If you manufacture or source electric-vehicle (EV) charging cables, two standard numbers come up constantly: EN 50620 and IEC 62893. Buyers, certifiers, and tender documents often ask for one or the other — and many engineers also mix them up with EN 50618 / IEC 62930, which are photovoltaic (solar) cables, not charging cables at all.
This guide clears up:
- What EN 50620 and IEC 62893 actually are
- How they relate to each other
- Which one to specify for the EU vs. global markets
- Why they are not interchangeable with PV cables
TL;DR
- EN 50620:2017 is the European standard for EV charging cables (CENELEC). It is the EU-harmonized adoption of IEC 62893.
- IEC 62893 is the international standard family (IEC), covering AC charging (Part 3) and DC fast charging (Part 4). It is valid far beyond Europe.
- Exporting to the EU → specify EN 50620 (H07BZ5-F etc.); it gives the CE presumption of conformity.
- Selling globally (incl. DC fast charge) → certify to IEC 62893 full family (62893-3 + 62893-4-1, plus 62893-4-2 for liquid-cooled).
- Never substitute a PV cable (EN 50618 / H1Z2Z2-K) for a charging cable — different application, different tests.
The relationship: EN 50620 ≈ the European edition of IEC 62893
This is the single most important point. EN 50620 is not a competitor to IEC 62893 — it is CENELEC's harmonized adoption of it.
- IEC 62893 is developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and published as a multi-part family.
- EN 50620:2017 was prepared by CLC/TC 20 under a European Commission mandate and is the European version. The cable designations (H05BZ5-F, H07BZ5-F …) are identical.
- Practically: a cable that meets IEC 62893 already meets the technical content of EN 50620. The separate EU number matters mainly for the CE-marking / harmonized-standards list and for buyers who explicitly require the EN number on the test report.
So the real "choice" is not EN vs IEC in isolation — it is how far your market coverage needs to go, because IEC 62893 has parts that EN 50620:2017 does not fully mirror.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | EN 50620:2017 | IEC 62893 family |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | CENELEC (Europe) | IEC (international) |
| Scope | EV charging cables, AC, Mode 1–3 | EV charging cables, AC + DC, Mode 1–4 |
| Voltage | up to 450/750 V (300/500 V only Mode 1) | up to 0,6/1 kV AC / 1500 V DC |
| Max conductor temp | 90 °C | 90 °C |
| Typical types | H05BZ5-F, H07BZ5-F (+ BZ6 variants) | H05BZ5-F (IEC 121), H07BZ5-F (IEC 123) |
| Construction | halogen-free, cross-linked ins. + sheath | halogen-free, cross-linked ins. + sheath |
| Key tests | bend/torsion, crush, oil/chemical, cold impact, weathering/UV, flame | same + dedicated DC & liquid-cooled tests in Part 4 |
| DC fast charge (Mode 4) | not covered | covered by IEC 62893-4-1 (2020) & -4-2 (2021) |
| Market | EU (CE) | global (CB scheme, many countries) |
The IEC 62893 family structure
- IEC 62893-1:2017 (+AMD1:2020) — General requirements
- IEC 62893-2 — Test methods
- IEC 62893-3 — AC charging cables, Mode 1–3 (≤ 450/750 V)
- IEC 62893-4-1:2020 — DC charging cables, Mode 4 (0,6/1 kV)
- IEC TS 62893-4-2:2021 — Liquid-cooled DC charging cables (thermal management)
EN 50620:2017 aligns with IEC 62893-1 and -3 (AC). If your customer needs DC fast-charging cables (Mode 4) or liquid-cooled designs, you must reference IEC 62893-4, which has no EN 50620 equivalent yet.
Which to choose by market
- EU only (AC wallboxes, portable EVSE, Mode 1–3) → EN 50620:2017 + CE. This is what most European buyers and distributors ask for.
- EU + rest of world → certify to IEC 62893 (full family). A single IEC test report is accepted across IEC-member countries via the CB scheme, and it still satisfies the EN 50620 technical requirement. More cost-effective than separate regional certs.
- DC fast charging / liquid-cooled (Mode 4) → IEC 62893-4-1 and IEC TS 62893-4-2 (there is no EN 50620 Part 4).
