We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.
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Imagine you’re on a road trip miles from home. Your car or truck is rolling along, but you start to think you might want to top off, or that your fuel’s getting low. The answer, for a long time, was to find the nearest gas station, but you’re in an electric vehicle. Where’s the nearest charging station? Anywhere there’s a compatible electrical outlet, if you have a portable EV charger.
Portable EV chargers allow you to charge your EV wherever you may be, at home or on the road. They plug into a convenient and compatible outlet, including your standard household type, and use that power to recharge your EV battery. Some may take longer than ideal, but many are as fast as a home charger, and they’re designed to move with you and get you going in all kinds of weather.
We’ve looked at the options available for portable EV chargers, evaluating them on charging speed, safety, compatibility and other factors. Our favorite is the Lectron Portable Level 1/Level 2 J1772 EV Charger, but we’ve got options for Level 1 charging, Tesla charging and more.
Editors’ Favorite
Type: Dual | Max output: 40A | Connector: J1772 | Cable length: 20’ | Weather rating: IP65
The Lectron Level 1/Level 2 J1772 Portable Charger is a top favorite among our editors for its versatility and features. It can plug into household current or high-voltage outlets to quickly and safely charge your EV wherever you happen to be.
The Lectron Level 1/2 charger is a dual-level J1772 charger that can handle both 120V Level 1 charging and 240V Level 2 charging. It comes with both a NEMA 5-15 standard three-prong plug and four-prong NEMA 14-50 plug for higher-voltage outlets. It features user-selectable amperage from as low as 8A to as high as 40A to match with your household or power source without mishaps, and it features protection against over-voltage, over-current and over-temperature situations.
The Lectron dual-level charger can plug into any J1772-compatible EV. It features a 20-foot cable for convenient reach to available outlets, and boasts IP65 dust protection and water resistance, although it isn’t completely waterproof. Exterior LEDs let you monitor amperage settings and charging status at a glance, and a smartphone app lets you control charging remotely.
Great Value
Type: Level 1 | Max output: 12A | Connector: J1772 | Cable length: 16’ | Weather rating: IP65
If you need a portable EV charger to keep in your trunk for emergencies, or just for backup at home, consider the Lectron Level 1 J1772 Charger. While it’s not the fastest charger around, it can plug into practically any standard outlet in North America if you need an electric topping off.
The Lectron Level 1 J1772 charger is compatible with most of the EV models available in North America that don’t use the Tesla/NACS standard. As a Level 1 charger, it has a NEMA 5-15 plug that can fit into the standard 120V household outlet. It accepts up to 12A of current and can deliver 1.44 kW of power, so fully charging your EV can take at least overnight if not longer, but it’s also good for quick charges to get extra mileage while on the go.
The Lectron L1 charger is lightweight at around 4 pounds. It has a shortish 16-foot cable and is water-resistant with an IP65 rating. It has a few status lights for basic operation, but provides more in-depth monitoring and control features on the compatible Lectron smartphone app.
Best for Tesla
Type: Level 2 | Max output: 32A| Connector: Tesla/NACS | Cable length: 25’ | Weather rating: IP66
Tesla owners looking for a portable charger that does the job without costing an arm and a leg may want to consider this Aimler Level 2 Tesla/NACS charger. It’s equipped with enough fast-charge capability and technology to recharge a Tesla or future North American EV with the NACS connector.
Tesla vehicles use their own special connector for charging. Going forward, more and more EV makers will be adopting this Tesla/NACS design for their own vehicles. The AIMILER Level 2 Tesla charger is a handy accessory for anyone with a Tesla now or an NACS vehicle in the near future. It can handle Level 2 charging up to 32A with adaptive amperage, and can reach over 7 kW of power for fast charging. It ships with a NEMA 14-50 plug.
The AIMILER Level 2 portable charger is ETL- and FTC-certified. It features controls and indicators on the charger itself and via Wi-Fi to a smartphone app. It has a 25-foot cable and offers IP66 dust and water resistance.
Most Versatile
Type: Dual | Max output: 40A| Connector: J1772 | Cable length: 25’ | Weather rating: IP67
Smaller is beautiful when it comes to the tough Grizzl-E Mini Connect. This dual Level 1/Level 2 portable charger is compact, lightweight and waterproof, and can charge an EV fast in all sorts of weather.
Grizzl-E is a Canadian company that’s well-regarded for build quality and features. The Grizzl-E Mini Connect is a bit pricey, but its cast-aluminum enclosure is about as durable as a portable charger can get, and it’s rated IP67 dustproof and waterproof. As a dual-level charger, it can do both Level 1 and Level 2 charging, and comes with an adapter to fit its NEMA 14-50 plug into a NEMA 5-15 standard 120V outlet. It can handle as much as 40A of current and 10 kW of power for fast charging, and it features adjustable amperage as low as 7A.
