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Can you recharge an electric car with a portable generator?

I’m thinking about taking my electric car on my next camping trip, but it’s going to be in a pretty remote area without access to electricity. Would I be able to charge my car with a portable generator?

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Allison Stone · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Whether you’re out on a camping trip or stuck in a power outage, portable generators can come in handy for an emergency when you need a charge. Overall, however, they’re not ideal for powering your electric car.
For starters, portable generators typically run on gasoline to generate electricity, and using one to charge your car would be even less fuel-efficient than just driving a standard combustion engine car.
If you were using a 4000w generator, for example, it would take you up to 24 hours to fully charge your car and would go through several tanks of gas in the process. You will not, however, need the car to be fully charged in order to safely drive to the nearest area with available electricity.
Additionally, In order to get a charge from a portable generator, you would need a high-quality generator with a stable energy output that is compatible with your car.
That being said, in an emergency situation with a car-compatible generator, it can be done
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