Portable power stations have become the a popular choice over traditional generators as a more reliable and eco-friendly power source. But the technology behind them – their batteries – is advancing every year. So in this day and age just how long do portable power stations last? In this article, you’ll get the exact answers you’re looking for. We also share the longest lasting portable power station for your money, and give you the cost per watt hour for two popular portable power station battery types. Because who doesn’t want more for their money? Lets dive in!
How Long Do Portable Power Stations Last?
Portable power stations last between 500 and 1000 charge cycles with a Lithium-ion NMC battery and 3000+ cycles for a LifeP04 battery.
The most popular portable power stations in 2023 typically use either Li-ion NMC or LifePo4 batteries.
Li-ion NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobolt) batteries last between 500 and 1000 cycles to 80% charge. Charging an NMC battery once a day, that’s the same as between 1.4 years and 2.8 years.
LifeP04 batteries typically last 3000+ cycles to 80% charge. Charging the battery once per day, that’s the equivalent of 10 years of use.
What is the longest lasting power station for your money?
A LifeP04 portable power station is the longest lasting in its class, for your money.
Why?
LifeP04 have the best cycle life and the lowest power fade or degradation of battery cells. This means you can charge it more times and the battery cells will take longer to naturally leech power over time.
We demonstrate this below.
We also work out the cost per watt hour of electricity from a LifeP04 versus a Li-ion NMC portable power station. We use popular Ecoflow and Jackery power station models in our case study.
If after you finish this post you agree with us, here’s a list of popular portable power stations with long lifespan LifeP04 batteries along with our expert reviews:
8 key takeaways from this article
Here are the key takeaways you need to know about how long portable power stations last:
- There are two concepts to ‘how long a portable power station lasts’:
- It’s lifespan, or how many charge cycles or years you can use it
- It’s power duration, or how long it will run your appliances for between charges.
- Lifespan is determined by the type of battery in the power station.
- Popular portable power station manufacturers like Bluetti, Ecoflow, Jackery and Anker mainly use two lithium battery chemistry types:
- Li-ion NMC – Nickel, Manganese Cobolt
- LifeP04 – Lithium ion polymer
- The lifespan of each type is very different, so you need to know what you’re buying.
- The longest lasting batteries are also best value for money. You pay less for the electricity from your power station with a long lasting battery. Cost per watt hour calculations are down below.
- If you’re going to use your portable power station often, get one with a LifeP04 battery. It lasts longer and you’ll pay less over its lifetime for the electricity it gives you.
- The power duration of a battery tells you whether it will run what you need it to run, and for how long. Power duration is a factor of the battery size in watt hours. Battery chemistry only impacts power duration a little.
- Check out our tables below showing how long the most popular portable power stations last (lifespan), and how long different size portable power stations will run your appliances (power duration).
What is a Portable Power Station?
A portable power station is like a high-powered battery pack designed to be compact and travel-friendly. Unlike traditional generators that generate electricity using different fuels like diesel or petrol, portable power stations use battery cells to store electrical energy, ready to be used on demand.
Portable power stations generate electricity when used with solar panels. It’s the solar panels and the battery together, that creates the power station. If you want the basics of how they work, check out this quick read: ‘How do portable power stations work? DIscover the simple truth about backup power’.
Portable power stations come in all sizes. Size refers to how much power the battery can store. It’s a figure given in watt hours or kilowatt hours.
Because of this, portable power stations can power a range of devices, from smartphones and laptops to larger appliances like refrigerators and TVs. They can even power a household off grid these days, because newer models – like the Ecoflow Delta 2 or the Bluetti AC200MAX – are expandable in size (power duration).
Here’s a complete buyer’s guide that explains everything you need to know about portable power stations. It’s a must read BEFORE you invest in one.
6 Key Components of a Portable Power Station:
- Battery: The heart of the power station, storing the electrical energy.
- Battery Management System: Ensures the battery charges and discharges safely.
- Inverter: Converts the stored DC energy in the battery to AC energy, suitable for most household appliances.
- Ports or Outlets: Where devices and appliances can be plugged in.
- Display Screen or App: Monitors the operation and performance of the battery.
- Solar Panels: Often used to charge the batteries in portable power stations.
In this article we focus on the type of battery, as it plays a big part in determining how long a portable power station lasts – it’s lifespan.
