The past year has shown once again that it can be a gamble to rely on the power outlet in your home to always work when you need it. Extreme weather events such as ice storms, floods, and wildfires can lose power for several days at a time. High pressure on the power grid can cause power outages and blackouts. Therefore, portable power stations are becoming a must-have for many people. Powered by batteries, they can be safely used indoors (unlike gas generators) to keep critical equipment running. In the past few years, I have evaluated some of them, and this is by far the most impressive: the Bluetti AC200MAX expandable portable power station. 

Blueetti AC2300MAX and a pair of extended batteries.

Bluetti AC200MAX is part of an increasing number of portable power stations that can run demanding equipment. It has a 2048 Wh battery, and its inverter can output 2200W of continuous power and handle surges of up to 4800W. 

The high-capacity battery means it can run key equipment for a long time. Bluetti said that for CPAP machines, this is equivalent to 40 hours or more. Support for high power consumption and surges means being able to run equipment that most battery power plants cannot handle: think about microwave ovens, coffee makers, etc.

One of the main functions of AC200MAX is that you can use the optional hot-swappable expansion battery to expand its capacity. I tried B230 and it increased by 2048 Wh. The larger B300 provides 3072 Wh. AC200MAX supports two external batteries, that is, when supplemented by a pair of B300, AC200MAX can reach a maximum capacity of 8192 Wh!

Thanks to... [] Built-in charging port, the Bluetti B230 extended battery itself can be used to directly charge mobile devices.

The B230 extended battery I tested is equipped with USB-C, USB Type-A and 12V ports. Therefore, it can actually be used alone to charge many devices. However, it does not have an AC power socket, which is obviously to supplement the AC200MAX power station, not to replace it.

B230 extends the battery stack and connects to the AC200MAX power station.

I like external extension methods. Doing so can reduce the price of the power station itself, while allowing you to increase the capacity according to your needs and budget. The external device also makes AC200MAX more portable.

The cable connecting the extended battery to the power station is very heavy.

One of the key things about the AC2300 (and its external battery pack) is the use of lithium phosphate ion (LiFePO4) batteries.

Most lithium-ion batteries in portable chargers and portable power stations are traditionally formulated with lithium cobalt. Bluetti uses lithium phosphate ion, which has many advantages. Among them, these batteries are more stable, support a wider temperature range, and can last more charging cycles.

The 500W charger is large and comes with a cooling fan.

Most of the portable power stations I have tested are equipped with lithium-ion batteries, and after 500 charging cycles, the rated capacity can still be maintained at 80%. The LiFePO4 batteries used in these Blueetti versions can be charged more than 3,500 times at 80% and more than 6,000 times at 50%. For anyone who frequently uses portable power stations, this is a game-changing game. The life span ranges from several years to ten and a half years or more.

The disadvantage is that the energy density of LiFePO4 batteries is lower than that of ordinary lithium-ion batteries. This means that the AC2300 is heavier than you expected, at 61.9 pounds. The weight of the B230 battery is 48 pounds.

Whether you want to charge or supply power directly, Bluetti AC200MAX has the output ports you need. Even the pair of Qi wireless charging ports on the top of the device. I am not going to see the complete list (I have included it in the specifications), but it contains four AC power outlets. You can charge/run multiple devices at the same time, and the total combined continuous power output is up to 2200W.

Yes, it also has Q1 wireless charging.

Campers and RV owners are paying attention. AC200MAX is equipped with NEMA TT-30 output-so this power station can be used to power most motorhomes and camping trailers. 

It is worth noting that AC200MAX is also equipped with a variety of power inputs for charging its own batteries. Charging options include 500W power adapter (included), 12V car port and solar panel. There are also two connections for plugging in a pair of Bluetti extension batteries.

The ports are missing, but the soft flap covering them pops out too easily.

One of my quibble with the port is the soft silicone (?) port cover. They pop out too easily. They are physically connected to the device, so there is no risk of losing them, but the hinged plastic port cover will stay in place more effectively.

