Charging speed is one of the most important things to consider when you’re choosing a portable power station. How quickly your device recharges can make or break your plans.
EcoFlow and Bluetti are two well-known portable power station brands. Both brands promise fast charging, but how do they actually stack up against each other? Which one is truly faster when it comes to wall outlets, solar panels, and car charging?
In this article, we’ll compare the charging speeds of popular models from both brands. By the end, you’ll know which one is the better fit for your needs. If you want to learn more about each brand’s full suite of features, read Bluetti vs EcoFlow Comparison.
What Affects Charging Speed in Power Stations?
When choosing a portable power station, one of the most important things to consider is how quickly it can recharge. But charging speed isn’t just about plugging it in and waiting. Several factors can affect how fast your power station charges. Here’s a breakdown of what to look out for:
Battery Size (Capacity)
The size of the battery inside the power station is one of the biggest factors that affect charging speed. A larger battery holds more energy, so it will naturally take longer to charge.
- Small power stations (like EcoFlow’s RIVER 3 or Bluetti’s AC60) typically have smaller batteries and recharge faster.
- Larger power stations (like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro or Bluetti AC200L) take longer to recharge because they have bigger batteries that store more energy.
For example:
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 (245Wh) will recharge much quicker than the EcoFlow DELTA Pro (3600Wh) because the DELTA Pro has a much bigger battery.
Charging Input Power (Wattage)
How much power the charger can deliver also plays a huge role in the charging speed. This is measured in watts (W). The higher the input power, the faster the recharge.
- EcoFlow’s X-Stream technology, for instance, allows their DELTA 2 Max to charge faster by accepting 1800W from an AC outlet.
- Bluetti’s AC200L can accept 2400W from an AC input, which allows it to recharge its large battery much faster than many other models.
The key takeaway here: the more watts a power station can accept, the quicker it can recharge.
Charging Method
Not all charging methods are created equal. There are three main ways to charge a power station, and each one has its own speed:
- Wall Charging: This is usually the fastest method. By using high-wattage input from a standard AC outlet, you can charge your power station in just a few hours.
- Solar Charging: While solar charging is perfect for off-grid use, it tends to be slower than wall charging. How fast your power station charges will depend on how many watts your solar panels can output.
- Car Charging: This is usually the slowest method. Most cars output 12V or 24V, which means charging speeds are much slower compared to AC power.
For example:
- EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro charges in 70 minutes with an AC outlet but takes 9 hours via car input.
- Bluetti AC180 charges in 1.3 hours with AC but takes over 12 hours when charged via car.
Dual Input Charging
Some power stations support dual input charging, meaning they can charge from two different sources at the same time (e.g., AC and solar). This can drastically cut down your charging time.
For example:
- The EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max can fully recharge in just 60 minutes using both AC and solar.
- The Bluetti AC200L can also use dual inputs to fully recharge in just 2 hours when combining AC and solar power.
Battery Chemistry
The type of battery inside the power station also affects charging speed. Most portable power stations use lithium-ion batteries, but there are two main types:
- LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate): These batteries tend to charge a bit slower but last longer and are safer.
- Li-ion (Lithium-ion): These batteries can charge faster but might degrade more quickly over time.
For example, Bluetti’s LFP batteries (used in models like the AC200P) last longer and are known for their safety, but they may charge slower than standard Li-ion batteries used in some EcoFlow models.
Key Takeaways:
- Larger batteries take longer to charge.
- Higher wattage input speeds up the charging process.
- Charging method matters: Wall charging is quickest, solar is slow, and car charging is the slowest.
- Dual input charging can speed things up.
- LiFePO4 batteries last longer but can charge slower.
Bluetti vs EcoFlow Charging Speeds
AC Wall Charging Comparison
EcoFlow generally offers faster AC wall charging than Bluetti, especially for larger models. While Bluetti is competitive, especially in their smaller models, EcoFlow’s ability to maintain speed across all battery sizes makes it the more efficient choice.
Standout Model: EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max
One of the fastest models on the market – the EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max delivers 2048Wh capacity and reaches 100% charge in about 1.1 hours with 1800W input.
Bluetti AC180
The Bluetti AC180 delivers capacity of 1,152Wh, but takes almost 2 hours to charge when plugged into an AC wall outlet.
Bluetti AC Wall Charging Speeds
- Bluetti AC2P (230.4Wh): Charges in 1.2 hours with 270W input.
- Bluetti AC60 (403Wh): Charges in 1 hour with 600W input.
