EcoFlow Energy Package overview: off-grid residing made straightforward

There’s by no means been a greater time to grow to be a digital nomad.

Many employers not named Elon Musk now provide versatile work-from-home preparations, enacted throughout the pandemic and made everlasting in 2022. Paradoxically, Musk’s little Starlink RV service has been a boon to distant working by bringing comparatively quick web to nice swaths of digital wilderness, even whereas driving. And for these trying to go actually distant, dozens of nations, like Spain, Barbados, Namibia, and Malaysia, now provide short-term residency permits to digital staff of foreign-based employers. 

It’s also possible to take your nomadic existence off the grid because of advances in photo voltaic panels and batteries. Excessive-capacity batteries now cost sooner, last more, weigh much less, and provide improved security because of the adoption of lithium iron phosphate (LFP or LiFePO4) chemistry. That’s good since you’ll be needing plenty of energy if you wish to reside and work from the seashore, forest, or mountain high comfortably.

However you possibly can’t depend on the solar’s energy alone. For prolonged off-grid stays, you’ll want the power to replenish these batteries with no matter sources you could have at your disposal, be it AC shops at an RV park (aka, “shore energy”), your van’s alternator, and even a diesel generator or wind turbine in a pinch. That’s the place the brand new EcoFlow Energy Kits are available. 

EcoFlow introduced its expandable Energy Package collection again in June as an all-in-one turnkey resolution to simply convey energy to distant cabins and RVs. It’s meant to enhance and simplify all the pieces from planning and set up to operation in comparison with bespoke electrical methods bought immediately by business stalwarts like Victron Power. 

Particularly, EcoFlow claims that its Energy Kits can match “any van measurement” and be arrange “5 instances sooner” than conventional methods. So I put these claims to the take a look at with the assistance of each novice {and professional} installers.

The novice set up was accomplished in an previous Ford Transit Westfalia Nugget — the van you rebuild as a result of your dad and mom bought it to you low cost — by Roel, an everyday man able to putting in a lightweight swap or two. The skilled set up was accomplished in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — the gold normal for vanlifers — by Fabian van Doeselaar, the proprietor of Origin Travelvans.

Fabian got here away so impressed that he’s redesigning the Victron-based interiors of his customized journey vans to accommodate the EcoFlow Energy Package. It’s not an ideal system, particularly for Roel’s smaller van, however EcoFlow’s resolution has much more pluses than minuses.

Simply make certain the employer that helps your goals of escapism additionally pays properly. EcoFlow Energy Kits aren’t low cost, with costs beginning round $4,000. And that’s earlier than you add any photo voltaic panels.

EcoFlow sells its Energy Kits with a variety of configurations that may scale for various wants. The bottom configuration comes with the Energy Hub, cables, and selection of batteries for a complete capability between 2kWh and 15kWh. 

The Energy Hub is the brains of the system and offers a central level of connectivity for the batteries and the entire inputs and outputs. It combines a number of capabilities that may sometimes require their very own containers and exterior wiring. Contained in the Energy Hub, you’ll discover three MPPT photo voltaic cost controllers, an inverter charger, a DC-DC step-down converter, and a DC-DC battery charger. For a lot of installations, this all-in-one strategy is a bonus, however when area is severely restricted, it may be advantageous to have a number of smaller units that may be tucked into any out there nook (extra on that later).

Optionally, you possibly can add each a $499 AC/DC Good Distribution Panel and a $349 wired seven-inch touchscreen console show for extra granular management over your car’s electrical units. The console is perhaps redundant for some because it simply mimics performance already included within the wonderful EcoFlow app, however others will gladly pay to have a devoted show mounted inside their van or tiny dwelling.

As much as three batteries might be plugged into the Energy Hub, however you possibly can’t combine 2kWh batteries with 5kWh batteries. The batteries are heated, permitting them to each discharge and cost when the temperature drops under freezing outdoors with out affecting their efficiency or lifespan. Cost heating activates mechanically when temperatures fall under 32 levels F (0 levels C) and consumes energy from the exterior charging supply (comparable to photo voltaic panels), whereas the battery powers discharge heating, which is why it have to be enabled manually to keep away from surprising battery depletion.

Energy Package bundles don’t embrace any photo voltaic panels. The Energy Hub is designed to simply hook up with any of EcoFlow’s personal inflexible, versatile, or moveable photo voltaic panels, but it surely additionally works with third-party panels (utilizing normal MC4 connectors or adapters) as long as their most open circuit voltage doesn’t exceed 150V. It helps as much as 4800W of whole photo voltaic enter unfold throughout three 1600W ports.

The Energy Hub is a 48-volt system that makes use of a step-down DC-DC module to make it appropriate with campers constructed round widespread 12V and even 24V methods. 48V has an a variety of benefits together with decrease present for a similar energy output, permitting for a lot thinner (and lighter) cables for use all through the car. 