AC200MAX's front touch screen LCD display makes operation easy. It shows everything you need to know-including battery level and power consumption-and has controls to select the output. It also allows you to browse system information, including the history of any alarms generated by the device's battery management system. The display is clear, responsive, and easy to navigate, but I do want it to tilt up a bit instead of looking straight ahead. When the power station was on the floor, I had to kneel down to see it.

Key statistics displayed on the Blueetti mobile app when using a Bluetooth connection.

Fortunately, you can use the Bluetti mobile app to connect with AC200Max’s Bluetooth radio. The app does not have the same level of detail (and is limited to use within Bluetooth range), but it does a good job of displaying key information. It is also "smart" enough to update the remaining total battery capacity based on any connected extended battery. It can also be used to download and install firmware upgrades.  

So, how does the Bluetti AC200MAX power station perform? I have to say that I am very satisfied with what I have seen. It does extend the definition of portable to some extent, but a pair of molded handles helps to drag it around.

AC2300MAX saved the day in the event of a power failure.

I can use it to run a portable heater, which is something that few portable power stations can do. If there is a power outage during a winter storm, even a small heater can have a huge impact. As my backyard is under construction, the electrical connection to my "barbecue shed" has been cut for several weeks. I want to grill a large turkey breast and some steaks on my pellet grill, which requires electricity. So I took the AC200MAX through all the building mess and inserted it into the grill. After running the smoker for about 7 hours, AC200MAX still has 70% power remaining.

Blueetti AC2300MAX can be used to power portable heaters.

I plugged our 21 cubic feet basement refrigerator into the AC200MAX. After 22 hours, its capacity dropped to 5%. So I hot-swapped the B230 expansion battery. If they all drop to zero, they will let the refrigerator run for two full days. Add a second B230 (AC200MAX can support two simultaneous connections), which is almost three days.

In other words, Bluetti AC200MAX is a powerful and flexible portable power station with a wide range of home and outdoor applications.  

For those who want to surpass AC200MAX in terms of backup power for the entire home, there is the new Bluetti EP500. I had the opportunity to spend some time using the pre-production model (finally determined, except for the lack of a Wi-Fi chip), and it was really impressive. It is equipped with a 5100Wh LiFePO4 battery pack.

Large-scale, high-capacity Bluetti EP500 power station.

I was able to run the refrigerator on the beast of this power station in less than three days. One disadvantage is that LiFePO4 batteries are heavy. EP500 weighs up to 167 pounds. It slides smoothly on a lockable rotating wheel, so it is easy to use on a single floor. However, it takes two people to go up and down the stairs, and I don't want to repeat the exercise. 

With Wi-Fi connection and Bluetti mobile app, EP500 can not only charge directly, but also provide UPS and peak load transfer functions. The latter can really save money by charging the EP500 at a cheaper price during off-peak hours, and then using the battery to run the connected appliances or equipment during peak load times. With a life cycle of 6000 recharges, you can do this for 16 years. Depending on where you live, this alone can save you more than the cost of EP500.

EP 500 dwarfs AC200MAX

EP500 also provides split-phase operation options. Connect two EP500s to the optional voltage fusion box, and you can run 240V appliances such as electric stoves and clothes dryers. 

EP500 is an impressive power station. It has advanced features such as phase-splitting operation, application-based remote control and peak load shifting, making it a true home backup power solution. One thing it's not so good is the stairs...

If you are worried about the prospect of a power outage for several hours or days, the Bluetti AC200MAX portable power station provides a very compelling solution. It can even run large appliances such as refrigerators, space heaters and other high-demand equipment, and can charge all your portable electronic products. It is light enough to be considered portable, but its capacity can be expanded by hot-swappable expansion batteries. The use of LiFePO4 batteries also means that the power station will last longer than a power station using standard lithium-ion batteries.

The combination of portability and NEMA TT-30 port also makes this power station an excellent choice for RV owners and campers.

Bluetti offers AC200MAX B230 extended battery pack.

The fact that these power stations and battery packs are not cheap cannot be ignored. However, I noticed that Bluetti often provides coupon codes that can discount hundreds of dollars on its website. The company also sells AC200MAX with a B230 battery as a package, which can save money compared to buying it separately.

Disclosure: Bluetti provided power stations and batteries for evaluation, but did not participate in this review.