Mobile or Stationary Wallbox: Which One Do You Need?

Have you ever been struggling to make a choice between two products? It can be a real headache if the difference between them isn’t clear. We know it feels sometimes like that for EV drivers making a choice between a mobile and stationary wallbox. So if you are asking yourself what the benefits of each option are and which is the way to go for you, follow us to find out.

A stationary wallbox is installed in a fixed location, such as your garage. It is wired into your house mains supply and is meant for AC charging. 

A mobile wallbox, on the other hand, can be attached to the wall, but doesn’t have to be. You can take it off at any moment, put it in your car and go on a trip, being able to charge your vehicle as soon as you find an available socket. What socket? We’ll discuss it later. Right after it is plugged in, energy will start flowing into your vehicle’s battery unless you change the settings to a different mode. The wallbox is suitable for AC charging only. 

Mobile wallboxes, charging stations, smart charging cables… The number of terms is pretty overwhelming. And all you really want is to find a convenient way to charge your electric car. Is that too much to ask for? 

Let us explain it to you in a nutshell.  

Mobile wallbox and mobile charging station can mean the same thing. Meanwhile, a mobile wallbox can be just as advanced, and sometimes more so, than a stationary charging station. One such case is the go-e Charger Gemini flex. It is a mobile wallbox, but it has more smart features than basic and many other smart wallboxes and charging stations.

However, some manufacturers offering a simple charging cable with a small In-Cable Control Box (ICCB) in the middle, a type 2 cable on one side and a plug for a socket on the other side, call their devices a mobile wallbox. Technically, it might be correct. Even though they usually cannot be used in a wall mount like a stationary wallbox. However, such a cable often does not provide you with smart features such as surplus solar charging, charge scheduling or flexible energy tariffs. It also lacks the convenience of a charging station. It therefore does not generally enable sustainable and cost-efficient charging. Many ICCB cables focus on minimum standards like every charging station ensuring safety of the charging process. 

As you see, it’s vital to know the difference between all the terms before making the final purchase decision. 

Which wallbox is the right one for you depends on your charging behaviour and needs.

You can take a mobile wallbox with you when you are going to spend a weekend in the countryside or visit your friends for a couple of days. 

A mobile wallbox makes you always ready for the next adventure. Imagine you wake up on a Saturday morning and decide this weekend is perfect to spend on the countryside in your holiday house. As you pack your things planning to take off in the next hour, you realise that your car’s battery is low. But this doesn’t add a drop of worries to your thoughts. You simply unplug your mobile charger from the wall, put it in your car's trunk, and head out for a stress-free weekend, knowing you can charge your battery as soon as you arrive at your destination. That’s the comfort you receive when purchasing a mobile wallbox. 

As mentioned before, you can attach a mobile wallbox, like the go-e Charger Gemini flex, to the wall (e.g. in your garage) or take it with you in your electric car and go on a trip. You simply need a red CEE socket. 

Having a red CEE socket at your place is important for regular use of your mobile wallbox. Why is that? Simply because it can deliver energy at much higher speed (e.g. at 11 kW). 

Additionally, if you plan to take your mobile wallbox on a trip or to a holiday home, an adapter can be used to connect it to a camping plug or a household socket, providing you with flexible charging options.* The charging speed will be lower in these cases, but you will still be able to supply your vehicle with a certain amount of power to continue your journey.

* Electric vehicle charging adapters are not permitted for use in the United Kingdom and Switzerland in accordance with the national regulations.

A stationary wallbox is great for you if you are going to use it at one place only (e.g. at home or in the office).  

In addition, when using a mobile wallbox, it is important to have a CEE red socket available for regular use. If you don’t have one, a stationary wallbox such as the go-e Charger Gemini can be purchased as an alternative solution. However, it may be easier to install a red CEE socket. This way, you also get the advantage of flexibility.  

A stationary wallbox is a fixed solution for charging your electric car. It is going to stay on the wall permanently once it has been installed. You need an electrician to install the stationary wallbox as it should be wired into your home mains supply. 

Some stationary wallboxes come with an attached charging cable and some require you to buy one separately as they are equipped with a type 2 socket. We at go-e believe the second option provides you with more flexibility as you can choose the length and design of the cable yourself. In addition, you can use it to charge your electric car at public charging stations. 

When it comes to purchasing a wallbox for an electric vehicle, the cost may not differ much between a stationary and a mobile version from the same manufacturer. For instance, our go-e Charger Gemini and go-e Charger Gemini flex are priced the same, so choosing between a stationary and a mobile version is simply a matter of personal preference. 

However, it's worth noting that some manufacturers may charge a slightly higher cost for their mobile wallbox options, as they sometimes come with added features. 

Smart wallboxes (highly recommended) typically have a starting price of around 600 to 700 €. You can find more expensive options, but high price doesn’t always mean high quality. For example, our go-e Charger HOMEfix, the predecessor model of the go-e Charger Gemini flex, was identified in the ADAC test as the best and most affordable wallbox of 2022.