RVers Leave Generators for Portable Power Plants, But Are They Worth It? – Jalopnik

If you’re a seasoned camper, you’ve probably noticed a quiet revolution taking place at campsites across the US. The stench of gasoline and the constant mechanical hum of a gas generator are gone, replaced by the silence of a portable power station (PPS). The PPS had early adoption issues, with concerns about battery life and ability to carry heavy loads, but today it is an important part of modern RV living. So what has changed?

The obvious answer is silence. A gas generator is no different than a gas lawn mower. Both require constant engine speeds and produce a loud noise that is usually capped at a mildly irritating 50 to 90 decibels. A portable power station, on the other hand, is a large lithium battery (or lithium iron phosphate battery) attached to an inverter. It’s eerily quiet, save for a faint hum and hum under load. That’s a game-changer for someone who likes to go off-grid to get away from the noise.

That said, the absence of noise cannot be the only reason to replace the reliable gas generator with a portable power station. Let’s see if there are any other notable factors to consider making the switch if you’re an avid RVer looking for the best charging solution.

Apart from the noise, generators emit exhaust fumes that not only smell unpleasant but can also be harmful to your health. A byproduct of the generator’s exhaust can be carbon monoxide, a harmful gas, and that means you can’t place a generator in an enclosed space. There is also a risk of fire, not least because you are working with flammable gasoline. Every time you settle into a new park or campground, you’ll need to figure out generator placement and ventilation.

Then there’s the issue of fuel storage. Gas generators use gasoline, so you will need to consider the amount of gasoline needed for the trip and carry that extra fuel in your RV. Like any other mechanical device that runs on fossil fuel, a generator also requires routine maintenance and has consumable parts, which you should take into account. And if it breaks, you have to be mechanically literate, or find someone who is, often in the middle of nowhere.

The major difference between a gas generator and a PPS is that the former is a factory where electricity is produced by converting chemical energy (gasoline) into electrical energy, while the latter is a warehouse where electricity is stored for later use. Most portable power stations use lithium-ion or lithium iron phosphate chemistry to store energy, making them relatively lightweight and easy to move. A PPS can be charged multiple times via an external power source (or via solar energy) and has no moving parts, requiring little maintenance.

Compared to a gas generator, a portable power station has many advantages. Firstly, it’s eerily quiet and vibration-free, making it quite unobtrusive. So no more noise complaints from your camper neighbors. The same goes for smelly fumes. A PPS produces no emissions at the point of use, making it perfect for use in environmentally sensitive areas such as national parks. Their lightweight portability also makes them easy to move. You can use them in your RV or take them outside to your picnic table or fire pit. That’s almost as smart as having a wind tunnel-tested RV that used its exhaust system to burn your poop.

Another major challenge is limited capacity. Even the largest power plants will have a finite amount of stored energy. For example, if you use 1,000 watts of electricity per hour from a 2,000 watt power plant, you will only get enough energy for two hours. If you use heavy appliances such as an air conditioner or microwave, the power plant may run out of juice much sooner. The biggest challenge will be if you go off-grid for a longer period of time. Even a portable power plant coupled with solar panels won’t be able to meet your heavy energy needs the way a gas generator can.

Solar panels are often marketed as an unlimited energy source. But while they offer the benefit of free energy from the sun, the solar panels take a long time to charge the batteries. To fully charge your 2,000 watt-hour battery, you theoretically need solar panels that produce about 500 watts and are positioned perfectly toward the sun for four hours. However, on most RVs you will find one or two folding solar panels that provide a total combined power of 100 watts. In addition, for a solar panel to work properly, you need unrestricted access to bright sunlight. If it is cloudy or if your camper is parked in the shade, the charging speed will drop significantly. In reality, a solar panel is only a supplementary charging solution and not a primary energy source.

By comparison, a portable power plant requires virtually no maintenance. If you use the more modern lithium iron phosphate batteries, they can last over 5,000 charge cycles. That’s almost eight to twelve years of daily use. As for charging, you can have it charged at home before you travel, use solar panels, or use a clever trick of setting your RV’s alternator to charge your PPS along the way. The convenience of a PPP makes it a valuable investment.

Which one is better? The answer mainly depends on your usage. If you’re looking for short stays at campsites with easy access to electrical outlets, and your charging needs are limited to charging phones and laptops, LED lights and fans, a 12-volt mini-fridge, and powering small appliances, then a portable power station should work well for you. If you enjoy living off the grid for days in bad weather, but need to run the air conditioning (or heater), microwave, and induction cooktop in your RV, then you need a gas generator to meet your energy needs.