We also focus on the size of the battery – how much energy it can store – as it plays a big part in how long a portable power station can run your appliances.
How long do portable power stations last: Lifespan
When we talk about “how long a portable power station lasts,” we’re referring to two main concepts:
- how many times you can charge it (lifespan), and
- how long it will run your appliance for, between charges (power duration).
Lets look at each, and why they matter, starting with ‘lifespan’.
There are 2 things that impact the lifespan of portable power station: cycle life and degradation.
Cycle life
‘Cycle life’ refers to the number of charge cycles a battery can undergo before its power capacity (how much energy it can store) reduces significantly.
One ‘cycle’ involves charging a battery from 0% to 100% and then discharging it back to 0%. A manufacturer will state in the portable power station key specs the cycle life of its battery.
The cycle life indicates the overall lifespan of a battery. Let’s explain.
For example, our Ecoflow River 2 Pro is 800 watt hours (Wh) and has a rated cycle life of 3000+ charges to 80% power capacity.
That means you can charge and discharge the power station 3000+ times, and still expect the battery to hold 80% of it’s original power capacity. It’s original power capacity is near on 800 watt hours. So after 3000 charges, the battery should still be able to store 560 watt hours.
3000 charge cycles is the same as using the battery once per day, for just under 10 years.
Degradation
Lifespan is also affected by something called ‘degradation’. It describes how battery cells naturally degrade over time.
For instances, we all know that even a torch battery runs out of charge over time. And then you can’t use the batteries any more and it’s time to swap them out. Unless they’re rechargeable.
Portable power station batteries are similar. The power the battery cells hold fades over time. The manufacturer’s specs will generally include what to expect. For example, in the case of our Ecoflow River 2 Pro portable power station, the manufacturer says it will last for 3000+ charge cycles or 10 years.
So how do the most popular power station battery types – Li-ion NMC and LifeP04 perform, against these 2 measures of cycle life and degradation? Lets take a look.
The lifespan of Different Battery Types
Before we delve into the specifics of each battery type, it’s essential to understand these two most common portable power station battery types.
Popular portable power station brands tend to use either Li-ion NMC batteries or LifePo4 batteries. You can find the battery type in the manufacturers specifications.
Understanding the difference will help you know what to expect when it comes to the lifespan of the battery you choose.
And lifespan hits your hip pocket.
Lithium-ion NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt)
Li-ion NMC batteries are known for their high energy density. This just means they can store more power in a smaller battery cell. So Li-ion NMC batteries make great portable power. They’re light and small. It’s no wonder that brands like Jackery tend to favour Li-ion NMC batteries for many their portable power stations.
But Li-ion NMC batteries don’t have as long a lifespan as LifeP04 batteries.
They typically are rated for between 500 and 1000 cycles to 80% charge. But how does this compare with LifeP04 batteries?
LifePo4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
LifePo4 batteries are known for their safety and long lifespan. They’re less prone to overheating and are considered more stable than other lithium batteries. But they’re not as energy dense, so weigh more.
Newer models of Ecoflow and Bluetti portable power stations – big and small – use LifePo4 batteries. They generally rate their batteries for a cycle life of 3000+ cycles to 80% charge.
So now we know the cycle life of these 2 battery types, what about power fade?
Well, a recent study compared the ‘power fade’ or degradation of Li-ion NMC and LifeP04 of batteries. The results indicate that LifeP04 batteries suffer less from power fade than Li-ion NMC batteries. So this means they can hold a charge for longer. Li-ion NMC batteries on the other hand will die more quickly.
For more pros cons of LifeP04 batteries, check out this article: ‘The LifeP04 Solar Generator: Is it worth the hype?’.
Back to the Lifespan of portable power stations…
Here’s how long these 2 popular types of portable power station compare, and their cost range:
| Battery Type | Cycle life | Lifespan equivalent in years | Power fade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Li-ion NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) | 500 to 1000 charge cycles to 80% charge OR 2000 charge cycles to 70% charge | 1.4 – 2.7 years, discharging once daily | Greater than LifeP04 |
| LifePo4 (Lithium Ion Phosphate) | 2000 to 3500+ charge cycles to 80% charge | ~10 years discharging once daily | Less than NMC |
As you can see, the best portable power stations when it comes to lifespan are ones with a LifeP04 battery. Why?
