Portable EV charger (charging from a socket): what it does and which one to buy

Written by Engin Demirel · Electrical technician, master instructor · 12 years of experience

Short answer: A portable EV charger (also called a mobile charging station or Mode 2 charging cable) plugs into a socket at one end and into the car's Type 2 inlet at the other, with a control box in between that manages charging. The socket sets the power: up to 3.7 kW on a standard household socket, 7.4 kW on a blue 32 A single-phase industrial (CEE) socket, and 11 or 22 kW on a red three-phase CEE socket. If you will only use household sockets, the Mini Mobile fits; if you have a blue CEE socket, the Mono Mobile; for a red three-phase socket with speed and smart features, the Pro Mobile 2.

This guide focuses on choosing a portable unit. For a general comparison of the three ways to charge at home (household socket, industrial socket, wallbox), see How to charge an EV at home.

What is a portable charger for?

It works straight out of the box, without installing a fixed charging station: plug into the socket, plug the Type 2 end into the car. The control box communicates with the car and limits the charging current to the value you set. It is most useful for:

Tenants and shared car parks where a fixed installation is not possible.
Charging in different places: a holiday home, family visits or the workplace.
Long trips, as a backup kept in the boot.
Workshops, factories, farms and building sites that already have an industrial socket.

How many kW on which socket?

Three things limit charging power: the socket, the current set on the charger and the car's AC acceptance. The lowest one wins.

Standard household socket (Schuko, 16 A, single-phase): about 2.3–3.7 kW at 10–16 A.
Blue 3-pin 32 A CEE socket (single-phase): up to 7.4 kW.
Red 5-pin 16 A CEE socket (three-phase): up to 11 kW.
Red 5-pin 32 A CEE socket (three-phase): up to 22 kW.

Example: a car with a 60 kWh battery takes about 16–17 hours from empty to full at 3.7 kW, 8–9 hours at 7.4 kW and about 6 hours at 11 kW. The energy used for 40–60 km of daily driving, however, is recovered overnight even on a household socket. Knowing your car's maximum AC power and whether your home is single- or three-phase makes the choice clear: Single-phase vs three-phase, EV charging time.

Safety: is the socket and circuit suitable?

Unlike a phone charger, a car draws a high current continuously for hours. Most problems come from the socket and the circuit, not from the charger.

The socket must be sound, earthed and not loose. If the plug or socket gets warm while charging, stop and have the circuit checked.
On an old circuit, or one whose load is unknown, start with a lower current. Bemis chargers are adjustable: the Mini Mobile starts at 10 A, the Mono Mobile at 16 A and the Pro Mobile 2 at 6 A.
Do not use thin household extension leads or multi-plug adapters. If an extension is really needed, use an earthed heavy-duty extension cable sized for the charging current.
A blue or red CEE socket should be installed on its own circuit from the distribution board, with its own breaker and residual current protection. We explain which RCD is needed in RCD types A, B, F. Local wiring rules apply.
The units have IP65 housings and can be used in the rain; still, keep the plug-to-socket connection away from standing water.

Bemis Mini Mobile, Mono Mobile and Pro Mobile 2 compared

All three use a Type 2 connector, have an IP65 housing and come with a carry bag; the difference is the socket they plug into and the features.

Mini Mobile: Single-phase, household (Schuko) plug. Current 10–16 A, power about 2.3–3.7 kW. Cable 5, 8 or 10 metres. No extra socket or installation needed.
Mono Mobile: Single-phase, blue 3-pin 32 A CEE plug; the 16 A adapter in the box lets it plug into a household socket too. Current 16–32 A, power 3.7–7.4 kW. Cable 5, 8 or 10 metres. Operates from -40 °C to +55 °C.
Pro Mobile 2: Three-phase. The 22 kW version has a red 5/32 A plug, the 11 kW version a 5/16 A CEE plug; with the adapter it runs single-phase at low power on a household socket. Current in 6, 10, 16, 20, 25 and 32 A steps. LCD display, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID card and scheduled charging from the mobile app. Cable 5, 8 or 10 metres on the 22 kW version, 5 metres on the 11 kW version.

Which one for whom?

Only household sockets, overnight charging, short daily trips: Mini Mobile.
A blue 32 A socket at home or at the destination (or the option to install one), twice the speed: Mono Mobile.
A red three-phase socket, a car that accepts 11–22 kW, and the wish to schedule charging in the app and authorise with a card: Pro Mobile 2.

How to choose the cable length

Measure the distance from the socket to the car's charging inlet and add 1–2 metres. If the car parks next to the socket in a garage, 5 metres is enough; in an open car park or a garden, choose 8 or 10 metres. A longer cable than needed takes up more boot space and lies around on the ground. For cables and connector types see EV charging cable and connector types.

Accessories

Mobile charger wall bracket: hang the unit on the garage wall and use it like a wallbox; versions for Mini/Mono Mobile and Pro Mobile.
Mobile charger bag: keeps the unit, cable and adapter tidy in the boot; small for Mini and Mono Mobile (41 × 31 × 14 cm), large for Pro Mobile (46 × 34 × 14 cm).
AC connector holder: holds the Type 2 plug on the wall so the cable stays off the floor.
Adapters and extension cables: for different socket types.

Portable charger or wallbox?

If you charge in the same place every day and a fixed installation is possible, a wallbox is more convenient; features such as load balancing and shared use are found on wallboxes. If you charge in different places or cannot install anything, a portable unit makes sense. For someone with a red three-phase socket in the garage, the Pro Mobile 2 comes close to wallbox speed without fixed mounting. We explain the differences in What is a wallbox?

Our on-site survey and installation service is available only in Bursa, Turkey.

Frequently asked questions

Can a portable EV charger be used on a normal household socket?

Yes. On a household socket the power is at most 3.7 kW (16 A). The socket and circuit must be sound, earthed and suitable for a load lasting hours; on an old circuit start with a lower current.

How long does charging take with a portable charger?

A car with a 60 kWh battery takes about 16–17 hours from empty on a household socket (3.7 kW), 8–9 hours on a blue 32 A CEE socket (7.4 kW) and about 6 hours on an 11 kW three-phase socket. The car's AC acceptance sets the limit.

What is the difference between blue and red CEE sockets?

The blue 3-pin socket is single-phase and gives 7.4 kW at 32 A. The red 5-pin socket is three-phase: 11 kW at 16 A and 22 kW at 32 A.

Can I charge with an extension cable?

Thin household extension leads and multi-plug adapters should not be used. If needed, use an earthed heavy-duty extension cable sized for the charging current, or choose a version with a longer cable.

Can a portable charger replace a wallbox?

If you cannot install a wallbox or charge in different places, yes. With a red three-phase socket in the garage, the Pro Mobile 2 charges at 11–22 kW. If you need load balancing or shared use, a wallbox is the better fit.

Which cable length should I choose?

Measure from the socket to the car's charging inlet and add 1–2 metres. In a garage 5 metres is usually enough; in an open car park or garden choose 8 or 10 metres.