
Yes, the NOCO Boost Plus GB40 can charge a car battery, but it's important to understand its primary function and limitations. It is technically a jump starter with a built-in trickle charger (also known as a battery maintainer). This means it's designed for emergency starts and for slowly replenishing a battery's charge over many hours, not for rapid recharging like a dedicated battery charger.
For a completely dead battery, the GB40's primary job is to get your car started quickly. Its powerful lithium polymer cells deliver the high cranking amps needed to turn the engine over. Once the car is running, the vehicle's own alternator takes over to recharge the battery. However, if you have time and an AC outlet, you can use its 6-volt/12-volt trickle charge mode. This is a slow process, typically adding only 1-2 amps per hour, making it suitable for maintaining a charge or partially reviving a deeply discharged battery over a day or more.
When to Use the GB40 to Charge:
Limitations Compared to a Dedicated Charger:
| Feature | NOCO Boost Plus GB40 (Trickle Charge Mode) | Typical Dedicated Battery Charger |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Emergency Jump Starting | Battery Charging/Reconditioning |
| Charging Speed | ~1.5 Amps (Slow Trickle) | 2A to 50A+ (Variable Speeds) |
| Time to Charge a Dead 50Ah Battery | 30+ Hours (Estimate) | 5-25 Hours (Depending on Amp Setting) |
| Best Use Case | Maintenance, Partial Top-Ups | Fast, Full Recharges, Battery Recovery |
| Portability | High (Pocket-Sized) | Low to Medium (Often Bench-Top Units) |
In short, the GB40 is a fantastic emergency tool that can slowly charge a battery, but for frequent or fast charging needs, a dedicated battery charger is the more effective and appropriate tool.

Think of it like this: the GB40 is your emergency paratrooper, not your stationed army. Its main job is to jump in and start your car now. It can technically feed a little bit of charge back into a dead battery over many, many hours, but that's a last resort. If you need to actually recharge a battery properly and you're not in a panic, a real wall-powered battery charger is what you want. The GB40 is for getting you home; the charger is for fixing the problem.

I've used my GB40 for both. It saved me when my battery died at the grocery store. Later, I plugged it into the wall and left it connected to my motorcycle battery all winter. It kept the battery perfect until spring. So yes, it can charge, but it's super slow. It's more like a battery babysitter than a charger. It's fantastic for that "set it and forget it" maintenance, but if you need a quick fill-up, look elsewhere.


