EcoFlow Delta 2 review: I tested the pricey portable power station to see if it's an energy essential
08/02/2024 09:52 AM
If you dream of cutting energy costs or need power in unusual settings, the EcoFlow Delta 2 could become your off-grid go-to.
Most of us are already used to relying on portable phone chargers to keep our phones topped up during long days away from home; think of the EcoFlow Delta 2 as a super-charged version.
Delta 2 Portable Power Station, £899 from EcoFlow
It's essentially a very large battery that can power most appliances in your home, or be used when there's no mains electricity available for any reason.
It can be taken camping or caravanning and would be especially handy if you live in an area prone to power outages. It can even be used independently of any mains electricity if teamed with a compatible solar panel or charged using a car engine.
At nearly £1000, it's a major investment, so I tested the EcoFlow Delta 2 to see if it's worth the splurge.
Pros:
- Plenty of outlets to charge multiple devices
- Fast AC charging
- Easy to use
- Powers almost any household appliance
- Good battery life
- Expandable with additional batteries
Cons:
- Expensive
- Fairly heavy
- Space is needed to install or store solar panel
- The fan can be a little loud
Rating: 4/5
EcoFlow Delta 2 review: how we tested
I used the EcoFlow Delta 2 power station in my own home for a month to be able to judge its functionality, battery life and ease of use.
I considered its portability, how quickly it charged using both electricity and a solar panel and how well devices worked when plugged into it.
Delta 2 Portable Power Station, £899 from EcoFlow
The EcoFlow Delta 2 was even taken on a camping weekend to see if it proved invaluable when I was away from home.
What is the EcoFlow Delta 2 power station?
The EcoFlow Delta 2 is a portable power station that functions like a giant rechargeable battery or an electric generator.
It has a huge capacity of 1kWh, which means it can power most domestic appliances, and that can be increased by adding other batteries.
It can be charged by the mains, a car engine or solar energy and charges around 3,000 times without degrading to 80% of its original capacity (although I obviously didn't manage to test that claim in just a few weeks).
First impressions of the EcoFlow Delta 2 power station
It's heavier than I expected.
Even the delivery driver warned me when he handed it over to be prepared for the weight (spoiler: I still wasn't). Yet the outer cardboard box it arrives in makes it harder to handle as there's nowhere to grip.
When unboxed, the EcoFlow Delta 2 is a lot more manageable (despite weighing around 12kg) thanks to the sturdy handles on each side. I'm no weightlifter but had no trouble carrying it around my house using these.
Delta 2 Portable Power Station, £899 from EcoFlow
However, the weight does mean that I would only bring it camping when I could be sure I would be able to park very close to my tent as it wouldn't be practical otherwise.
What to expect
The Delta 2 was fairly straightforward to get my head around, even though I'd never used a portable power station before.
On one end, it has four power sockets with an on/off switch plus a 12v car power and dual DV5521 12.6v outputs.
The other side has all the USB ports including two fast-charge USB-A ports and two USB-C ports. If you wanted to, you could charge a whopping 13 devices at once.
There's also an LCD screen which shows all you need to know, including how much battery is left and how many hours of charge the device has left. This would be especially useful if you were using it in a power outage to help you prioritise what devices to plug in.
There's also an app that can be used to check charging data, change settings, choose when it shuts off and even adjust the charging speed.
While this was useful to check my EcoFlow Delta 2 was charging — particularly when hooked up to the solar panel — I did find it sometimes needed resyncing to use, so I didn't tend to turn to it often during testing.
How it works
I plugged the power station in at home to get started and ensure it was fully charged. I was amazed to find it took under an hour to reach full charge as I was expecting it to take a lot longer, given its huge capacity.
After that, it functions just like any other battery pack. I used it to charge my phone and laptop, then moved it to the kitchen to see if it could handle the toaster and air fryer, which barely drained any charge at all.
Delta 2 Portable Power Station, £899 from EcoFlow
I also tried plugging in the TV which worked well, although the power station's fan does occasionally kick in which can be a little annoying when watching a film.
It took a couple of days of heavy usage before I needed to charge it again, running the TV for several hours at a time and charging mine and my family's phones repeatedly.
Specifically, EcoFlow says the machine is sufficient for 89 phone charges, 16 laptop charges or to run a fridge for between seven and 14 hours. My children were particularly delighted to see it can also power the all-important Wi-Fi router for 58 hours if required.