- Bluetti AC70 (768Wh): Charges in 1 hour with 850W input.
- Bluetti AC180 (1152Wh): Charges in 1.8 hours with 1440W input.
- Bluetti AC180T (1433Wh): Charges in 1.1 hours.
- Bluetti AC200L (2048Wh): Charges in 1.5 hours with 2400W input.
EcoFlow AC Wall Charging Speeds
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus (286Wh): Charges in 1 hour with 380W.
- EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 (499Wh): Charges in 1 hour with 1600W.
- EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro (768Wh): Charges in 1.1 hours with 940W input.
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus (1024Wh): Charges in 1 hour with 1500W.
- EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max (2048Wh): Charges in 1.1 hours with 1800W input.
- EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 (4096Wh): Charges in 1.1 hours with 3600W input.
Key Comparisons
- EcoFlow Charges Big Batteries Faster. EcoFlow is great at charging large power stations quickly, even for big batteries. They stay fast where others slow down.
- Bigger Batteries Usually Take Longer, But EcoFlow Handles It Well. As batteries get bigger, they usually take longer to charge. EcoFlow does a good job of keeping charge times short, while Bluetti slows down more with larger batteries.
- More Power In = Faster Charging. The more power you give these power stations, the quicker they charge. EcoFlow stands out because it uses both high power and smart tech to charge faster overall.
- The key takeaway is that EcoFlow’s charging times are impressive across a broad range of capacities, while Bluetti tends to slow down as battery capacity increases.
Solar Charging Comparison
Bluetti and EcoFlow take different approaches to solar charging efficiency. EcoFlow’s dual-port technology and efficient design make it a leader in fast solar charging across most categories, while Bluetti’s high input wattage delivers stellar performance for larger models.
Standout Model: Bluetti AC240
The AC240 with capacity of 1,536Wh charges in 1.5 hours with 1200W solar input.
EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max
The DELTA 2 Max has capacity of 2,048Wh and takes 2.3 hours with 1000W dual port solar input.
Bluetti Solar Charging Speeds
- Bluetti AC2A (204.8Wh): 2 hours with 500W input.
- Bluetti AC60 (403Wh): 2.5 hours with 200W input.
- Bluetti AC180 (1152Wh): 2.8 to 3.3 hours with 500W input.
- Bluetti AC180T (1433Wh): 2.5 hours with 500W input.
- Bluetti AC240 (1536Wh): 1.5 hours with 1200W input.
- Bluetti AC200L (2048Wh): 2 hours with 1200W input.
EcoFlow Solar Charging Speeds
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 (245Wh): 2.8+ hours with 110W input.
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus (286Wh): 1.5 hours with 220W input.
- EcoFlow DELTA 2 (1024Wh): 2.3 hours with 500W input.
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus (1024Wh): 1.1 hours with 1000W dual port input.
- EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max (2048Wh): 2.3 hours with 1000W dual port input.
- EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 (4096Wh): 2.6 hours with 1600W input.
Key Takeaways
- EcoFlow Excels in Faster Charging with Lower Wattage. EcoFlow’s technology is highly efficient, allowing faster charging even with moderate or dual-port inputs. This makes their products versatile and ideal for users without access to high-wattage setups.
- Bluetti Relies on High Input Wattage for Speed. Bluetti’s strength lies in leveraging high-wattage solar input to deliver fast charging times, especially for larger models. This is a great option for users with access to powerful solar panels.
- Input Wattage Drives Charging Speed in Small Models. Charging speed for smaller models largely depends on input wattage. Higher input wattage results in faster charging, a strategy both brands employ effectively.
- Different Strategies for Efficiency. Bluetti focuses on raw power with high input wattage, while EcoFlow uses advanced technology and dual-port inputs to maximize efficiency. These approaches cater to different user needs.
- Fast Charging Even with Large Batteries. Both brands maintain competitive charging speeds as battery sizes grow, showing advancements in solar charging technology for large-capacity models.
Bluetti and EcoFlow take different approaches to solar charging efficiency. EcoFlow’s dual-port technology and efficient design make it a leader in fast solar charging across most categories, while Bluetti’s high input wattage delivers stellar performance for larger models.
Car Charging Comparison
Bluetti and EcoFlow offer comparable car charging speeds for most of their models. Bluetti seems to offer more consistent charging times across its range, while EcoFlow’s times vary more widely between models.
