Bluetti: solar power stations for every occasion

The Chinese company Bluetti is established on the market with its power stations. This year again, several new models were presented, which expand the extensive portfolio. Thus, Bluetti ensures to provide a suitable product for every occasion and every target group. While the AC200P power station is intended for uncomplicated use on the road, the AC300 and AC500 can handle entire camping vacations. The EP500Pro, in turn, supplies an entire household with energy.

Powerstation AC200P as a companion for on the road

The Powerstation AC200P was introduced in Europe just in time for the travel season – which already makes it clear for which area of application it was designed. It is intended as a companion for on the road. With its memory of 2,000 Wh and a power output of 2,000 watts, it provides enough energy to charge common everyday devices several times. This means that the cell phone battery never runs low while traveling, and other important devices such as laptops, hot plates and coolers can be conveniently operated. Bluetti states camping and hiking trips, among others, as intended uses.

Suitable for short trips

However, this also makes it clear that the power station is not suitable for lifting heavier loads over a longer period of time. It can power a 70-watt cooler for 20 hours; but a demanding electric grill that requires 1,100 watts can only be powered for an hour and a half. Good planning is therefore essential: a day trip is easily possible with the AC200P, but for more, one of the more powerful power stations is recommended.

At the heart of the AC200P is a LiFePO4 battery. Bluetti thus uses the latest technology. LiFePO4 batteries are being used in more and more powerstations because they are more durable than other battery options available. The battery can be charged in several ways. The fastest way is via the mains. A 400 watt charging cable is available for this, with which the box can be fully charged in five and a half to six hours. The AC200P can also be charged via a solar panel. Optimally, a power of 700 watts is achieved and the box is fully charged in three and a half to four hours. In practice, however, this is unlikely since optimal sunlight is required, which will not be the case on most days. The charging process can be accelerated in any case by combining several charging options. It is possible to connect two solar panels as well as to combine solar and mains charging.

Robust for outdoor use

Since the Powerstation AC200P was designed for outdoor use, Bluetti has made it particularly robust. This is evident, for example, in the fact that it is protected against dust and splash water. Furthermore, it scores with an LCD display that shows the charging status and the expected remaining runtime on the go. The AC200P is also equipped with handles that allow it to be carried from place to place. However, this is by no means child’s play: The compact-looking box weighs 27.5 kilograms.

As already mentioned, it can be combined with solar panels. Bluetti offers the AC200P in a package with the PV200 solar panel. This panel operates with an efficiency of up to 23.4 percent and generates electricity from sunlight that is stored directly in the power station – and can then be retrieved. The PV200 panels are foldable and can therefore be used flexibly.

AC200P: Price and availability

The AC200P power station has been available for several weeks now, both as a stand-alone product and as a package with the PV200 solar panel. Currently, it is offered in a package with three panels at a reduced price of 1,799 euros (instead of 2,996 euros). As an individual product, it currently costs only 1,199 euros instead of 1,399 euros. Go here for the offer.

Powerstations AC300 and AC500: More capacity

In addition to the AC200P, which is an entry-level model, Bluetti offers other powerstations that are similarly designed, but some have significantly more capacity. The AC300 and AC500 models are visually very similar, as are the available functions. However, the AC500 is technically the more ambitious model: It not only has a higher capacity, but also a modular battery system that allows it to be equipped with several different batteries (6x B300S or 4x B300). This is not the case with the AC300. It can only be equipped with a maximum of four B300 batteries.

Designed for maximum solar yield

Designed for use with solar panels are the two powerful power stations. Bluetti thus promises not only a practical and flexible, but also and above all an environmentally friendly solution for power supply on longer trips. The AC300 takes up to 2,400 watts of charging input, which ensures that it can be fully charged in less than two and a half hours. The AC500 has a maximum input of 3,000 watts. The charging time here is a maximum of three hours. Both boxes can also be charged via the mains and dual via panel and mains. The maximum input for the latter option is 5,400 watts (AC300) or 8,000 watts (AC500). The duration of the charging process is thus significantly reduced.

Flexible capacities

In any case, the total capacity of the two power stations depends on how many batteries they are equipped with. Those using the maximum setup can access up to 12,288 Wh with the AC300, while the AC500 can offer up to 18,432 Wh. The minimum for both powerstations is 3,072 Wh. However, there is a difference in the output: The smaller AC300 manages 3,000 Watts here, while the AC500 even manages 5,000. This difference is significant in terms of performance. Thus, the AC500 can also supply several large devices with high power requirements simultaneously; the AC300 rather reaches its limits here.

The two batteries B300 and B300S that are used work with LiFePO4 cells, which – as already mentioned – are particularly durable. In this regard, Bluetti speaks of 3,500 charging cycles, which corresponds to years of use. It is also interesting to note that the batteries in both the AC300 and AC500 power stations have an integrated self-heating function, which ensures that they can be used even at extremely low temperatures.

Overall, the AC300 represents a sort of more budget-oriented version of the AC500 that covers most everyday use cases. The AC500 goes a step further and can also be used in more extreme situations – for example, at temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius or for operating numerous powerful loads. This means it can also be used profitably during shorter power outages.

AC300 and AC500: price and availability

The AC300 is currently offered at a reduced price in a variety of packages. With a B300 battery, it currently costs 2,999 instead of 3,399 euros. Besides that, it is offered together with a B300 battery and three PV200 panels for 3,999 instead of 5,495 euros. Also, who would like to buy additional batteries, profits from the current discount action with Bluetti: A B300 costs at present 2,099 instead of 2,299 euro. Offered are besides some further packages with other solar panels.

Powerstation EP500 Pro – the complete package

The EP500 Pro is one of the most powerful power stations in Bluetti’s portfolio. It is clearly different from the other three products presented, which can be seen from a distance: with a height of 76 centimeters at a depth of 50 centimeters, it is large. Its character is further emphasized by the wheels on which it rests. Due to its enormous weight of 76 kilograms, it can hardly be moved otherwise. However, not only its dimensions and weight differ significantly from those of the other products presented. Its field of application is also different. The EP500 Pro is designed to supply power to an entire household. It is supposed to be able to bridge blackouts over several days. In a way, it is a step towards self-sufficiency.

The EP500 Pro is also equipped with a LiFePO4 battery. This has a capacity of 5,100 Wh. The capacity can be expanded even further with the B230 and B300 add-on batteries. In order to really be able to handle the entire household, the EP500 Pro is equipped with 15 outputs, including five 120 volt ports are also four times USB-A, two wireless charging pads, twice USB-C and a 12 volt port. In addition, another handy feature is a UPS backup. This ensures that all important devices are seamlessly supplied in the event of a power failure.

The EP500 Pro can not only be charged via the mains, but also via a solar panel. With the latter option, complete energy self-sufficiency is theoretically possible – provided the weather is right. The power station is offered as a single product for 5,399 euros. In the package it can be purchased with different solar panels. Reduced is currently about the combined package with two PV350 modules. For this currently only 5,499 instead of 6,997 euros are called.