Electric Car Accessory: worth buying Mophie Powerstation Go Rugged with Air Compressor?

The Mophie Powerstation Go Rugged with Air Compressor is a very interesting gadget that I’ve tested out recently with some of my EV media loan review cars to decide whether it is a must have electric car accessory, especially if your EV 12V battery gets drained by frequent remote control app/bluetooth use while parked.

Unboxing

In the box you’ll find:

• Powerstation weighing 1.15kg (24.1cm x 11.8cm x 4.7cm dimensions)
• Quick-start guide,
• Power Adaptor (5V 2amp = 10W) and USB-C Charging Cable
• Carrying Pouch
• Jumper Cables
• Air compressor nozzle adjustments

The key features are:

• 55,500mWh/15,000mAH portable battery bank with built-in wrap around inflation cable, 2 x USB-A 5V 2.4amp output ports, 1 x USB-C 5V 2amp input port
• Air compressor adjustable up to 100 PSI
• Jump Starter cables (up to 12V 600 amp)
• Emergency flood light (white or red torch)
• Emergency flashing light roadside (red)
• Soft carry bag with printed instructions on it to use the jump starter and air compressor

Strengths

• Handy to have 1 compact tool that can act as a floodlight, emergency light, jump starter, tyre inflator and battery bank
• Air compressor functionality is really handy and easy to use right where you’re parked eg: while recharging your EV or the night before a big road trip, saving time spent driving to use a petrol station tire inflator,
• Jump start your EV 12V battery if you’ve left it unused for a long time, the 12V battery is old or if it has been unintentionally run down by the frequent use of your car remote control and monitoring app,
• Light up your boot space or tyre while you inflate it at night or warn traffic with the emergency flashing light that your car is pulled over with problems. One press white, second press red and third press is flashing red,
• Charge 2 phones slowly overnight several times eg: during a camping trip

Weaknesses

• If it fails you don’t have a floodlight, emergency light, jump starter, tyre inflator and battery bank
• While it can be used to recharge USB devices like smartphones or a tablet, this won’t happen very fast as the charge rate via USB-A ports is only 12 watts.
• Check with your airline to see if a battery of this capacity is allowed to be transported in carry-on luggage, it may be too large
• If you use it regularly you need to make sure you recharge the unit often so it is ready for when you need it

Optimal Tyre Inflation Tips

Budget Direct advises:

“It’s important to remember that your car’s specific tyre pressure always refers to a cold tyre; you should always check pressures when tyres are cold. Tyres are considered cold if they have been parked for at least 3 hours or have only been driven a short distance at slow to moderate speeds”.

“The best time you can check your tyre pressure is in the morning as even the heat of the day and direct and prolonged sunlight can heat tyres”.

NRMA advises:

“Checking your tyre pressure regularly is easy and helps keep your car running smoothly. It’s best to check them every week or two”.

“The correct pressures for your car tyres  often different for the front and rear tyres – are usually found on a label inside one of the front door openings. You can also find them in the owner’s manual”.

“It’s handy to have your own tyre pressure gauge as the fuel station ones aren’t always accurate”.

“It’s best to check your check your tyres when they’re cold or haven’t been driven on”.

If you do it correctly your tire pressure should increase by about 4 psi (normal car) or 6 psi (4WD) above the cold pressure after half an hour of driving first thing in the morning.

Should you buy the Mophie Powerstation Go Rugged with Air Compressor?

The retail price is between $220-$280 depending on where you buy it.

For half that price you could get just a portable jump starter. Add another $60 for a basic USB portable air compressor. Add another $100 for a white and red capable torch and small powerbank.

So the Mophie Powerstation Go Rugged with Air Compressor isn’t overpriced and judging by the long term reviews on sites where people have owned it for a while it should be reliable.

If driving off road or to remote areas out of range of road side assistance I’d say get the different functions as separate gadgets just to be safe and have peace of mind.

However for the majority of other drivers I definitely think it’s a great handy multi-tool that will come in handy for your own electric car and also potentially to help out a neighbour, family member, another traveller during a road trip etc.

Personally I wouldn’t use it as a battery bank and would keep it charged up ready to inflate tires or use the light.