5 Essential Tools and Accessories for EV Owners

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Electric vehicles (EVs) are built differently than traditional gas and diesel vehicles. For starters, they have an electric motor and powertrain so they don’t need traditional oil. Some EVs, like Teslas do have a special oil but it’s for the gearbox rather than a conventional transmission. EVs also have specialized tires to make up for the heavier weight of the vehicle and near instant acceleration — and traction.

One thing to point out that you may or may not know, is that many electric vehicles don’t have a standardized OBD2 port. That’s because, initially, the OBD2 port was to check and test problems with emissions, and since EVs have no emissions, they use a proprietary connector instead, if they have one.

But while you cannot use your average OBD2 car scanner — which I wholeheartedly believe everyone should own still — and some other common tools, there are still some gadgets you should pack in the back of your EV.

1. A Charging Cable and Adapters

A little more obvious, but no less essential, you’ll want to make sure you always have a charging cable and the necessary adapters packed in your vehicle somewhere. If you keep a cable plugged into a charger at home, consider getting a spare to take with you. You simply cannot drive your car if the battery is dead, and while there are chargers all over the place these days, you never want to be left without the proper cable.

Depending on the make and model of your vehicle, it may use a special adapter for the charging plug, in which case you’ll want to make sure those are included, too. You may also want to carry a compatible extension cord that allows your charging cord to stretch further away. The latter isn’t really necessary but it can be good to have.

2. Portable and Rechargeable Air Pump

EVs may have special tires, but they’re still traditional tires, nonetheless and that means they need to stay inflated. And just like conventional vehicle tires, they can deflate over time, and not just because of a flat or damage. Cold weather and ambient temperatures, regular use, and simple age can all lead to leaking air. That’s why you should always carry both a portable air pump and a tire pressure tool — some pumps include one built-in.

First, you can use the tool or tools to check the pressure in your tires. When and if they’re low you can use the portable pump to fill them up. You can also look for a multi-tool. For example, there are some plug-in car vacuums to help clean out your car that also include tire inflation tech built-in. Talk about a money saver.

3. A Vehicle-to-Load Adapter

While not all EVs support the protocol, many include something called a V2L or vehicle-to-load feature that allows the vehicle’s massive battery pack to be used to power other devices, safely. Think of your car as a very, very big power bank or portable power station. It’s really helpful if you’re on a long road trip or off-grid and you need to power select devices, like a small refrigerator or cooking station, a laptop, coffee maker, and other gadgets — even power tools in your yard.

Now, obviously, you want to be careful not to run down the battery if you’re in the middle of nowhere. But to make it work you need a V2L adapter, most of the time. It depends on the vehicle. A Ford F-150 Lightning already has the appropriate plugs to power your gear, no adapter needed. Teslas, however, need a V2L adapter. If you’re not sure whether or not your EV model supports the technology, refer to the user manual or look the information up at the manufacturer’s website.

For reference, Tesla’s adapter is called a “Tesla Outlet Adapter” and it costs $80.

4. Charging Protection Accessories

An electric cord and adapter are generally durable enough, but it’s still not a good idea to expose those electronics to the elements. If you live somewhere cold, or hot, you may consider getting an EV charger plug cover which allows you to use the charging port while protecting it from things like rain, sleet, and snow. Amazon has a bunch of these available for around $17 or so.

Additionally, there are charging cable protectors to prevent damage from regular actions like driving over it or stepping on it or some variation of those events. Again, Amazon for the win here. You can find charging cord protectors for anywhere from $9 up to $20. They’re made of varying materials, as well, from hard plastics to rubber.

5. The Bare Necessities

Finally, some additional tools you might want to equip your car with or carry are the tools and gadgets you would put in any vehicle, gas or electric. That includes items like portable vacuum cleaners, squeegees and window cleaner, a jump-starter kit with cables — not necessarily for you — a dash camera, in-car organizers and storage and an electric car jack.

Personally, I never leave home without a portable power station and a packed solar panel. That allows me to charge mobile devices or get an extra power boost on the road without tapping into my vehicle’s battery.

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