Will Using an Electric Vehicle Extension Cord Reduce Charging Speed?

Should I use an electric vehicle extension cord?

The answer is definitely yes. Longer cords are always better because they provide more flexibility and convenience. You can park your car a little further away from the charging station and still charge seamlessly. Many underground parking lots in buildings have charging stations, but you may not find a parking space near the charging point. In this case, an electric vehicle extension cord comes in handy.

However, it is important to choose the right extension cord. Most manufacturers offer electric vehicle chargers with high rated power to achieve fast charging. However, many electric vehicle extension cords have lower rated power, and it is not recommended to use extension cords with lower rated power to extend your electric vehicle charger.

When you use a low-power electric vehicle extension cable to connect the charger, the power supplied to the electric vehicle will be equal to the rated power of the extension cable. Therefore, the amount of electricity reaching your electric vehicle battery will be reduced, and more energy will be lost, and your electric vehicle will need more time to charge. In addition, frequently using low-power extension cords can damage your charger.

Therefore, it is necessary to use an electric vehicle extension cord with similar rated values and circuit breakers as the main charger. This will ensure that there is no power loss, and the electric vehicle will charge quickly. Using extensions with appropriate rated power can also keep your charger healthy and extend its service life.

Will an electric vehicle extension cord lower the charging speed?

One of the most concerning issues for electric vehicle owners is whether an electric vehicle extension cord will lower the charging speed. The charging speed may decrease. However, if you choose the right cable, the difference can be negligible. Let's look at how the charging speed changes. The charging speed depends on the rated power of the electric vehicle cable and extension cord, and the final charging power output will be equal to the lower output power of the charger or cable.

Assuming that the charging current of your electric vehicle cable is 16 amps and the cable output is 10 amps. In this case, the final charging output will be 10 amps. Now, suppose your charger output is 10 amps, and the rated power of your electric vehicle extension cord is 16 amps. Even now, the final charging output will still be 10 amps. To ensure the best charging speed, use extension cables with more amps than the main charger, which will ensure that the charging rate does not decrease.