This move signals a growing trend among power station manufacturers to embrace DC-to-DC charging, allowing users to harness their vehicle's alternator for faster charging while on the move. The DJI Power 1kW charger, once installed, connects directly to a car's battery via a 5-meter fused cable, and then links to the DJI Power 1000 power station through a proprietary SDC port. It is also compatible with DJI's 2048Wh Power 2000 Expansion Batteries, enabling expanded energy storage capabilities. The device also has the capacity to reverse-charge a car’s battery to prevent it from draining.

At its maximum output, the charger can fully replenish the DJI Power 1000's 1024Wh battery in just over an hour of driving. However, the unit ships with a default output of 500W. Reaching the full 1000W requires an additional purchase of the $25 DJI Power Dongle, which is being included as a "free gift" for U.S. customers, along with an app-based setting adjustment.

This product launch from DJI follows recent releases of similar car chargers from competitors such as EcoFlow and Bluetti. While EcoFlow's 800W charger, like DJI’s, is tailored for its own battery ecosystem, Bluetti's 560W AC500 offers more universal charging options for various power stations. The effectiveness of all these car chargers depends largely on the vehicle's alternator capacity.