Whether you’re a frequent RVer or live in your motorhome full time, you won’t have to feel powerless for long. Portable power stations let you store energy and power all your devices on the go, such as lights, laptops, cooking equipment, and refrigerators.
Keep your kids entertained on long RV road trips and fulfill all your electrical needs without worrying about power issues.
Here, we’ll cover the five best portable power stations (PPS) on the market for RVs in 2024. We also share tips on choosing the suitable unit for your energy needs.
5 Best Portable Power Stations for RVs
Anyone who has used a noisy fossil fuel generator running in the background knows these units are inconvenient. Gas generators are typically bulky and loud, and they emit toxic fumes.
Running your appliances without a noisy generator or on-grid power is like a dream. Portable power stations are more convenient when camping, road-tripping, or off-roading in your RV.
EcoFlow offers a wide selection of PPS units with sophisticated designs, carry handles, easy-to-use displays, low noise, and fast charging. X-stream technology makes EcoFlow’s power stations some of the fastest on the market. Consider these top 5 portable power stations for RVs.
1. EcoFlow DELTA Mini
The DELTA Mini is the lightest and one of the smallest stations from the EcoFlow brand. Despite its miniature size, the DELTA Mini is robust, delivering 882Wh capacity.
The station can use EcoFlow’s patented X-Boost technology to power tools rated up to 1800W. It can handle 90% of electronics, such as hairdryers, table saws, and toaster ovens.
Fortunately, the DELTA mini can power up to 12 devices simultaneously. Keeping your devices powered at once saves you the hassle of worrying about whether your devices have a full charge before you head out from the campgrounds. It’s a small and mighty solution perfect for casual RVers that may need a simple solution to power their smaller appliances and devices.
2. EcoFlow DELTA
You’ll never have to choose between the television and the refrigerator with the DELTA. With 1260Wh in battery capacity, it can run your refrigerator for six hours, TV for 13 hours, or keep your lights on for 30 hours.
Recharging the Delta is simple. Just plug it into an AC wall outlet, and it’ll completely charge in just 96 minutes.
Safety is always a critical component when choosing a power station. The DELTA features an array of safety functionality to keep users safe, especially from electrical accidents.
Some of the safety features include:
- Low voltage protection
- Over-voltage protection
- Short circuit protection
- Overcurrent protection
- Overload protection
Also, unlike conventional gas generators, the Delta runs without fumes, maintenance, and noise so that you can enjoy peace and quiet during your adventure with nature.
3. EcoFlow DELTA Max
The DELTA Max can provide safe and reliable portable electricity for long hours. Its 2016 Wh capacity lets you store more power and keep your devices charged for longer. With the Max, you can keep your lights running for 189 hours, TV for 15 hours, and refrigerator for 14 hours.
If that’s not enough, the Max features an expandable capacity to crank it up to 6kWh by adding a Dela Max Smart Battery. This will power your RV lifestyle without worrying about power or being cautious of your energy usage.
Despite being 48 lbs, the unit is relatively easy to transport thanks to the built-in easy-carry handle.
The DELTA Max provides dual charging speeds with a power output of 3600W and can reach up to 80% charge in one hour. As if that weren’t enough, this station is also expandable. You can boost your RV’s capacity to 6kWh with an extra DELTA Max Smart Battery.
The Delta Max is a lighter and more affordable solution than the Delta Pro, which is a fine choice for RV and outdoor enthusiasts. With a weight of 48 pounds, it’s much easier to handle in the wild and carry around the camping grounds than the Delta Pro.
4. EcoFlow DELTA Pro
Finding a high-powered station as portable and quiet as the DELTA Pro is rare. It offers an ample power supply storing plenty of electricity for heavy-duty appliances.
The unit features an industry-leading output of 3600Wh. Pair it with a Smart Generator and extra batteries to reach 7200Wh. With the expandable battery pack, you can enjoy uninterrupted power and massive amounts of storage capacity. You can power anything from washers to refrigerators and everything in between.
The DELTA Pro is one of the longest-lasting power stations. Leveraging the brand-new LFP battery, it offers 6,500 cycles, meaning you use the DELTA Pro for many years before it hits 50% of the original capacity. The battery management system delivers real-time temperature, current, and voltage analysis.
There are several options to recharge the Delta Pro. You can purchase portable solar panels (an option for all EcoFlow Power Stations) and rely on carports, EV charging stations, and wall outlets. EV charging capabilities are an excellent option for RVers travelling on the go since there are thousands of EV stations worldwide.
Also, the Ecoflow Smart Generator (Dual Fuel) is an alternative to keep the Delta Pro fully charged when all other sources are unavailable.
With its 1800W AC charging adapter and X-Stream technology, you can charge the device in under two hours! Any combination of the charging options makes it a perfect choice for RV enthusiasts who want to be prepared for any situation or emergency.
The DELTA Pro lets you control and monitor your unit through your smartphone. Connect the EcoFlow app to your station, and you can control the output and check for charging levels wherever you go.
