PROS: Flexibility for the 16-Amp, Fast Charging Speed for the 32-Amp. Both are waterproof.
CONS: No smart features.
| Product | Amp rating | Level | Cable Length | Nema | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BougeRV – Level 1-2 Portable EV Charger (16 Amp) | 16 Amp | Level 1 & Level 2 | 25 Feet (7.6M) | NEMA 5 – 15 & NEMA 6 – 20 | 3.8 kW | Click for more info |
BougeRV – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (32 Amp)  | 32 Amp | Level 2 | 25 Feet (7.6M) | NEMA 14 – 50 | 7.68 kW | Click for more info |
BougeRV – Level 1-2 Portable EV Charger (16 Amp) Specifications
| Amp rating | 16 Amp |
|---|---|
| Level | Level 1 & Level 2 |
| Type | Portable EV Charger |
| Cable Length | 25 Feet (7.6M) |
| Nema | NEMA 5 – 15 & NEMA 6 – 20 |
| Power | 3.8 kW |
| Voltage | 120V – 240V |
| Connector | J1772 |
| Connectivity | None |
| IP Rating | IP55 |
| Display | 4 LED Lights |
| Warranty | 1-Year No-Hassle |
| Features | All EVs with J1772 Connector, Qulified Product for Security, Intuitive LED Light Indicator, Easy to handle and store |
| What’s in the box | One charger, Tailored-made carry case, A user manual, A free adapter |
| Weight | 8.27 lbs (3.7 kg) |
| Features | Tethered, Alexa & Google Home, Charge Scheduling |
BougeRV – Level 1-2 Portable EV Charger (16 Amp) Charging specifications
The BougeRV is one of the best-selling portable EV Chargers on Amazon. It comes in 2 versions, a 16-Amp and a 32-Amp charger. Let’s have a look at the 16-Amp version first which can deliver up to 3.8 kW. The 16-Amp has the flexibility advantage here because you can plug it into a 120V outlet which will get you up to 1.9 kW of power or a 240V outlet which will get you 3.8 kW of power. If however, you are using the 32-Amp, know that it will deliver up to 7.68 kW.
But let’s now put these numbers into perspective: So if you plug in the 16-Amp to a 120V outlet and power up your EV at 1.9 kW, then for a Tesla Model Y which uses a 75 kWh battery pack with just 20% battery left, it will take up to 35 hours to charge it. Now if you plug it into a 240-volt outlet, that time will drastically decrease down to about 18 hours or so.
The 32-Amp while give you twice the amount of miles of range per hour of charge because it can charge your Tesla Model Y in just about 9 hours. So basically if you plug in when you go to sleep by the time you wake up, your electric car will be fully charged and ready to go. It is indeed quite fast for a portable electric vehicle charger.
BougeRV – Level 1-2 Portable EV Charger (16 Amp) Cable types and connectors
Now let’s look at the cable situation. The 16-Amp version can be plugged into either a NEMA 5-15 or 6-20 wall socket. The 32-Amp BougeRV charger only comes with a 14-50 wall connector.
In terms of the charging cable, both of these use a 25 ft. EV charging cable with the SAE J1772 connector to be plugged into the car. Now the J1772 plug is the standard throughout the entire North America so you can expect it to be compatible with all electric vehicles including Tesla cars. But even though Tesla hasn’t aligned themselves with the J1772 standards in North America, they still deliver an adapter for it with every car that they sell.
Both of these are tethered chargers which means that the charger cable cannot be disconnected from the control box. Untethered chargers are only common throughout Europe where often times you can buy electric vehicle charging stations without a cable.
BougeRV – Level 1-2 Portable EV Charger (16 Amp) Features
None of these are smart chargers and you won’t find any of those which are portable. One of the main smart charging features that you want to look for in a charger is the ability to set a charging schedule. The reason you would want to do this is to maximize the amount of off-peak electricity that you’re using and minimize peak usage so that your charging cost gets reduced. Now because the portable chargers can’t do that, you’ll need rely on your electric car’s software for that. Most of the ones sold these days have this.
The 32-Amp comes with an LCD display that shows you basic info about the charging status and charging rate but the 16-Amp only has 4 indicating LED lights to tell you if the car is charging or if there is some kind of fault. On the 32-Amp you’ll also find 2 buttons to cycle through different Amp settings.
Now if you’re familiar with EV chargers you may know the control box for the 16-Amp as the Duosida control box which is IP55 rated, so it allows you to charge in the rain but you’ll be happy to know that the 32-Amp is weatherproof as well.
Both the BougeRV portable EV charging cables come with a 12-month warranty. The 16-Amp charger is great for a small EV like the Nissan Leaf or the Chevy Bolt or a plug-in hybrid like the Toyota Prius Prime or the Chevy Volt but the 32-Amp can work on EVs with a larger battery pack.
