When purchasing your new electric car, home EV chargers are appealing for many reasons, including increased reliability, lower charging costs, no queueing, and safe, secure charges.

However, homeowners concerned with aesthetics may feel niggled by long, less flexible cables hanging awkwardly on the wall or trailing across the floor next to their charging unit. There has to be a slicker alternative that keeps your driveway clear, minimalist and chic.

Are retractable cables the answer?

Are retractable EV charging cables the solution for home EV chargers?

Already widely utilised in the electronics market, retractable cable systems are commonplace for more premium extension cables.

The unique ability to retract and store them neatly out of the way has, rightly so, led to several manufacturers designing their own EV cable retraction systems.

Can I wind up my EV charging cable?

Why can’t we simply enlarge systems already used by extension leads and cables, I hear you ask?

Simply put, using a traditional retraction system would be unsafe and could cause serious damage to your cable and maybe even your car.

Coiling cables, as we do with extension leads or retractable tape measures, places strain on charging cables because of the heat generated when in use. If loose and unwound, the heat generated along the cables can dissipate into the air, keeping them cool and ventilated.

If not, the heat generated could damage the cable surrounding the coil, i.e., above and below it, in worst- case scenarios, causing it to melt and fail altogether.

Similarly, as well as being unsafe, you are likely to find that your car does not charge as quickly if the cable is wrapped around itself or a coiling device.

Charging cables can only carry the advertised fully rated current when completely extended. This may mean that despite having a faster-advertised charging speed, usually defined by an increased kilowatt output, it may not charge to that capacity when laid out incorrectly.

This then increases the time needed for a full charge.

What is the solution to retractable EV charging cables?

Thanks to increasing demand in an ever- growing marketplace, safe solutions to retractable EV charging cables have begun to emerge.

These include coiled and uncoiled variations.

Coiled solutions

Some manufacturers have pioneered retractable, flexible connection solutions designed to be uncoiled during a charge and retracted afterwards. These solutions remove the dangers associated with coiling, including overheating and reduced charging capacity, as the cables only become coiled when not in use.

They also make charging spaces such as driveways and garages neat and hazard- free, which is great for those who like a tidy space.

Other solutions

Pogo-style cable retractors hold cables up to around 10 feet off the floor and out of the way. To start a charge, a small pole is pulled down which brings the connector into range.

This solution is common for electrical, and industrial vehicles, including forklifts.

Wall-mounted cable retractors are more similar to coiled solutions and can feature charging cable clamps that hold the cable to the wall.

These wall-mounted solutions are ideal for residential EV charge points, working well alongside wall-mounted EV chargers.

Integrated cable retractors use spring-powered retractor reels to dispense cables as needed (as with pogo-style retractors) but are freestanding.

These solutions are favoured by industrial, commercial, and residential locations alike.

Benefits of retractable EV charging cable reels- of all varieties

Apart from keeping your charging area neat as a pin, retractable charging reel benefits include:

• Support for very long cables.
• More convenient, faster access to charging cables.
• Elimination of trip hazards.
• Decreased likelihood of electric shock.
• Protected, longer-lasting charging cables and charging units.

Using EV charging cables safely

No matter which retractable EV charging cable you use, it is of the utmost importance that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to prolong the lifetime of your charging cable and your electric car.

This means that if your cable instructions denote that the cable must be fully uncoiled to be used safely, then it must be fully unwrapped during recharging.

Find trusted EV charging cable suppliers for your electric car

With an ever-expanding selection of EV charging cables, a family-owned EV Cable Shop would be delighted to assist you with your EV charging cable needs.

Shop our Type 2 to Type 2 charging cables, compatible with a huge range of charge points, Type 2 to 3-pin charging cables for domestic charging, and Type 2 extension cables, to name but a few. We are sure we have the product for you in our collection. 

