Not got a charging point at home? Need to park on the street? A new company has developed a portable charging pack which can add around 20 miles of range to an average electric car. 

The pack works in the same way as a power bank for a mobile phone, except on a bigger scale. The packs, which have a capacity of 4 to 8kWh, compared to the 50kWh capacity of an average electric car like a Vauxhall Corsa-e, can be recharged at a plug in your home while you are out and then wheeled to the car when you return.

The ZipCharge Go is the size of a compact wheeled suitcase, is weather proof and has retractable handle to help moving it around. The charging port locks the cable to prevent theft. It also has a built-in phone chip to provide tracking and data updates. The front cover can also be personalised in a range of different colours and finishes, to match the exterior of your car. 

As you might expect, the ZipCharge is not cheap. They will be available to purchase outright or on subscription, with monthly costs from £49. If you prefer to buy outright, the company says the Go will comparable in cost to a fully installed home charge point. 

The first chargers are expected to be delivered in the autumn of 2022.