The UK auto reviewer Planetauto put CTEK’s battery charger CS ONE to the test and was mightily impressed. 

Planetauto’s Ben Quirk took a box fresh CS ONE and put it through its paces against the apparently dead battery in a Mercedes Benz W124 from the end of the last millennium. 

In his YouTube review Ben says: “Now you’ve known for years and years that we’ve had challenges with batteries. The thing is, I have to keep throwing away batteries.” 

With the CS ONE, says Ben, those days are behind us.  

Describing the CS ONE as a “magic box”, Ben tells how CS ONE examines the battery and decides the best process to condition it and maintain it. He says: “I’m intrigued to see what it can resurrect.” 

He praises the “decent length cable” and the polarity-free clamps as “nice and pliable”, plus the whole unit as “plug and play”. 

Ben explores “unlocking the full potential” on CS ONE via the accompanying CTEK app on his smartphone, checking out the different options, additional functions and initiating the reconditioning program.  

He connects the CS ONE to the Mercedes W124’s battery, likes how the app immediately pairs with the CS ONE. It immediately starts using its APTO fully automatic adaptive charging technology: “It repairs batteries … that you think have depleted beyond reasonable use.” 

Ben uses the app to start the reconditioning program. Eight hours later and the Mecedes starts on the first turn of the key.  

But Ben wants to know if the battery really has been reconditioned. Will the car start again after a week sitting locked and unused? 

“Let’s see if it starts normally,” says Ben, one week later.  

It starts first time. “So, the conditioner works extremely well. That is one smart bit of kit. It really is.” 

CS ONE is the easiest charger you’ll ever use. Add in dedicated app control, to unlock additional features, and you’ve got the most advanced charger available today. Super simple. Super smart. Simply CS ONE. 

Watch the whole review  

More like this

Road trip ready: how to avoid a flat battery ruining your summer escape

There’s nothing quite like heading off in a motorhome during summer. Longer days, spontaneous stopovers, coastal roads, mountain campsites and evenings spent outdoors – it’s what motorhome life is all about. But summer adventures also place extra demand on your vehicle’s battery system. Fridges run constantly, lighting stays on later into the evening, phones and devices are always charging and many motorhomes sit unused between trips. 

Road trip ready: how to avoid a flat battery ruining your summer escape

Best portable chargers for travelling by car, camper or boat

For safe and enjoyable adventure travel by land or sea, preparation is key – pack a list of essential equipment to stay safe when on the move, including a portable battery charger that is multi-functional and robust such as CTEK’s CS FREE. 

Best portable chargers for travelling by car, camper or boat

Motorcycle Battery Voltage

One joy of motoring on two wheels is simply putting on your helmet and gloves, jumping on your motorcycle and hitting the open road. To make that happen your motorcycle has to be in good working order – and that includes the 12V battery usually hidden beneath the seat. 

Motorcycle Battery Voltage

Portable jump starters: how to choose the best one for your car

To choose the best portable jump starter for you and your vehicle, consider your engine size – larger vehicles with larger engines require a jump starter with higher power output. Compare the amperage and peak current of different models to find the right match. Safety features to protect against sparks, overloading and reverse polarity are also a plus, as is choosing a quality brand such as CTEK.

Portable jump starters: how to choose the best one for your car

Perific & CTEK: powering smarter EV charging together

The award-winning CHARGESTORM® CONNECTED 3 and 3i EV charge points are now compatible with Perific, the market-leading power management system for EV charging and heat systems.  

Perific & CTEK: powering smarter EV charging together

CTEK and Ruffian Cars Bring “Race-Bred Thinking” to Europe – Joint Debut at Ultrace Germany

Hanover, April 15, 2026 – CTEK, a global leader in battery charging solutions, is joining forces with U.S. custom car builder Ruffian Cars to showcase their offerings at Ultrace Germany, taking place April 25–26, 2026, at the Areal Böhler in Meerbusch. The spotlight will be on two extraordinary automotive icons, the Ruffian GT40 and the Ruffian Galaxie, as well as innovative CTEK charging solutions for high-performance applications.

CTEK and Ruffian Cars Bring “Race-Bred Thinking” to Europe – Joint Debut at Ultrace Germany