The Ecoflow River 2 Pro is a power station designed to keep office and household appliances running for hours during power outages. It is also said to be ideal for outdoor activities because it is relatively light and can be charged with solar energy. ntv.de has tried out a variety of electricity filling stations.
An interview with the head of the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) recently caused a stir. Ralph Tiesler had said that blackouts should be expected this winter. In fact, he meant regional and temporary interruptions in the power supply and not longer, large-scale failures, as blackouts are defined. The BBK later clarified that. In addition, the likelihood of such interruptions occurring is considered to be low.
But even if the risk of power outages is not very high, one can prepare for it - among other things by continuing to operate important devices with a so-called power station for the duration of the outage. Brand new on the market is the Ecoflow River 2 Pro for just under 800 euros, a compact powerhouse that is light enough to take over the power supply when camping as well as being on call at home.
At 27 x 26 x 22.6 cm, the power station is about the size of a car battery and weighs 7.8 kilos. Their capacity is 768 watt hours. It can supply up to ten devices at the same time. It has three 230 volt sockets, three USB-A sockets (maximum 12 watts), a USB-C connection (up to 100 watts), two conventional DC outputs and a car connection.
The workmanship is very good, the River 2 Pro looks like it could take a lot. Moisture can, however, put an end to it, which you have to pay attention to, especially in outdoor use. The optics are also quite appealing, as long as this is important for a power station. The carrying handle is easy to hold and you can use it to carry the power station over longer distances if necessary. ntv.de dragged them a kilometer away because of a shipping mistake.
Although the training was valuable for a desk worker, the test focused on home use. With the output power of 800 watts, office devices can be supplied without any problems, if more power is required, the Ecoflow River 2 Pro can double it to 1600 watts (X-Boost).
In practice, this means, for example, that the power station can also supply refrigerators that require high output for a short time when the compressor starts up in the event of a power failure. Approximately how long a device can be operated can be read on the display on the front of the River 2 Pro. It shows the current output and the expected time until the battery is exhausted. The same information is provided by the manufacturer's successful app, in which you can also make numerous settings.
In the test, among other things, an older fridge-freezer combination was attached to the power station. At level 3, she could continue to operate the device with a power consumption of 45 to 49 watts with the generator running for about 18 to 19 hours. A 15-inch laptop with a charged battery can last about 20 hours at 15 to 20 watts without energy saving mode.
In the event of a power failure, you could also continue to watch the football World Cup on the television using the power station. For a 50-inch LED device, the River 2 Pro predicted around 7 hours at around 73 watts. In the highest energy-saving mode, eleven hours would be possible with 42 watts, and nine hours at a lower level with around 57 watts.
However, the power station's fan would spoil the viewing experience a bit. It's about as noisy as a blow dryer on low and kicks in quite often even on lower powers to avoid overheating. The optimal operating temperature is 20 to 30 degrees, allowed are -10 to 45 degrees.
If a power failure would have serious consequences for devices, for example on a computer in the home office, it makes sense to switch the River 2 Pro in between. Only when the power fails and only as long as the interruption lasts does it take over the supply. It responds within 30 milliseconds.
The power station itself can be charged very quickly at a socket, it is full in 70 minutes. It takes a little longer at the USB-C socket with up to 100 watts, the same applies to the car input.
You can also recharge the River 2 Pro with a solar panel. Ecoflow sent a foldable module that can deliver up to 220 watts (550 euros). In poor conditions in November, it only delivered 20 to 30 watts. The fact that the manufacturer's panels are basically very good was shown in April by a test of the Ecoflow Delta mini, in which a 160-watt module achieved 115 watts on the roof of the house, despite a non-optimal angle.
Safety is guaranteed in every operating mode. Ecoflow had the River 2 Pro approved by TÜV Rheinland and confidently grants a five-year guarantee. The durability is basically there. The battery (LiFePO4) should still have 80 percent capacity after 3000 charging cycles. According to Ecoflow, this corresponds to an approximate useful life of ten years.
The bottom line is that the Ecoflow River 2 Pro is not a bargain, but with its durability, high performance and versatility it offers very good value for money. You can hardly find a better power station with similar values at the moment.
