Are you always afraid of your EV’s range anxiety? In the modern era, every electric vehicle manufacturing company provides an average of 230-250 miles in entry-level EVs.However, the maximum population nowadays shift toward EV vehicles compared to gasoline fuel-based cars with a decent investment.
Enterprises also invested a great chunk of funds in EV charging infrastructure businesses to cater to the demands of EV owners throughout the whole day. However it is difficult to always charge the vehicle in a charging station, therefore, the concept of portable EV chargers arises.
In this article, Chargeeco will cover several topics like what is portable EV charger, its types, benefits, and limitations, how to select a portable charger, and alternatives. To deep dive into this topic read out the whole article.
What is a Portable EV Charger?
From its name portable electric chargers, it is clear that a charger that you can easily carry with you whenever you will be on long trips. Its main objective is to charge the cars that EVs somehow reach the charging stations. Portable chargers solely cannot charge any electric vehicles.
To embark on, a portable electric charger works the same as your smartphone’s power bank. Whenever you travel outside and do not find any charging port then a power bank acts as a panacea for your smartphone.
The same thing goes with electric vehicles as well whenever you are on any long road trips then you might face issues with battery drainage. So, if you carry a portable electric charger then it would help you to enjoy hassle-free long trips.
Read: The Ultimate Guide to different levels of charging.
What types of portable electric chargers are there?
There are three types of portable electric chargers in the Electronic vehicles landscape:
- Level 1 Portable Chargers.
- Level 2 Portable Chargers.
- Level 3 or DC Fast Chargers.
Level one chargers charge for 5-7 miles per hour, level 2 chargers charge nearly about 50 miles per hour, and level 3 or DC portable chargers the full vehicle in 30 minutes.
Alternatively, On one side of the charger, there is a three-pin standard main cord that connects to the household outlet. On the other side, there is a thin wire mostly JI772 that connects to your electric vehicle. There is a box between two wires that manages the circuits and the battery is present inside that box.
Read: Check out the Level 2 EV Charger Guide.
How Does a Portable EV Charger Work?
A portable electric car charger working is very simple. You can carry it in your car and it can provide a charging supply to your electric car. It is charged by your household 120V outlet. It is helpful to provide 20-45 miles of range. Thus, Portable chargers provide help to reach your EV to a nearby charging station.
Are portable electric chargers for EV proves worth it?
Many people partially agree with this question portable EV chargers prove worth it because they might help you to reach any public charging stations. But it is not the replacement of public and home charging stations. Home charging is always beneficial and cost-efficient when we compare home charging with portable EV chargers.
Benefits and Limitations of EV Portable Chargers
There are numerous pros and cons of having Portable electric vehicle chargers. Following are the major advantages and disadvantages of Portable EV Chargers:
Benefits
- You can carry it wherever you travel it can easily travel with you and you always feel hassle-free about your charging.
- These chargers are so compact and portable that everybody can carry them inside their boot space.
- When it comes to cost efficiency the installation of portable EV chargers does not require any technicians.
Limitations
- Electric chargers’ capacities are always short and provide a small range or few miles.
- The Charging speed of electric car chargers is also very slow.
- It is not a permanent solution for charging it’s an emergency and quick solution.
Things to consider before buying an EV Portable Charger
There are numerous points or factors to consider before purchasing the best portable EV chargers because it is not your complete charging solution. It just only fulfills your emergency needs of charging electric vehicles. But, it is not the replacement of home electric chargers and public charging stations.
You have to just think about it that it would only help you whenever your electric battery runs out of charge or depleted. Thus, if somehow you could take certain steps then you can escape to purchase the EV portable charger:
- Check out on the maps that on that track there would be a charging station or not.
- Plan multiple options for charging in case you charge whenever you plan to charge.
- You have to contemplate your decision to purchase the EV portable charger.
Read: Level 3 or DC Fast chargers a comprehensive guide.
How to choose the best EV Portable Charger?
There are several factors to choose the best EV portable charger before purchasing an electric vehicle:
Compatibility
Before acquiring the electric vehicle portable charger the first question that arises is the compatibility. Compatibility means you have to check that your electric vehicle supports the J1772 connector because most electric cars support the J-plug. On the other hand, if you own Tesla then the scenario is completely different.
Charging Needs
Your charging needs also matter a lot. Therefore, if you frequently travel and charge your EV then you have to invest in chargers like J+ booster 2. Alternatively, if you want to save yourself or for backup then you have to choose Lectron or Mustart chargers.
Charging Speed and Power
Charging speed is another key component factor before purchasing an electric vehicle. The more the KW rating the more fast a charger can charge. Thus, charger speed varies from 3.6 KW to 22KW.
The speed of charging an electric vehicle also depends upon the charging capacity of the electric car. Hence, be careful while purchasing to always match your car’s capacity for charging with a portable EV charger.
Safety Certified
Another compliance to meet the safety and certification needs while you are thinking to purchase an electric vehicle. So, whenever you finalize that you want to purchase an EV then safety is the most important thing to consider.
Your charger should fulfill the international standards benchmark when you think about purchasing a charger. Especially, IEC 61851-1 or IEC 62752, and seek certification from CE and UL. Apart from this, you should also look at GFCI, overheating, and fault detection for better safety needs.
Best Alternatives of EV Portable Charger
There are a few alternatives for EV portable chargers like solar options, you can also use EV charger generators, portable EV power banks, Wall Chargers, etc.
EV Portable Solar Charger
Portable solar chargers are the best alternative to portable EV chargers. It is the best solution for quick charging because it can easily charge and is foldable and cost-efficient as well.
EV Charger Generator
You can also choose a charging generator in place of a portable charger. You have to choose good charging infrastructure and a good adapter but it is more costly compared to the portable EV portable charger. However, it also uses gasoline to power the backup.
These two are the most famous alternatives of the Portable electric vehicle car chargers.
Bottom Line
In the end, portable chargers are very helpful in terms of reaching charging stations when we are stuck on the highway due to battery drainage. Therefore, EV owners may have to keep it according to their needs and requirements. Consider the benefits, limitations, and best alternatives of EV portable chargers before investing in portable chargers.
FAQ
What is a portable EV charger used for?
A portable EV charger used for charging your electric vehicle anywhere and everywhere whether at home or in between highways.
What is the EV portable Charger Cost?
On average starts from approximately $300 to $1000 and even higher.
Shall I need an extra cable for a portable EV charger?
Yes, you may require an extra charging cable for the portable EV charger.