The Energy Hub inverter is able to producing as much as 3600W (7200W peak), which is sufficient to simply energy nearly any AC equipment you’d wish to set up contained in the van, together with induction cooktops and air conditioners. (Sure, EcoFlow makes a type of, too.) The Energy Hub may even energy AC units drawing as much as 5000W because of EcoFlow’s X-Enhance tech, which lowers the output voltage, thereby decreasing the efficiency of high-wattage units. It’s greatest to think about X-Enhance as a security web that might sometimes get you out of a jam.

The picture above reveals the entire EcoFlow Energy Package parts laid out like a mirror with a comparable system (with a lot smaller battery capability) from Victron Power utilized in Fabian’s vans. Victron’s little blue containers are fantastically succesful and scalable, which has made them the go-to model for van builders world wide. However they require information approaching that of an skilled electrician as a way to select the suitable parts after which mount and wire them collectively appropriately. Alternatively, professionals like Fabian can fine-tune Victron configurations to the precise wants of a specific construct, which may lower your expenses and possibly even a little bit area.

Another notable options:

• Automated Bypass mode sends externally related AC energy on to AC home equipment within the van whereas the batteries cost.
• The Energy Hub’s alternator port is wired on to the van’s starter battery (which is related to the car’s alternator). The Energy Hub stops drawing present when the car is idle by default, though that may be overridden within the app.
• EcoFlow’s iOS and Android app works over Bluetooth or 2.4GHz Wi-Fi to handle inputs and outputs with spectacular granularity.
• An built-in Battery Administration System (BMS) displays temperature, voltage, and present to maintain all the pieces working safely.
• EcoFlow tells me that Energy Kits work with some wind generators within the 12-60V, 30A vary to cost with DC. EcoFlow is exploring a transportable wind turbine product for potential launch someday in 2023.
• EcoFlow sells a $1,399 dual-fuel Good Generator that may plug into the Energy Hub for emergency AC or DC charging energy. It’ll proceed to run for so long as you could have both propane or diesel to gas it.

Each Roel and Fabian had the identical remark upon receipt of their overview items: “It’s all very Apple-like.” The expertise begins with a gee-whiz unboxing that reveals nice wanting {hardware} and an app expertise that overdelivers — all extremely uncommon on this planet of van builders.

The set up advantages from straightforward to know directions out there in lots of languages, fast and informative help movies on EcoFlow’s YouTube channel, and a 1:1 scale paper template to assist optimize placement and keep away from any time-consuming errors.

“By comparability, Victron’s manuals comprise giant quantities of data that elaborate on the entire system. That may get complicated, typically,” says Fabian. “EcoFlow’s manuals are small however clarify sufficient to know the best way to set up it. For many individuals I feel it’s higher.”

EcoFlow’s cables are additionally properly constructed and labeled to keep away from any confusion. Screws and different small elements are bagged individually to maintain issues organized, and lock washers come fitted to bolts in a manner that stops them from coming unfastened and being misplaced. Such consideration to element was appreciated by each installers. “It’s very arduous to make a mistake,” says Roel.

The extent of match and end on every Energy Package part can be uncommon for methods that sometimes get put in inside cupboards or beneath seats. Even the monochromatic cables look good in comparison with the mess of wiring spaghetti wanted for different energy methods. Each Roel and Fabian would don’t have any downside leaving some, or all, of the parts uncovered of their builds. Mounting the Energy Hub out within the open helps you to see the standing lights for charging and output whereas additionally offering fast entry to buttons that activate and off the AC and DC outputs. That may come in useful when you don’t really feel like firing up the app or strolling over to the Energy Package console show. 

EcoFlow actually nailed the rugged but refined journey van aesthetic, one thing Fabian had already adopted for his customized van builds.

Fabian is the proprietor of Origin Travelvans, a Netherlands-based builder of customized VW Crafter and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans for “true adventurers and digital nomads.” His adventurous spirit and mechanical know-how are shared by his brother Mathieu, who makes rugged equipment for journey vans in Europe and the US by means of his firm Dutch Van Elements. The brothers are specialists in van customizations, each in and out.

Fabian acquired the biggest (and costliest at $15,000) 15kWh Energy Package system for set up in his Mercedes-Benz Sprinter L2H2, the workhorse panel van used all through Europe. This tradition six-meter (nearly 20-foot) van is Fabian’s private take a look at car, the place he can reside with new applied sciences, parts, and layouts earlier than providing them to clients for costs that may exceed $150,000.

His Sprinter van was already fitted with an influence system from Victron Power, which needed to be eliminated previous to putting in the EcoFlow Energy Hub, Good AC/DC Distribution Panel, and batteries within the reclaimed area. What you see pictured, together with the entire leftover crimson cabling, will not be Fabian’s last meeting, but it surely’s an affordable approximation to check EcoFlow’s declare that the Energy Package might be arrange and put in “5 instances sooner” than competing methods.

