For years, losing power because of a storm or stressed infrastructure has usually meant keeping a gas generator on standby to get essentials up and running. While those gas-guzzling power plants deliver reliable energy, they come with several trade-offs: emissions, noise, maintenance, and a fussy starting procedure that worsens after long stints in the garage. But now there’s an option that behaves a lot like an electric vehicle (EV) or a battery-powered lawn mower. These “portable power stations” have a battery core that can run a range of household appliances and devices. On the less demanding side, they’re powerful enough to keep electronics—laptops, tablets, phones, and TVs—going for hours during an outage or a seasonal brownout. Paired with supplemental batteries and plug-in solar panels, they can become a capable, reliable system that can run a home’s largest appliances for days—emissions-free, quiet, with nary a spark plug to check, and with the push of a button.
Whether you want to keep the fridge and a few lights running for 24 hours or the entire kitchen for a few days, there is a system to suit your needs. Here’s what you need to know to choose the right one.
Is one right for you?
While a portable power station offers push-button reliability, it isn’t the solution for every situation
PROS
+ NO EMISSIONS Without a rumbling engine generating power, portable power stations are safe to use inside. They can get warm to the touch with heavy use, but never hot enough to burn children or pets. Because they’re quiet, they can be set up in a bedroom—or go to a campsite, tailgate, or cookout.
+ NO MAINTENANCE They don’t require gas or oil, and there is no filter to change. Tidy and compact, they’re easy to store indoors.
+ Electricity is generally less expensive than fossil fuels. Paired with multiple solar panels, some batteries recharge in
