The ZipCharge Go is a new portable electric car charging station that enables EV owners to charge their vehicles ‘wall box-style’ with up to 8kWh.
The world’s first ‘smart charger on wheels’
Marketing itself as a new dimension in EV charging, the ZipCharge Go aims to help alleviate the infrastructural inequality which is preventing many households from being able to charge their EVs at home.
The rechargeable lithium-ion battery includes wheels and a retractable handle, which make it a portable energy source and a convenient option for EV owners who rely on on-street parking.
The pioneering technology could be on the market in a year or so.
The ZipCharge Go – which was designed by two British engineers – could be on sale by the end of next year, priced at £49 a month. In comparison, a 7kW wall box home installation costs about £500 to £1,000, depending on whether you include the UK’s home charger grant.
But how much power can 8kWh provide?
The ZipCharge Go’s power flow is rated at 7.2kW, and it takes about an hour to provide 8kWh of charge to the connected battery.
That is enough to provide about a 10% charge for cars with larger batteries, such as the Volkswagen ID. 4. However, for smaller cars, such as the Fiat 500, 8kWh can recharge a battery by 20 per cent – equivalent to about 20 to 40 miles of range.
So, it’s probably fine for shorter journeys.
That’s a reasonable charging capacity for people who mainly use their EVs for short journeys, like school runs or trips to the local supermarket. However, it probably won’t be adequate for those who regularly commute long journeys to and from work, or for long day trips in rural areas with limited public charging infrastructure.
But with EV technology constantly making headway, it’s likely only a matter of time before the ZipCharge Go’s charging capacity improves.