- North America → neither EN 50620 nor IEC 62893 applies; use UL 2263 (EV cable) under the NEC/AHJ regime (CSA C22.2 No. 332 in Canada).
Charging cable ≠ PV cable (the common mix-up)
A frequent sourcing error is treating solar cables and EV charging cables as the same "green energy cable." They are not.
| EV charging cable | PV (solar) cable | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | EN 50620 / IEC 62893 | EN 50618 / IEC 62930 |
| Typical type | H07BZ5-F | H1Z2Z2-K |
| Application | charging station ↔ vehicle (power + signal) | PV module ↔ inverter (DC side) |
| Voltage | ≤ 450/750 V AC | 1.5 kV DC (max 1.8 kV) |
| Duty | flexing, bending, crush, oil, chemicals | fixed outdoor, UV, ozone, 25-yr life |
| Connector | Type 2 / CCS / GB-T per IEC 62196 | MC4-style PV connectors |
A PV cable is optimized for fixed, long-life outdoor exposure (UV, ozone, temperature cycling, 25-year design life). An EV charging cable is optimized for repeated flexing, crushing by vehicle, oil/chemical resistance, and cold impact. Using one in place of the other is a compliance and safety failure. For the PV side, see our guide EN 50618 vs IEC 62930: which to choose for the EU.
Quick type reference
- H05BZ5-F — 300/500 V, flexible, for Mode 1 only (light portable EVSE)
- H07BZ5-F — 450/750 V, the workhorse for Mode 2/3 AC charging (3G/5G, 2.5–35 mm²)
- H05BZ6-F / H07BZ6-F — variants with an alternative sheath compound (verify oil/chemical grade against the spec)
- IEC 62893 internal type numbers: 121 (H05BZ5-F), 123 (H07BZ5-F), 122/124 for the BZ6 variants
Selection checklist
- [ ] Confirm target market(s): EU-only → EN 50620; global → IEC 62893
- [ ] Confirm charging mode: AC (1–3) vs DC fast (4)
- [ ] For DC/liquid-cooled, add IEC 62893-4-1 / -4-2
- [ ] For North America, switch to UL 2263 (CSA C22.2 No. 332 in Canada)
- [ ] Never substitute EN 50618 (PV) for EN 50620 (EV)
- [ ] Put the exact standard + type + year on the marking and test report
FAQ
Q1: Is EN 50620 the same as IEC 62893?
A: Technically, EN 50620:2017 is the European (CENELEC) harmonized adoption of IEC 62893. The cable designs and tests are essentially identical for AC charging (Mode 1–3). The difference is administrative: EN 50620 is the number EU buyers and the CE harmonized-standards list reference. IEC 62893 additionally covers DC fast charging (Part 4), which EN 50620 does not.
Q2: Which standard do I need to export EV charging cables to Europe?
A: EN 50620:2017 (with CE marking) is what most EU buyers require for AC charging cables. Because it mirrors IEC 62893 technically, an IEC 62893 report is usually accepted too — but the EN number on the certificate smooths customs, tenders, and distributor onboarding.
Q3: Can I use a PV cable (H1Z2Z2-K / EN 50618) as an EV charging cable?
A: No. EN 50618/IEC 62930 PV cables are built for fixed, 25-year outdoor DC service (UV/ozone resistance). EV charging cables (EN 50620/IEC 62893) are built for flexing, crushing, oil and chemical exposure. Different standards, different tests, different safety cases — they are not interchangeable.
Q4: What about DC fast charging (Mode 4) and liquid-cooled cables?
A: DC fast charging is covered by IEC 62893-4-1:2020 (cables without thermal management) and IEC TS 62893-4-2:2021 (liquid-cooled cables with thermal management). EN 50620:2017 does not include a Mode 4 part, so for DC fast-charge products you must reference the IEC 62893-4 family directly.
Q5: What is the North American equivalent?
A: For the US/Canada market, the applicable standard is UL 2263 (EV cable) under the NEC and AHJ regime — neither EN 50620 nor IEC 62893 is recognized there. Canada uses CSA C22.2 No. 332.
Written by Engineer Chan — technical notes from cable.wang, a wire & cable engineering blog.
