Nowadays, converting a van is getting very expensive and some people don't have the budget to install a sophisticated electrical system in their vehicle. The most popular van conversions are equipped with a 2000W inverter, multiple solar panels and powerful lithium batteries. This setup will cost several thousands of dollars and you have to ask yourself if you really need that much power in your rig. If you are not living in your van full time and you’re not working from it, having so much power is not a necessity. Some people want to keep it simple, be more minimalistic and enjoy their week-ends in the woods. If you don’t have massive electrical needs, you can easily power your van’s appliances from a portable power station. This is when the BLUETTI AC70 1000W comes into play!
It is possible to replace a van’s electrical system by one or multiple portable power stations. If you are travelling for short periods of time and you don’t need to run your appliances 24/7, the BLUETTI AC70 will become your best friend. All you need is to be able to charge your phone, tablet, camera and laptop. You need to be able to cook a hot meal and power up some lights later at night. Vanlife can be fun even if you keep it simple!
Personally, I don't need a fancy fully equipped Sprinter worth 200 000$ to have fun on the road. My old school bus provides me with everything I need to enjoy a road trip: a roof over my head, a comfy bed to sleep at night, a stove to cook, a fridge to store fresh food and some water to wash the dishes. In addition, the Bluetti gives me peace of mind by providing reliable power every time I need it.
The BLUETTI AC70 weighs about 22.5 lbs and uses Lithium-ion Phosphate batteries which ensure over 3000 charge cycles. It can be controlled and monitored from the BLUETTI App. Directly from your phone, you can check out your battery’s operations. You can also activate and deactivate useful modes like Power Lifting and ECO.
The AC70 provides you with 7 practical outputs. You can charge and power multiple devices at the same time. It has two AC 120V outlets, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports and one 12V DC car outlet. When you activate the AC power, the integrated Pure Sine Wave inverter converts the 12V into 120V. It gives you access to 1000W continuous power which is able to support multiple appliances. If you enable the Power Lifting Mode in the BLUETTI App, this power station will be able to handle high-power resistive loads up to 2000W. This feature is pretty impressive!
This toaster consumes 900W and the AC70 handles it perfectly.
When it comes to recharging this device, you can plug it to an AC wall socket or plug it in your car while driving with the 12V socket that comes in the box. You can also charge it outside thanks to the solar panels sold separately. The AC charging time is between 1.3 and 1.8 hours thanks to the 850W turbo charging. This is pretty fast! The solar charging time can vary between 2.8 and 3.3 hours depending on the weather. It has a 500W maximum solar input. If it is cloudy and cold outside, the charging time will be slower.
If you are out for a longer trip and you don’t have access to electricity, you can rely on the Bluetti solar panels to recharge your portable power station. Check out the solar panels that are compatible with this device. The AC70 has a 500W maximum solar input and the panels are sold separately.
During one of my camping trips, I was parked for a longer period of time and didn’t want to use my bus’ battery to recharge the Bluetti. The sun was out and it was the perfect time to use the solar panels!
BLUETTI PV200 Solar Panel 200W
CAD $560.00
BLUETTI PV120 Solar Panel 120W
CAD $339.00
BLUETTI PV350 Solar Panel 350W
CAD $899.00
The BLUETTI AC70 1000W portable power station can also be used as a backup power source. Even if there is an electrical system in my converted school bus, I like to bring the Bluetti on every trip in case of an emergency. If the system fails and the batteries get drained, the portable power station will help me resolve the problem. I could plug in power tools to fix what's broken. I will also be able to charge all of my electronics and enjoy the rest of the trip. In case of an emergency, I can power my 12V fridge for a couple of hours to save the food! This power station is an essential accessory for vanlife and I recommend it to every traveler out there.
Last year, there were a lot of storms that caused several power outages at home. At this time, I was happy to have a portable power station to help me out. Thanks to Bluetti, I was able to charge my phone, turn on the lights and run some home appliances up to 1000W (up to 2000W in Power Lifting Mode). This battery can be very handy in case of an emergency.
Photo by BLUETTI
If you are interested in trying a smaller portable power station, check out the BLUETTI EB3A 600W. This model is lighter, very compact and easier to carry. During outdoor activities, this battery can charge all of your electronic devices. It can also run some home appliances under 600W like a blender, a TV and a small refrigerator. Personally, I can assure you that the EB3A is a handy little device and a reliable source of power.
I believe the BLUETTI AC70 is the perfect portable power station for vanlife in 2024. It will be very convenient to carry this accessory with you on your next road trip. It will charge your devices and power your appliances during your outdoor adventures. It is not too big and easy to carry around. It will give you peace of mind and answer all of your electrical needs in case of an emergency.
Have a good trip and see you on the road!
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* Disclosure:
I only recommend products, companies and services that I could use myself. I consider them useful for vanlife and they could help my readers.
BLUETTI provided me with this product for testing and review purposes.
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