Living on the East Coast, I am no stranger to power outages. The moment the sky turns dark, I just prepare myself for those long, annoying hours of power cuts.
I can’t be the only one super-annoyed with the pesky blackouts, can I?
Going for a fuel-based generator could have been a simple solution. Still, I believe we have butchered Mother Earth enough! These generators not only release pollutants like nitrogen oxide, but the constant supply of fuel can also be hard on your wallet.
I needed a cleaner solution — a solar power station.
Sadly, most solar power stations are designed to serve camping needs. But I was planning to get one for my house. After hours and hours of online research, I stumbled upon the Bluetti EP500.
This futuristic solar power station seems to outmatch others in every single category. But what makes the Bluetti EP500 a superior choice?
Let’s find out in my in-depth Bluetti EP500 review.
What is the Bluetti EP500?
If I were to describe Bluetti EP500 in one sentence, I would call it a dedicated solar power station capable of powering your entire house.
This beast of a power station comes with a 5,100Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity. To give you a comparison, our previously recommended solar power station, the Jackery Explorer 1000, comes with a 1,002Wh battery capacity.
So, the Bluetti EP500 is 5x times more powerful than the current leader in our books.
You may notice that the EP500 uses a lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery cell instead of the typical lithium-ion. This is the biggest upgrade in my opinion.
If you know a thing or two about solar generators, you should know that they all come with a huge heating issue.
As a result, Li-ion batteries have a shorter lifespan.
Moreover, LiCoO2 (used as a cathode in Li-ion batteries) is a hazardous material that can cause serious damage to nature. This has been a major headache for the recyclers and manufacturers.
But what about lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries? Are they safer?
Yes!
LiFePO4 is a non-hazardous material as it uses a phosphate-based cathode. Plus, lithium-iron-phosphate cells are practically incombustible.
The inclusion of lithium-iron batteries makes the Bluetti EP500 a class apart.
Also, the 2,000W pure sine wave inverter in the Bluetti EP500 should be capable of powering up your entire house.
But that’s not all.
The Bluetti EP500 is stacked with features like:
- Massive 5,100Wh battery capacity
- New generation Li-iron battery
- 2,000W PSW inverter
- 4,800W surge inverter
- 6,000+ battery lifecycles
- 1200W MPPT solar charging
- 4,000W 220 VAC Split phase bonding
- Touch control display
- Wireless charging pads
- Dedicated UPS mode
- App controllability
The Bluetti EP500 is truly a marvelous piece of tech, and it also brings a long list of good news for our eco-conscious community.
How Long Will the Bluetti EP500 Last?
This solar station is quite rugged. Due to the inclusion of lithium-iron batteries, the EP500 has a long lifespan.
Both the EP500 and EP500 Pro have over 6,000 battery lifecycles. So, you can fully charge and drain the batteries 6,000 times before seeing significant capacity losses. So, these solar generator are great with long lasting solar panels.
Compared to the EP500, the EcoFlow Delta has 800 battery cycles. The Jackery Explorer 1000, another top contender, has 500 cycles before the capacity drops to 80%.
This comparison shows how the Bluetti EP500 is a better solar power station.
How Fast Can You Charge the Bluetti EP500 Power Station?
Despite having a large battery capacity, this solar power station charges fairly quickly. If you use wall outlets (600W max.), the EP500 should be fully charged within 9 to 9.5 hours.
However, it charges more efficiently if you go for solar charging. With the 1,200W MPPT, it charges within 4.75 hours.
The Bluetti EP500 Pro, the upgraded version, is even more efficient.
Depending on the grid voltage (120V/15A or 120V/25A in the US), the EP500 Pro can be charged within 3.3 hours (at 1,800W) or 2.2 hours (at 3,000W).
But wait, there’s more.
Both versions of the solar generators support dual charging. You can charge them through wall outlets and home solar panels simultaneously.
The EP500 gets fully charged within 3.33 hours at the 1,800W combined input. The pro version, on the other hand, does it within 1.77 hours at 4,000W.
Now that’s fast.
What Can the Bluetti EP500 Power?
