Yoshino B4000 Solid-State Portable Power Station – CleanTechnica Tested

Yoshino Expertise appears to be the primary to the patron market with moveable energy stations utilizing solid-state lithium battery know-how, which guarantees elevated security and a better power density in comparison with customary lithium-ion batteries. The corporate provides these solid-state models in a spread of capacities, from the smallest at 330W output and 241Wh of storage to the most important at 4000W output and 2611Wh of storage capability. I obtained to spend a while with the most important unit, the B4000 SST, in an effort to put it by its paces.

It wasn’t very way back that the moveable energy station market was largely targeted on small units that had been principally meant to recharge a cellphone or different moveable electronics with electrical energy saved in customary lithium-ion batteries. Nevertheless, lately the pattern has been towards bigger moveable energy models (typically dubbed “photo voltaic turbines” when paired with photo voltaic panels) that may energy all kinds of issues, from laptops to energy instruments to home equipment, and that may act as an backup electrical energy supply at house throughout energy outages. I’m a fan of those bigger models, which frequently have capacities of 1 to three kWh or extra, and may put out 2000 watts repeatedly, as they make nice additions to tenting journeys and off-grid work tasks.

The Yoshino B4000 SST is packed filled with options, from wi-fi charging pads to a TT-30R retailers for RVs to a devoted outlet for including growth battery models for elevated storage capability. A single unit can output as much as 4000 watts steady (as much as 6000 watts peak), and provides 2611Wh of electrical energy storage in its solid-state Li-NCM batteries, so it’s a stable contender out there for moveable energy stations that may do far more than simply recharge small electronics.

We’ve been masking solid-state battery information for a while now, however that is the primary moveable energy station utilizing a solid-state battery that I’ve seen. One of many subjects that retains popping up within the information lately is lithium battery fires (that are largely attributed to low-cost e-bikes and different electrical micromobility choices), the doorway into the patron market of a safer possibility for a conveyable battery system is more likely to be a superb promoting level.

“One of many key benefits of the Yoshino Strong-State battery was its enhanced security. In contrast to conventional lithium-ion batteries, that are vulnerable to thermal runaway and fires, solid-state batteries provided improved resistance to overheating and diminished hearth threat. This security benefit made them a sexy alternative for varied purposes, together with moveable energy stations that can be utilized not solely open air however indoors as properly.” – Yoshino

Yoshino B4000 SST moveable energy station, entrance view

The B4000 SST does weigh in at over 53 kilos, so whereas it’s positively nonetheless a conveyable unit, it’s not one thing you’re going to tackle a hike or backpacking journey, though it’s excellent for automotive tenting or RV or #vanlife, and with a deal with on every finish, it’s a chunk of cake for 2 individuals to hold. The outside seems to be rugged sufficient to face as much as being outdoors and being hauled round repeatedly, nevertheless it’s not waterproof and is most definitely meant to solely be utilized in a protected space throughout inclement climate.

The entrance finish of the unit encompasses a brilliant LED activity mild and an easy-to-read show panel, in addition to two 5V/2.4A USB retailers, a 100W USB-C PD outlet, a 20W USB-C outlet, and two 12V DC retailers (DC5521), to which cables resembling a automotive cigarette retailers may be hooked up. Every of the outlet sections has its personal energy button, in addition to a foremost energy change for the entire unit. A wi-fi connection characteristic can also be out there on the entrance, which permits for the consumer to attach the unit to the Yoshino App in an effort to view and entry settings through a smartphone.

Yoshino B4000 SST moveable energy station, rear view

On the rear of the unit, there are a pair of ordinary AC retailers, a TT-30R RV outlet, and the “Sensible Hyperlink” outlet for connecting the B4000 to at least one or of Yoshino’s “Sensible Enlargement Battery” (I couldn’t discover any additional information about these growth batteries on the corporate’s web site). The rear additionally hosts the AC charging port, in addition to an outlet (inlet?) for connecting both a charging cable from a automotive’s 12V outlet, or for connecting the unit to photo voltaic panels. That connection appears to be a proprietary plug form, and never a regular moveable photo voltaic panel connection plug, though there could also be adapters out there someplace for that.