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact our charging experts here at EV Cable Shop on 01744 886 305, or fill in our enquiry form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

When purchasing your new electric car, home EV chargers are appealing for many reasons, including increased reliability, lower charging costs, no queueing, and safe, secure charges.

However, homeowners concerned with aesthetics may feel niggled by long, less flexible cables hanging awkwardly on the wall or trailing across the floor next to their charging unit. There has to be a slicker alternative that keeps your driveway clear, minimalist and chic.

Are retractable cables the answer?

Are retractable EV charging cables the solution for home EV chargers?

Already widely utilised in the electronics market, retractable cable systems are commonplace for more premium extension cables.

The unique ability to retract and store them neatly out of the way has, rightly so, led to several manufacturers designing their own EV cable retraction systems.

Can I wind up my EV charging cable?

Why can’t we simply enlarge systems already used by extension leads and cables, I hear you ask?

Simply put, using a traditional retraction system would be unsafe and could cause serious damage to your cable and maybe even your car.

Coiling cables, as we do with extension leads or retractable tape measures, places strain on charging cables because of the heat generated when in use. If loose and unwound, the heat generated along the cables can dissipate into the air, keeping them cool and ventilated.

If not, the heat generated could damage the cable surrounding the coil, i.e., above and below it, in worst- case scenarios, causing it to melt and fail altogether.

Similarly, as well as being unsafe, you are likely to find that your car does not charge as quickly if the cable is wrapped around itself or a coiling device.

Charging cables can only carry the advertised fully rated current when completely extended. This may mean that despite having a faster-advertised charging speed, usually defined by an increased kilowatt output, it may not charge to that capacity when laid out incorrectly.

This then increases the time needed for a full charge.

What is the solution to retractable EV charging cables?

Thanks to increasing demand in an ever- growing marketplace, safe solutions to retractable EV charging cables have begun to emerge.

These include coiled and uncoiled variations.

Coiled solutions

Some manufacturers have pioneered retractable, flexible connection solutions designed to be uncoiled during a charge and retracted afterwards. These solutions remove the dangers associated with coiling, including overheating and reduced charging capacity, as the cables only become coiled when not in use.

They also make charging spaces such as driveways and garages neat and hazard- free, which is great for those who like a tidy space.

Other solutions

Pogo-style cable retractors hold cables up to around 10 feet off the floor and out of the way. To start a charge, a small pole is pulled down which brings the connector into range.

This solution is common for electrical, and industrial vehicles, including forklifts.

Wall-mounted cable retractors are more similar to coiled solutions and can feature charging cable clamps that hold the cable to the wall.

These wall-mounted solutions are ideal for residential EV charge points, working well alongside wall-mounted EV chargers.

Integrated cable retractors use spring-powered retractor reels to dispense cables as needed (as with pogo-style retractors) but are freestanding.

These solutions are favoured by industrial, commercial, and residential locations alike.

Benefits of retractable EV charging cable reels- of all varieties

Apart from keeping your charging area neat as a pin, retractable charging reel benefits include:

• Support for very long cables.
• More convenient, faster access to charging cables.
• Elimination of trip hazards.
• Decreased likelihood of electric shock.
• Protected, longer-lasting charging cables and charging units.

Using EV charging cables safely

No matter which retractable EV charging cable you use, it is of the utmost importance that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to prolong the lifetime of your charging cable and your electric car.

This means that if your cable instructions denote that the cable must be fully uncoiled to be used safely, then it must be fully unwrapped during recharging.

Find trusted EV charging cable suppliers for your electric car

With an ever-expanding selection of EV charging cables, a family-owned EV Cable Shop would be delighted to assist you with your EV charging cable needs.

Shop our Type 2 to Type 2 charging cables, compatible with a huge range of charge points, Type 2 to 3-pin charging cables for domestic charging, and Type 2 extension cables, to name but a few. We are sure we have the product for you in our collection. 

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact our charging experts here at EV Cable Shop on 01744 886 305, or fill in our enquiry form and we will get back to you as soon as we can.