Short answer: no.
Don't use an extension lead with a tethered zappi, and don't cut or modify the cable. If the cable doesn't reach your car, there are safe options. They are listed below.
What is a tethered charger?
A tethered charger has a charging cable permanently attached. You plug the cable's connector into your car. A tethered zappi comes with a 6.5 metre cable.
An untethered charger has a socket instead. You bring your own charging cable (a "Type 2" cable) and plug it into both the charger and your car.
Why you shouldn't extend a tethered cable
1. Extension cables sold online are often unsafe.
Some online retailers advertise Type 2 extension cables for EV charging. These are often unsafe and don't meet compliance and safety standards, and they should be avoided. Once one is joined to another cable, its real current rating can't be checked.
2. The join can come apart while charging.
Your car locks the charging plug into its charging port while power is flowing. This stops the plug being pulled out under load. If you add an extension, the new join between the two cables has no lock. If it gets pulled or knocked apart while charging, it can arc (spark) at high current. That's a fire and shock risk.
3. The car can't tell what the cable can handle.
Every Type 2 charging cable has a small built-in component that tells the car (or the charger) how much current the cable can safely carry. When you join two cables, those signals can add up wrongly. The car may then misread the rating, or refuse to charge. Worse, it could try to draw more current than the weakest cable is built for.
4. It could void your warranties and affect your insurance.
Extending or modifying the charging cable is outside what myenergi supports, so it could void your charger warranty. It could also void your vehicle warranty. If a fault or damage to the car's charging system is traced back to an uncertified extension, the car manufacturer may refuse to cover it.
It can also be an insurance risk. If a fire or other damage happens and an extension that hasn't been tested and certified is involved, your insurer may reduce or refuse your claim. Check your policy, or ask your insurer, if you are unsure.
Don't cut and re-terminate a longer cable into the zappi either. The tethered cable is built and tested at the factory as part of the charger. Fitting a different cable yourself is not supported by myenergi and could void the warranty.
What to do instead
Option 1: Move the car (or the charger).
If you can park a little closer, a 6.5 metre cable reaches most parking spots. Check where the charging port is on your car. Cars with a rear or driver-side port can be reversed in.
Option 2: Move the charger.
An electrician can relocate the zappi closer to where you park. This is often the simplest long-term fix.
Option 3: Swap to an untethered zappi.
An untethered zappi has a socket instead of a fixed cable. You can buy a Type 2 cable in whatever length you need. A cable that's too short is then cheap to replace. For the best result:
- Use a Type 2 to Type 2 cable rated for at least 32 A.
- Choose a three-phase cable if your home is three-phase. It also works on single-phase.
- Buy from a reputable supplier, with a cable that's tested and certified and offers warranty.
- Don't use extension leads with an untethered charger either. Use one cable, plugged in at both ends.
Not sure which is right for you? Ask your installer. They can look at your driveway or garage and suggest the best fix.
Good to know: a cable can limit your charging speed
The cable you use affects how fast your car charges. Every Type 2 cable has a maximum current rating. If it's lower than the charger's, the cable sets the limit.
For example, a cable rated for 20 A on a single-phase supply can only deliver about 4.6 kW (20 A x 230 V), even if the charger can deliver 7 kW. A cable rated for 32 A can deliver the full 7 kW.
If you use your own cable with an untethered zappi and your charging is slower than expected, check the rating printed on the cable or in its documentation.
For electricians
- The current rating of a Type 2 cable is coded by a resistor between the PP (proximity pilot) and PE pins. The car or the charger reads this each time you plug in. When two cables are joined, two coding resistors end up connected together, so the value read is wrong. This is why the join is unrated and can't be verified.
- The vehicle inlet locks the connector it holds. It does not lock a join between two cables.
- Do not fit a longer cable to a tethered zappi. If the customer needs more reach, relocate the unit or fit an untethered zappi and supply a suitably rated Type 2 cable.
- Choose an untethered cable rated at or above the charger's maximum current (32 A for a standard single-phase installation).
Need help?
Contact myenergi Support if you have questions about your charger.
For help choosing a cable length or moving a charger, contact your installer.