Bluetti ups the ante with its AC200L portable power station

With the range of Bluetti portable power stations available, is there still a need to spend time and money installing an auxiliary battery system or inverter in your 4WD?

Many of the models in the Bluetti line-up can power a 12-volt fridge; safely recharge camera, chainsaw, power-tool and laptop batteries; and be used to run a hairdryer, coffee machine, milk frother, toaster and kettle … so buying a portable power station is a no-brainer.

The latest offering from Bluetti is the AC200L, a step up from the AC200MAX. This model leads the pack with groundbreaking improvements in charging speed, output power, more intuitive LCD display, unobtrusive operation and energy efficiency. It has the same capacity as the AC200MAX, but with a higher output of 2400W that can be uplifted to 3600W for heavy-duty equipment. The AC200L provides a one-stop solution to meet your daily electrical needs when camping or exploring.

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With the AC200L's 2400W AC input, you can charge the 40Ah LifePO4 Lithium Iron Phosphate battery from 0 to 80 per cent in 45 minutes. Charging times using a Bluetti solar panel are also impressive at 1200W which charges it up from 0 to 80 per cent in only 90 minutes. When you plug it into both AC and solar, the AC200L automatically prioritises the solar intake. You can also recharge the AC200L while driving via the supplied 12/24V power cable.

The pure-sine wave inverter powers four 230V/10.5A AC outlets at a total of 2400W, to keep your fridge and induction cooktop humming for hours. There are also two 100W USB-C ports and two 18W USB-A ports to power-up or charge smartphones, camera batteries and Bluetooth speakers. There is also a 48VDC/8A RV outlet and a 12V/10A power outlet. It is disappointing that there isn’t a wireless charging pad on the top of the AC200L.

The Bluetti AC200L expands seamlessly with the B210, B230 and B300 expansion batteries so that you can increase the capacity of the AC200L to an incredible 8192Wh; although, we see this as being practical for power outages at home rather than out in the bush.

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The LifePO4 Lithium Iron Phosphate battery has a shelf life of 3000+ cycles to 80 per cent original capacity, which offers value for money over the life of the AC200L. Bluetti recommends the unit be recharged to 80 per cent every three to six months.

Weighing in at 28.3kg the Bluetti AC200L portable power station is heavy, but the sturdy built-in handles on either side of the unit make it easier to move around. The unit measures 420mm long, 280mm wide and 366.6mm high, and comes with a five-year warranty.

The recommended retail price of the AC200L is $2999, but we have seen it up to $200 cheaper on the website as well as at reseller stores such as Bunnings.