Charging Cable Doesn't Reach Your Car? 6 Solutions — and One That's Against the Rules
It happens to almost everyone who buys an electric vehicle. The socket is on one side of the parking spot, the car is parked on the other, and the cable is two meters short. The first solution that comes to mind is an extension cord from the storeroom — and that is exactly the solution that is prohibited. Let's go over what does work, and why an extension cord isn't a shortcut but a real risk.
First things first: why an extension cord is not an option
The Israeli Electricity Authority guidelines for EV charging explicitly prohibit it. Section 12(c) states: "The use of an extension cord to supply a charging device is prohibited, as is the use of adapters and splitters at the socket-outlet." Section 9(d) also prohibits an adapter between the charging cable connector and the car's charging inlet.
The reason is simple: charging a car is not like plugging in an ordinary appliance. It draws a high, steady current for eight to twelve hours straight, usually at night and unattended. Every additional connection in the circuit is a point of resistance that generates heat, and the heat raises the resistance even further. At some point the plastic melts — and a fire starts in the wall. A cable left coiled on a reel makes this many times worse, because the heat can't dissipate.
This position is not unique to Israel. The U.S. Fire Administration instructs that a charger be plugged directly into an outlet rated for the current and never through an extension cord or power strip, and car manufacturers' owner's manuals say exactly the same thing.
1. Choose the right cable length from the start
This is the simplest solution, and it simply doesn't occur to most people. Our portable chargers come in lengths of 3.5 and 5 meters. Unlike an extension cord, this is a single continuous cable, with no connection points, built to handle charging current for hours.
Good to know: Section 8 of the guidelines limits the charging cable length to a maximum of 8 meters, and up to 10 meters is allowed only on a charging station with a cable management system. So it's best to choose the shortest cable that comfortably reaches the car, not the longest one available. If even 8 meters isn't enough, the right solution is to bring the power point closer to the parking spot (solution 2), not a longer cable.
How to measure correctly: Measure from the socket to the car's charging inlet with the car parked in its usual position, and add 20% to route around obstacles and allow for cable movement. Don't measure in a straight line — the cable doesn't go through walls.
2. Move the power point
A licensed electrician can move or add a point closer to the parking spot. It's a one-time cost that solves the problem permanently, and it's usually lower than people assume. If this is your regular parking spot, it's worth planning the new point in advance for daily charging: a fixed charging station, or at the very least an industrial socket (Israeli Standard SI 60309) on a dedicated circuit suitable for a portable charger. It's also an opportunity to make sure the wiring and the protections in the panel, including a suitable residual current device (RCD), meet the requirements.
3. Change the way you park
It sounds trivial, but the charging inlet isn't in the same place on every car — on some it's at the rear left, on others at the front right. Sometimes parking the other way around saves three meters and makes the whole discussion unnecessary.
4. Reduce the charging current instead of extending
If the issue isn't distance but concern about overloading the infrastructure, our chargers let you select the charging current. When charging from a regular household socket, the guidelines limit the current to a maximum of 10A (Section 12(d)), and a household socket is suitable only for occasional charging away from your regular parking spot. A current of 16A is allowed only from an industrial socket on a dedicated circuit installed by a licensed electrician. Charging at a lower current takes longer, but it's a legitimate and safe solution. Extending the cable is not.
5. Organize the cable properly
A cable spread across the floor gets driven over, caught in doors and worn down. A dedicated carry bag or wall hanger keeps it tidy and protects the connector from dirt and moisture — the two factors that most harm charging reliability over time. Uncoil the cable while charging; don't leave it rolled up.
6. Consider a fixed charging station
If you charge in the same place every day, a fixed charging station is the solution the guidelines point to. The station is installed by a licensed electrician and checked by a licensed electrical inspector before first use, and when it's positioned correctly next to the parking spot, the length problem simply disappears. A portable charger with a household plug is excellent for occasional charging, trips and visits, but not for regular charging at your home parking spot. See our home charging stations, or leave your details and we'll get back to you about installation.
Warning signs you must not ignore
Even with a perfectly proper connection, it's worth checking from time to time. Stop charging and call an electrician if you notice:
- A plug or socket that is warm to the touch
- Discoloration, blackening or yellowing around the socket
- A burning smell or the smell of melted plastic
- Repeated disconnections in the middle of charging
- Soot, cracks or deformation on the connector
Frequently asked questions
There are extension cords "for electric vehicles" — are they allowed?
The guidelines prohibit supplying a charging device through an extension cord, without distinguishing between types of extension cords. Marketing a product as "suitable for electric vehicles" doesn't change its status in terms of installation rules.
What about just once, in an emergency?
Not then either. In a one-off situation the connection is made in a hurry, in an unfamiliar place, and sometimes outdoors — exactly the conditions that cause a failure.
Won't the charger's protections catch a problem in the extension cord?
Not necessarily. The charger's temperature control measures the heat in its own plug and connector. An extension cord upstream in the circuit is simply outside the measurement range — it can heat up and catch fire without the protection knowing about it. The better protected the charger is, the greater the gap between what it controls and what it doesn't.
What happens to the warranty?
Using an extension cord, splitter or adapter voids the warranty — both from ChargingEV and from the manufacturer.
Not sure what length you need?
Send us your car model and the distance from the socket to the parking spot, and we'll help you choose the right length and configuration. Better to check beforehand than to improvise afterwards.
The information in this article is general and does not replace advice from a licensed electrician. Installation, inspection and maintenance of a charging system must be carried out by an appropriately licensed professional in accordance with the Israeli Electricity Authority guidelines and the electricity regulations.
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