Portable EV chargers don’t immediately spring to mind when talking about EV charging, but they can offer a useful solution in times of need. While the EV charging network is growing day by day, there are still challenges within the industry. While portable EV charging cables aren’t as small and convenient as a jump starter, they can be carried in the boot of your electric vehicle to plug in whenever you run out of energy.
The ideal solution would be to be able to have a small EV charger that you can carry anywhere and use at a moments notice, like a phone power bank, but that technology hasn’t been developed yet so for now we suggest a portable EV charging cable.
There are a number of portable EV charging cables available on the market, and they come in various lengths and have a 13-amp UK three-pin plug at one end and a type 2 EV charging connection at the other. Due to the low wattage of domestic household electrical systems, these cables are limited as to how much current they can draw, so inevitably, charging times are longer than they might be at a commercial EV charging point.
The best portable EV chargers at a glance
The great thing about a portable charging cable is that it doesn’t have to only be used when you’re out and about: you can use it to charge your vehicle at home too. So, if you’re wanting to find a good value portable charging cable that will be used often, then take a look at some we’ve found.
The best portable EV chargers
Editor's pick
The 10-metre high performance cable has a IP65 rating against water and dust when in use so it should continue to work to a high standard when the British weather hits. Safety is also taken care of with built-in protection against overheating, overloads and short-circuit protection. A small LCD display will also show the charging status of your car, and the cable will stop charging when your vehicle is fully charged.
Pros
- Top-notch build
- Packed with safety features
- Great value for money
Cons
- Not the fastest to charge
- Other solutions have a marginally better IP-rating
The most advanced portable EV charger
Better yet, you can even use the Juice Booster 2 as a wall box by using a wall bracket, so it'll give you the best of both worlds. You can even use it with public charging stations, eliminating the need to carry several charging cables. Think of it as a 3-in-1 solution. Juice is a great brand in this industry, as they sell a range of adapters for different charging purposes, including PHEVs and motorhomes as well as internal plug examples perfect for a road trip.
Pros
- 3-in-1 clever innovation
- Very dependable build
- Safety-first design
Cons
- Extra adapters cost extra
- Other solutions cost less
The best EV charger for cable length
It comes with a handy cable carry case so it can be stored nicely in your boot, and comes with some safety features like short circuit protection, over current protection, and even lightening protection. The car connector is made from hardwearing thermoplastic tested to withstand 10,000 mating cycles, and it comes with a IP67 rating against water and dust.
Pros
- Good safety features
- IP67 rating
- 10-metre cable
Cons
- Operating instructions could be better
- 13A charging not recommended for longer than 2 hours
The best EV charger for monitoring
It also comes with a number of safety features such as over-voltage protection, over temperature protection, and short-circuit protection. The IP-rating is 65 against water and dust, and the overall length is five metres.
Pros
- IK10-rated cables for impact protection
- Variable charging rate
- Great value for money
Cons
- Five-metre cable
- Other cables have a marginally better IP-rating
The best budget EV charger
It's tough too - as it is flame retardant and impact resistant, with an operating temperature of -25C to +55C so it should be fine in the UK weather no matter what time of the year it is. It comes with an IP55 rating against water and dust.
Pros
- Nice safety features
- Lovely design
- Great operating temperature
Cons
- Others may offer faster charging
- IP55 is not as good as others
The best portable power station
It's smart too - the charge is fed by a Type 2 charging cable and with an app and WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity, you can check the status of your charge, pause it, adjust the rate of charge, and schedule your charge all from your phone.
Pros
- Fast charging speeds
- Outstanding build quality
- WiFi/Bluetooth connectivity
Cons
- Heavier design
- Other solutions may offer better value for money
What do I do if my EV runs out of electricity?
Running out of electricity in your EV shouldn’t really be something you have to worry about. According to ZapMap, as of the end of September 2024 there were 70,434 charging points across 35,810 locations in the UK. Over 16,000 charging points have been added to the network in 2024 so far, matching over 16,000 that were added in 2023. This represents an increase from 8,803 in 2022. While all these figures sound promising, it doesn’t mean that you’re guaranteed to avoid the dreaded flat battery.
If you do run out of electricity then a portable charging cable could be vital to get you back on the road. These devices mean you don’t have to find a charging point – you can simply find the nearest 3-pin socket and start charging. You should try to get your car and yourself to a safe place first, however. Do also be aware that some electric vehicles cannot be towed, so unless you want to call a flatbed recovery truck you should look into a charging solution as a back-up.
So what are the portable EV charging options?
There are mobile charging units that work by storing energy which can be used when needed, like a power bank. These units are rather large, and quite expensive, so maybe not yet suitable for private vehicles. Instead, they are designed for EV charger network providers in order to offer an emergency, mobile fast charge service.
For now, the most practical solution would be to use a portable charging cable because it can connect to a 3-pin socket. This means that you can connect your car and charge it enough to get you to a rapid or fast charger. That would probably be the ideal solution considering these portable cables have a fairly low current and therefore don’t charge as fast as public points.
For a full rundown on how EV charging works, head to our guide to EV home chargers here.
In a nutshell, EV charging works like this: Current (amps) x Voltage = Power. For example, a charger cable with a 13A current connected to a standard 230-volt 3-pin home plug will produce a power output of around 3.0 kilowatts (kW). Therefore, if you have a Nissan Leaf with a 40kWh battery, it will take the 13A charger just over 13 hours to charge the battery fully from flat (40 divided by 3). Therefore, these slower charging cables are ideally suited as helpful overnight top-ups.
Naveed Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He enjoys anything with four wheels, and is always planning his next road trip.
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