When I received an offer to review a mobile power station, I immediately accepted it... And only then did I start thinking, why do I need one at all? While searching for information about this product, my fantasy "unleashed" - overnight stays in nature, the ability to trim a hedge in the garden independently of a 50-meter extension cord, and what to say about power tools when setting up a summer house for a child? And this is only a small part of what I managed to come up with. Theoretically, the possibilities are very wide.

For those who are at least a little interested in such stations, the name Bluetti has certainly been heard. Having created their first home energy station in 2011, they have not stopped and to this day they have excellent award-winning and praised products in their portfolio. Today with us, their latest creation is the Bluetti Elite 200 V2. This model replaces the AC200P and was created taking into account user feedback. So, let's try to review what this mobile energy station is worth?

Unboxing

Carrying this box home, I thought that this power station would be far too big for practical use. However, upon unpacking, these thoughts changed. The smaller, product box is surrounded by a shipping box. The power station itself is safely nestled between thick layers of foam.

Inside - Bluetti Elite 200 V2, user manual, power/charging cable, grounding screw and wires for solar modules. Yes, this station can be charged using solar energy, and modules from this same manufacturer are sold separately.

Assembly quality

At first glance, the Elite 200 V2 is a simple and unassuming product. The two handles on top allow you to comfortably lift this station, although it really weighs a lot - a little more than 24kg. The case is made of hard plastic, with cooling holes in places. If you tap the case a little, you can feel the emptiness, that is, not everywhere the internal components rest on the case.

The front features most of the connections. These include a DC/PV connector for solar panels and car charging (this charger is not included), a 12V auxiliary power outlet (or car connector), 2 x USB-C 100W and 2 x USB-A 15W connectors, and 2 230V power outlets.

You will also find an information screen with on/off buttons, as well as separate AC and DC buttons for turning the respective power supplies on and off. On the side of the device you will find a grounding terminal, a charging socket, a fuse, and a cooling vent. 

Overall, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 looks like a quality and well-thought-out product. Nothing rattles or creaks when moving, the connectors don't get stuck, and the buttons are easy to understand. The screen is brightly lit, so even on a sunny day you should probably be able to see everything. It's perhaps a bit strange that some connectors are covered with rubber covers, while others are open.

Charging methods

This mobile power station can be charged in 4 ways. These would be a standard power outlet (or socket), a solar panel, a car charger, and a generator. Since I was only able to charge the review model via a standard outlet due to the shortcomings of the accessories, I cannot confirm how well or poorly other charging methods work.

It took a little over 2 hours to charge the fully discharged station. All this was achieved using the standard charging method. Using the Bluetti app, which I will talk about a little later, charging can be accelerated in Turbo mode, or slowed down and quieted in Silent mode. In Turbo mode, a full charge would take about 20 minutes less than in standard mode, and in Silent about 3 hours.

Silent mode emphasizes low charging noise, but when using standard charging, no sound was heard. It is likely that cooling would be turned on at higher room temperatures. It is no secret that slower charging is more beneficial for batteries. Based on this principle, we could assume that this battery will last longer with silent mode.

Powering devices

I would like to highlight 2 ways in which devices can be powered/charged with the Bluetti Elite 200 V2. The first way is standard AC outlets. In the European version, there are 2 of these plugs, and in the American version, there are 4. Most likely, this is due to the different voltages used, but this is just my guess.

So, using these plugs, the maximum output is 2600W. This is definitely enough for everyday devices. For testing, I turned on an electric kettle and reached about 800W. The power consumption of the vacuum cleaner was about 600-900W. When these devices were turned on at the same time, they worked without any interference.

In another test, I turned on a 1600W electric circular saw and the same vacuum cleaner (the latter is rated at 890W). As in the first test, everything worked flawlessly. A printer and a computer with a 170W charging unit? No problem.

Appliances with heating elements (kettles, hobs, heaters) often exceed 2600W of load. The “Power Lifting” mode is designed specifically for them, allowing the use of appliances up to 3900W. In essence, this mode increases the watts used, but reduces the voltage. Unfortunately, I did not have such appliances at home and did not have time to test this function.

The second method, which is most often used for charging, is a car charger and USB plugs (DC). Both USB-C can deliver up to 100W (each), and USB-A up to 15W. The car plug works as 12V/10A. The USB-C connectors were used most often.

During my testing, I charged a variety of devices with them - a portable speaker, a computer, a phone, and other everyday devices. There was never a time when charging took longer than when using dedicated chargers. Also, charging was always smooth, without any interruptions.

