Portable Power Stations

Portable Power Stations – an Overview

Portable power stations perform a similar function to portable generators to the extent that they both provide you with a means of access to electric power, either on the move or when for whatever reason access to the grid has become unavailable.

UPDATE: Though nothing is yet certain as of 24 September 2021, it looks like there is an attempt to try to introduce a bill in California that would ban machinery using small engines, and that includes gas-powered portable generators. If signed into law by Governor Newson, the ban on these generators could come into effect from 1 January 2024. The reason for the ban is that this type of machinery emits more pollution than cars, and that consumers should move more towards units such as portable power stations.

FOX26NEWS has more information on this topic.

FURTHER UPDATE: Since the above news California regulators voted on 9 December 2021 to ban the sale of new gas-powered leaf blowers and lawn mowers starting in 2024 and portable generators by 2028. This follows Governor Newson’s signature of legislation the previous October aimed at achieving a carbon-free economy in California.

How do portable power stations differ from portable generators?

Portable power stations use rechargeable (lithium) batteries in which they store electrical energy as a result of charging, for example from a wall outlet or with the aid of solar panels. A portable generator, on the other hand, uses an engine powered by gasoline, propane and sometimes diesel to generate and output electrical energy on the fly, and continues to do so as long as the engine is running and fuel is available.

There are of course other differences: power stations are very limited in what they can power when compared to a portable generator; watt for watt they are more expensive than portable generators; they are to all intents and purposes silent; they can lay much more claim to the definition of “portable”; and they can be safely used indoors because they do not produce dangerous carbon monoxide gases that portable generators emit while running.

What are the pros and cons of portable power stations?

First let us look at the negatives of a portable generator.

Quite a lot of people who live in areas prone to blackouts and who need a reserve source of electrical power find it difficult to handle portable generators, sometimes because of their size and weight, and other times because they may be hard to get going. They may also be worried about the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and of storing fuels, as well as the legal requirements for doing so safely.

Those who live in apartments will generally not be able to own and use a portable generator, not only because of the risks of fire but also because of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Reasons why you should buy a portable power station

On the other hand, portable power stations are small and take up little space for storage. They are basically maintenance-free, deliver clean power, and are relatively light so moving them around is easy. And they are virtually silent with perhaps just a cooling fan being the only audible sound.

These positive aspects may mean that portable power stations are a more appropriate option for some people who need to ensure they have some means to access backup power during times of emergency or power outages, even though it may be relatively limited.

Where power stations shine most though is in the field of recreation such as hiking and camping owing to their reduced size and weight. This is further enhanced by their ability to be recharged by your vehicle or by solar panels when out on the road. Solar panels offer the prospect of unlimited power providing the weather permits. Some models allow the addition of extra batteries to extend their use.

Among their less positive points are that the more “powerful” models can be quite heavy and are very expensive. They need to be kept charged and last for only a limited duration as the batteries discharge according to what is connected. However, this can be partially offset by using one or more solar panels which will extend the available time.

Power stations can’t compare with portable generators

Where portable power stations cannot compete with portable generators is in their power outputs. While some of the bigger ones have a peak (surge) power of over 4000 watts, their continuous (running) power output will rarely be above 2000 watts. That said, for some people who for one reason or another are unable to use a portable generator, it may be the only viable alternative to having at least some electrical power on hand when the grid is down. Furthermore, there is evidence to strongly suggest that most people change their normal behavior when faced with an emergency and prioritize their use of equipment to essential needs only, meaning that power needs are much less.

For those wondering whether they can take their portable power stations on a plane, the answer is most likely to be no because they contain lithium batteries far in excess of those in your phone or laptop.  If you want to learn more about this subject, the passage of lithium batteries is governed in the US by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), about which you can read here.

Portable power station technology – clean energy

Portable power stations rely on lithium batteries and a technology (MMPT or PWM) that uses a mix of software and electronic hardware to maximize the use of energy. Some of these batteries are based on lithium-ion technology, which has an advantage of being energy dense, and others LiFePO4.

LiFePO4 is just another type of lithium-ion, but because of its chemical composition it has a lower energy density. The term energy density is the technical term which refers to the amount of energy that can be stored in a given space.

However, while it may be less energy dense, LiFePO4 has an advantage in that it is made from lithium iron phosphate which is acknowledged to be much safer than lithium-ion. Lithium-ion came more to the public’s attention, and gained notoriety, as a result of the exploding batteries in the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphone, mentioned in this article from 2016.

Batteries containing LiFePO4 technology also has a greater life cycle in terms of the number of times they can be charged (one life cycle is being charged to 100% and discharged to 0%).

Who makes portable power stations and where are they made?

There is a multitude of brands on the market today, but not many of them seem to be involved in the actual manufacture of portable power stations. As is the case with portable generators, it’s not easy to discover where the various brands emanate from. Some may be assembled in the US from imported parts, but it looks like a lot of the models are in fact made in Asia and particularly China.

To take just one example, EcoFlow, which distributes some high-end power stations, appears to have its models made by Shenzen Ecofow Technology of China. Other than that, the relationship is unclear. For example, although the Chinese company doesn’t appear to have a website, company information on the web rather oddly doesn’t list the US as one of its markets. Another extremely popular brand, Jackery, also appears to have its power stations made in China, as is the case of the successful start-up Bluetti.

Energy storage technology

Although the energy capture and storage technology is in its relative infancy, there are strong signals that it will play an increasingly important role in the future of electrical energy distribution up to and including towns and cities. As of now, Tesla and other big names are investing huge amounts in new technologies because they know the payoff will be enormous for whoever is the first to develop the best and most commercially viable product. It is an exciting technology with far reaching implications, though many announced breakthroughs have so far failed to make it into production. Having said that, it’s only a matter of time before we see startling progress. In the meantime, lithium will remain the king for most purposes.

We have written a bit more about the subject of energy capture here if you are interested.

some of the best portable power stations

There is little doubt that portable power stations will have a growing place in the market as weather patterns change and utility companies run into difficulties in maintaining a fail-safe grid, as is the case in the US. Although they can only discharge limited power, the fact that you can use solar energy to recharge them does mean that they can be truly independent sources of energy for a whole range of uses.

Furthermore, the technology will advance as they grow in popularity due largely to state legislation banning the use of gas-powered portable generators owing to their impact on the environment, and where California is leading the way.