Understanding Safety Standards and Certifications for Portable EV Chargers

The transition from the era of fuel cars to electric vehicles (EVs) is an irreversible trend, despite the various obstacles caused by vested interests. However, we must prepare for this wave of EVs ensuring that EV Charging Infrastructure development keeps pace.

In addition to High-power Chargers on the highway and AC chargers on roadside stations or workplaces, portable EV chargers play a crucial role in the EV charging market due to their flexibility and convenience. This article will focus on the safety standards and certifications that Portable EV Chargers must meet to ensure they meet safety requirements, operate stably and efficiently, and protect users’ charging safety.

Why We Need Portable EV Chargers

• On-the-go Charging: Portable EV chargers allow for easy charging on the trip with just a simple power source, eliminating range anxiety and providing peace of mind for long trips.
• Home Charging: For those with garages or single houses, portable EV chargers offer a flexible alternative to fixed installations, requiring only a simple wall bracket for place and use.
• Workplace Charging: Employees usually need to stay in the company for several hours, so they have plenty of time to recharge.Portable EV chargers reduce installation costs and optimize charging resource allocation.

Importance of Safety Standards and Certifications for Portable EV Chargers

• Ensure Charging Safety: Ensure that all possible safety risks are taken into account during the design and production process of the charger to prevent accidents such as overheating, electric shock, or fire. Complete charging smoothly and stably to ensure battery safety.
• Ensure Reliability and Service Life: Adhering to strict standards and certifications enables EV Charger Manufacturers to ensure the reliability of their products, improve product performance, and ensure normal and stable operation over the expected service life, thereby improving user satisfaction.
• Regulatory Compliance: Various countries/regions have specific regulations and certifications for electrical product safety, including EV chargers. Compliance with these standards is a mandatory requirement for market access, sales, and use.
• Enhance Consumer Confidence: Certifications provide assurance that the charger has undergone rigorous testing and validation, instilling trust in consumers.

Key Safety Standards and Certifications

• IEC 62196: Type 2. The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC)standard defines safety measures for electric vehicle charging to ensure that the charger meets electrical safety requirements, including protection against electric shock, overvoltage and overcurrent protection, and insulation resistance, covering chargers, plugs, charger outlets, connectors, and vehicle inlets.
• SAE J1772: Type 1. The North American standard for electric vehicle charging connectors is widely adopted to ensure compatibility and safety, providing a safe and reliable connection for charging.
• UL: Safety standards developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) for electric vehicle charging system equipment, including portable EV chargers. Involving strict electrical safety tests (overcurrent protection, short circuit protection, insulation, etc.), fire safety, and environmental sustainability tests, it specifies safety requirements for the structure and operation of the charging system.
• CE: The European market certification mark, proves that the product meets the safety and technical requirements stipulated in the EU directives and is a necessary condition for entering the European market. The CE mark means that the product meets the health, safety, and environmental protection standards and complies with European regulations.
• TUV: Validates compliance with international safety and quality standards.
• ETL: An important safety certification in North America, indicating that the product has passed independent testing by a nationally recognized laboratory and includes regular inspections and evaluations of the manufacturer. It not only proves the safety and reliability of the product but also provides access to the North American market.
• RoHS: Ensures electronic equipment is free from hazardous substances, protecting the environment and user health.

What Tests are Required?

Because the working environment of portable EV chargers is often very complex and may need to face severe weather, it is necessary to ensure that they always provide stable and safe power to electric vehicles. The following key tests may be included:

• Electrical Testing: Ensures safe and stable operation under various electrical loads with necessary safety protections.
• Mechanical Testing: Tests physical durability, such as impact and drop resistance, for a longer service life.
• Thermal Testing: Evaluates temperature rise control and overheating protection during operation.
• Environmental Testing: Assesses performance under harsh conditions like water, dust, moisture, corrosion, and extreme temperatures.

Workersbee Portable EV Charger Advantages

1. Diverse Product Lineup: Offers a variety of outlook designs, including the lightweight soapbox series without a screen and the smart ePort and FlexCharger series with screens.
2. High-Quality Production and Control: Workersbee has multiple production bases and ultra-large-scale clean production workshops to prevent dust and static electricity, ensuring the quality of electrified production.
3. Safety and Efficiency: Real-time monitoring by the temperature-controlled plug and control box avoids the risk of overcurrent and overheating during charging.
4. Strong R&D Capabilities: Over 240 patents, including 135 invention patents. It has a research and development team of more than 100 people, covering multiple fields such as materials, structures, electronics, software background, and ergonomics.
5. Coverage of Key International Certifications: Workersbee’s products have obtained multiple international certifications including UL, CE, UKCA, TUV, ETL, and RoHS, making it a trustworthy partner.

Conclusion

Portable EV chargers play an important role in today’s era of electrified transportation. In addition to enjoying the convenience and pleasure of portable EV chargers on the road, electric car owners can also use them to get power at home, work, or other public places. This also makes the safety certification of portable EV chargers essential for consumer confidence.

Workersbee’s portable EV chargers have significant advantages in reliability, safety, efficiency, portability, and key certifications. We believe that our products can bring your customers a safe, comfortable, and caring charging experience.