Yoshino B4000 SST moveable energy station, high view with wi-fi charging pads

Based on the specs out there from Yoshino on the B4000, charging the unit from 0-80% from an AC outlet takes about 70 minutes, which is fairly quick in comparison with another moveable energy stations that I’ve used, or it may be charged utilizing a car’s 12V cigarette lighter port in “roughly 18 hours,” which is likely to be an possibility for maintaining the unit topped off throughout a highway journey. When linked to a 200W photo voltaic panel, the unit ought to be able to being charged to 80% in about 4.5 hours. Because the unit had a partial cost after I acquired it, and I didn’t handle to empty it completely earlier than charging, I couldn’t confirm the 70-minute cost time, however in my expertise with utilizing an AC outlet to cost it from about 50% to full a number of occasions, it took about half-hour, which is true consistent with the acknowledged specs.

The rated capability of the unit is 2611Wh, which Yoshino states can energy a full dimension fridge (160W) for 14 hours, or run a 60W CPAP machine for 37 hours, each of which could actually come in useful within the occasion of an influence outage. For smaller moveable electronics, resembling laptops, tablets, or smartphones, the B4000 can recharge them many occasions on a single cost, and for energy instruments, resembling an electrical chainsaw or angle grinder, it could actually energy them for a number of hours (the precise runtime will depend upon the specs of every energy instrument).

In my expertise, it’s a lot simpler to only haul a conveyable energy station just like the Yoshino B4000 out to an off-grid work website for smaller jobs than it’s to load up a gasoline or diesel generator to do the identical work. Plus, it’s clear and quiet when in comparison with working a combustion engine, and except you want electrical energy to run energy instruments all day lengthy (which a fuel generator can do, given that you just hold feeding it gasoline), carrying the B4000 to the place you want it’s a nice different to working extraordinarily lengthy extension cords in an effort to get electrical energy out past the fenceline. And since you actually don’t wish to run a fuel generator inside, having a backup electrical energy supply like this may be extremely helpful within the occasion of an emergency or energy outage.

One other characteristic that the Yoshino B4000 has is an app, which I didn’t truly obtain and use as a result of I’m all the time skeptical of including extra apps to my telephone that do the very same issues that I can do manually. That being stated, there are in all probability use circumstances the place with the ability to remotely entry the unit in an effort to flip energy ports on or off, or with the ability to see the state of cost with out standing proper in entrance of it, could come in useful, however I didn’t have a necessity for that.

The B4000, like many moveable energy stations, can be used as an uninterruptible energy provide (UPS), which is likely to be a really helpful characteristic for individuals who have vital medical units or electronics that all the time should be on, particularly within the occasion of an influence failure. The corporate does warning that the machine will change over inside 20 ms, and never 0 ms, which some units could require. The unit’s wi-fi charging pads are one other useful characteristic, because it makes it easy to maintain telephones or different digital units charged up with out having to maintain monitor of charging cords.

Total, I used to be impressed by what the B4000 provided in a comparatively small and lightweight footprint, in addition to its many output choices, from customary AC ports to an RV outlet to a number of USB and 12V DC ports. With photo voltaic, car 12V, and AC recharging choices, the unit might make an awesome addition to both emergency preparedness kits or out of doors recreation packing lists — or each.

Yoshino B4000 SST Specs

• 2611Wh capability (48.36V, 54Ah)
• 4000W AC output (6000W max)
• Strong-state Li-NCM battery
• Cycle life: 2500 charging cycles (to 80% capability)
• Working temperature (discharging): 14° to 104° F (-10 to 40° C)
• Charging temperature: 32 to 104° F (0 to 40° C)
• Weight: 55.1 kilos (25 kg)
• Dimensions: 21.4″ x 10.2″ x 9.4″ (543 x 260 x 240 mm)
• 5-year guarantee

For extra data on the Yoshino B4000 SST, which is on the market for $3,299, see the company website.

Observe: Yoshino supplied this product to the creator for overview functions.