Portable Electric Power

EcoFlow RIVER Portable Power Station

Chuck E. reports:

My mom is on Oxygen and she has a portable oxygen concentrator that has a swappable 4 hour battery.   The cost for a second battery (not covered by insurance) was quoted at about $500.  Instead, I bought an ecoflow portable power station.  It recharges quickly by 110v household, or from a 12v automotive plug, or it recharges for FREE with about 2 days of sunlight, using a portable solar panel that I also bought.

I've used it to power mom's oxygen concentrator, It also allows high wattage so I've used it with a small microwave and an electric kettle.  It would be ideal for powering a sump pump or furnace blower during a power outage.  Many people use them for camping.

And I'm using this solar panel which was on sale for $111.  It's $130 after discounts, currently.

The ECHOFLOW isn't cheap ($350), but I can see where it could be useful.

ELECAENTA Portable Foldable Solar Panel

With any high energy device, you need to be alert to the possibility of fire. Gasoline and similar fuels are reasonably safe it they are stored in a sealed container. However,  'sealed' is a relative term. Even a good gas can can emit some vapor, and if left in an enclosed room can become a fire hazard. 

On occasion, lithium batteries do breakdown internally and catch fire. I've never seen it happen, though I have encountered a couple of swollen batteries which was a little unsettling (is it going to catch fire?). Statistically, battery fires might be very rare, but it only takes one to ruin your day.

There was a report of a large number of Tesla automobiles catching fire, but then someone bothered to compare their rate to the rate for gasoline powered cars and found the rate for Tesla's was lower. Car fires are pretty rare. I've only encountered a handful. and they were all other people's cars.

P.S. electrive.com is all about electric powered vehicles. Via Detroit Steve.