Earlier than making the Energy Package set up everlasting, Fabian first wants to revamp his customized aluminum cupboards to optimize the match of every EcoFlow part for simple entry and air flow. See, after spending just a few weeks with the Energy Package, Fabian is assured that his future Origin Travelvans will probably be constructed round EcoFlow methods, regardless of experiencing just a few hiccups alongside the best way (extra on that later).

The AC/DC Good Distribution Panel is perhaps Fabian’s favourite a part of the Energy Package. First, it simplifies the set up and makes it safer by terminating all of the wiring inside a central field utilizing quick-connect wire snaps, whereas isolating the entire DC and AC cable runs from one another. It has six AC positions and 12 fused DC positions, six of which you can management and monitor independently from both the EcoFlow app or Energy Package console show. Different methods (like Victron) can do that, but it surely’s extra time-consuming and complicated to arrange because it requires a number of modules that should be linked along with software program and wiring.

Fabian presently standardizes his builds round a few Victron system configurations — one for medium energy wants and one for top — to simplify his set up course of. “However now the Energy Package system permits me to actually shortly have new setups and new potentialities with out having to fully redesign the distribution,” says Fabian. “And for me as a builder, it’s completely nice. It simplifies all the pieces. It’s an enormous distinction from Victron.”

The Good Distribution Panel can be useful to the van proprietor. Seeing each historic and real-time energy consumption for particular AC units like air conditioners and induction cooktops and DC units like fridges and lights may help customers reside extra effectively as a way to maximize the time spent off-grid.  It additionally brings many smart-home conveniences to vanlife.

The Energy Package will not be an ideal system, nevertheless.

To start out with, Energy Hub placement is proscribed by the size of the LFP battery cables, which measure simply 1.5m (4 toes, 11 inches). That’s not an issue for methods with much less battery capability, however Fabian’s 15kWh config has three big 5kWh LFP batteries to cable again to the Energy Hub, every measuring 19.7in (50cm) vast. As such, the battery that’s furthest away goes to find out the placement of the Energy Hub and vice versa. That’s most likely why EcoFlow is so keen on displaying its three-battery methods stacked vertically inside vans. However that doesn’t make a lot sense for Fabian’s 4×4 vans that carry out higher with the inside weight evenly distributed low to the bottom. 

In actual fact, Fabian says his 15kWh configuration is overkill for a typical van and is best suited to tiny off-grid properties fitted with heavy-duty home equipment. “I feel if you’re residing and dealing off-grid, three batteries is certainly a bonus. However for a basic system put in in a van, I feel you ought to be okay with one 5kWh battery.” Nonetheless, Fabian plans to faucet into all of that capability to construct a propane-free showcase van loaded with power-hungry kitchen, environmental, and leisure tech.

Set up can be constrained by EcoFlow’s comparatively giant air flow necessities that whittle away at valuable area. The Energy Hub requires not less than 10cm (about 4 inches) on three sides (5cm / 2in on the left aspect) to make sure correct air flow. “The Energy Hub is a pleasant compact unit. Alternatively, it does want numerous room for air flow in accordance with the handbook,” says Fabian. “The Victron components are smaller and separate, so you could find higher methods to make use of out there area.” 

The Energy Hub’s high-speed followers can get actually loud as properly. They spin up shortly after plugging the Energy Hub into shore energy for charging. EcoFlow has a status for its loud followers, however that’s unavoidable with the present state of fast-charging tech. Fortuitously, you possibly can cut back the charging amperage within the app to decrease the fan speeds, which may very well be a lifesaver if it is advisable to cost in a single day at an RV park whereas attempting to sleep.

There’s additionally the problem of bugs. After set up, Fabian found that the batteries had been draining regardless of all of his AC and DC units being shut off, with two of his batteries discharging sooner than the third. These points had been resolved by means of a collection of firmware updates over a interval of about 4 weeks. EcoFlow has a status for being fast to squash bugs. That’s good, however you need to surprise how such apparent points allowed the product to ship within the first place and what new issues will probably be found over long-term testing.

Fabian’s last difficulty is a minor one. Not like the LFP battery cables, many of the cables that ship with the package are just too lengthy. Fabian makes a speciality of constructing light-weight journey vans as a way to keep away from European restrictions that kick in above 3.5 metric tons — so each gram counts. As such, he ultimately plans to shorten the cables that run from the Energy Hub to the starter battery and Good Distribution Panel. That’s no downside, although, because the connectors are designed to be opened as a way to lower and reconnect the interior wires. And that work pales compared to the entire cables Fabian needed to create from scratch for the Victron methods he’s been utilizing.

