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The ZipCharge Go offers 12 to 20 miles of range in a little more than 30 minutes using its ‘emergency charge in a suitcase’.

Although very few drivers ever cover more than 35 miles a day, when it comes to all-electric cars, a range of less than 200 miles evokes range anxiety in prospective buyers. So even as the US Department of Energy reports that the EPA estimated median driving range topped 250 miles for MY2020 electric vehicles (EVs), companies around the world are hard at work developing solutions to soothe motorists’ troubled minds.

While most companies are working on fancy battery technologies to extend the range per charge, a small UK startup called ZipCharge recently unveiled a portable EV charger called the Go, at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland.

The 21st Century’s version of the age-old Jerry Can, the Go can be regarded as an ‘emergency charge in a suitcase’ for EVs in distress. So, even though the device is not perfect, it could help alleviate drivers’ range anxiety, thereby speeding up the rollout of Zero Emissions EVs.

Due for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2022, the 4 kWh ZipCharge Go can add approximately 12 to 20 miles of range in a little more than 30 minutes, depending on the EV, while a larger 8 kWh unit will add roughly 25 to 40 miles of driving range.

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The Go is designed to be easy to use at home, work, or just about wherever a driver may park their car – even at the side of the road should it run out of charge. The unit is recharged from any regular household outlet and can be used outside in any weather condition, the same as a conventional charging station.

This is an important feature. With many prospective EV owners living in the inner city with no access to off-street home charging, public charging is currently their only alternative. However, relying on public charging infrastructure can be expensive and inconvenient. The Go will give this group of people the ability to charge their vehicles anywhere, anytime.

What is more, it can also offer peace of mind for those that are concerned with running out of charge in an EV. Similar in shape and size to the average carry-on suitcase and weighing only 50-lbs, it's small and light enough to be carried in the trunk or even the frunk of some EVs.

The secret to the Go’s impressive packaging and performance is the high-energy-density lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide (NMC) battery cells coupled to the state-of-the-art power electronics. In addition, the charger incorporates a bi-directional AC-DC inverter that enables two-way charging - from the grid to the unit, and from the unit to the grid.

Thus, in grids that are enabled for bi-directional power flow the Go can be used to store less expensive off-peak energy and, if desired, sell it back to the grid at peak times. An integrated communications module supports OCPP-compliant smart charging, over-the-air updates, and remote diagnostics. The Go also offers geofencing and tracking technology to provide enhanced security and peace of mind.

While the ZipCharge Go’s sales model has yet to be announced, the BBC reports that the outright purchase price is unknown, although speculation puts a monthly subscription at about £49, or around $66, with The Sunday Times Driving section claiming the company aims to sell it for around the same cost as a 7.2kW home charging installation.

While ZipCharge’s offering is drawing a lot of interest, it’s not the first portable charging solution to hit the market. SparkCharge, for instance, has a portable fast-charging system called the Roadie that offers faster charging although not nearly as easy to carry around as the Go.

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Typically, when an EV does run out of power, the driver isn't very far from their destination. For one reason or another, they just didn't make it to the charging station along the route or to their final destination.

So, while ZipCharge has chosen to prioritize portability, SparkCharge has sought to offer EV operators a portable fast-charging solution with their 20 kW portable DC system that's primarily designed for roadside assistance services. The charger is capable of delivering about 1 mile of driving range for every minute of charging, depending on the EV.

The Roadie’s system is scalable and can accommodate up to five 3.7 kWh (3.5 kWh usable) modules that simply stack up on top of each other for a usable total of 17.5 kWh. SparkCharge estimates that 17.5 kWh is good enough to provide 60 to 75 miles of range, depending on the performance of the EV being charged.

In support of the Roadie’s ‘roadside assistance service’ business model, SparkCharge has also developed the 'BoostEV' mobile app, claimed to be "The world's first portable charging network."

Using the mobile app EV drivers can connect with SparkCharge service providers. So instead of calling a tow truck or AAA, an EV owner that's run out of charge can call for a 20 kW boost using the BoostEV app, and a service provider will respond to the scene.

It’s easy to see the value of these portable chargers and services in supporting the ever-increasing number of EVs on the road, and as more ‘end-of-life’ batteries become available, this would seem to be a natural offset for these repurposed batteries.

As an engineer with over 40 years of experience in the automotive industry Peter Els sums himself up in one sentence: "Automotive engineer by profession, gearhead by choice." Working from his home on the East Coast of South Africa, Peter spends most of his time analyzing and writing about cars and the exciting technologies driving the future of mobility. He shares his findings, opinions, and experience in several online publications, including a monthly column on the highly respected Automotive IQ portal, articles on FutureCar, Robotics Business Review, and product reviews on the Car Fix Book. When not writing about cars Peter is an avid motorsport follower. Having raced motorcycles for 10 years he still enjoys track-time - although now, on four wheels rather than two.