The Grizzl-E Mini Connect weighs 9.8 pounds and measures under 7 inches long, 3 inches wide and 2.4 inches thick. It comes with a 25-foot cable for reaching outlets, and it offers a wall mount if used regularly at home. It doesn’t have much in the way of status lights, but connects over Wi-Fi to a feature-rich smartphone app.
Best NACS to CCS Adapter
Type: Adapter | Max output: 500A DC | Connector: Tesla/NACS to CCS1 | Cable length: N/A | Weather rating: IP67
Take advantage of Tesla’s Supercharger network on a CCS1 vehicle with the Lectron Vortex Plus. This adapter accepts the Tesla/NACS connector and converts it smoothly into a CCS1 connector for fast DC charging of non-Tesla EVs.
DC charging is much speedier than charging from an AC plug. Tesla/NACS connectors have the ability to connect to Tesla Supercharger stations that provide up to 1000A of DC power, resulting in much faster charging times than either Level 1 or Level 2 J1772 connectors. The Lectron Vortex Plus makes it possible to connect a Tesla/NACS charger to an EV with the J1772/CCS1 DC connector, allowing for DC fast charging from a Supercharger station at up to 500A and 1,000V.
The Lectron Vortex Plus weighs 2.29 pounds, is rated IP67 weatherproof and is made of tough polycarbonate. It features an interlock safety mechanism and is certified under UL 2252. Note that it’s certified compatible only with CCS1 EVs with brand-approved Supercharger access.
To create this buying guide, we took a dive into the ins and outs of EV charging, dissecting the intricacies of voltage, amperage, wattage and connector design. We surveyed the market for EV chargers specifically designed to be portable as opposed to permanent, and looked closely at both customer and trade reviews to winnow down our list. We chose a selection of options to fit various use cases and budgets, and we included both well-known brands and certified alternative options.
Portable EV chargers can be used to charge an EV at home or on the road. Some EV chargers can be used as full-time home charging, while others are best only for emergency backup. The most flexible portable EV chargers work as dependable full-scale chargers both at home and on the road.
Portable EV chargers generally come in one of several types based on what voltage (V) they accept.
No one wants to wait forever for an EV to recharge, especially if you’re on a road trip. Charging speed is related to a number of factors, but aside from voltage, the biggest factor is amperage (A), or how many amps your portable EV charger can deliver.
Other factors include:
EVs can be differentiated by their connector type. This refers to the shape and capabilities of the port or inlet on the vehicle. The most common connector types are the J1772 connector and the Tesla or NACS connector.
Adapters between J1772 and Tesla/NACS connectors are readily available.
Portable EV chargers are designed to plug into electrical outlets rather than be hardwired like permanent chargers. Depending on their type, they may plug into different receptacles defined by the National Electric Manufacturers Association or NEMA.
The high voltages and large batteries involved in EV charging can pose some safety risks. A good portable EV charger doesn’t overstress its power source, has good resistance against moisture or dust, and has safety certifications.
If you’re using your portable charger at home, it’s helpful to make sure your home’s electrical systems are up to par. Find out what your home’s electric panel load is, your circuit breaker capacity, and the age and state of your wiring.
Since a portable EV charger may be used either at home or on the road, it needs to be durable and dependable, with a cable of convenient length that can reach from a convenient outlet to your vehicle’s charging connector.
Charging an EV, like refilling a gas tank, needs to offer a way to monitor its progress. In addition, EV charging also lends itself to controls and monitoring via apps. A good portable EV charger has a way to display its charging status and progress and also offer control, such as from a smartphone or over Wi-Fi.
These displays and apps can be helpful in knowing:
A. A portable EV charger may cost anywhere from $150 to $700. Pricing depends on level type, maximum amperage, dual voltage capability and smart features. Level 1 chargers often come free with an EV and can cost $150 to $300. Basic Level 2 chargers range between $200 and $500, while high-end fast Level 2 or dual-voltage chargers cost between $400 and $700 or more.
A. Store your portable EV charger in a cool, dry place where it won’t be exposed to dust, heat or moisture. You can keep it in the trunk of your EV, but it’s best to have some sort of dedicated storage box or case for it rather than just leaving it loose. Avoid packing it tightly among other items in a utility box, and coil the cable gently to avoid straining any connections. If used primarily at home, hang it from a hook or wall mount.
