Products

Charge up in style

E:Can is the answer to all your in-car charging needs

Auto Express Car Reviews

07th April 2007

From the minute you open the box, you know a lot of thought has gone into the E:Can inverter to make it a top choice for drivers who need a top-quality, in-car charging device.

Just look at the shape. Gone are rivals’ boxy designs, and in their place is something that slips securely into a cup-holder. Then check out what it can do. It powers not only a laptop or a phone charger through the 230V socket, but also kit which uses a USB plug, such as an MP3 player.

The E: Can works a treat as well. We tried it in several cars, and liked the adjustable cigar lighter plug which can be altered to ensure a snug fit.

Our only real gripe was the stiff, relatively short coiled power lead, which made routing from socket to cup-holder a pain on some vehicles.

When the unit is plugged in, a green light indicates you have power – and the great thing is you can charge two electronic gadgets at the same time. We connected an iPod and laptop side-by-side, plus used the E: Can for a mobile phone and digital camera. It coped without a problem.

While charging there’s the constant whirr of a fan to keep the inverter cool, and there’s also a cut-out if your car battery drops below 10 volts.

If you use your vehicle as a mobile office or electronic games arcade, then this is a must.

Ring E:Can in-car charger, price: £24.99 Rating: 4/5, buy from: 0113 213 2000, www.ringautomotive.co.uk