The introduction of a portable device that drivers carry to recharge their electric cars’ batteries could end worries about finding an accessible charge point. 

ZipCharge, a UK firm, has today, at the COP26 climate summit, revealed its ‘game-changing portable charger, the Go, that will be available to customers starting in the next year.

The lightweight device, according to the manufacturer, will “bring the possibility for home charging to all”, even those who don’t have off-street parking.

The portable ‘power bank’ will be available on a monthly subscription basis of less than £50 a month or can be bought outright for a price that’s ‘comparable to the purchase and installation of a level 2 home EV charger’ – which is roughly around £800.

Portable charging for your electric vehicle: ZipCharge has unveiled its Go charger device, which is the size of a small suitcase and add up to 20 miles of range from a 30 minute charge

ZipCharge’s Go charger is portable charging for electric vehicles. It is about the size of a small bag and can provide up to 20 miles of range with a 30-minute charge

According to the provider, the company is on track to deliver the first models of the new model to customers by the end of 2022.

It intends to follow a similar model to exercise powerhouse Peloton by offering ‘hardware-as-a-service’. 

Chargers will be available on monthly subscription for £49 (€57).

Alternatively, it can be bought outright for ‘a price comparable to the fully installed cost of a level 2 home charge point, and significantly less than bi-directional home charge points currently on the market’.

This is likely to be around £800, though ZipCharge has yet to confirm exact pricing. 

The devices come standard with basic software functionality that will allow all users plan and schedule charging.

Users will pay more for ‘enhanced Artificial Intelligence Software’ that can learn about users charging patterns.

This will be available alongside insurance on subscription for an additional monthly fee which, on average, will ‘save the user £15 to £20 a month’ compared to using a public charging network, the UK company claims. 

The provider says it is on track to deliver the portable charge points to customers from the fourth quarter of 2022

According to the provider, the provider is on track to deliver portable charge points to customers in the fourth quarter 2022

The power bank is the size of a compact suitcase and is lightweight enough to be stored in a car boot, or at home

The power bank is about the same size as a small suitcase, and can be easily stored in a car boot or at home.

Integrated 4G connectivity enables users to remotely manage their Go charger via the ZipCharge mobile app to monitor the device and schedule charging events so the power pack is always ready for when they need it

ZipCharge mobile app allows users to remotely manage their Go Charger via 4G connectivity. This allows them to monitor the device and schedule charging events to ensure that the power pack is always available for when they need it.

The power bank is approximately the size of a small suitcase and can be carried in a car’s boot or at home.

Although weight figures have not yet been released, users will need to consider the impact on their vehicle’s range when lugging it around in their boot. 

It also features a power panel, which displays the status and controls. The front cover can be personalized in a variety of colours and finishes to match the exterior of an owner’s EV. 

You can charge the bank’s battery at home or anywhere else using a standard domestic outlet at a lower cost per Kilowatt of electricity than public charging. 

Using the retractable handle, users then wheel it to wherever they’ve parked their EV and plug it into the charging port. 

The port locks in the charging cable, securing it with the vehicle. It is also safe to use in the event of rain. 

The power banks can provide up 20 miles of range with a half-hour charge (at 7.2kW), which is enough for the average daily commute in the UK.  

The ZipCharge GO has been unveiled today at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow

The ZipCharge GO was revealed today at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow

The ZipCharge Go will be available on a monthly subscription for £49 (€57), says the provider

The ZipCharge Go will be available on a monthly subscription for £49 (€57), says the provider

It says it can also be bought outright for 'a price comparable to the fully installed cost of a level 2 home charge point - this is likely to be around £800, though ZipCharge has yet to confirm exact pricing

It says it can also be bought outright for ‘a price comparable to the fully installed cost of a level 2 home charge point – this is likely to be around £800, though ZipCharge has yet to confirm exact pricing

Jonathan Carrier, co-founder of the company, stated that the COP26 summit was a ‘perfect place to introduce ZipCharge around the world’.

He added: ‘In light of the Government’s recent Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener manifesto announcement, never before has the automotive industry had cause to innovate so rapidly to help us reach a low carbon future. 

‘Charging anxiety, the inability to charge anywhere near or at home, is one of many barriers that prevent wider adoption of EVs. ZipCharge will remove this hurdle and make it easier to own an EV. 

Only 40% of homes in the UK – around 8.5 Million properties – don’t have designated off-street parking.

This is a major issue for electric vehicle owners. People who want to make the switch to an electric model must come up with innovative ways to charge their cars outside their homes and flats, or rely on a public charging network.

These higher prices can lead to higher electricity costs than what an owner of an EV could pay when plugging in at their home.  

The front cover can also be personalised in a range of different colours, such as this Union Jack design

You can also personalize the front cover with a variety of colours, such this Union Jack design

The bank's battery can be charged at home or elsewhere using a standard domestic plug at a lower cost per kWh of electricity when compared to public charging

The bank’s battery can also be charged at home using a standard domestic plug. This is at a lower cost per Kilowatt of electricity than public charging.

Using the retractable handle, users then wheel it to wherever they’ve parked their EV and plug it into the charging port

Using the retractable handle, users then wheel it to wherever they’ve parked their EV and plug it into the charging port

ZipCharge claims that the Go is “the first element of a global mobile EV charging platform that combines software, hardware, and machine learning to bring affordable, practical EV chargers to more people than ever before.”

It also “creates an intelligent energy management system that provides flexibility, resilience, and support for the national power grid”.

Inside the power bank are high energy density NMC lithium-ion battery cells and associated power electronics. 

A bi-directional AC/DC Inverter allows two-way charging, from the grid to unit and from unit to grid. The power bank can be used for cheap off-peak energy storage and feed back into the grid at peak times. 

Official images show the portable units being used to add charge to the batteries of a Jaguar I-Pace outside 10 Downing Street

A bi-directional AC-DC inverter enables two-way charging from the grid to the unit, and from the unit to the grid, so the power bank can be used to store cheap off-peak energy and feed it back into the grid at peak times

A bi-directional AC/DC Inverter allows two-way charging, from the grid to unit and from unit to grid. The power bank can be used for cheap off-peak energy storage and feed back into the grid at peak times.

The port locks the charging cable in, securing the charger with the vehicle and is safe to use if it rains

The port locks in the charging cable, securing it with the vehicle. It is also safe to use in the event of rain.

The power bank provides up to 20 miles of range from a half-hour charge, which the provider says is sufficient for the average daily commute in the UK

The power bank can provide up to 20 miles range on a half-hour charge. This is enough for an average daily commute in the UK, according to the provider.

A communications module integrated with geo-fencing, tracking technology and smart charging supports remote diagnostics, smart charging, over the-air updates, and smart charging. This provides increased security and peace of mind. 

The integrated 4G connectivity allows users to remotely manage their Go Charger via the ZipCharge mobile application. This app can monitor the device and schedule charging events to ensure that the power pack is always available for them when they need it. 

Inbuilt AI will enable ZipCharge to learn the users’ charging patterns and make schedule recommendations to optimise charging at off peak times, saving money and reducing the load on the grid. 

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