Standout Model: EcoFlow Delta Pro 3
The DELTA Pro 3 with capacity of 4,096Wh has car charging speeds of 10 hours (12V).
Bluetti AC180
The AC180 with capacity of 1,152Wh has car charging speeds of 12 hours (12V) or 6 hours (24V).
Bluetti Car Charging Speeds
- Bluetti EB3A (268Wh): Charges in 3 hours (12V) or 2 hours (24V).
- Bluetti AC60 (403Wh): Charges in 2.5 hours.
- Bluetti AC180 (1152Wh): 12 hours (12V) or 6 hours (24V).
- Bluetti AC180T (1433Wh): 14 hours (12V) or 7 hours (24V).
- Bluetti AC180T (1433Wh): 14 hours (12V) or 7 hours (24V).
- Bluetti AC200L (2048Wh): 20+ hours (12V) or 10+ hours (24V).
EcoFlow Car Charging Speeds
- EcoFlow RIVER 2 (256Wh): Full Charge in 3 hours.
- EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus (286Wh): Full Charge in 3.3 hours.
- EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro (768Wh): 9 hours (12V).
- EcoFlow DELTA (1260Wh): 13 hours (12V) or 10 hours (24V).
- EcoFlow DELTA Pro (3600Wh): 21+ hours (12V) or 10+ hours (24V).
- EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 (4096Wh): 10+ hours (12V).
Key Takeaways
- Both Bluetti and EcoFlow charge their smaller power stations (under 300Wh) in about 2-3 hours. This makes them great for quick recharges on the go.
- For mid-sized batteries, EcoFlow models generally take less time to charge compared to Bluetti. EcoFlow keeps charging times shorter, even with limited car power.
- Larger power stations from both brands take significantly more time to charge in a car, especially using 12V outlets. EcoFlow’s dual charging options (12V and 24V) provide some flexibility, keeping charge times reasonable for big units.
- Using a 24V car outlet drastically speeds up charging for both brands. For instance, a battery that takes 14 hours on 12V might only take 7 hours on 24V.
Dual Input Charging Comparison
Both brands offer dual input charging. This method can drastically reduces total charging time when using combined AC and solar power.
Standout Model: EcoFlow Delta Pro
The DELTA Pro delivers a massive 3600Wh capacity and charges via AC + Solar + Smart Generator in just 2 hours!
Bluetti Dual Charging Speeds
- Bluetti EB3A (268Wh): AC + Solar: 430W or AC + AC: 430W – Full charge time: 1.2 to 1.7 hours
- Bluetti AC200L (2048Wh): AC + Solar: 2400W, Full charge time: 2 hours
EcoFlow Dual Charging Speeds
- EcoFlow DELTA 2 (1024Wh): Solar + AC: 1700W – 80% charge in 43 minutes
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus (1024Wh): AC + Solar: 1500W – Full charge time: 1 hour
- EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max (2048Wh): Solar + AC: 2400W – Full charge time: 1 hour
- EcoFlow DELTA Pro (3600Wh): AC + Solar + Smart Generator: 6500W – Full charge time: 2 hours
Key Takeaways
- Charging Power: EcoFlow generally offers higher dual charging power across its range. The DELTA Pro stands out with an impressive 6500W input when combining AC, solar, and a smart generator7.
- Charging Efficiency: EcoFlow appears to have an edge in charging efficiency. For example, the DELTA 2 Max charges its 2048Wh battery in just 1 hour at 2400W, while the Bluetti AC200L with the same capacity takes 2 hours at the same power input5.
- Versatility: Both brands offer multiple charging options, but EcoFlow seems to provide more flexibility, especially with the DELTA Pro’s triple charging capability
Why does solar charging take longer than AC charging?
Solar charging depends on how much sunlight the panels can capture, which can vary based on weather, angle, and time of day. AC charging delivers consistent power, making it faster and more reliable.
Why is EcoFlow’s wall charging so fast?
EcoFlow’s X-Stream technology enables higher input wattage from AC outlets while protecting the battery. This reduces charging times significantly without compromising battery health.
EcoFlow’s charging speeds are designed to minimize downtime. Whether you’re using a wall outlet, solar panels, or a combination of both, EcoFlow models deliver some of the fastest results on the market. But how do they compare to Bluetti overall? Let’s wrap it up in the next section.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, both brands are excellent options. Your decision will depend on how you plan to use your portable power station. Are you camping off-grid with solar panels? Bluetti has you covered. Need quick recharges between uses? EcoFlow is hard to beat.
Related Topics: