Bluetti Elite 200 V2 and Handsfree 2 Power Stations reviewed

You’ve likely noticed a pattern with the battery-powered reviews I’ve been dropping lately. The review bucket has been filled to the brim lately, so it makes sense to bundle items together. From bikes and derailleurs to seatposts, forks, and shocks – everything on that list may have battery at this point. As a photographer and gear editor, managing this daily influx of cells has become a second job. The commuter needs its blinky lights topped up, the trail lights need juice for night rides, and if I’m doing work around the house, the power tools and portable pumps are vying for outlet space. Throw in a smartwatch, and there’s enough battery power in my office to jump-start the Canadian Navy. To be honest, I’m not exactly stoked on the scenario. I keep the more “violent” LiPo batteries for my RC trucks in metal containers, just in case they decide to try and kill us in our sleep. The e-bikes only get charged while we’re awake or tucked away in the shed. The potential for something going wrong may be low, but it’s within the realm of reality.

Bluetti Enters the Chat

As the daily need for power increased in my household, so did the consumption. With multiple units running washers and dryers, TVs and their battery-powered crap, not to mention the heat-pump we retrofitted, we decided it was time to take advantage of some of the local government initiatives and whack a 10.5Kw of total solar panel capacity on our roof. Even with full sun blasting down on our South facing property, we are using more than we are generating most days. We are not discouraged, as we are making a good dent in our demand on most sunny days. When we travel in our camper van, we run dual AGM (acid glass matt) batteries charged by the alternator or the 400w solar panels on the roof. This setup gets us through a couple of weeks of off-grid living. In my truck, things are a little different. I travel to events like the BC Bike Race and live unplugged for a week or so, shooting and living out of my truck. I have a camera and laptop batteries to deal with and often an eMTB to change every night. While I can often secure an outlet for a few hours to charge the bike, the little gadgets get lost if they aren’t charged all together in the safety of the truck. There is also the snack and beer fridge in there that keeps me fueled for days at a time.

Bluetti sent along two healthy assistants to ensure I had enough juice last year. The Elite 200 and the Handsfree 2 battery and backpack. They both serve an important purpose and have proven to be extremely valuable technologies for everyday use.

Elite 200 V2 Specs

BATTERY INFO

• Capacity
  2,073.6Wh (54 Ah)
• Battery Type
  LiFePO₄
• Life Cycles
  6,000+ Cycles to 80% Original Capacity
• Shelf-life
  Recharge to 40%-60% Every 3-6 Months

OUTPUT

• Inverter Type
  Pure Sine Wave
• Lifting Power
  3,900W
• AC Output
  2,600W in total, 120V, 21.6A
• USB-C Port
  2 x 100W Max.
• USB-A Port
  2 x 15W, 5V / 3A
• Cigarette Lighter Port
  1 x 12V/10A

INPUT

• AC Input
  1,800W Max. (Charging +Bypass)
• Solar Input
  1,000W Max., 12V to 60V, 20A Max.
• Car Input
  96W（12V）/ 192W (24V)
• Max Input
  2,400W (AC + DC Input)

GENERAL

• 240V Split Phase Bonding
  No
• App Control
  BLUETTI App (WiFi / Bluetooth)
• Scalability
  No
• Pass-through Charging
  Yes
• Noise
  16dB to 50dB
• UPS Switching Time
  ≤15ms
• Dimensions (L×W×H)
  13.78 × 9.84 × 12.74in / 350 × 250 × 323.6mm
• Weight
  53.4lbs / 24.2kg
• Charging Temperature
  32°F to 104°F / 0°C to 40°C
• Discharging Temperature
  -4°F to 104°F / -20°C to 40°C
• Storage Temperature
  Up to 1 month: -10°C to 40°C (14°F to 104°F) More than 1 month: -10°C to 35°C (14°F to 95°F)
• Warranty
  5 Years

The Elite 200 has been a staple in my day-to-day use, mainly because it virtually powers my iMac all day long. The UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supply) function of the Elite 200 means that if my house lost power—which it did in a very dramatic fashion in December ’19 during a massive snowstorm—my work wouldn’t be interrupted. The UPS function can kick in within 15ms and take over powering duties for me as the iMac sips at an average 50-100w of power. This means I can virtually power the computer for a week or two before I need to charge the Bluetti up again. The Elite and most of the other bigger power stations from Bluetti are designed to be permanently plugged in, waiting to spring to action with their relatively stable and safe LiFePO₄ batteries.

The Elite 200 is so powerful that I have plugged in the fridge and other kitchen appliances simultaneously. On the road, you can bring and run an air fryer if you want to. Which makes cooking a little less fun but a lot more convenient. With fire bans across BC over the summer, and not wanting to keep buying propane bottles, this is a creative solution. The Elite can power a 35qt fridge in the heat of the summer for a few days. Charging the Elite back up is also simple if you have access to a wall outlet. When plugged in to the wall and the Turbo Charging enabled, the Elite drinks up 1800W of electricity and charges up to 80% capacity in an hour. On road trips, a small stop for coffee or gas can mean you can top up easily. Bluetti did not send solar panels to try, but I will be adding a 200w folding set from the brand or an aftermarket one this year. Just make sure you meet the specifications and have the correct MC4-XC60 connectors. There is also the Charger 2, which you can permanently wire to your car’s battery for charging capabilities while driving. When camping, the driving is minimal, so solar is always a better option.

On a recent trip to Haida Gwaii and Northern BC, we brought eMTBs to give ourselves a little more freedom when exploring trail networks and rough fire roads where the van would be in peril. Charging the ebikes on the go can be tough when the 600 and 800Wh batteries are thirsty at the end of a long day. The Elite 200 V2, with its 2,073.6Wh capacity, can charge the eebs a couple of times over before depleting its reserves. This came in super handy as we explored the remote corners of Graham Island, Nass Valley and Nisga’a Territory. When you are in the middle of Grizzly territory during salmon runs, it’s best to have some power under your legs for safety.

Handsfree 2 and the Backpack situation

Along with the 55lb Elite 200 that is only portable if you are driving, came an interesting backpack + battery solution for on the go power management. A well-designed 60L backpack that can hold a 512Wh battery.

BATTERY INFO

• Capacity: 512Wh
• Type: LiFePO₄ (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
• Life Cycles: 4000+ Cycles to 80% Original Capacity
• Shelf-life: Recharge to 80% Every 3-6 Months
• Management System: MPPT Controller, BMS, etc.

OUTPUT

• Power: 700W
• Lifting Power: 1200W
• AC Outlet x 1: 700W in total
• USB-C x 2: 100W USB-A x 2: 15W in total

INPUT

• AC Input: 600W Max.
• Solar Input: 350W Max.
• RECHARGE TIME
• AC Charging): 45min (80%) / 1.3Hours (100%)
• Solar Charging: 2 Hours (350W)
• Car Charging: 5.8Hours (12V) / 3.1 Hours(24V)

GENERAL

• Pass-through Charging: Yes
• UPS Switching Time: ≤20ms
• Charging Temperature: 0°C to 40°C / 32°F to 104°F
• Discharging Temperature: -20°C to 40°C / -4°F to 104°F
• Storage Temperature: -20°C to 40°C / -4°F to 104°F
• Weight: About 7.5kg / 16.5lbs
• Dimensions (L x W x D): 305mm × 105mm × 385mm / 12in × 4.1in × 15.2in
• Warranty: 5 Years

The Handsfree 2 is a portable system that is either a 512Wh power station, a 60L back pack or a 60W solar panel. You can also combine all of them for a hell of a setup to charge your devices as you hike and camp. To put it into perspective, the 2280mAh batteries in my Sony A7III cameras are good for a couple of days of shooting. I have two of them. If I was in the desert shooting long night exposures or video-heavy work, I could see the need for that much artillery in a massive backpack. Add a laptop and a drone or two, and keeping things charged is crucial.

The backpack is well thought out and designed to carry heavy gear: 30kg / 66lb to be exact. It sits on my 5’9″ body well but I feel like it is designed for slightly taller people. Loaded with 30kg of gear, I would not wander too far from the vehicle with this setup. But even if it was 100 meters or so, it is a great piece of gear to protect and house all my equipment. In the house, the pack lives as a camera cabinet of sorts, keeping all things photography organized.

Several brands offer great value in power stations, with EcoFlow, Anker, and Jackery being the most prominent. However, Bluetti stands out as a premium, well-designed option. Currently, some power stations are up to 50% off on the Bluetti website, making them a compelling choice.

While my bikes are morphing back to cable-actuated systems whenever possible and eMTBs are only used when absolutely necessary, the Bluettis are extremely useful for storing energy day to day. In a neighbourhood where neighbours are charging power-hungry EVs and operating heat pumps, and winds batter our 100-year-old Douglas Firs until they shed massive branches onto power lines, redundancies are a necessity for a power-hungry house. (And my wood fireplace is always primed in case we lose that heat.)

The Bluetti Elite 200 V2 and the Handsfree 2 have made life on the road much easier. I’m looking forward to adding solar panels and the Charger 2 unit to my truck for even more flexibility during trips.

Bluetti Elite 200 V2 on sale for 1199 CAD // 899 USD down from 2499 CAD // 1699USD

Bluetti Handsfree 2 on sale for 798 CAD // 399 USD down from 899 CAD // 599USD