Despite the strides made by electric vehicle manufacturers, consumers still suffer from range anxiety – the fear of running out of energy before making it to the next charging station. Some people still don’t trust the range reading on EV dashes. 

There’s no portable power unit for electric cars. However, British startup ZipCharge plans to launch a mobile power unit for electric vehicles dubbed ZipCharge Go. At the moment, you have to rely on stationary private or public chargers to charge your electric vehicle. 

In the following sections, I’ll take a detailed look at ZipCharge Go. I’ll also dive into Blink’s mobile charging station, used mainly by roadside assistance

What Is the ZipCharge Go Portable Power Unit?

ZipCharge is a British startup started by two engineers with previous experience in Lotus, Jaguar, and McLaren. Unless another company beats ZipCharge to the punch, ZipCharge will pioneer portable power units for electric cars. So, what is ZipCharge Go?

The ZipCharge Go portable power unit is a battery-packed charging unit designed to charge electric cars. The 4kWh version can add between 12 to 20 miles (19.31 to 32.19 km), depending on the EV. The 8 kWh version can add between 25 to 40 miles (40.23 to 64.37 km), depending on the EV. 

The ZipCharge Go looks like a suitcase, complete with a retractable handle and wheels. It’s designed to fit in the trunk of your EV. 

It takes about 30 to 60 minutes to exhaust the Go’s juice. A major plus point for the ZipCharge Go is that its type two charger is compatible with most EVs.

The 4kWh version of the ZipCharge Go will launch in the United Kingdom, while the 8kWh version will launch in the United States. 

ZipCharge-Go
Currently, there is no portable power unit for electric cars. However, ZipCharge is planning to release the ZipCharge Go, the first proper portable power unit for electric cars, in late 2022.

Per co-founder Jonathan Carrier, charge from the ZipCharge Go will provide enough power for daily commutes in both countries. He suggests that ZipCharge Go can be an alternative to those with no access to at-home chargers. 

I doubt that the ZipCharge Go can serve as the primary source of power for an EV. 20 to 40 miles (32.19 to 64.37 km) surely won’t be enough every day. 

Think of the ZipCharge Go as something like the power bank to your phone. You still charge the phone using the wall socket charger and turn to the power bank when you can’t access a charger, and your phone is running out. 

A ZipCharge Go is your car’s power bank. 

2G and 4G connectivity and GPS allow you to track charging via an app and guard against theft. 

You can opt for enhanced AI software and insurance for a monthly fee. The subscription will reportedly save you $20 to $27 per month. 

ZipCharge will release the Go in the latter months of 2022 at a price ranging from $683-$1367. It’ll also be available for rent for $67 monthly.

An added advantage of the ZipCharge Go is you can use it to power tools. It can also work as an emergency power source in an outage. 

Some of you might have shaken your heads in disbelief when I said that there are no portable power units for electric vehicles. What about the Blink Mobile Charging Station? I hear you ask. 

The Blink Mobile Charging Station is too big to be considered a portable power unit. It’s better suited for commercial roadside assistance businesses than personal use. 

The unit uses gas to generate electricity for charging, putting out up to 9.6 kilowatts of power. It adds around 1 mile (1.61 km) of range per minute. 

It works with all-electric vehicles and doesn’t require installation. 

The Blink Mobile charging station isn’t viable for private use. It’s too costly and too big to carry around in your car.

The table below will compare stats between the ZipCharge Go and Blink mobile chargers. It’ll better display to you why the Blink can’t work as a portable charger.

Property/ChargerZipCharge Go Blink Mobile Charger
WeightAround 50 pounds (22.68 kg)Around 350 pounds (158.76 kg)
CostBetween $683-$1367Starting at $6,500
Charging rateMaximum 40 miles (64.37 km) per hourMaximum 60 miles (96.56 km) per hour
Power sourceBattery chargeFuel

The Blink mobile charger looks more like a generator than a portable charging unit. 

Watch this video by Blink on YouTube which shows how big it is and demonstrates that it’s best used for commercial use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjOqmY2iGL0

Frequently Asked Questions

What Do You Do When an EV Runs Out of Power?

If your EV runs out of power, do the following:
Call Roadside Assistance to charge your car.
Call a tow service to transport your car to the nearest charging station.

Can You Jump-Start an Electric Car?

You can jump-start the 12V battery in an electric car. You should only jump-start an electric vehicle using an ICE vehicle. Furthermore, you shouldn’t use an electric vehicle to jump-start another car. 


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Erwin Meyer
Erwin Meyer

A renowned Tesla enthusiast, and successful entrepreneur, enlightens global audiences through his compelling EV narratives. Discover more about his electric journey on his About Me page. Venture to read Erwin's incredible story that's reshaping the future of motoring. Want to spark a conversation with Erwin? Visit his Contact page, and let’s electrify the world together.