Ultimate Reference

This article provides a summary of battery power stations from manufacturers like Goal Zero, EcoFlow, Jackery, and others. There have surprisingly been few resources available that compare them with one another. Please check here periodically as we update whenever a review is completed.

Emergency Power

Yosemite Winter Camping 2022

What are portable power stations and solar panels great for?

• Power outages
• Emergency preparation
• Recreation
• Off-grid living

Between natural disasters, power outages, working from home, and seeking to bring electronic conveniences (like CPAP medical machines) when out camping — electricity is an essential part of everyday life. As such, sales for gas generators, batteries, and solar panels had been seeing an uptick in demand.

Tip: We have written a range of reviews and articles about power stations, solar panels, car freezers, and more, to help you find the right gear for your adventures.

Gas/Propane Generators vs Battery Power Stations

In July 2020, I wrote about this topic after many asked what their differences were. In short, gas/propane generators can run virtually forever but are loud, dirty, and potentially quite dangerous. Battery power stations, on the other hand, are more portable, silent, less volatile, and can be operated indoors, but depend on external power (like solar) to recharge. Where gas/propane are used to GENERATE electricity, batteries STORE them for later use. Personally, I am a fan of the latter because they are so easy to carry around and are safer to use.

Table: Power Station Comparison

Where To Buy

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Other Useful Topics

Battery Technology and Safety

Goal Zero debuted with Lead-Acid batteries that were bulky and heavy. Today’s devices use Lithium-ion — commonly Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NCM) or Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 / LFP) chemistries — for more power in a smaller, lighter package. NMC, however, is more volatile than LiFePO4 and becomes riskier as more cells are packed together. Goal Zero and Jackery used NMC for some time whereas EcoFlow and Bluetti use LiFePO4. Jackery launched its first LiFePO4 model in mid-June 2023 and Goal Zero in October that year.

• How much energy a battery can store is measured in Wh (Watt-hours), and how much power is used or produced in W (Watts)
• The higher the Watt-hour (Wh) capacity rating, the more dangerous the battery could become if not handled right

The quality of the battery cells and the BMS (Battery Management System) are crucial for safety.

Cell Manufacturers

Portable car freezer powered by Goal Zero Yeti 500x

Battery cells made by LG and Sony are among the best in the hobbyist world as are Sanyo/Panasonic and Samsung. Goal Zero uses LG. Jackery also uses LG or BAK (a leading Chinese brand). EcoFlow makes its own. During my years of research, I found that use of lower-quality batteries could pose a serious risk to life and property and should become a crucial part in deciding what to buy.

Safety

The second part in a battery’s safe operation depends heavily on the design and BMS (Battery Management System). Some BMS manufacturers, unfortunately, overstate their capabilities that could lead to catastrophic failure.

• Design should allow for proper, thermal cooling, use quality components, and obtain proper certifications
• Batteries made by known manufacturers are less likely to fail
• BMS should sufficiently restrict the battery from going past its capabilities

Li-ion: LiFePO4 vs NMC

There had been a lot of debate over whether Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) or Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) was better. Both are Lithium-ion batteries. Goal Zero, Jackery, and most of today’s power station manufacturers use NMC, but why do EcoFlow and Bluetti use LiFePO4 when they are bulkier and heavier? There are important distinctions, but the best battery is the one that meets all or most of your unique needs.

Charge Cycles

One of the most significant differences — and buying factors — is the charge cycle count for both battery chemistries. It measures how long the battery can be used for before it must be replaced or thrown away. LiFePO4’s count is as high as 4,000 cycles (as of 2023) whereas NMC is 500+. However, both have a useful life that can range between 3,000 – 5,000 cycles (even as much as 7,000 with proper care). But how does the count determine longevity?

Delta Pro: Front, Internal, Back /EcoFlow

Let’s look at Li-ion NMC as an example. It loses about 20-25% of total capacity after every 500 charge cycle. That means after the first 500 cycles, the battery drops 20% from when it was new, then another 20% after the next 500 cycles, and 20% again after that one. It would take roughly 1,500 charging cycles to have the battery last only half as long as when it was brand-new. Thus, it should be usable for 2,000+ cycles or about 6-10 years. Li-ion LiFePO4 can last longer.

CAUTION: Lithium-ion (LiFePO4 and NMC) batteries do NOT like to remain discharged at 0% for prolonged periods of time. If you let your battery stay at 0% for too long, you may not be able to charge it again without specialized equipment. Keep them at between 20-80% while in storage to maximize their lifetime.

LiFePO4 Advantages

• Safer, less volatile, and thus cheaper to manufacture
• Higher charge cycle: 1500-2000 (10+ years). NMC: 500+ (6-10 years)
• Usable in more extreme temperatures (-4F/-20C to 176F/80C). NMC: only 140F/60C max
• Holds 350-day charge. NMC: 300

NMC Advantages

• Smaller and lighter. Allows for more portable products
• Faster charging