Bluetti is a California-based company founded by Wonder Law and James Ray in 2019. They set out with a vision of creating minimalist portable power stations to ensure that power is there whenever and wherever you need it. Bluetti has also tried to stay true to a sustainable future through high-performance, all-in-one energy storage solutions for indoor and outdoor use. Bluetti contacted me and asked me to review their EB55 power station and the PV120 solar panel; here are my thoughts.
I love travelling, camping and adventuring in the great outdoors as much as possible. However, I also enjoy bringing home comforts with me when I travel (no matter how small), and I need to keep myself safe as I travel solo. Therefore, I was immediately intrigued when I got my hands on the Bluetti Portable Power Station. The station's portability and the fact that it can keep all of my devices charged off-grid, wherever my travels take me, was a game changer!
What are the Bluetti EB55 and PV120 Solar Panel?
Key Features:
700W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter, see link below (1,400W Surge)
537 Watt Hour Capacity
LiFePO4 Battery with 2,500+ Life Cycles before dropping to to 80% of its original capacity
11 Outputs For Multiple Devices (1 AC and 8 DC)
6 Ways to Recharge (AC/Solar/Car/Generator/AC+Solar/Dual AC)
200W Max. Solar Input
400W Max. Fast Dual Charging (Solar + AC Adapter Simultaneously)
Eco-friendly/Gas free/Quiet/Cost-effective
Monocrystalline Solar Cells With Up to 23.4% Efficiency
Foldable & Portable - Easy to set up
Durable and Water Resistant
Compatible With Most Solar Generators with MC4 Connectors
24-month Warranty
The Bluetti Power Station is ideal for van life because it is portable, not too big or heavy (bearing in mind the battery size), making it easy to take on trips without too much weight or space used up. You can plug the station into any wall socket and have instant charging. The station can also be charged up from the van battery when on the move. For the ultimate peace of mind, you can also get solar panels meaning that you can be out in the wilds and still be able to charge it up. The power station has 11 outputs to charge or use your devices, including USB, AC, and DC ports. The LiFePO4 Battery has 2,500+ Life Cycles to 80%. Compared to its main rivals, it is a longer-lasting battery with faster charging times.
Read about the Pure Sine Wave Invertor here from an independent source LINK.
The EB55 for Off-Grid Life
Living off the grid may not be for everyone, but with Bluetti's EB55 Portable Power Station, you can have all your home comforts. For my week in Scotland, I used it to charge my phone, smartwatch, satellite device, and laptop. I also used it to power my lighting in the van. Between stops, I would plug the station into the car charging port. This alone kept my station with enough battery all week to keep everything charged, and I knew I had the solar panel for backup if needed. However, I didn't use this as I didn't need to.
Pros and Cons
The power station has some very nice features, such as having 11 different outputs. Includes 5 USB outputs (4 x USB-A 5V/3A and 1 x USB-C, 100W), 2 x 220-240V AC outputs for devices like laptops or hair straighteners and 3 x DC outlets, including 1 x 12V/10A car outlet, which can be used for devices like cool boxes etc. Furthermore, it has a wireless charger on the top for phones, meaning no need for extra cables. Compared to its main rivals, it has a longer battery life and faster charging times.
The biggest downside of the Bluetti Power Station is that the battery percentage is only shown in 20% increments. This needs to be smaller increments as the difference is quite significant, and you could think you had 19% when you only have 1%. Furthermore, the power station weighs 7.5KG which is heavy, but as long as you have a fixed place for it, then it doesn't matter. When looking into it, the weight is due to the superior battery life. Therefore I would take this over a weaker battery andy day of the week.
Charging the EB55
It was clear from day one how important solar power would be for life in a van when parked in one spot for a few days. Furthermore, solar energy is far more environmentally friendly and cost-effective than connecting to the mains. However, in Scotland, I was travelling from one place to another with at least 2 hours of travel time, so I was being able to charge from the van battery. This was ideal, and I always had the power station at least 80% charged. To fully charge the unit from the mains takes around 4-5 hours.
Bluetti EB55 and PV120 - Thoughts and Conclusion
The Bluetti EB55 and the PV120 power station are a powerful combination for van life. It can hold enough power to charge your phone, run lights play music, and keep your laptop going. It's also compact, meaning it's easy to store away even in a small van like my Citroen Berlingo! The only downside is the battery increments and the weight. Still, considering the battery life, this should be positive. Suppose you're looking for a portable power station that can handle all your energy needs in a van. In that case, this could be an excellent option!
After returning from my weeklong van adventure, I have had time to reflect on the power unit and have realised the many more possibilities for the station. With the cost of living crisis and the possibility of blackouts over winter, the power station is comforting to me because my teenager will still be able to use his phone, and I will be able to watch movies, amongst other things.
I love this power station and cannot wait to use it again, where I will hopefully get to use the solar panels properly.
Click the link here to see the product for yourself HERE.
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