EV Granny Chargers - Portable EV chargers

Voldt® will integrate with your electric vehicle seamlessly.

01.

What is a portable EV charger?

A portable EV charger is a flexible charging device that allows you to charge your electric vehicle anywhere with access to power. It connects directly to a household socket or industrial outlet, eliminating the need for a fixed wallbox. Compact and easy to transport, it delivers the same safety and reliability as a stationary unit while giving you the freedom to charge at home, at work, or while travelling. Voldt®’s range of portable EV chargers is compatible with both Type 1 and Type 2 connectors and includes adjustable amperage control for optimal charging speed.

02.

How does a portable EV charger work?

A portable EV charger works by safely converting AC power from the grid into a controlled current for your vehicle’s battery. The internal control box manages power flow, monitors temperature, and prevents overcurrent or short circuits. Simply plug one end into a power source and the other into your EV’s charging port. With amperage settings from 8A to 32A and output options from 2.8 kW to 22 kW, Voldt® chargers ensure secure, efficient charging on single-phase or three-phase connections.

What is an EV granny charger?

An EV granny charger is a portable EV charger that plugs into a standard three pin domestic socket, so you can charge an electric car without installing a wallbox. You will also see it sold as a Mode 2 charging cable. The name comes from the original use case: charging at a relative's house where no charge point exists. Inside the cable sits a control box that handles communication with the car and monitors the supply for the whole session.

You plug it into the socket, connect the other end to the car, and charging starts on its own. The Voldt® Type 2 granny charger is adjustable from 8A to 13A, so you can set the current low on an older circuit and take it up to 2.8kW where the socket allows.

"Portable EV charger" is the broader term. It covers the same three pin cable and the commando plug models further down this page, which pull far more power from an industrial socket. Formally both are Mode 2 cables: the control box in the lead does the work, so nothing has to be installed on the wall. Everything in this collection is portable. What changes is the plug on the end and the current it can draw.

Who is a granny charger for?

Anyone who cannot fit a fixed charge point, which in the UK is a large share of drivers: tenants, people in flats, households without a driveway, and anyone still waiting on an installation date. It also suits drivers who park at a different address during the week, because the charger travels with the car instead of staying at one address.

Plenty of owners keep a portable EV charger in the boot alongside a wallbox at home, as a fallback for nights at holiday cottages, family houses and small hotels where the only power available is a normal socket. Plug in hybrid drivers often use nothing else: a PHEV battery is small enough that a 3 pin EV charger refills it overnight with no special connection.

How long does a granny charger take?

Between 8A and 13A a granny charger delivers roughly 2 to 3 kWh per hour. That is around four to five hours for a typical plug in hybrid and a full overnight session for a small EV. Larger batteries are better topped up daily than charged from empty. The breakdown by battery size is in our granny charger charging times table.

Type 2 or Type 1: which one do you need?

Almost every electric car sold in the UK in the last few years uses a Type 2 inlet, so the Type 2 model above suits most drivers. Older cars such as the first generation Nissan Leaf, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV and the Peugeot iOn use a Type 1 inlet and need the Type 1 granny charger instead. If you are not sure which inlet your car has, check the connector for your model before ordering.

Portable EV chargers with a commando plug: more power than a three pin socket

A domestic socket is limited to about 2.8kW by design. Where an industrial socket is available, at a campsite, workshop, farm or holiday park, a portable EV charger with a commando plug moves you into wallbox territory:

7.4kW single phase, 8A to 32A, for a blue 32A commando socket
11kW three phase, 8A to 16A, for a red 16A commando socket
22kW three phase, 8A to 32A, for a red 32A commando socket

These are still portable EV chargers, just with an industrial plug instead of a domestic one. All three are adjustable, so you set the current to match whatever the site supply can actually give you.

Is a granny charger safe to use?

On a socket in good condition, yes. The control box monitors current, temperature and earth continuity and cuts the supply if anything falls outside its limits. Every Voldt® granny charger is IP67 rated, CE and TÜV certified and built in Europe. Two rules worth following: never charge through a domestic extension lead or a travel adapter, and have an electrician check the socket if the wiring is old or the socket sits outdoors.

Why choose a Voldt® portable EV charger?

Voldt® builds portable EV chargers for daily use rather than for the occasional emergency. The current is adjustable from the app, so you can run at 8A on an older circuit and open it up where the socket allows. Connectors are sealed to IP67, the cable stays flexible in cold weather, and every unit is CE and TÜV certified and built in Europe.

Each granny charger and commando plug model ships from our own stock with a three year warranty, so what you order is what leaves the warehouse. Compare the portable EV chargers above and pick the power level that matches your car and your supply. If you need a fixed length cable for a public charge point instead, the full range of EV charging cables covers Type 2, Type 1 and every power level we stock.

Search products or car models

You might be interested in

Have an account?

Portable EV Chargers | Granny Chargers

Accessories