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Level 1 and 2

The best dual-voltage portable EV chargers

One charger that works from a normal household outlet and from a 240-volt one. If you rent, travel, or do not yet have a 240-volt outlet of your own, it is the most flexible thing you can keep in the trunk.

By Sawyer V. · Published September 10, 2026

A portable EV charger and cable stored in a car trunk organizer
Illustrative photo.

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The car probably came with a Level 1 cable, and plenty of households never need more. A dual-voltage portable earns its place when you move between places -- a rental, a relative's garage, a campground -- and want Level 2 speed whenever a 240-volt outlet turns up, without carrying two chargers.

Dual-voltage picks

Ranked for a first home charger. Every row jumps to the full write-up below.

#ProductBest forMax outputPrice
1Lectron Portable Level 1 & 2 Tesla NACS EV ChargerLevel 1 and Level 2 in one. NACS.Level 1 and Level 2 in one40 A9.6 kWCheck price on Amazon#ad how we are funded
2J+ Booster 2The best portable overall. J1772, 25 ft cable.The best portable overall40 A9.6 kWCheck price on Amazon#ad how we are funded
3Lectron portable Level 2 chargerTravel and rentals. J1772, 21 ft cable.Travel and rentals32 A7.7 kWCheck price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

The two speeds

What each outlet gives you

Standard 120 V outlet at 12 A: 1.44 kW, about 5 miles of range per hour at 3.5 mi/kWh

NEMA 14-50 at 40 A: 9.6 kW, about 34 miles per hour

At 32 A on the same outlet: 7.7 kW, about 27 miles per hour

Check your own efficiency on the trip computer

Plugs and adapters

What each one plugs into
PortableConnectorPlugs in the boxAlso available
Lectron Level 1 & 2NACSNEMA 5-15 and 14-50--
J+ Booster 2J1772NEMA 14-50 and 5-15 adapters5-20, 6-15, 6-20, 6-50 and TT-30 adapters
Lectron portableJ1772NEMA 14-50, with a standard-outlet adapter--
From each manufacturer's published pages. Identify an unfamiliar outlet before plugging in -- the outlet field guide.

Which one

  • A Tesla-only household: the Lectron Level 1 & 2, with its NACS connector and both plugs built in. Portables for a Tesla.
  • A J1772 car, or the widest range of outlets: the J+ Booster 2, for its 40 A ceiling and the adapter range.
  • Budget and a published listing: the Lectron J1772 portable, if 32 A is enough.

The portables in detail

Three dual-voltage portables, each with the case against it.

1. Level 1 and Level 2 in one

Lectron Portable Level 1 & 2 Tesla NACS EV Charger

Lectron · NACS · 40 A / 9.6 kW

One NACS portable for a standard outlet and a 14-50: 8 to 12 A on 120 V, 16 to 40 A on 240 V, with switchable plugs. The most flexible single unit for a Tesla on the move.

What is good

  • Runs from a standard outlet and a 14-50 with the same unit
  • Adjustable current, so it can be turned down for a weaker circuit
  • Published UL 2594 / UL 2231 certification

What is not

  • NACS only -- a J1772 car needs an adapter
  • On 120 V it is still Level 1: about 5 miles of range per hour at best
  • Cable length is not stated on the product page we could read
Published specifications for the Lectron Portable Level 1 & 2 Tesla NACS EV Charger
Level 1 (120 V)8 to 12 A / 0.96 to 1.44 kW
Level 2 (240 V)16 to 40 A / 3.84 to 9.6 kW
ConnectorNACS (Tesla)
PlugsSwitchable NEMA 5-15 and NEMA 14-50
CertificationUL 2594 / UL 2231, per Lectron

Skip this if: Skip it if a non-Tesla might use it -- it is NACS only -- or if you will only ever charge on 240 V.

Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: Lectron. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.

Check price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

2. The best portable overall

J+ Booster 2

J+ Americas · J1772 · 40 A / 9.6 kW · 25 ft cable

A 40 A portable in a military-grade aluminum body, ETL certified to UL standards and IP67 rated, weighing 2.2 lb without cables. The portable that behaves like a wall unit.