LifeP04 batteries have a longer cycle life and less power fade over time. This means that they are longer lasting.
But in some cases, LifeP04 batteries can cost more than Li-ion NMC batteries. And this begs the question, ‘is it worth paying more for a LifeP04 portable power station?’.
We get into that next.
Why Lifespan is important
Understanding how long different portable power stations last is crucial when considering a purchase.
Why is this?
Because it directly impacts the value you get from your battery. Lifespan impacts the cost you pay per watt hour for the electricity from your power station.
And we all want to pay less and get more, right?
We’re going to demonstrate how this works down below.
Why is the longest lasting power station also best value for money?
The simple answer to this question is because the lifespan of a portable power station impacts your value for money.
Next, we’re going to demonstrate how by comparing the lifespan and cost of similar sized Li-ion NMC and LifeP04 batteries.
Ecoflow versus Jackery – a comparison of lifespan and cost
| Ecoflow River 2 Pro | Jackery Solar Generator 1000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Specs | 768 watt hour LifePo4 battery 220 watt solar panels AUD$1988 USD$1048 | 1002Wh Li-ion NMC battery 160 watt solar panels AUD$2699 USD$1597 |
| Lifespan | 3000 cycles to 80% charge End of life at 60% charge Total cycle life: 5000 Lifespan: 10 years | 1000 cycles to 80% charge End of life cycle at 60% charge Total cycle life: 2000 Lifespan: 10 years |
| Calculations | Depth of discharge: 100% Round trip efficiency: 90% Delivered power: 768Wh x 100% x 90% = 691Wh Total delivered power: 691Wh x 5000 cycles = 3455kWh | Depth of discharge: 80% Round trip efficiency: 80% Delivered power: 1002Wh X 80% x 80% = 641Wh Total delivered power: 641Wh x 2000 cycles = 1282kWh |
| Lifetime $/Wh cost of electricity | AUD $1988 / 3455kWh = 57.5c/kWh USD $1048 / 3455kWh = 30.3c/kWh | AUD$2699 / 1282kWh = $2.10/kWh USD$1597 / 1282kWh = $1.25/kWh |
You can see from the table that the lifespan of the Ecoflow LifeP04 battery translates into a lower cost per watt hour of electricity from the portable power station across it’s useful life.
So, what do all these numbers mean if you’re buying a battery?
They mean that:
- A LifeP04 portable power station is better value for money because it lasts longer (more cycles) than a Li-ion NMC battery.
- The more you use your battery, particularly with LifeP04 portable power station, the more cost efficient the energy and better value to you.
- But even if you only get 3000 uses from your LifeP04 portable power station, it’s AUD 0.96c/kWh or USD 50.5c/kWh. Less than half the cost per watt hour than the Li-ion NMC portable power station.
The takeaway?
If you’re going to use your portable power station often, get one with a LifeP04 battery. It lasts longer and you’ll pay less over its lifetime for the electricity it gives you.
💡Assumptions made:
- End of life: A lithium battery typically reaches the end of its useful life once it can’t charge beyond 60% of it’s full capacity.
- Total cycle life: If 20% of the Ecoflow battery’s charge = 3000 cycles, we assume it will last another 2000 cycles before it reaches its life ending 60% charge. So that’s a total life cycle of 3000 + 2000 = 5000.
- Round trip efficiency: For each cycle you don’t get as much power out of the battery as you put in. Some is lost in the process. For LifeP04 batteries, RTE is ~ 90%. For Li-ion NMC ~ 80%.
- 5000 cycles is 13 years of use charging once a day, which is beyond the manufacturers specs. But with fast charging of 70 minutes for the River 2 Pro, we assume charging more than once per day.
What Influences your Battery Lifespan ?
Several external factors can also influence the longevity of a portable power station.
Usage Patterns
Efficient and mindful usage can extend the life of the power station. Sticking to the manufacturer’s limits for depth of discharge for example, and not running the battery down to zero charge.
Environmental Factors
Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can impact battery performance. It’s essential to store and use power stations in recommended conditions. For example, avoid leaving your power station in a hot car during summer.
Maintenance
The battery manufacturer will specify what you need to do with your battery, to make sure it lasts as long as they say it will. Mostly, its following any limits to discharging the battery. And charging and discharging it to a certain level every 3 to 6 months, if you’re not using it.
