To ensure that you have electricity at all times, Ecoflow is unveiling the River 2 Max, a nomadic power station that can be powered by portable solar panels. How to power household electrical appliances and save money? We tested it for 3 weeks. Here are our impressions.
Since the surge in energy prices, many people are looking for an alternative to spend the winter without worries and at a lower cost. Some opt for the installation of solar panels, others try to reduce their consumption as best they can. But the road to autarky or energy sobriety can be strewn with pitfalls and, whatever its preachers say, it too has a cost.
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Since the surge in energy prices, many people are looking for an alternative to spend the winter without worries and at a lower cost. Some opt for the installation of solar panels, others try to reduce their consumption as best they can. But the road to autarky or energy sobriety can be strewn with pitfalls and, whatever its preachers say, it too has a cost. The Chinese manufacturer EcoFlow offers an intermediate alternative to ensure energy security. Became the world leader in portable power generators. With these power generators, you can go wherever you want without having to worry regarding electricity. What is it? The EcoFlow River 2 Max is a small portable charging station with a capacity of 512 Wh. Designed for backpackers, it can also power the majority of household electrical appliances (computer, TV, iron, coffee machine, etc.) without you having to plug them into the mains socket. Thanks to its long-life LiFePO4 batteries (3000 charge cycles, which allows it to be used once a day for almost 10 years), you can also use it to recharge your connected devices, your smartphone, your electric bike or your laptop. This portable power station incorporates an LED screen and has a USB-C port, three USB-A ports, two sockets, and even a slot for charging your car (with the charger provided). How does it work? There are two solutions to recharging the plant: either you connect it in the traditional way to the mains – it recharges to 80% in 48 minutes, i.e. five times faster than the competition – or you supply it with energy free with foldable photovoltaic panels (599 euros for 4 two-sided 220 W panels, supplied as an option). Once connected to the generator, they fully recharge the batteries in 3 to 6 hours depending on exposure. By using these four solar panels (7 kg and 157 x 68 cm), you can also ensure a 220 volt flow outdoors. This is very practical if you have decided to go camping, travel in a motorhome or if you need to power electrical appliances in more isolated corners. Intelligent, the device also connects via Wifi to the smartphone. Thanks to its app, you can view the battery level of the device, its temperature and the output power of each port, remotely turn on or off the devices connected to it, and above all, monitor their energy consumption in real time. .Tried to the test We tested the EcoFlow River 2 Max for three weeks, charging it only with its solar panels. The Belgian sky being particularly milky, allow 4 to 5 hours on average to charge the plant from 0 to 100%. Once pumped up, the device can deliver 500W on its AC outputs with peaks of 1000W in X-Boost mode. Enough to quietly use a vacuum cleaner, a kettle or a hair dryer. In practice, the generator makes it possible to operate 9 devices simultaneously without worrying regarding overloading thanks to a multitude of ports. The different types of ports can be switched on or off independently via a button. In terms of performance, the station surprised us a lot. With its 512 watt-hour capacity, the River 2 Max allowed us to power an office for a day’s work, in complete autonomy. By simultaneously connecting devices such as a laptop, printer, connected radio and fully charging two smartphones via USB sockets. Placed in the living room and recharged to 100%, this nomadic generator also provided us with 6 hours of use of a large format OLED TV with its sound bar. During our tests, we particularly appreciated the application of Ecoflow. Fluid, intuitive and simple, it offers a good number of customizations and a real-time view of its power consumption. Our verdict The Ecoflow River 2 Max is a versatile power monster which, without being annoying (6 kg), may discourage some hikers, but its handle and its relatively modest dimensions will easily give it a place in a motorhome, a caravan, a car trunk and even your living room. During our tests, we appreciated the sound discretion of the device, light years away from deafening generators. Admittedly, this nomadic generator will not make you completely independent of the electricity grid, but thanks to its portable and foldable solar panels, it can help you significantly lower your energy bill. Moreover, in a more indirect way, we must recognize another virtue in the River 2 Max: the more you use it, the more you will become aware of the energy gluttony of certain devices. Even on standby, like a TV… With the River 2 Max, Ecoflow signs a product that perfectly meets current needs. Its power, versatility, moderate price and control via WiFi and Bluetooth app make it an excellent power station. To adopt urgently, even in the office.
