This may be the most expensive decision a new EV owner has to make, and many people make it before they have any idea what their daily routine will look like. Let's break it down without trying to sell you anything.
What the real difference is
A portable charger (Mode 2) is a cable with a control and protection box in the middle. On one end is a plug that goes into a power socket, on the other a charging gun for the car. According to the Israeli Electricity Authority guidelines, a portable charger is intended for single-phase charging only and at up to 16A, from an industrial socket (Israeli Standard SI 60309) installed by a licensed electrician on a dedicated circuit. From a regular household socket, only occasional charging is allowed, away from your regular parking spot and at up to 10A.
A fixed charging station (Mode 3) is a box mounted on the wall and connected directly to the electrical panel on a dedicated circuit, by a licensed electrician, and checked by a licensed electrical inspector before first use.
The real cost
People tend to price a station by the product price alone, and that's a mistake. The full cost includes the station itself, an infrastructure survey, running a cable from the electrical panel to the parking spot, a dedicated residual current device (RCD), the electrician's work and inspection, and sometimes approval from the building committee or management company. In apartment buildings, that last part is often the real obstacle.
A portable charger costs a few hundred shekels, and for occasional charging you can take it out of the box and start charging. But for regular use at your parking spot it also requires an electrician's work: an industrial socket on a dedicated circuit.
When a portable charger is the right choice
- You need a solution for occasional charging: at your parents' house, at a holiday cabin, on a visit or on a long trip.
- You want a backup that travels with you in the trunk.
- You're still waiting for approval from the building committee or landlord to install a station, and need an interim solution for occasional charging.
- Your workplace has a dedicated industrial socket that you're allowed to use.
When a fixed station pays for itself
- Anywhere you charge regularly: your private parking spot or your regular spot in the building. This is the solution the guidelines point to for daily charging.
- Two electric cars at home sharing the same point.
- High mileage, or wanting to charge faster: 7kW on single-phase, 11kW and 22kW on three-phase.
- You want smart load management, separate metering of consumption, or OCPP for billing employees.
- You own a business that offers charging to customers or employees.
What about a three-phase portable charger instead of a station?
Until recently it was common to present an 11kW portable charger, plugged into a three-phase industrial socket, as a cheap alternative to a home station. Under the new Israeli Electricity Authority guidelines this is no longer a home solution: a portable charger (Mode 2) is allowed on single-phase only and at up to 16A, i.e. up to about 3.7kW.
Portable chargers rated at 7kW and 11kW still exist, and they are mainly suitable for businesses and workplaces that already have a suitable industrial socket. But if you want to charge at home at 7kW or 11kW, the right way is a fixed charging station. Our 11kW charging station includes a display, RFID and an app, so you get charging tracking, scheduling and current selection, and you can see all our home charging stations (7.6kW, 11kW and 22kW) here.
Important: both a portable charger and a station connect directly, without an extension cord, adapter or splitter (Section 12(c)), and any installation of a socket or station is carried out by an appropriately licensed electrician.
A quality portable charger — but the socket decides
A quality portable charger is designed to the IEC 61851 standard, with residual current protection, overload protection and temperature sensing in the plug. It's not an improvised accessory. What determines how you may use it is the socket it plugs into: from a regular household socket, only occasional charging at up to 10A; from a dedicated industrial socket, up to 16A.
And in any case: the socket itself must be sound and in good condition, and the connection must be direct, with no extension cord and no splitter.
The solution most people end up with
The combination that works for most households: a fixed station at the parking spot for daily charging, and a portable charger in the trunk for occasional charging on the road — just like a spare tire.
Frequently asked questions
Does a portable charger overload the home's electricity?
From a regular household socket the guidelines limit charging to 10A, i.e. about 2.3kW — a load similar to an electric water heater running continuously. In a sound electrical system this is fine for occasional charging; in older homes it's worth consulting an electrician.
Can I use a three-phase portable charger as a fixed station at home?
No. Under the guidelines a portable charger is allowed on single-phase only and at up to 16A. Three-phase charging at home is done from a fixed charging station installed by a licensed electrician and inspected before it's put into operation.
Can I use a portable charger in a shared parking garage?
Only from a socket you're authorized to use and that is connected to your own meter, and from a regular household socket only for occasional charging. For regular charging in a shared parking garage, a station is installed in coordination with the building committee — which in many buildings is a sensitive issue.
What happens if I move?
The portable charger moves with you. A fixed station stays on the wall, and removing and reinstalling it costs extra.
For daily charging at home, browse our home charging stations or leave your details and we'll get back to you. For occasional charging on the road, our 3.5kW portable chargers come with an Israeli plug, full protections and an importer's warranty.
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