For example, with our Ecoflow River 2 Pro every 3 to 6 months we need to discharge the battery to 0% and then recharge it to 60%. If we don’t do this, the warranty won’t apply. You can find these tips in the battery manual.
How long do portable power stations last: power duration
When people ask ‘how long do portable power stations last?’, they can also be referring to its power duration.
This is just how long the power station can run certain devices and appliances, on a single charge.
If you’ve ever wondered how this works, we have a neat representation below.
The power duration of a portable power station depends on its storage capacity and how much power your devices need. Here’s an illustration of how it works:
| 200Wh battery | 400Wh battery | 600Wh battery | 800Wh battery | 1000Wh battery | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 200 watt load | 1 hour | 2 hours | 3 hours | 4 hours | 5 hours |
| 400 watt load | N/A | 1 hour | 1.5 hours | 2 hours | 2.5 hours |
| 600 watt load | N/A | N/A | 1 hour | 1.33 hours | 1.66 hours |
| 800 watt load | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1 hour | 1.25 hours |
| 1000 watt load | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | 1 hour |
For instance, a 200Wh portable power station might last 8 hours powering an iPad that uses 20 watts, but only 5 hours for a laptop that uses 40 watts.
💡What does ‘N/A/ stand for?
All batteries have a maximum output, which is highest number of watts it can power at once. It’s usually around the same as the power duration. So if power duration is 200Wh, maximum output will be around 200 watts. If you try to run an appliance that uses more than 200 watts, the battery will trip and turn off.
Another thing to know is that in reality, you never get 200Wh of electricity out of a 200Wh rated battery.
This is because of something called ‘Round Trip Efficiency’ (RTE).
RTE is just the electricity lost in the process of charging and discharging a battery. For LifeP04 batteries, Round Trip Efficiency is about 90%. So out of a 200Wh LifeP04 battery, you get 180Wh of electricity. This changes the numbers above in reality.
Always factor RTE in when doing your own calculations of power duration.
Why is power duration important?
If you don’t understand how power duration works, you won’t know what size battery is right for you. And you may end up wasting your money on a battery that doesn’t meet your needs.
The best way to go about sizing your portable power station is first work out what you want to run. Then add the ‘running watts’ of all of these appliances and devices together.
For example, I want a portable power station to run my fan (30 watts), lights (60 watts), gas hot water (40 watts), fridge (140 watts) and water pump (300 watts) in my tiny house.
Thats a total of 570 watts, with everything running at once. So I need a portable power station bigger than 570 watts. And so on.
In a nutshell
Portable power stations offer a versatile and eco-friendly power solution. In this article, we’ve shed light on the types of batteries the most popular portable power stations use, so that you can understand how long they last. We’ve also explained the relationship between lifespan (cycle life) and cost per watt of power. So now, you can make an informed decision before you buy, and invest in a power stations that is both reliable and good value for money. What are you waiting for?
FAQs
What is the lifespan of a portable power station?
500 to 1000 cycles (charge -> discharge) for a portable power station with a Lithium-ion NMC battery. Like the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 Pro.
3000+ cycles for a portable power station with a LifeP04 battery. Like the Ecoflow River 2 Pro.
How long will a 200 watt power station last?
A 200 watt hour power station will last for 1 hour under 180 watts of load. For example it will run an iPad (20 watts) plus a floor lamp (80 watts), a fan (30 watts), and a small smart TV (50 watts) for 1 hour.
But it will run an iPad by itself for 9 hours (180 / 20 = 9)
How long does a 600W power station last?
A 600Wh power station will last for 1 hour under 540 watts of load. For example, it will run a coffee maker (550 watts) for an hour, or a space heater (350 watts) for 1.5 hours.
How long does a lithium power station last?
How long a lithium power station lasts depends a lot on the battery type used. Popular LifeP04 batteries in Ecoflow and Bluetti power stations typically last 3000+ charge cycles with around 10 years of life. Lithium ion batteries used in the Jackery power stations don’t have as many charge cycles. Typically they can get around 1000 cycles over 10 years. The more charge cycles, the better value you can get from your power station.
How long does a 1000w power station last?
A 1000Wh power station will last for 1 hour under around 900 watts of load. For example it will run a microwave (700 watts) for 1.3 hours, or a space heater (350 watts) for 2.6 hours.
