Run out of fuel in a conventional car and all you need to get going again is a can of fuel. Up to now there has not been a similar 'get you home' solution for electric vehicles. An Irish company, JTM Power Ltd, has come up with a portable charging station, the EVCharge 4kW.
The device is powered by a lithium ion battery and is claimed to provide up to 20 kilometres of additional range with a 20-minute charging time; hopefully enough to get home or to a mains-connected charging point. It looks a little large to fit in the boot of a car but could become part of the standard equipment carried by breakdown companies. AA Ireland has taken delivery of an EVCharge, which it will be trialling through December.
JTM Power spent two years developing the fast charger, based on over 10 years' experience manufacturing portable jump starters for conventional vehicles. The company decided to take advantage of the emerging electric vehicle market to diversify its product range. Company Managing Director, James Tracey, announced plans for a range of mobile charging products.
The EVCharge will be sold in Ireland and other countries where electric vehicles are relatively widespread.