PROS: Plenty of charging power, Long Cable, Adjustable Amps & Charge Scheduling, Great design.
CONS: No connectivity.
| Product | Amp rating | Level | Cable Length | Nema | Power | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shell ReCharge – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (40 Amp) | 40 Amp | Level 2 | 30 Feet (9.1M) | NEMA 14-50 | 9.6 kW | Click for more info |
Shell ReCharge – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (32 Amp)  | 32 Amp | Level 2 | 30 Feet (9.1M) | NEMA 14-50 | 7.68 kW | Click for more info |
Shell ReCharge – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (40 Amp) Specifications
| Amp rating | 40 Amp |
|---|---|
| Level | Level 2 |
| Type | Portable EV Charger |
| Cable Length | 30 Feet (9.1M) |
| Nema | NEMA 14-50 |
| Power | 9.6 kW |
| Voltage | 240V |
| Connector | J1772 |
| Connectivity | None |
| IP Rating | IP66 |
| Display | LCD Display |
| Warranty | 1-Year No-Hassle |
| Features | Adjustable current mode and timer, Fast Charging, overheating protection, over-voltage protection, over-current, leakage protection and lightning-proof,ReCharge Anywhere Anytime |
| What’s in the box | Connector, Home Charging Station, Cable, Plug |
| Weight | 16.76 lbs (7.6 kg) |
| Features | Tethered, Alexa & Google Home, Charge Scheduling |
Shell ReCharge – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (40 Amp) Charging specifications
Shell is one of the oil companies that has been slowly shifting its business towards what most of us believe is an electric future.
There are two versions of this charger, the 32 Amp and the 40 Amp which we are focusing on here, because more is better. If want to have a closer look at the 32 Amp version, you can do so here.
Both of these home EV Chargers run at a voltage of 240V for Level 2 fast charging but they’re smart and they can also work with a 110V socket. If you plug them into a 110V socket, you’ll be waiting a long time for your car to charge, but it works. It will bring it down to 16 Amps at a Level 1 charging rate.
Where the units also differ is in the power output: The 32 unit can output 7.68 kW while the 40 Amp unit can output 9.6 kW. Now Shell estimates that the 32-Amp version when charging at its full potential, will add about 20-30 miles of range per hour while the 40-Amp version will add 25-40 miles to your electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid. But these are just estimates and of course it really depends on how the vehicle makes use of all that electric energy.
We also have some estimations: A standard Tesla Model 3 will take 6.5 hours to charge on both however the Long Range model will charge in 7.5 hours hours on the 40 Amp and 9 hours on the 32 Amp. Not a big difference, but noticeable. When it comes to the Model Y, again 7.5 hours on the faster one and 9 hours on the slower one. The VW ID.3 & ID.4 Pure along with the Renault Zoe, all should charge in 6.5 hours while a Hyundai Kona and a Kia Niro should take 9 hours.
Shell ReCharge – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (40 Amp) Cable types and connectors
Both the 32 Amp and the 40 Amp EV Charger use a NEMA 14-50 wall connector to plug into the wall socket in your garage. The SAE J1772 connector has a slightly annoying rubber gasket that will make it difficult for you to plug in the charger into an adapter, however according to one youtuber you can take it out. So you can say it that this connector is not very friendly with adapters.
The EV Charging cable is 30 feet (9.1 Meters) long, which is about 5-6 feet longer than other chargers in this price range, a welcome bonus. It is also tethered to the unit, so you cannot disconnect it but most, if not all chargers in North America have tethered cables.
Shell ReCharge – Level 2 Portable EV Charger (40 Amp) Features
This portable electric home charger comes in a really great looking case, I love the color and the design of it, it matches the color of the charger. It is certainly performs the best out of all the chargers here in this respect. This is a portable electric vehicle charger, but it does have a keyhole slot on the back so you can hang it on the wall if you want.
It doesn’t have any kind of connectivity, so even though it looks very professional, this is not a smart charger so no Alexa integration but you do get scheduled charging. Just press the little Clock button and you’ll be able to set a timer for when the unit should start to charge your car. The reason for the existence of this timer is simple: Taking advantage of off-peak electricity late into the night to reduce the charging cost.
You do get an LCD display with some charging features that can show you the charging level, how hot the unit is getting, the voltage, charging time for this session, the actual number of kW that it is outputting, how many kwH it has actually put into your car’s battery. There is a button labeled “A” which you can press to switch between different Amp settings.
This Electric Car Charger is IP66 rated so it is waterproof and dustproof with the exception of the little part that plugs into the NEMA socket. Shell offers a 1-Year No-Hassle warranty on both of its portable EVSE chargers.
Both chargers weigh 16.76 lbs (7.6 Kg) so they are certainly a bit on the heavy side in their price range, about 3 lbs more.
