I’ve reviewed a variety of power stations over the years, and while I still prefer having a number of smaller power stations dotted around the home for emergency backup use instead of a single giant, I consider the new off-grid-ready Bluetti Apex 300 an exception.
Weighing in at a substantial 38kg and delivering up to 3,840W of continuous AC power from its 2.7kWh LiFePO₄ battery, this exceedingly hefty model combines immense power with long-term durability and superb expandability.
It serves two main purposes: as a competent off-grid power supply for RVs, camper vans, boats and remote properties, and as a professionally-installed home emergency backup system that’s capable of running almost every AC appliance bar, perhaps, some high-wattage ovens.
I wouldn’t call this a portable power station by any stretch of the imagination because it’s so big and heavy, but, boy, does it pack some punch. So let’s get down to the nuts and bolts and see if this is the best type of power station for your needs.
Bluetti Apex 300 review
Price and availability
In the UK, you can purchase the Bluetti Apex 300 direct from Bluett, priced at a very competitive £1,499, or from Amazon, where it sells for £1,519. Shopping Stateside? Head straight to Bluetti and snap one up for a very reasonable $1,399 or Walmart, where it sells for the same price.
Specifications
- Power output: 3,840W
- Battery capacity: 2,764.8Wh
- Max lifting power: 7,680W
- Battery cell chemistry: Automotive standard LiFePO₄
- Battery cycle life: 6,000+ (estimated 17 year lifespan)
- AC outputs: 4 x 230V, 16.7A
- USB outputs: Hub D1 optional accessory
- DC outputs: Hub D1 optional accessory
- AC input: 230V, 10A max + 230V, 50A Max
- DC input: P050A 230V 50A high-speed charging
- Solar input: 2 x 1200W
- Charging time: Around 70 mins
- Dimensions: 525×327×320mm (20.67×12.87×12.6 inches)
- Weight: 38kg (83.78lbs)
- Storage Temperature: -20℃ to 40℃ (-4℉ to 104℉)
- Warranty: 5 years
Design
The Bluetti Apex 300 is a next-generation portable power station built for serious off-grid living, vehicle-based adventure travel and as a dependable home backup system capable of powering the vast majority of household appliances with consummate ease.
It comes with a kettle-style AC charging cable and, rather handily, a male 12V cigarette charging plug and cable for boosting the Apex 300 via your car’s alternator, albeit slowly.
There are a number of unique design flourishes that set this model apart, and chief amongst these is its expandability. And by that I mean that the unit itself doesn’t have any 12V cigarette lighter outputs or, for that matter, any USB ports.
Like the excellent DJI Power 2000 I recently reviewed, Bluetti has taken a different approach with this model and given it a modular design so users can be offered the choice to expand the unit to meet their individual needs while keeping the cost of the bare-bones unit at an affordable price point.
Hence, the only recognisable outputs on this power station are the four UK-spec 230V 13A AC outlets on the front. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, which I shall cover in more detail a little further down.
At 525mm in width, 327mm in height and 320mm in depth, the Apex 300 is a veritable brute and the biggest power station I’ve ever reviewed.
At a staggering 38kg (83.78lbs), it is also by far the heaviest model, too. In fact, it’s so heavy I can hardly carry it more than a few feet at a time and have been unable to lift it onto a table, which is hardly surprising given my spindly stature.
Thankfully, there are two sturdy handles on either side, so I would wholeheartedly recommend recruiting an extra pair of hands when moving it. Alternatively, invest an extra £219 for the Bluetti Foldable Trolley 2 (retailer link) if you plan to move this product around on a regular basis.
The Bluetti’s front fascia is straightforward. Aside from the four AC outlets, which are protected by rubber lids to keep moisture out, everything is clearly laid out. It has a big on switch and a bright 4-inch LCD monitor that’s very easy to read.
You also get an AC-on button and an Eco button, which shuts off the outputs after a period of low or no load. There’s an orange three-way switch for choosing your charging speed, from Auto to Turbo or Silent. Silent mode turns the internal fan off but charges more slowly.