5. EcoFlow River 2 Pro
The EcoFlow River 2 Pro is the perfect compact station to enjoy off-the-grid living while powering devices and small appliances. It powers speakers, blenders, laptops, cameras, car fridges, and other smaller devices.
Weighing only 17.2 pounds, you can carry it out of your RV if you plan to camp or stay for extended periods in off-site areas.
This station also offers one of the fastest recharge times at just 70 minutes using the AC charging system. It’ll take as little as three hours to recharge when connected to optional portable solar panels.
What to Consider When Buying Portable Power Stations for RVs
With campgrounds becoming increasingly overcrowded, there’s never been a better time to invest in a portable power station.
Portable stations provide power on the go and keep RV home devices running for as long as the battery capacity allows.
While your decision may come down to needs and preferences, there are essential factors that you want to look for when doing your research.
Battery Capacity
The battery capacity is one of the most crucial aspects of your portable power station. It determines how much energy the unit can store, impacting how long it’ll last. In other words, the higher the capacity, the better.
Watt-hours (Wh) or capacity determines whether it can charge devices for the time you need. The measurement indicates the continuous power the station can provide for 60 minutes with a full battery charge. It also allows you to estimate how long it will take to recharge the station.
If you’re wondering how much battery capacity you need, that will also depend on your energy consumption. You’ll need to calculate your energy use by looking at the appliance energy demands and estimating your use time.
Portable power stations less than 300Wh are suitable for charging smartphones and other devices.
Even without batteries, you can get a charger that powers your phone directly. Buy a power station with a higher capacity (at least 300Wh) if you need to charge many devices, such as smartphones and laptops.
You can get a 300-500Wh station to power smaller devices. But if you need to run larger appliances such as a kitchen refrigerator, TV, coffeemaker, and power tools, consider larger stations, up to 3,000Wh or more.
As for the battery type, it’s best to choose lithium-ion or LFP batteries since they have a long life, hold a charge for a long time, and are rechargeable. They also pack a ton of power in a compact size.
Power Use
Watts measures power output and capability. It shows how many appliances can be powered by your power station.
Electrical appliances and gadgets require a certain amount of power to operate. LED and LCD TVs require between 30 and 100W, depending on their size and technology. A 300W station can run a 100W TV and two other appliances of the same power.
Running watts measure how much electricity the portable station can continuously produce. Add up the wattage requirements of the devices you wish to power with the unit. The requirements may be on the device itself or easy to find with a quick google.
Recharging Options
Most power stations offer a variety of recharging options. They can all recharge through regular wall outlets and a car adapter.
The PPS units reviewed here are also compatible with solar panels. If you want to purchase solar panels, consider EcoFlow solar generators to bundle and save.
Some of the most advanced units can be charged by EV charging stations, wind turbines, and even gas generators. The more options you have to charge, the better.
Recharge Time
The recharge time tells you how long it takes to recharge an exhausted power station battery. If you need to recharge your PPS unit fast, the best route is to use an AC wall outlet, which can fully recharge PPS in just over an hour.
Manufacturers should estimate charging time based on the unit’s charging speed for each input method. With solar, keep in mind that the recharge time is based on the maximum input of solar power, which you can’t always count on as a reliable predictor depending on sun exposure.
If you plan on using the power station for several days to power lights, a portable TV, and mobile devices, ensure the unit’s capacity and charge rate are sufficient. EcoFlow models can supply power while charging, but this will increase charging time, and you might use energy faster than the battery can recharge.
Compatibility
Most RVers will need a station compatible with a wide range of appliances and devices, especially when living off-grid. The best option is to find high-capacity PPS units that provide muti-device functionality and a variety of outputs so that you can hook it up to a multitude of devices and appliances.
Portability
The portability of the power station depends on its size and weight. Therefore, a small, compact, lightweight power station would be ideal for RV’ers who consistently use their PPS at some distance from the vehicle for activities like camping. In contrast, more powerful power stations are larger and heavier.
Ideally, if you want something to charge your phone when hiking, it should be as light as possible.
A heavier power portable station is likely a better option if you need more capacity. Especially if you mainly carry it in your RV. However, it shouldn’t be so heavy that you can’t move it yourself from the vehicle to the camping site. With EcoFlow, even the most powerful PPS — the Delta Pro — comes with wheels, so portability isn’t much of a concern.
Inverter
The AC inverter in a power station determines how much power you can draw from it. A typical inverter has two ratings:
- A continuous power rating—the power it can provide continuously
- A surge rating—the power it can provide for a few seconds during startup
When shopping for a portable power station, consider the wattage of the largest appliance you plan to power.
Then choose a station with an AC inverter with higher continuous wattage. Ensure the startup wattage of your appliances doesn’t exceed the surge rating of the inverter.
Conclusion
Portable power stations are safe, clean, and work indoors or outdoors. Many models are available, from affordable, ultra-lightweight, and compact to powerful models.
Now that you know the best portable power stations specifically for RVs, you’re ready to hit the road and never struggle to power your appliances again.