portable generator charging

[evdesertdjr]

I think my username explains my need. I get by great for close to home use, but I would like to venture out a bit farther. In fact, my dealer, and the closest service place is kind of iffy on a cold day with a headwind. I would consider buying a generator to carry in my truck for emergency charging if I were confident that this is doable. Does anyone have experience with this? I posted the question to the generator sites and get a lot of new adds but no information. I realize this would have to be an inventor type and probably would be pricey. It would have to be level 2 to be worth it. And, where would I get the appropriate cord? Thanks

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[Grumpy2]

Here are videos of a generator system designed to be used by mechanics for field charging stalled vehicles, I have no personal knowledge if it works, but the testing seems legit:

 

[potato]

An inverter generator would be nicer, but I have an el cheapo open frame generator (Firman T07573) that charges the truck OK. The power is "dirty" I guess; the charge will not start unless another load is also connected to smooth out the waveform. But once charging I can disconnect the extra load and it stays charging. Just a data point.

I have the Tesla Universal Mobile Connector with a cheap 80 amp rated Tesla to J1772 adapter. This generator won't quite run the 14-50 adapter (32 amps = 7680 W), but seemed happy with the 14-30 adapter (24 amps = 5760 W).

 

[evdesertdjr]

thanks. djr

 

[Firn]

Fwiw is you have a generator that does 240v but won't do the 30 amps (7200w) it is possible to 240v/12a (2900w) with the Ford mobile connector and get a significantly faster charge than 120v/12a (1000w actual)

 

[CD4TNF]

AAA has a report on their gas generators to charge EVs. You might find inspiration or products they use interesting. They were testing Blink mobile generators. Gen 1 and Gen 2. Looks like Gen 2 delivers 11kW, so that would be more appropriate (ie. faster) for charging the Lightning.

https://newsroom.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Mobile-EV-Charging-2023_Report_public_final.pdf

 

[Jasper7821]

I think my username explains my need. I get by great for close to home use, but I would like to venture out a bit farther. In fact, my dealer, and the closest service place is kind of iffy on a cold day with a headwind. I would consider buying a generator to carry in my truck for emergency charging if I were confident that this is doable. Does anyone have experience with this? I posted the question to the generator sites and get a lot of new adds but no information. I realize this would have to be an inventor type and probably would be pricey. It would have to be level 2 to be worth it. And, where would I get the appropriate cord? Thanks

I did this during the summer towing my boat.
I could make it to the lake and back (230 miles), but I had to drive both ways at 50-55mph.
I bought this generator (below) and would charge my truck while it sat in the boat parking lot all day. It worked really great except on days where it was over 110 degrees that the generator would shut down due to the heat.
I also had a large fan in the truck to keep the CO alarm from going off and shutting the generator off, plus it helped keep it cool as well in the bed of the truck with the tailgate closed.
There are no charging stations along the way, so if I had to charge, I had to drive 1/2hr out of the way then go home the long way on the freeway. So this generator way was really great.
I used the Ford Pro station and set it to 22 amps and that ran the generator at about 90%.
I would just come back in 2-3hrs and fill the tank back up.
It looked funky, but it didn't bother anyone as the truck/trailer parking lot was away from everything and people are only there to drop off their trucks or pick them up after boating.

https://www.samsclub.com/p/genmax-p...start-co-sensor/P990332260?xid=plp_product_11

 

[evdesertdjr]

So, I could carry a home charger? I have a Charge Point in a box waiting for someone to install but it will be hard wired. Maybe there would be a cheaper model I could buy just for the generator with the appropriate plug to the generator?

For Firn: My Lightning did not come with the Ford mobile cord, I bought an aftermarket 120 only. I can see that the 240 side of the Ford cable would work.

Thanks for the input.

 

[evdesertdjr]

And thanks for the AAA information. I am still working though that. Maybe I am missing something but are these generators even for sale to the public? I imagine they are many times more expensive than the one Jasper has! But I would be confident I am getting exactly what I need. And, maybe I could hire out to AAA!

 

[CD4TNF]

Looks like the Blink generator is commercial only. You know it costs something when they put "ask for a quote".

https://blinkcharging.com/products/mobile-charger


I did come across a AAA Lighting one time. The driver told me he did use the Lighting Pro Power to charge EVs before. That was pretty cool.

I think it was here, someone posted that they signed up as a local volunteer EV recovery person. They got contacted to go charge an EV every so often. It's a service!

 

[evdesertdjr]

Interesting. Thanks

 

[Jasper7821]

All you need is a generator like the one I have and a level 2 charger.
I have two Tesla Universal charging stations brand new in the box I'm trying to sell.
I also have a Cybertruck and the for Pro Power charger won't charge the Tesla, so I just sold that and finally got the $2,500 Tesla store credit. Most everything is out of stock so I just bought 4 Universal charging stations and installed two and trying to sell the other two.
You would just set the amperage in the Tesla app to whatever running amps the generator you got.

 

[Firn]

So, I could carry a home charger? I have a Charge Point in a box waiting for someone to install but it will be hard wired. Maybe there would be a cheaper model I could buy just for the generator with the appropriate plug to the generator?

For Firn: My Lightning did not come with the Ford mobile cord, I bought an aftermarket 120 only. I can see that the 240 side of the Ford cable would work.

Thanks for the input.

Good deal.

Worth mentioning that the Lightning will not accept a charge over 12a if running on 120v, regardless of what charger is used. 120v charging is about 2 miles of range per hour of charging.

If you want to come close to using near the generators total output you will need to jump to 240. Once you do that there are other options where you can match the charger to the max sustained output of the generator.

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