I performed perhaps the most difficult test using both methods (AC and DC) at the same time. A computer, a phone, and a portable speaker were connected to DC for charging. A vacuum cleaner and an electric circular saw were connected to AC. For those who think that they managed to "blow out" the fuse, you are wrong. Everything worked flawlessly.

UPS

Before I got the Bluetti Elite 200 V2, I didn't think about one feature that I think is simply great. This station can serve as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). While the response time of dedicated UPSs usually ranges between 5-10ms, the Bluetti is only slightly behind.

The Elite 200 V2 has a response time of 15ms. I tested this feature by connecting an electric kettle and a phone charger to the AC and turning off the power source to simulate a power outage. Both devices connected to the Elite 200 V2 did not notice the change and continued to work.

But that's not all. There are 4 different programs for performing the UPS function. The first is the standard program when charging from a solar panel and / or electrical grid. The time control program allows you to choose the exact time when the Elite 200 V2 will be charged from the grid, and when the battery power will be supplied to the connected devices. I think this mode would be perfect for those who have different tariffs for electricity supply (day or night).

The third program, PV priority, will charge the battery from the grid only at the very beginning, and then use only the energy provided by the solar module. The last program, custom, allows you to choose the desired parameters from all the programs listed above.

Bluetti app

Like most smart products, Bluetti also has its own app, which allows you to control all the functions of the station. Once downloaded, connecting is simple. The device is paired via Bluetooth and asked to grant Wi-Fi access. The entire connection process takes just a few minutes.

The main window of the device shows information about the energy used and the remaining battery level. Information about charging and connected devices is constantly updated, so you can monitor in real time how many watts (W) are entering and leaving the device. Here you can also turn the station itself on and off, and turn the AC and DC power supplies on and off as needed.

Below, based on current energy consumption, the estimated remaining time is provided if energy consumption does not change. Next comes the amount saved. Here you can enter your electricity price and use this battery in certain modes to monitor how much you have saved over a certain period of time. The last function is energy statistics. Here we can monitor charging and discharging data (in kilowatt hours and watts).

Advanced settings include all the rest of the Bluetti Elite 200 V2. Among them are UPS program control, automatic shutdown, AC output frequency, etc. Also hidden here is the ECO mode with its own settings. This mode can be turned off to keep the device running all the time, or you can change the watts while the ECO mode is still in effect. In addition to all this, you will also find software updates here.

In summary, the Bluetti app is quite simple and the necessary settings can be found without much difficulty. However, those who do not like apps will not be disappointed. Most of the settings are accessible on the station itself by pressing and holding the AC and DC buttons together. Some examples: P01 - frequency, P03 - turbo charging mode, P05 - eco mode, etc. It is also possible to completely disable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

What we didn't like?

They say that perfection has no limits, and this saying applies to this model as well. Despite the good results of its basic functions, I would like a few more things in it that would be useful in everyday life. First of all, some Bluetti models had built-in lights, and here I missed the latter. At night in nature, it is a bit more convenient than a separately connected light. I also missed the wireless charging function.

Looking at the promotional photos on the manufacturer's website, I notice that most of them are in nature. Knowing Lithuanian summers, we understand that rain can come unexpectedly. However, this station is not waterproof. The similar model AC240 in terms of technical parameters has an IP65 protection class, but its price is at least a few hundred euros higher. So, those who seek this advantage will have to open their wallets wider.

Those who invest in such mobile batteries know that additional (extension) batteries can be purchased separately to expand the total capacity. Unfortunately, unlike most Bluetti models, the Elite 200 V2 does not support additional batteries.

Verdict

I spent almost 2 weeks with the Bluetti Elite 200 V2. Although it's a fairly short period of time and I think such a device would shine during summer camping or gardening, it was enough time to form an impression.

While searching for this model, I also read many other reviews. Most of them consider the Elite 200 V2 to be a very good product and probably the best that Bluetti has ever made. The efficiency of the converter and the quality of the sine wave operation (this is a type of converter that converts battery power into alternating current (AC)) are particularly well-received.

One of the most important criteria when choosing any product is its price. This mobile power station is not cheap and there are certainly alternatives to it. Models with similar parameters from other manufacturers can cost at least a couple of hundred euros less. Here we could apply a simple saying - the miser pays twice. The Fossibot F2400 model is much cheaper, but after 3500 charging cycles, the capacity of this battery will reach 80%, while the Elite 200 V2 reaches this level only after 6000 charges.

In my opinion, Bluetti has created a great product. which easily coped with all the tasks I set. Looking at the quality of assembly and operation, I fully believe other reviews and ratings. Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is worthy of its praise.