Click on the links below to read the articles:
Similar to the unstandardized placement of the fuel door on a gas-powered car, automakers have not standardized the location of the charging port door on a plug-in car. The Nissan Leaf and Kia Soul have the port in the middle of the front end of the vehicle. This is convenient at head-in parking stalls with a charger at the front of the stall, but less convenient at parallel parking spots with a charger on the curb. Other vehicles with placement on the driver’s side front, driver’s rear, or passenger’s rear make a longer cord on the charging station a necessity.
The National Electric code requires that cords must have a cord management system if the cord length is over 25 feet.
While nearly all chargers have an option for a reel-style wraparound cord holder, many drivers do not take the time to wrap it back up. This leaves the cord on the ground, which presents both a trip hazard and the risk of cord damage from twisting and pulling on a tangled cord or stepping on the cord.
A cord management system keeps the cord up off the ground when not in use. There are various types of cord management methods.
A cord management system keeps the cord tidy and up off the ground when not in use.
Retractable Reel
The EVOCHARGE EVOREEL is a retractable cord reel system made by Phillips & Temro industries. The system is similar to a retractable reel air hose at a gas station, with a strong spring loaded cylindrical steel reel.
This heavy-duty reel was engineered specifically for electric vehicle charging cords. The unit is mounted to the ceiling, wall, or post. The circuit is hardwired. When the charger is unplugged, the EVOREEL automatically rewinds the cable back into its mechanism with a simple seatbelt-pull motion. The EVOREEL lets owners adjust the amount of cable slack that hangs in the reel’s storage state so that owners can easily reach their charge port when needed.
The EVOREEL keeps charging cables clean and tidy and prevents them from being tripped on or accidentally run over by a vehicle. The EVOREEL also reduces cable and connector wear by keeping them secure, extending the life of the charger.
The EVOREEL is available with a 22-foot standard cable length or 30-foot optional cable length. This reporter has owned an EVOREEL for about 8 years and it still works flawlessly.
Overhead Pulley System
An overhead system holds a length of cable on a self-retracting cable and pulley system, similar to the hoses on gas pumps.
EVOCHARGE, Clipper Creek, ChargePoint and SemaConnect offer this type of system. Generally, these are good systems and keep the cable tidy. While these systems do a good job of storing the cord when not in use, reaching around a vehicle to plug in causes the cord to be suspended in the air. This can require people passing close by the car to duck under the suspended cord. Also, the suspended cable can rub on a car's fender if the cable has to angle back to the charger.
Automatic cord retraction
Using an automatic overhead cord retraction system in a parking garage is a nice solution. EVSE LLC has a system that, once activated, lowers the cord down from the unit mounted on the ceiling to a level where you can reach it and plug in your car from the vertical drop.
EVSE LLC also has a pedestal- or wall-mounted charger with an automatic retracting cord. This charger will automatically retract the cord once it is unplugged from a vehicle.