Most vehicles have a flurry of USB sockets or 12V cigarette lighters dotted around the cabin that allow you to charge a mobile device. In some cases, however, these ports might be occupied by another device or in some cases, be entirely absent at the rear of the cabin.
Power banks are, in most cases, portable battery packs that can be taken with you on-the-go; you can place one within the centre console, glove or door departments or even in a bag all while providing some extra juice to your phone. These portable battery packs will not only deliver power to a smartphone but also to any device that accepts a USB input: Bluetooth speakers, cameras, laptops and even portable games consoles like the Nintendo Switch.
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There are countless options on the market to choose from, but which one should you choose? At TotallyEV, we’ve condensed a comprehensive list of our favourites, so that you can make an informed purchasing decision without having to spend hours on research.
To help us provide you with free impartial advice, the links below will point toward your localised Amazon store. As Amazon Affiliates we earn commission from qualifying purchases. No company has paid to be included in our editorially-led roundup, where products are also listed in no particular order.
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1Best large capacity power bank: Iniu BI-B5
The Iniu BI-B5 features a Type-C and two USB Type-A outputs, where its 20,000 mAh battery can simultaneously charge three devices numerous times. Given the sheer capacity, it’ll take over 6 hours to charge to full using a 20W wall adapter. It’s a chunky device, where it weighs 355g and measures 13.5 x 7.1 x 2.5cm. This should be your go-to option if you’re not looking to take a power bank out of the vehicle or you’re happy to carry around some extra weight in your bag.
Buy the Iniu BI-B5 from Amazon
2Best slim power bank: Anker PowerCore Slim 10000
If, on the other hand, you want a power bank that you can take in and out of the vehicle with ease, you should consider the PowerCore Slim 10000, which nets a weight of just 212.6g and measures 14.9 x 6.8 x 1.4cm. Anker’s device features a single USB Type-A output and can be recharged in 5.5 hours using a 10W charger.
Buy the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 from Amazon
3Best power bank with wireless charging: Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless
Looking to wireless charge your phone or earbuds at home and have a power bank to take with you in the car? Then, the PowerCore III 10K Wireless is a handy accessory. At the top of the 10,000 mAh battery pack sits a circular Qi wireless charging pad, which outputs up to 10W of power. Opt for its wired Type-A or Type-C output and it’ll deliver up to 18W of power, instead. In comparison to the equivalent PowerCore Slim 10000, it’s chunkier as it needs to accommodate the wireless charging module. Indeed, it weighs 241g and measures 14.95 x 6.85 x 1.95cm.
Buy the Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless from Amazon
4Best small power bank: Poweradd
The Poweradd is an ultra-portable power bank that can fit in your pocket or within a car’s cupholder with ease. Measuring just 10.5 x 2.9 x 2.7 cm and weighing in at just 99g, its 5,000 mAh capacity will provide a phone with up to two full charges via its single USB Type-A output.
5Best power bank for camping: Beaudens B1502
Those of us who use our vehicles to go camping will want a power bank that can last an entire weekend. The Beaudens B1502 is a hefty 2.2kg unit, that measures 17.2 x 15 x 8cm; that’s because it houses a whopping 52,000 mAh (166 Wh). It has a multitude of outputs: AC 230V (150W), two DC 12V/10A (100W), two auto Type-A 5V/2.4A (12W each) and a single QC 3.0 Type-A 5V-12V (18W). As for inputs, it can be charged via the bundled AC Adapter or even via a portable solar panel – it’ll take up to 5 hours to charge to full using a wall outlet. While it’s not quite portable nor will fit in a glove compartment, it’s something you can chuck in the boot and have ready for when you go camping.