Finally, an orange Magic Button can be programmed in the Bluetti app to trigger one of four functions. In the USA, this same switch changes the AC function from 110v to 240v.
Power stats
Make no mistake, this model is a genuine powerhouse when it comes to output in wattage and capacity in watt-hours. With 3,840W of continuous AC power, a huge surge/lifting power of 7,680W (required for kick-starting energy-intensive appliances like heaters and buzz saws) and 2,764.8Wh of juice capacity, there isn’t much this power station can’t run.
In fact, according to my calculations, the Apex 300 is capable of running a low-wattage heat pump tumble dryer for 1.5 to 3 hours and a standard condenser dryer for around an hour before the battery is depleted.
And speaking of batteries, this model is fitted with an automotive-grade 2.76 kWh LiFePO₄ battery with 6,000+ cycles and an estimated lifespan of 17 years! That’s a remarkable stat in my book. LiFePO₄, by the way, is a highly-regarded battery chemistry for safer operation and impressive durability. It is also far less prone to thermal runaway, which can result in overheating.
Ports
I’ve already covered the four AC outlets on the front, but if you look to the right-hand side, there are two yellow DC/PV (photovoltaic) XT60 inputs under a rubber flap, each capable of handling up to 1,200 watts of solar power with a maximum input of 60 volts and 20 amps per port.
To the right of these is a battery expansion port, which can be daisy-chained with up to six extra battery-only modules (B300K, 2,748Wh apiece), taking the Apex 300’s power capacity to a staggering 19 kilowatt hours.
As explained in the next chapter, if you purchase Bluetti’s Hub D1 module and plug it into this same expansion port, you’ll have access to the Apex 300’s missing DC outputs (two of them, from 12v to 24v), two USB-C and two USB-A outlets, along with a 12v 50amp outlet with Anderson connector for running 12v appliances when off grid.
Heading to the other side of the unit, you’ll find a standard kettle-style AC input for charging the Apex 300 via the mains from empty in 70 minutes, a circuit protector button and an earthing connector. And just to the left is one of this model’s most unique inputs, a super-fast EV charging port for charging the Apex 300 as you would an electric car. This method charges the power station in just 70 minutes from empty.
Van-life and off-grid features
This power station is ostensibly designed for two main scenarios – off-grid use and complete home integration and emergency backup. Let’s look at the possibilities it offers for off-grid use and by that I mean camper vans, caravans, canal boats, car camping and remote buildings like holiday cabins, barns and workshops.
As mentioned above, the Apex 300 is modular in design, so you will need to purchase at least two expensive accessories to make the most of it if integrating the Apex 300 into a camper van, caravan or canal boat.
The unit’s two yellow XT60 ports are designed for solar charging and/or DC charging using the supplied cigarette-style car charger. However, you’ll have much better power delivery from your car’s alternator by opting for Bluetti’s Charger 1,560W Alternator Charger (£199, retailer link), which plugs into one of the same XT60 ports.
The supplied positive/negative cable then runs directly to your vehicle’s battery terminals, allowing the alternator to direct-charge the Apex 300 whenever the engine’s running. This method of charging produces 560W of oomph – six times faster than traditional car cigarette lighter chargers.
If you use one of the XT60 ports for your roof-top solar panels (an excellent 2,400W max if both are used) at the same time as using the Bluetti Alternator Charger, you will almost always arrive at your next off-grid destination with everything fully charged and ready to roll.
Of course, once you turn the vehicle’s engine off, the alternator will no longer add juice to the Apex 300, but if it’s daylight and the sun’s shining, your parked vehicle’s onboard solar panels will still be absorbing energy from the sun. What’s not to like?
The second most valuable accessory you’ll need for van life – and indeed any other off-grid scenario – is the clip-on Hub D1 (£200, retailer link).
This clever box of tricks plugs into the Apex 300’s Battery Expansion port to the right of the two XT60 inputs and provides the ubiquitous ports missing on the front of the main unit, namely two 12v to 24v DC outputs, two USB-C and two USB-A outlets, plus two barrel connectors.
