What are useful accessories for an EV?
When travelling with an EV, you need to carry different things than "in the past". The time-honoured jerry can is of course no longer useful, but there are some other things you should have with you, for example in case the battery runs out.
If you have just bought a new electric car, you probably enjoy the benefit of not having to stop for fuel while you drive to work in your new car. However, that doesn't mean you won't need anything on the way. Whereas with combustion engine cars we have become accustomed to carrying jumper cables with us in case the starter battery runs out unexpectedly, and to having jerry cans to help us out if we run low on fuel, with an EV it's all a bit different.
Charger is first necessity
The first essential accessory you need when travelling with an EV is an electric car charger cable. Good to know, there are four types of charging cables: Mode 1, Mode 2, Mode 3 and Mode 4 charging cables. You cannot buy the last one, because it is attached to the fast charge stations you often see along the motorway. Mode 3 charging cables always come standard with your electric car. You use these at public and home charging stations. Mode 2 cables are unfortunately not standard with every electric car. With this portable charger you can charge your electric car via a household socket. Charging is slower, usually at 2.3 kW, but it can be a life-saver during holidays, for example when camping. A Mode 1 cable is the extension cable as you know it at home. This is basically the same cable as a Mode 2 cable, but without a control box in between.
The cables come with different plugs. There are type 1 and type 2 plugs. The first (plug-in hybrid) electric cars were supplied with a Type 1 plug (Yazaki plug). Later, the major car manufacturers embraced the Type 2 plug and the Type 2 plug has become the standard.
Portable charger
Not all new cars have a Type 2 portable charger as standard, but in used and imported EVs these chargers may be lost, or they may work with a different plug socket than we have in the Netherlands. This is something to watch out for.
Emergency cable
Just like jumper cables have an empty start battery, a charging cable can make the difference between being stranded with an empty battery pack or being able to continue driving. Often you will find Type 1 or Type 2 plugs at the charging station, public charging stations without a cable and just sockets where you can plug in your cable.
Most EVs can charge at different speeds, so single-phase or three-phase cables with a high amperage will reduce charging times. Of course, the high charging speed is determined by the speed of the charging station.
Adaptors
EVs have different plugs, which can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, depending on the car. But there is an adapter for most situations; a popular adapter is the type that allows a Type 1 car connector to be connected to a Type 2 plug on the charging station. But of course there are many other configurations possible. These are the different possibilities.
