs much more than our standard BMW Single Phase. That’s not a bad thing; it’s simply unavoidable.
It’s IP55 rated, so is ‘protected against dust, limited ingress’ and ‘protected against low-pressure jets of water from all directions, limited ingress permitted’ and can operate down to -30C and up to +50C.
The connectors are a smart white with minimal branding, and both have thick rubber dust covers for when the cable isn’t in use; these attach to the rubber connector at the base of each connector.
There are no rubber grips on the connector/handle, just the white plastic (made from insulating Polybutylene terephthalate), which could be an issue in the wet, or if you have limited grip strength. But the connectors are nice and large, so there’s plenty to grab at.
You also get a handy bag to store it in; one side has the WAI logo, the other their new ‘EV’ brand signature.
Our BMW i3 charged perfectly fine at home with our Rolec 7kW wallbox. Plugging into a 22kW charger, the i3 began to charge at its maximum AC voltage of 11kW, so there were no problems there either.
Overall, the WAI Three Phase cable feels like a good bit of kit from a well-known (in aftermarket parts circles) brand.
Where can I get one?
The easiest place to buy one from is, you guessed it, Amazon.
Both the Single Phase and Three Phase are available – and strangely enough, the single Phase (is currently) £8 more expensive.