Until now, I had to compromise here and there with the current solar generators available in the market. I knew that solar generators could only serve as backups.
But then I discovered the Bluetti EP500.
Not only can this generator run multiple power-hungry appliances simultaneously, but the 5,100Wh battery is also enough to power them for a long time.
Here, look at this chart:
| Equipment | Power Consumption | Duration (Apx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 150W (1200W per day) | 4 Days |
| Microwave Oven | 1000W | 4.1 Hours |
| Washer | 500W | 8.2 Hours |
| Air Conditioner | 1500W | 2.8 Hours |
| Space Heater | 1500W | 2.8 Hours |
| CPAP | 40W | 34 to 57 Times |
| Laptop | 76Wh | 48+ Times |
| Smart Phone | 15Wh | 187+ Times |
| Electric Car | 1800W | 10 to 16 Miles |
| E-Bike | 500W | 100 to 150 Miles |
How Many Output Ports Does the Bluetti EP500 Have?
Again, Bluetti outshines others with its number of output ports. The EP500 comes with the following ports:
| Sl. No. | Type of Ports | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 120V AC | 4 |
| 2 | 12V/10A DC | 3 |
| 3 | USB-A (Quick Charge) | 2 |
| 4 | Wireless Charging Pad | 2 |
| 5 | USB-C (100W) | 1 |
| 6 | 12V/30A RV | 1 |
You’ll get more output ports with the upgraded EP500 Pro. It has an additional 5 120V AC and 2 USB-C ports.
But what if you need more power and more ports?
In that case, you should get yourself a Split Phase Box and combine two EP500s together. The connector box comes with six 120V/20A ports and one 120~240V/30A port (NEMA L14-30)
How Much Does the Bluetti EP500 Cost?
The vanilla Bluetti EP500 starts at $3,999 — this is one of the expensive options in the market right now.
If you’re interested in buying the Bluetti EP500, you should use our link to get the best prices.
Bluetti EP500 Benefits
New Generation LiFePO4 Battery
With the inclusion of this new Li-iron battery, BLUETTI manages to keep the thermals in check. We all know that heat dissipation has always been a major issue with solar generators as they had Li-ion batteries in them.
So, the EP500 and EP500 Pro are both safer options in terms of thermals. Also, this battery technology ensures a longer lifespan.
Thanks to this technology, the battery has over 6,000 lifecycles.
Plus, the phosphate cathode is non-toxic and will not cause damage to nature compared to the Li-ion counterpart.
Massive 5,100Wh Battery Capacity
Bluetti outshines others in terms of battery capacity. Very few solar generators come with such an enormous 5,100Wh battery capacity.
Jackery 3000 Pro is the only solar generator coming close to the figures of Bluetti — with around 2,000 battery cycles. How does it do it? Well, Point Zero Titan uses stackable Li-ion batteries to increase the battery cycle count.
Ability to Power Heavy-Duty Appliances with Split Phase Bonding
I couldn’t think of running my room heaters and air conditioners with a solar generator before. The insanely high initial load of these appliances made things impossible.
Now, you can run them, too, by pairing two EP500s together. None of the current solar generators in the market had this tech before. The Split Phase Bonding combines the AC inverter capacities and offers a combined output of 4,000W power delivery.
Naturally, two Bluetti EP500 Pros can offer 6,000W power delivery.
AC and PV Dual Charging
I always check how fast a solar generator can charge before making the decision to buy. I go through forum after forum to find this information.
Plus, it was always a major concern for the EP500 as it has a giant battery.
The good news is that you can use AC and PV dual charging, which means you can use wall outlets and solar panels simultaneously to charge this generator.
UPS Mode for Uninterrupted Power
UPS mode is one of the biggest features of the Bluetti EP500. Having uninterrupted power means so much to me, as I hate losing power while working on an important project on my desktop computer.
Plus, you can use a dedicated circuit to select the devices that will be connected to the UPS box. If you have a patient relying on any electric medical device, this feature could literally be a lifesaver.
Wireless Charging
In my opinion, it’s one of the nice-to-haves of EP500. I guess everyone will appreciate how we can charge two phones wirelessly with this solar generator.
