Chances are that you know BioLite for its innovative outdoor products, like wood-burning camp stoves that somehow turn twigs and small sticks into heat for cooking – and electricity to charge your electronics. Or, camping must-haves like the company’s high tech headlamps (you can see one of those featured here). With a reputation for making some of the best camping and emergency gear, it was only a matter of time before BioLite offered a high-capacity, portable power station. This review covers the BioLite BaseCharge 1500, a 1521 Wh Li-ion (NMC) power station equipped with all the charging and power outputs you might need, including three AC outlets.
A High Capacity Portable Power Station That’s Refreshingly Light
Over the years, I have found battery power stations getting heavier and heavier. There are two reasons for this trend.
First, manufacturers have increasingly offered higher capacities. When I first started reviewing portable power stations, a 500Wh capacity was uncommon. Now, 1000Wh to 1500Wh seems to be the sweet spot. A lot more useful, but a bigger battery means more weight.
Second, many companies have begun to move from Li-ion NMC to LiFePo batteries. The latter are less prone to issues like combustion and thermal runaway, making them safer. They also have a longer life cycle than Li-ion batteries, meaning they’ll last for more charge cycles (often 2,000 or more charge cycles at 80% capacity compared to 500 cycles for those Li-ion batteries). The tradeoff? LiFePo batteries are much heavier. I had one review unit here a few years back that tipped the scales at over 150lbs.
The BaseCharge 1500 uses Li-ion NMC batteries. BioLite has incorporated a 12 checkpoint safety system to ensure safe operation. This includes over and under voltage limits, charge current limit, short circuit protection, high and low-temperature limits, discharge current limit and inverter temperature limit. The BaseCharge 1500 has even been drop tested – something I’ve never seen in a power station.
Sticking with Li-ion batteries means a significant weight reduction. The BaseCharge 1500 is light even compared to competitors that also use Li-ion. At 28.5 pounds, it was easy to move around with one hand (there are handles on each of the end sides, integrated into the venting). In comparison, another popular 1500Wh Li-ion power station I recently tested was over 33 pounds. A 1500Wh LiFePo power station can easily top 40 pounds.
BioLite’s battery management system and Li-ion NMC composition also offers 1,000 charge cycles with 80% capacity. It’s still not on par with LiFePo batteries, but most people would easily be able to get a decade or two of use out of this portable power station.
BaseCharge 1500 Key Specs:
- 1521 Wh (21.6V, 70.4 Ah), Li-Ion NMC battery
- 1,000 cycles to 80% capacity
- Charge via power adapter, optional solar panels (12V), or USB-C
- Power Outputs: 3 x 110 V Pure Sine Wave AC outlets (1200W max combined, 2400W surge), 10W Qi wireless charger, 12V DC car output, 2 x 12V barrel ports, 2 x USB Type-A, 2 x USB-C, USB-C PD (100W)
- Integrated LCD display
- Side handles/cooling vents
- 12 checkpoint safety system
- Rugged design (drop-tested from 1m, thermal shock tested)
- 14.4 x 12.2 x 8.2 inches, weighs 28.5 pounds
- Warranty 2 Years
- MSRP: $1699
Hands-On With the BaseCharge 1500
My go-to test for high capacity power stations is to plug in my basement refrigerator. In an extended power outage, the refrigerator is one of the critical appliances I want to keep running – at least in the summer. Having cold drinks available makes the heat a lot more bearable and losing a fridge/freezer full of perishables can be extremely expensive. This one is a full-sized (21 cubic foot) model that is several decades old, so it’s not exactly a stellar performer in terms of energy efficiency.
The BaseCharge 1500 kept it running for over 21 hours. Nearly a full day.
Next, I took it up to the kitchen (which is easy to do, since this power station is so light) and plugged in appliances like a toaster, blender and electric kettle. Even an air fryer! These use a lot of power (electric kettles often use 1000W or more) and would be too much for many portable power stations. They would simply shut down. With 1200W capacity to its AC outlets and 2400W surge capacity, the BaseCharge 1500 was easily able to run high demand appliances like these. Not all at the same time, mind you.
Recharging can be done using the included AC power brick, USB-C, the power brick plus USB-C combined, or with optional solar panels. I used the power brick. I found it took over 13 hours, although if you supplement AC with simultaneous USB-C (you’ll need to provide your own charger and cable), BioLite says that time can be cut to eight hours. I did note that power brick gets quite toasty. Not dangerously hot, but uncomfortably warm – I would make sure it has plenty of air flow just in case.
BioLite BaseCharge 1500 Recommendation
A high capacity portable power station is something that is proving very useful to have on hand.
If you’re a camper, then something like the BaseCharge 1500 is a great pick. BioLite clearly knows a thing or two about designing gear for this demographic and the BaseCharge 1500’s rugged design is a rarity. You still need to be careful with it and water exposure remains a no-no, but having a portable power station that can survive a small drop is a rarity. It is also lighter and more compact than most 1500 Wh power stations. It can be recharged with optional solar panels for extended trips, and has all the power outputs a camper might want.
And if you’re looking for emergency home power, this is a power station that’s capable of running high-demand appliances like an air fryer and the capacity to keep a full-sized refrigerator going for nearly a full day. It can also power critical equipment like a CPAP machine or an air purifier.
It may not use the latest LiFePo batteries, but the use of lighter Lithium-ion NMC means a high capacity power station that is truly portable. With a rugged design and 12 checkpoint safety system, BioLite has engineered the BaseCharge 1500 to be safe and its 1,000 charge cycle (to 80%) means you could recharge it twice a week for a decade without meaningful performance degradation.
All in all, the BioLite BaseCharge 1500 is a solid value, even more so if you happen to be a camper.
Disclosure: BioLite provided a BaseCharge 1500 for evaluation purposes but had no input into this review.
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