Can I charge my EV with my power station?

First, a bit about how EV’s charge. While not all EVs use identical connectors or charging cords, most are equipped from the factory, or have available as an accessory, a 110 to 120V AC cord (standard North American residential voltage). You may here them referred to as “Level 1” charging cords or EVSE (the technical term for these cords). These are typically designed to operate at up to about 14A, as most household outlets are rated for a max of 15A. These cords typically all have standard household plug types. If your EV has a cord with a plug that will insert into a standard household outlet, chances are there is a possibility a larger power station can power it.

There are other types of cords and charging: Level 2 for 220-240V AC (many electric clothes driers or welder outlets), and “Fast” or “DC” charging. These are less common at home, but Level 2 is becoming more common in houses. Check with your dealer, charging cord manual, or and electrician to determine your type. If these plug in, they will have a MUCH larger connector (similar to an electric clothes drier) or be direct wired. If you have this sort of cord or connector, this will NOT work with one of our power stations.

If you have a Level 1 or 110V to 120V AC charging cord, check the rating on it for the input wattage. If the input wattage is less than the wattage on our power stations, there is a very good chance it will work. For instance, if you have a 1.4kW (1400W) charging cord, it will work off a 1600W power station. It will NOT work off of a 1200W power station. We have found that some vehicles, such as Teslas, check for an earth ground to be present at the power station. As most are not permanently mounted or earth grounded like a home is, charging may not be allowed by the vehicle. You can check your manual or manufacturer website for more details. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee compatibility across various makes and models.

Also be aware that most power stations don’t provide a large amount of power when compared to an EV. A smaller EV with a battery pack of 40kWh will only gain about 1/40th of a charge from a 1000kWh power station (a bit less accounting for loss). While this may not seem like much, it may be valuable to have this power available, as it may get you a few to several miles of range if you are empty and needing to move an otherwise dead vehicle.