J+ BOOSTER 2 portable electric vehicle charger is now available in North America.
It’s not exactly the same as carrying a spare can of gasoline but for a battery electric vehicle it’s about the closest thing to it and could allay range anxiety concerns for those worried about running out of juice on long trips.
A version long popular in Europe, the J+ BOOSTER 2 Portable EV charger is now available in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, Juice Americas Inc., the U.S. subsidiary of Swiss-based Juice Technology AG, announced Wednesday.
“The J+ BOOSTER 2 is like a Swiss army knife of EV charging technology and makes any concerns about vehicle range a thing of the past,” said Christoph Erni, founder and CEO of Juice Technology AG in a statement. “After all, electricity is available everywhere: you just have to make it accessible.”
The concept is simple. You toss the 2.2 pound device in the car or truck. When you park, plug one end into any 6-40 amp, 120 or 240 volt electrical outlet and the other into the vehicle. With charging power ranging from 720 watts to 9.6 kilowatts, a full charge takes four to six hours depending on the battery pack size the company said.
According to the company, the J+ BOOSTER 2 will recharge a 50 kW battery in about 26 hours at a 120 volts, 15 amp outlet and in about four hours at a 240 volt, 50 amp outlet.
Looking at it another way charging off a standard 120 volt household outlet, you are adding about 5 to 7 miles range per hour charging while a 240 volt, 50 amp outlet will add around 40 miles per hour charging the company said.
Using a special adapter the J+ BOOSTER 2 can be wall-mounted for use as a home charger.
The company says the device can be used to charge virtually any EV including Tesla
TSLA
To guard against socket outlets overheating the J+ CEL
CEL
Illustration of J+ BOOSTER 2 features
“All these features make this charging station user-friendly at home and on the road and ensure safety every time you charge,” said Michael Boehm, Managing Director of Juice Americas. “J+ BOOSTER 2 offers users all the functionality of a full-fledged wall charger with the versatility of a portable device.”
Versatility is a key characteristic of the device. The unit includes eight adapter plugs the company says meet the standards of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEM
XEM
The eight adapter plugs are: NEMA 5-15, NEMA 14-50, NEMA 6-15, NEMA 5-20, NEMA 6-20, NEMA TT-30, NEMA 14-30 and NEMA 6-50. The NEMA 5-15, NEMA 6-15, NEMA 5-20 and NEMA 6-20 adapter plugs are fitted with the J+ CELSIUS temperature monitoring system.
The adapter plugs are coded so the correct charging power is set to be fully automatic at the socket-outlet according to the available socket input current.
Careless with gear at times? The company says if somehow the unit ends up between the ground and a vehicle’s tires, no worries. The in-cable control box is made of solid, military-grade aluminum and is “driveover-resistant to wheel loads of up to 6,600 lbs. (3 metric tons).” It’s also dust-proof and can operate in ambient temperatures ranging from -22°F to 122°F.
The J+ BOOSTER 2 is based on the popular Juice BOOSTER 2 sold in Europe and was “specially adapted” for the North America power grid in order to be sold on this side of the Atlantic, according to the company.
Using the J+ BOOSTER 2 on the go to recharge the battery of an EV.
For sure, the J+ BOOSTER 2 won’t provide a quick total recharge but does offer a way to at replenish some battery power when an actual recharging station is out of range or not available, as long as there’s access to a power outlet. Indeed the company suggests the best uses for it is either as a home wall charger when the vehicle will be parked overnight, or when the driver plans to be at work, attend an event or “wherever they park habitually for extended periods of time,” long enough to fully charge.
Starting price for the J+ BOOSTER 2 is $699.
