Mobile wallboxes on the ADAC test stand: almost all are good
15/7/2024
Translation: machine translated
It is not always possible to charge an electric car at a permanently installed wallbox. Products that serve as mobile charging points have now been tested by the German motoring organisation ADAC.
To get straight to the point: There are many winners, but no clear recommendation. Because when you buy a mobile wallbox, your needs play an important role. And your budget.
The winner of the ADAC test was the most expensive of the seven products. It received a score of 1.6, ranging from 0.6 as the best rating to 5.5 at the bottom end in the individual evaluation categories. The Juice Booster 3 Air as an EU traveller set costs as much as a permanently installed wallbox: around 1500 euros or francs. It comes with a bag and four adapters for different sockets. The testers were also impressed by the app, the features and the data transmission behaviour and data security of the Swiss company.
With this set, you are equipped for almost any situation. Thanks to the selection of adapters, you can charge at standard sockets at camping sites and, if necessary, even via a normal Schuko plug at any standard household EU socket. Juice Booster also has an app that allows you to monitor the charging process and control or start it remotely.
With an overall score of 1.8, the mobile wallbox NRGkick from DiniTech, which is based in Austria, is virtually on a par with the Juice Booster. NRGkick also comes with four adapters and a free app for remote control of the charging process.
Less functions, but cheaper
The Habu from manufacturer Green Cell also received a good rating (grade 1.8). A positive aspect here is that the cable is seven metres longer than that of the competition, which can be crucial in an unfavourable car park socket constellation and save a lot of nerves. What's more, it costs less than half as much as the competitors, who were only tested a tenth of a grade better. There is also an app. However, the adapters are missing; with the Habu you can only connect the electric car to a CEE 16A socket. (Here you can find the detailed product description on the manufacturer's website if required)
Also good, cheaper and even equipped with two adapters is the mobile charging station from Lapp Mobile. Two adapter cables with type E/F safety plug and 3-phase CEE plug are included in the scope of delivery. You don't need an app with Lapp Mobile.
Comfort and equipment make it more expensive
The seven mobile wallboxes tested by the ADAC all do what they are supposed to do: They charge an electric car even if you don't have a wallbox. This can be the case in your holiday home, at the campsite or in the underground car park of your rented flat. However, if you have at least one high-voltage or household socket there, you can charge cheaply with one of the devices tested by the ADAC. Important note: Of course, the charging current will be lower and it will take longer to charge the battery.
Which mobile wallbox you choose depends on whether it is important to you, for example, to be able to monitor the charging process via an app. The car manufacturer's apps usually display the most important information anyway, for example the current charge level or the time until the charging limit is reached.
Much more important than convenience bells and whistles is that you have a suitable adapter for the sockets to which you most frequently connect your electric car.
Here is the link to the full test report and the table with all the results.
Header image: Martin Jungfer
Martin Jungfer
Head of Content
Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.chJournalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment.
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