What is good

  • 40 A, matching many wall-mounted units
  • Eight amperage settings from 6 A to 40 A, so it fits almost any outlet
  • Adapters for a wide range of outlets, including NEMA TT-30 for campgrounds
  • IP67 and drive-over resistant, which portables usually are not
  • 2.2 lb without cables, so it genuinely travels

What is not

  • Costs more than most portables, and more than some wall units
  • Every extra outlet adapter is a separate purchase
  • Still a portable, so it is not rated for permanent outdoor mounting
Published specifications for the J+ Booster 2
Maximum output40 A / 9.6 kW at 240 V
Adjustable6, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 32 or 40 A
Power range1.4 kW to 9.6 kW
ConnectorSAE J1772
Cable21 ft or 25 ft, depending on version
Adapters includedNEMA 14-50 and 5-15
Further adapters available5-20, 6-15, 6-20, 6-50, TT-30
Weight2.2 lb without cables; 7 lb with cables and adapters
BodyMilitary-grade aluminum, drive-over resistant to 6,600 lb wheel loads
RatingIP67 waterproof and dustproof
CertificationETL certified to UL standards

Skip this if: Skip it if you only ever charge in one place. A hardwired wall unit is cheaper for a fixed installation.

Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: J+ Americas. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.

Check price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

3. Travel and rentals

Lectron portable Level 2 charger

Lectron · J1772 · 32 A / 7.7 kW · 21 ft cable

A plug-in portable that runs at Level 2 speed from a NEMA 14-50 and drops to a standard wall outlet with the included adapter. The travel unit, not the garage unit.

What is good

  • Level 2 speed from a NEMA 14-50 without an installed charger
  • Falls back to a standard household outlet with the adapter
  • Small enough to keep in the trunk

What is not

  • 32 A ceiling, meaningfully slower than a 48 A wall unit
  • Not weather-rated for permanent outdoor mounting
  • Repeated plugging and unplugging wears a NEMA 14-50 receptacle faster than a hardwired unit
Published specifications for the Lectron portable Level 2 charger
Maximum output32 A / 7.7 kW at 240 V
ConnectorSAE J1772
PlugNEMA 14-50, with an adapter for a standard outlet
UsePortable. Lives in the car, not on the wall

Skip this if: Skip it if this is your only charger and you have a garage. A wall unit is faster and does not live in your trunk.

Specifications above are the manufacturer’s published figures. Source: Lectron. We have not tested this unit — see how we pick.

Check price on Amazon#ad how we are funded

FAQ

Questions people actually ask

What is a dual-voltage EV charger?
A portable charger that works from both a standard 120 V household outlet (Level 1) and a 240 V outlet such as a NEMA 14-50 (Level 2), usually by swapping plugs or adapters.
What is the best dual-voltage portable EV charger?
For a Tesla, Lectron's Level 1 & 2 NACS unit, with NEMA 5-15 and 14-50 plugs. For a J1772 car or the widest range of outlets, the J+ Booster 2, which includes 14-50 and 5-15 adapters and offers more.
How fast does a portable charger charge on 120 V?
About 1.44 kW at 12 A, roughly 5 miles of range per hour. On a 240 V NEMA 14-50 at 40 A it is 9.6 kW, roughly 34 miles per hour.

Sources

Where these numbers come from

  1. Lectron Portable Level 1 & 2 Tesla NACS EV Charger, 120 V and 240 V, 8-40 A — LectronLevel 1 and Level 2 current ranges, NEMA 5-15 and 14-50 plugs, UL 2594 / UL 2231 certification. Fetched 2026-09-10.
  2. J+ Booster 2 Level 2 portable EV charger — J+ Booster
  3. Lectron Level 2 EV chargers — Lectron
  4. NEC Article 625: EV charging equipment — WireRefContinuous-load rule behind every circuit figure on this page.

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