There is a gap between a slow 3-pin granny charger and a fully installed smart wallbox, and a commando charger fills it. Plug one into a 32A CEE socket and you get close to wallbox speed, up to 7.4kW, from a portable unit you can unplug and take with you. For a lot of people with a garage or a workshop socket, it is the cheapest route to genuinely useful home charging.
These are Mode 2 units, which means the safety kit lives in a control box on the cable rather than in a wall-mounted box. That makes them portable and flexible, but it also makes the quality of that control box the thing that matters most. We looked hardest at protection and adjustable current, then at cable length.
How We Picked
Every unit here charges at up to 7.4kW on a 32A supply, so raw speed did not separate them. Safety did. We wanted proper RCD protection, ideally AC and DC (6mA) fault detection, plus temperature monitoring, because you are pulling serious current through a portable lead. Not every unit here has the full set: the protection listed in each spec table is what that model claims, and you should confirm it on the listing for the exact variant you order. Adjustable current came next. Dialling down to 16A or lower reduces the load, but it is not a verdict on your wiring: if you are unsure the circuit is up to the job, get an electrician to check it before you charge from it for hours at a time. After that, practical stuff, cable length, an LCD readout, a delay timer, and an IP rating that survives a wet garage floor. Four units cleared the bar.
Our Top Picks
RamTouch Portable EV Charger, 7.4kW, 32A, 10m, IP67
The full package: 10m reach, IP67, a proper AC/DC RCD and current adjustable right down to 6A.
This is the one to buy if you want a commando charger and want to stop looking. It gives you the lot: a generous 10m cable, an IP67 control box that copes with a wet garage, nine adjustable current steps from 6A up to a full 32A, an LCD screen and a smart timer, plus the AC and DC RCD protection you want on a 32A lead.
For a home CEE socket it is our top pick without much argument.
✓ Pros
- 10m reach suits awkward driveways
- IP67, genuinely wet-rated
- Adjustable 6-32A in nine steps
- AC + DC RCD, LCD and timer
✗ Cons
- Dearer than the value picks
- 10m cable is heavy to coil
AFYEEV Portable EV Charger, 7.2kW, Adjustable 8-32A, 6m, IP65
Nearly all the capability for less, with a carry bag thrown in.
The AFYEEV covers the essentials for less: 7.2kW on a 32A socket, adjustable current from 8A up, IP65 protection, a delay timer and a carry bag. The cable is a shorter 6m and the rating a step down from the RamTouch's IP67, but for a garage socket close to where you park, none of that matters much.
It is the value pick. If your CEE socket is close to where you park, the shorter lead is no loss, and this does the same job as the RamTouch.
✓ Pros
- Adjustable current and delay timer
- Carry bag included
✗ Cons
- Shorter 6m cable
- IP65 rather than IP67
WAI EVCUK232WC Type 2 to 32A Commando, 7.4kW, 5m
A simple, no-nonsense lead from an established UK electrical supplier.
WAI is a known name in UK electrical wholesale, and this is a straightforward 7.4kW, 32A lead in a tidy 5m length. There is less flash here, no big LCD or nine current steps, but it is a solid, simple unit from a brand your electrician will recognise.
Buy it if you value a recognised supplier and a short, manageable cable over adjustable-everything features. You get fewer features than the RamTouch, and that is the trade for the name.
✓ Pros
- Established UK electrical brand
- Short, tidy 5m cable
- Simple and robust
✗ Cons
- Fewer features for the money
- 5m may be short for some driveways
Vorsprung CEE Portable EV Charger, up to 7.3kW
A CEE lead you can turn down to 10A for a weaker hook-up.
The Vorsprung's strength is the current setting. Plug into a 32A CEE socket for up to 7.3kW, or set it lower for a 16A campsite hook-up. There is no UK 3-pin plug or adaptor in the box, so it is a CEE-only lead.
It also appears in our granny charger guide. If you want the most features for a CEE socket, the RamTouch is the stronger buy. Pick the Vorsprung if you move between hook-ups and like to see the amps on a screen.
✓ Pros
- Screen shows amps, power and charging time
- Adjustable 10-32A
- Great for touring and hook-ups
✗ Cons
- No UK 3-pin plug or adaptor in the box
What to Look for in a Commando Charger
Match the plug to your socket
Commando sockets come in 16A and 32A, and in blue (single-phase 230V) and red (three-phase). For home use you almost always want a blue 32A single-phase plug. Check what you have, or what your electrician will fit, before you buy. A red plug is only any use if your home has a three-phase supply, and our guide to whether you need three-phase for an EV charger shows how to tell which supply you have.
Adjustable current is essential
Never assume a socket will take a full 32A. A good commando charger lets you set the draw to 32, 25, 20, 16, 13, 10 or even 6 amps. If your circuit is rated lower, dial the charger down to match. This one feature is what keeps the setup safe on older wiring.
RCD and temperature protection
Look for a control box with AC plus DC (Type A + 6mA) RCD protection and a plug temperature sensor. At 32A for hours, this is not optional. The units on this list have it; avoid no-name leads that stay quiet about their protection.
Get the socket installed properly
A CEE socket should be fitted by a qualified electrician on a suitably rated, RCD-protected circuit. It is a much smaller job than a full smart-charger install, but it is still electrical work. Do not run a commando charger off an adaptor from a 13A plug.
Weighing this against a fixed wallbox? A commando charger wins on portability and upfront cost; a proper wallbox wins on smart-tariff scheduling and daily convenience. See our best home chargers guide, and check whether you qualify for help in our grants guide.