PROS: Adjustable Amperage, Delayed Charging Timer, IP66 rating, Touch Control.
CONS: No connectivity or Smartphone App.
| Product | Amp rating | Level | Cable Length | Nema | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ZENCAR – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (32 Amp) | 10-32 Amp | Level 2 | 25 Feet (7.6 M) | NEMA 14-50 | 7.68 kW | Click for more info |
ZENCAR – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (40 Amp)  | 40 Amp | Level 2 | 25 Feet (7.6 M) | NEMA 14-50 | 9.6 kW | Click for more info |
ZENCAR – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (32 Amp) Specifications
| Amp rating | 10-32 Amp |
|---|---|
| Level | Level 2 |
| Type | Portable EV Charger |
| Cable Length | 25 Feet (7.6 M) |
| Nema | NEMA 14-50 |
| Power | 7.68 kW |
| Voltage | 240V |
| Connector | J1772 |
| Connectivity | None |
| IP Rating | IP66 |
| Display | LCD |
| Warranty | 10-Years No-Hassle |
| Features | Intelligent Detection, Save More= Timer Fuction, Super Compatible, Professional degree, Nice appearance. Hand-held ergonomic design, LCD screen, easy plug Excellent protection performance High-speed charging |
| What’s in the box | Portable Charger, Plug Holder, Cable Holder, Cable, Connector, Plug |
| Weight | 11.43 lbs (5.1 kg) |
| Features | Tethered, Alexa & Google Home, Charge Scheduling |
ZENCAR – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (32 Amp) Charging specifications
This is a Level 2 So the charger can get up to 32 Amps, however the charging rate is adjustable in a very clever way: What you do is you touch a specific RFID tag that you get with the charger and when it gets close to it, the charger switches the amps. It wants to be this clean interface without any buttons, however in my experience buttons are not that bad, they’re there mounted on the charger and you don’t risk losing them. But surprise, it also responds to touch controls. What is interesting is that if the EV owner want to access the delayed charging option, for that one will need to use a tag.
Most importantly, this portable electric charger looks stable in terms of temperature while charging and doesn’t overheat. We specifically looked at what users have reported in relation to this overheating issue. It is commonly agreed that if you go up to 24 Amps it will not overheat. 32 Amps is a mixed issue with some users noticing some overheating and some not. In terms of Voltage, the charger runs at 240V and has a charging power of 7.68 Kw.
Now let’s get to what that 7.68 Kw means in reality. You can expect the following charging times: 6.5 hours for a Tesla Model 3, 9.7 hours for a Tesla Model S, 4.5 hours for a Nissan Leaf, 8.3 hours for a Chevy Bolt. So even if this is not a Tesla Supercharger, it still boasts really fast charging speeds. Now if you have a plug-in hybrid, you can expect to wait even less, for example a Chevy Volt can get charged in just 5.1 hours. These are just estimates of course and should be taken as such.
The advantage to it being portable EVSE charger is that you don’t need it to be installed on a wall, so no wall connectors needed.
ZENCAR – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (32 Amp) Cable types and connectors
The outer case feels very rugged and solid and the length of the cable is 25 feet (7.6 Meters). That should be enough to bring it to your car even if it is not parked in the garage.
The part of the plug that connects to the EV uses a standard J1772 connector which you’ll find on most chargers in North America. The only problem used to be with Tesla cars because their proprietary charger didn’t use this type of plug for the charge port, but they do come with an adapter and are fully compatible now with the SAE J1772 connector. As far as the other end of the cable is concerned (Meaning the wall socket), this 32 Amp model only comes with a NEMA 14-50 connector. If you want a different kind of connector, the 16 Amp version offers more flexibility there.
As with most chargers on the american continent, it is tethered so you can’t disconnect the cable and replace it.
ZENCAR – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (32 Amp) Features
The Zencar EV Charger has a nice little display in the middle that provides you information about the Amperage, Voltage, Temperature, Time, Power, Charging level and the Status of the charger, whether it is charging or not. It also shows you a little warning if it doesn’t detect earthing. This is not a smart charger, it doesn’t have a smartphone app nor does it have any kind of connectivity or Alexa integration, however most of the options are available directly through the touch controls. You can set the timer on the Delayed Charging option using the RFID tag. Is this scheduled charging? Not fully, but comes pretty close. The reason you may want to delay the use of this electric energy is because it helps you take advantage of those great off-peak electricity prices to plug in your car and get miles of range at a reduced charging cost.
This home charger has an IP Rating of IP66 which means it’s going to withstand water splashes and dust very well, however it is best not to push those limits especially when you charge your car. In terms of warranty, it’s nothing special, a 1-year Hassle-free warranty.
In terms of weight, it is business as usual with the device weighing 11.4 lbs (5.1 kg), a value which puts it in the same range as other electric car chargers that are similarly priced.
