Lectron Portable EV Charger review

An EV charger is more like a USB cable than a major appliance. It’s nice to have a wall-mounted charger with a cool logo and chamfered edges and all of those premium trappings. 

You don’t need one, though. Lectron sells several portable Level 2 EV chargers, with all the important components for charging your EV—in a smaller, more affordable package. If you’re not so concerned about the way your charger looks or the way the cord dangles, the Lectron units could be a good option.

This type of compact, plug-in model is typically known as a “portable” EV charger, but you can leave it set up in your garage or driveway like any other EV charger. 

If you’re looking to save money

Lectron portable chargers cost at least $50 than the cheapest wall-mounted models (at least the ones with decent ratings). The low price is the main selling point, and if you’re comfortable with a no-frills charger and want to save some cash, go for it. Lectron’s chargers will top up your EV battery just as reliably as a charger from Tesla, Chargepoint, or any other bigger-name brand. 

One caveat: There are actually some portable EV chargers that cost less than Lectron models. The specs are similar, and they even look like they’re made with some of the same components. So if you really want to save every last dollar, you could consider one of those brands instead. 

We don’t know what you might be able to expect in terms of reliability or customer service from any brand of portable charger. But Lectron does at least have an office in the U.S., and has some distribution through major brick-and-mortar stores, which could mean that you’ll have a better experience compared to a no-name brand off Amazon.

If you want a Level 2 charger you can keep in your trunk

This is a bit of a niche thing. How often do you really come across a 240-volt outlet in your travels? In North America, it’s not all that easy to find the type of outlet that can power a Level 2 charger. Built-in EV chargers are probably more common at this point, not only at shopping centers and rest stops but also hotels and short-term rentals.

So it’s unlikely that you’ll find yourself in a situation where you need a Level 2 charger that you can bring from place to place to stay charged up. But if you know that you’ll get some use out of a portable Level 2 charger, go for it.

That said, Lectron sells a model that can convert into a Level 1 charger, which will work with a standard 120-volt outlet. It comes with an adapter for the plug, and advertises UL certification for electrical safety.

No aesthetics, no built-in cable storage (usually)

Wall-mounted EV chargers aren’t exactly art, but at least there’s some effort that goes into their design. Portable EV chargers like Lectron’s, on the other hand, are purely utilitarian: A long, thick cord with a plug on one end, a connector on the other, and a brick with some electronics dangling in the middle. 

Wall-mounted chargers typically have some kind of cable hook and a holster for the connector, but most of Lectron’s portable chargers come with neither. It’s easy enough to buy those cable management accessories separately, but it’s extra effort and an extra cost.

They might not be as durable as wall-mounted chargers

This is speculation, and isn’t specific to Lectron’s portable chargers. They’re also built to be reasonably durable and they’ve earned fire-safety certifications. 

But common sense suggests that portable chargers might not last as long as wall-mounted models. The more often you plug and unplug the cable, or stuff it into the trunk of your car, the more likely it is that a connection will come loose. 

Even if you mainly leave the charger in one place, there could be some damage risks. The weight of the charging brick could strain the cord on the outlet side, for example. Without a cable hook, the cord could be a trip hazard and might get snagged on something. If the charging connector spends most of its time on the floor, it could get stepped on. 

All of these risks can be mitigated with accessories like holsters and hooks, so if you want to minimize the risk of damage, you ought to spend the extra money to add some of those.

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