With regard to EcoFlow’s declare that the Energy Package might be put in “5 instances sooner” than competing methods, that’s true, in accordance with Fabian. His set up took lower than 5 hours and included a deep dive into the manuals. Fabian notes, nevertheless, that the pace declare is simply true for absolutely specced methods just like the one he put in. In case your wants are easy and due to this fact don’t require numerous cabling and configuration, then the Energy Package received’t save a ton of time, he says.

Roel is assured sufficient round dwelling electrical energy to wire up a lightweight swap and set up his personal photo voltaic panels. He has no real interest in changing into fodder for the web’s promoting engines, although, which is why I agreed to withhold his final identify.

Roel acquired the smallest 2kWh Energy Package ($4,000) to put in in his 16-year-old Ford Westfalia Nugget. When EcoFlow says its Energy Package can match “any van measurement,” properly, that is the campervan to show it. 

To suit the Energy Hub and single 2kWh battery, he needed to first make room by eradicating his grey water assortment tank, which shops runoff from the sink. He wasn’t utilizing the tank, so it wasn’t a lot of a sacrifice — however not each small van proprietor can have that form of flexibility.

The cupboard the place all the pieces is put in doubles as storage throughout the day and helps a part of the mattress at evening. Meaning the area will probably be coated by a stable shelf or mattress for lengthy durations of time. The tight area required Roel to get inventive with the mounting brackets since there wasn’t sufficient room to observe EcoFlow’s actual mounting directions. Fortuitously, that work solely required drilling just a few holes and attaching some bolts.

Area for the EcoFlow parts was additional infringed upon by the spools of lengthy cable that needed to be tucked into the realm between the battery and Energy Hub. Roel plans to shorten the cables to liberate extra space for air flow. He did lower some air flow holes into the encircling cabinetry, however he’s not throughout the 10cm tolerances EcoFlow recommends for correct air flow. 

Fortuitously, Roel lives within the Netherlands, which has a really delicate local weather. Nevertheless it stays to be seen how properly the Energy Hub holds up over time, particularly on lengthy household journeys to southern Europe throughout the summers.

To his dismay, Roel didn’t have sufficient room to put in the elective AC/DC Good Distribution Panel. As an alternative, he tapped into his Nugget’s current distribution level. He hopes to ultimately discover some further area for it as a result of he actually desires the per-device administration that Fabian is having fun with.

Like Fabian, Roel additionally found just a few bugs with the system. He suffered from the identical battery drain points but in addition found a chilly climate charging difficulty that was patched throughout testing. A noncritical bug whereby Roel’s system confirmed 600W consistently flowing from his alternator to the battery caught at 99 p.c full was unresolved by the point this overview was printed. 

In whole, Roel’s novice set up took a bit greater than 13 hours: one-and-a-half hours to unpack and browse the manuals, six hours to determine his van’s wiring, 4 hours to determine the best way to take away the grey water tank and style a Energy Hub mount, and about two hours to put in the Energy Package and troubleshoot.

Roel made some value calculations on the Energy Package versus a comparable Victron Power system that may have made higher use of his van’s restricted area. EcoFlow’s system is roughly twice the worth.

Nonetheless, Roel is having fun with the EcoFlow app and what it’s educating him about his power-hungry home equipment and lights. “Usually, I do not know how lengthy I can keep off the grid,” he stated after all the pieces was related. “I’ve AC energy now. It’s nice. General, if I’d begin with a brand new van, then I’d rating it a 9 plus. However for a retrofit, it’s simpler to make use of separate components which you could scatter across the van in several places. So for retrofits in a small van like mine, possibly 7.5 out of 10.”

With regard to EcoFlow’s declare that the Energy Package can “match any van measurement,” Roel had this to say: “It’s large. I’d say it may very well be a bit smaller, however that’s additionally as a result of it has almost 5,000 watts of solar energy that may be related, and you’ll put as much as 15kWh of battery and I’m utilizing solely 2kWh. So it’s made for larger installations. Nevertheless it does match.”

EcoFlow’s Energy Kits reside as much as the corporate’s claims. The most costly choice actually might be put in about 5 instances sooner than current options by an expert installer. And novices can match the entry-level Energy Package inside a small campervan in the event that they’re keen to make just a few compromises. It’s additionally competitively priced on the excessive finish, particularly when factoring within the previous adage that point is cash.

Furthermore, the all-in-one Energy Package has confirmed itself to be a turnkey resolution that takes many of the guesswork and complexity out of putting in and utilizing a battery-based energy system inside an RV — or an off-grid cabin within the woods, if that’s your desire.

The time period “game-changer” is tossed round fairly loosely nowadays. However EcoFlow’s Energy Kits actually have modified the sport for anybody who can afford to grow to be a digital nomad. Costs begin at $4,000 and may exceed $15,000, however proudly owning one may very well be step one in beginning an entire new life — and that’s priceless.

Images by Thomas Ricker / The Verge