Owning an electric vehicle can be great, but charging it is not always convenient. That is especially true for folks who do not have a garage or a dedicated charging station at home. Apartment dwellers, condo owners, and people who rely on street parking often have to depend on public chargers, which can be hit or miss.
Now MSI is expanding its EV charging offerings with something a bit different. The company, which most people associate with gaming laptops and PC hardware, has launched the EZgo portable EV charger in the United States. The device is now available starting at $349.
Instead of being permanently installed like many home chargers, the EZgo is designed to travel with you. It plugs directly into common household outlets, making it useful in places where a traditional wall mounted charging station simply is not an option. Think apartments, offices, hotels, or even charging while visiting friends.
The charger supports both Level 1 and Level 2 charging depending on the outlet you use. With a standard 120V NEMA 5-15 outlet, it provides about 1.4kW of charging power. Plug it into a NEMA 14-50 outlet and it can deliver up to 9.6kW at 40 amps, which is full Level 2 charging speed. MSI includes both power cords in the box, which is a nice touch.
Switching between the cables is handled through a quick swap connector system that is rated IP66 for water and dust resistance. The EV charging cable measures 25 feet, while the power cord stretches another 12 feet. In total, the system provides about 27 feet of reach, which should help in situations where the outlet is not exactly next to the vehicle.
Buyers can choose between J1772 and NACS connector versions, covering essentially every EV sold in the United States. That means it should work with most modern electric vehicles without any adapters.
Safety is clearly something MSI wanted to emphasize. The EZgo carries several certifications including UL 2594 for charger safety and UL 2231 for shock protection. The cable itself is rated for 600V and high temperature operation, and the housing is built to handle tough conditions with an IP66 rating.
MSI even says the unit passed a two ton drive over test, meaning it can survive being run over by something as heavy as an SUV. Inside the plug is a thermal sensor that detects heat buildup and shuts off power before anything dangerous happens. Additional protections guard against over voltage, under voltage, overload, overheating, ground faults, and DC leakage.
One thing that stood out to me is the built in display. Portable chargers do not usually have screens, but the EZgo includes a 1.8 inch LCD that shows voltage, current, temperature, charging status, and error codes. There are also two physical buttons that allow you to adjust the charging amps or schedule charging without needing to open an app.
That said, there is still a mobile app for people who want more control. Using Bluetooth, the charger connects to the aConnect app on iOS and Android. Through the app you can start or stop charging, set schedules for off peak electricity rates, track energy usage, and estimate how much a charging session costs. MSI also says multiple users can connect without complicated pairing restrictions, which could be handy for families or shared chargers.
The EZgo ships as a complete kit. Inside the box you get both power cords, a wall mount holder, a metal cable hook for storage, installation hardware, and a carry bag designed to keep everything organized in the trunk or frunk.
I will say this too. When I first read about this charger, one vehicle immediately came to mind: the upcoming Slate electric pickup truck. That truck is being marketed as a simple, affordable EV that many people will probably park outside rather than inside a garage. For owners like that, a portable Level 2 charger like the EZgo could actually make a lot of sense.
Instead of installing a permanent charger, you could simply plug in wherever a suitable outlet exists. For people living in apartments or renting homes, that flexibility might be a bigger deal than it sounds.
MSI backs the charger with a two year warranty and US based service support. At $349, the EZgo lands in a competitive spot in the portable EV charger market. It is still a little surprising to see a gaming hardware company being so active in this space, but if the hardware holds up, this could end up being a pretty practical accessory for EV owners who need charging flexibility.
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