2023 Ford Everest build: Bluetti AC200L power station

Power stations, which are simply a lithium battery with a few charging inputs and different power outputs, are growing in popularity, with more and more recently appearing on the Aussie market.

Maybe it’s because they offer all the features of a vehicle’s comprehensive dual-battery system but with the bonus of being packaged in one relatively compact unit, as well as being portable for use away from the vehicle.

Bluetti is a Chinese manufacturer that offers a wide range of battery units including five dedicated portable power stations, of which the AC200L tested here is the flagship. The AC200L is a compact unit with a neat finish, but it’s heavy; it measures just 420mm x 366 x 280mm but weighs a hefty 28kg, so it’s a two-person lift if you don’t want to bust your boiler.

The major controls are situated on the front of the unit including the main power button and three separate power buttons for the DC, AC and USB outlets. An LED screen gives a clear indication of charge levels, outputs and inputs, along with hours remaining till flat. A 12-volt cigarette lighter outlet and a 48-volt DC outlet port, along with four AC outlets, completes the ensemble.

On the starboard side of the unit you’ll find the AC and DC input sockets, a battery expansion port, a circuit breaker to protect the unit, and a grounding connection for when required.

The unit comes with an AC charging cable, a DC input cable, a solar charging cable and a 12-volt car charging (cigarette plug) cable, along with an easily lost grounding screw. Apart from the 240-volt lead and the 12-volt lead, I found the other leads a little frustrating in that they had connections meant for such accessories as a dedicated Bluetti solar panel.

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If the unit was mine I’d be changing the leads to suit my equipment. There’s also a range of optional accessories including some expansion batteries that would add significantly to the power supply and how long the unit would last before requiring a recharge.

The unit is rated at 2400W AC output, and up to 3600W in ‘Power Lifting Mode’, which is when powering a purely resistive load. The internal battery capacity is 2048Wh, and this is expandable to more than 8000Wh with a couple of the aforementioned expansion batteries, but bear in mind these are expensive, and cost in excess of $2800 each.

There are six ways the power station can be charged including AC, solar, from your vehicle or separate generator, and even from a separate 12-volt lead acid battery. It’s claimed that the internal battery can be charged from zero to 80 per cent in 45 minutes from an AC input, while there is a 1200W maximum solar input. Of course, there is a smart controller and monitor with the Bluetti App via Bluetooth and WiFi.

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We initially charged the unit from an AC power supply and then connected my 80-litre fridge/freezer to it. The ambient temperature was pretty mild in the low to mid 20s, but the fridge ran hard initially to pull the temperature down to the desired minus four and plus four degrees I normally run the two separate compartments at. After three hours the temperatures of the compartments were near the desired levels and there was still 92 per cent of battery power remaining.

I cycled the unit for another 24 hours, and the Bluetti easily kept the fridge running at the set temperatures. At the end of the test the battery capacity was at 56 per cent. Of course, if the ambient temperature had been in the 30s, or I had gone to the fridge a few times to get a cold beer or to add more product that wasn’t already cool, the demands on the battery would have been greater.
I also ran the fridge from the 12-volt DC socket with no issues but in the process I discovered you needed to switch the AC power button off before power will be supplied to the DC side of the unit.

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The related charging cables are included in the AC200L package, allowing for direct connection to solar panels or 12V supplies. Unfortunately, the powers that be wanted the unit back quickly, so we couldn’t test it over a longer period of time to see how it would stand up to harsh conditions, vibrations and corrugations.

Still, from this brief sample, I was impressed with the Bluetti. For somebody who can’t warrant a dedicated dual-battery system with multiple power outlets, including full sine-wave AC power, this unit would be a great substitute.

If you are mobile each day and have a solar panel or generator to help keep the unit charged for those times you are stationary and camped for a time, then this unit could fulfil your power requirements.

RRP: $2999 (cheaper if you shop around)
Warranty: Five years