But that’s not all, because around the back of the hub, there’s yet another port – a ground-breaking 12v 50amp outlet with Anderson connector for running every 12v appliance in a camper van, caravan or boat.
Simply connect it to your vehicle or boat’s fuse board and the Apex 300 will power every onboard appliance, including lights, fridge and diesel heater. While I haven’t been able to test these two accessories, I have watched demonstration videos, and the installation process looks easy enough for anyone to accomplish.
Since the whole shebang is app-enabled, you can bury the Apex 300 somewhere in your vehicle, caravan or boat and use the app to control it. Simply run a couple of 13amp extension leads from two of the AC outputs for any 240v appliances like an air fryer, induction hob or blow heater.
Just be aware that, like all power stations, if you turn it off via the unit or the app, you won’t be able to restart it remotely using the app alone. You’ll have to turn it on at the unit.
Home-use features
The Apex 300’s expandability keeps initial outlay costs down for those who plan to use it as a simple UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for emergency backup power during an outage. As with any modern power station, the Bluetti will kick in in milliseconds for a seamless changeover from mains to battery.
For homeowners with bottomless pockets or those with an off-grid property, the Bluetti Apex 300 can also be turned into a fully integrated whole-home backup system by using the battery expansion port to daisy chain up to six extra battery-only modules, taking the Apex 300’s power capacity to a staggering 19 kilowatt hours.
When used in conjunction with some solar panels, this setup should give you three days of off-grid use, and more if you have enough solar panels and the sun’s shining.
Bluetti app
The Bluetti app provides live input and output data and serves as the primary means of control for the Apex 300. It also provides the ability to adjust voltage settings, power lifting, child locking, and access to firmware updates, which, incidentally, have gone very smoothly indeed, with zero glitches to report.
However, as with every power station I’ve reviewed, you can’t turn it on via the app if it’s off at the source. So make sure you don’t bury it in an inaccessible place and accidentally turn it off, or you’ll need to turn it on again at the source.
Performance
I sadly wasn’t able to test this model’s camper van or whole home integration possibilities because a) I don’t have a camper van, b) I don’t have the space at home to accommodate such a large installation.
However, I have done some extensive research and watched several demonstrations, and were I to be lucky enough to own a camper van, this model would be top of my list for off-grid peace of mind.
I did, however, run a few high-draw home appliances to see how far I could push them, and I’ve been very impressed by their performance. I started off with a bang and basically loaded it with two blow heaters (1.8kW and 2kW), which took the Apex 300 to 3.3kW output (well within its 3.84kW range). Fiddlesticks.
I then added a KitchenAid kettle to see how far I could push its maximum lifting power of 7.68kW before everything cut out. This took it to 4.8kW, the fan kicked in (not loud, it must be said), but a red light came on shortly before it all cut out after 7 seconds. I was a little surprised at this, but then power lifting is designed for kick-starting an appliance before its consumption quickly backs off, and a kettle doesn’t really back off.
I then replicated a classic off-grid lunch scenario in chilly weather, using the same 1.8kW heater and a Philips air fryer for a quick snack. These two appliances consumed 3.3kW, so I added the kettle for a cup of tea, which ramped consumption to 4.3kW.
The same red warning light came on, but this time the Apex 300 stayed on throughout the entire boil. I didn’t expect that level of performance.
I can definitely see this power station being more than capable of handling a wide variety of off-grid scenarios and also having potential as an emergency backup or a fully integrated power supply system for home use. It’s that versatile.
Verdict
If you’re after a well-engineered power core that serves as a weekend companion for a camper van, the heart of a camper van or caravan’s electrical systems or the seed of a full-blown off-grid battery bank, the Bluetti Apex 300 is one of the most convincing options on the market right now.
This beast blends continuous power, LiFePO₄ longevity, fast charging and exceptional modular expansion into a package that goes a long way to reducing the ever-present off-grid spectre of charge anxiety. Just be prepared to flex your pecs when lifting it.