I especially loved the fact that it could be left plugged into the mains to automatically kick in if there was a power cut, which would be really useful in any area with an unstable supply.
On a camping trip, it was a revelation. I charged it up before I left, though it could have charged from the car engine while I was driving.
I usually bring a whole collection of power banks and leads as back-ups but — nervously — left most of these at home. It would have been even better if the EcoFlow Delta 2 had wireless Qi charging built in so I could have ditched the wires completely.
Within hours of settling in, my teen already had her phone plugged into the EcoFlow Delta 2 and was delighted to have her device back at full power while not at home.
She suggested she could even bring her hair straighteners on the next trip — though I think she was joking.
I also used the EcoFlow to cook on a small electric induction hob and would consider bringing a travel kettle or even an electric cooler next time to really make the most of the device.
It was reassuring to know we had constant power the whole time we were away for whatever we needed.
Solar charging
I was a little more nervous about solar charging as I'd never used a solar panel before.
Though it comes in a carry bag with sturdy handles, it is still fairly heavy and awkward to set up on your own. Usefully, the bag also doubles up as a stand to hold the panels in place towards the sun.
It's just under two metres wide, meaning it won't suit anyone short of space.
Although I left it out while I was testing the device, I wouldn't have the room to keep the panel out permanently – and also wouldn't fancy it on display in my garden. It would be much better to buy one that can be permanently mounted in a sunny place if possible.
The UK's overcast weather means solar energy obviously isn’t as reliable as electricity to charge the power station. Depending on the weather, I found it took between around four and eight hours, though this would have been quicker in direct sunlight if the weather had played ball.
Delta 2 Portable Power Station, £899 from EcoFlow
However, if you were camping for a long time away from electricity or really stuck during a power outage, the solar panels would prove invaluable.
EcoFlow Delta 2 power station: final verdict
If you're almost always at home and have a reliable power supply, the chances are you'll never need to use an EcoFlow Delta 2 — you're certainly unlikely to recover the cost from energy savings.
However, if you prefer the peace of mind that comes with having your very own portable power station, there's no better machine to choose.
Its speedy charging, huge capacity and ability to charge almost every device possible means you can guarantee you'll be able to rely on it in an emergency.
In a sunnier spot or climate, it would be even more useful if the power station could always be charged via solar panel — potentially saving money on electricity in the long term.
It would also be an outright game-changer if you spend a lot of time off-grid, either staying in a caravan or camper van or even working remotely anywhere without power.
It could even help transform a shed or garden office into a more useable space if it's difficult to reach with mains electricity. Just be sure you will use it before parting with that hefty chunk of cash.
Where to buy the EcoFlow Delta 2
The EcoFlow Delta 2 is available to buy online from the manufacturer's own website.
This is also the best place to take advantage of special offers, including money off or bundle deals where the overall price is discounted when bought with other equipment such as a solar panel.
The two I tested are currently on offer for £1,098 when bought together, down from £1,348. If you prefer, the EcoFlow Delta 2 is also available from major name retailers and some specialist stores.
How much does the EcoFlow Delta 2 power station cost?
This is where it gets painful. You won't get much change out of £1000 when buying the EcoFlow Delta 2 power station so you need to be certain it's something you will use. Buying a solar panel will bump up the cost even more.
For those relying on it for power when away from home or in places with uncertain electricity supplies, the cost will be more than worth it.
I loved having it ready as a backup in case of a power outage and it also transformed my camping trip — it would be a game-changer for anyone who regularly holidays in a caravan.
Is there an alternative to the EcoFlow Delta 2 power station?
There are other portable power stations on the market but the EcoFlow Delta 2 is the most powerful and technologically advanced for the price.
Other options include the Renogy Portable Power Station (£779) which is of a similar standard and also offers solar charging and 3000 charge cycles.
The Jackery Solar Generator 1000 PRO is also a good choice, with a 1002Wh capacity and 1000 charge cycles, fewer than the EcoFlow Delta 2. It usually retails for £1,599 but at the time of writing is on sale for £899 on Amazon.
Of course, if you love the idea of having a backup power supply but don't want the latest model available, it could be worth considering the company's own EcoFlow River, which has a smaller capacity but is considerably cheaper.
The earlier EcoFlow Delta, which predates this model and can manage around 800 discharge cycles, will also cost less.
Delta 2 Portable Power Station, £899 from EcoFlow