Just use either of the charging docks on top of the device.
Moreover, the generator hardly dissipates any heat, so your phone will not encounter any thermal damage.
App Control
Of course, you’ll keep this bulky machine away from your bedroom or living room — it’ll probably stay in the garage.
Obviously, it would’ve been a hassle to walk to the garage to control the device.
The good news is — you can control it with an app.
Check out their iOS app.
Firmware Upgradeability
Wouldn’t it be nice to get regular updates for your solar generator? I can’t be the only one excited about the iOS updates every year, can I?
Yes, you’ve guessed it correctly — Bluetti offers regular firmware upgrades to patch up different issues.
For instance, the generator had a firmware bug a few months back. Operating in UPS mode, the EP500 took about 500W from the grid but had about 1,000W output. Essentially, the battery was depleting fast due to this bug. Later, Bluetti patched out this issue with a firmware upgrade.
So, you may see further upgrades in the future that will make this generator even more efficient.
Bluetti EP500 Shortfalls
So, is everything sunshine and rainbows with the EP500?
Not actually.
The biggest issue with the BLUETTI solar generator is its weight. Well, I expected it to be heavy, but I didn’t think it would weigh 167lbs.
So, forget about taking it for camping.
While it does come with wheels, I don’t think the users will move it around the house that much.
Laggy touch response was the second issue that I faced. Getting a touch-controlled digital screen is a big deal, but the screen felt quite laggy. Hopefully, the good folks at Bluetti will patch this up with an update in the future.
Lastly, the generator is EXPENSIVE.
While we’re getting an impressive piece of technology, not everyone can afford it at the $3,999 MSRP.
If it seems too expensive, you could consider buying their Bluetti AC200P or even the EcoFlow Delta Pro.
Comparing the Bluetti EP500 with Other Popular Solar Generators
| BLUETTI EP500 | BLUETTI EP500 PRO | Jackery Explorer 1000 | EcoFlow Delta 1300 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Capacity | 5,100Wh | 5,100Wh | 1,002Wh | 1260aWh |
| Battery Cell Type | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 | Li-ion NMC | Li-ion 18650 |
| Life Cycles | 6000+ | 6000+ | 500 Cycles to 80%+ Capacity | 800 Cycles to 80%+ Capacity |
| Rated Power (PSW Inverter) | 2000W | 3000W | 1000W | 1800W |
| Surge Power | 4800W | 6000W | 2000W | 3300W |
| Charging Time | 9 hours (AC) 5 hours (Solar) 3.33 hours (AC+PV) | 3.5 hours (AC) 3 hours (Solar) 1.77 hours (AC + PV) | 7 hours (AC) 8 hours (Solar, 2 100W Panel) | 1.6 hours (AC) 3.5 to 8 hours (Solar, based on the solar panel arrangement) |
| Car Charging Availability | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Solar Input | 1200W | 2400W | 200W | 400W |
| Weight (Approx.) | 167 lbs. | 182 lbs. | 22 lbs. | 31 lbs. |
| Portability | Very Poor | Very Poor | Very High | Very High |
| Price | $$$$ | $$$$$ | $$ | $$ |
The Bluetti EP500: Should You Buy It?
I would suggest getting a BLUETTI EP500 if you’re looking for a powerful solar backup for your home or small office.
How powerful is powerful? Well, it boasts a massive 5,100Wh battery that outshines the competition, and with split-phase bonding, you can power heavy-duty appliances like room heaters and air conditioners, making it a game-changer.
What’s more, the EP500 offers AC and PV dual charging, allowing you to recharge it quickly from both wall outlets and solar panels.
The UPS mode ensures uninterrupted power, which is perfect for crucial tasks. You can even select specific devices for the UPS box, a true lifesaver for medical equipment users.
Wireless charging is a handy bonus, and the EP500’s minimal heat dissipation means your devices stay cool. Controlling this beast is a breeze with the dedicated app, so there is no need to trek to the garage.
If you’re looking for a powerful, reliable, and eco-friendly generator for your home, I highly recommend the Bluetti EP500.
