Oukitel BP2000 Power Station + Oukitel B2000 backup storage in a practical test: Infinite possibilities?
Rising energy prices, concerns about the security of the energy supply - keyword "blackout", the growing number of photovoltaic systems in households, falling prices and new technologies for electrochemical energy storage and, in general, increasing electrification in the sense of a sustainable energy supply - the reasons for the current high demand for mobile energy storage are manifold.
With its BP2000 storage solution, Oukitel is attempting to meet the needs of many applications. The basic concept is based on a modular system in which a base station with integrated storage can be expanded with several additional batteries and thus individually configured for the largest possible number of different application scenarios.
The Oukitel BP2000 Powerstation is currently available directly from the Oukitel online store for 1,299 Euros (~$1387). In a package with an additional B2000 battery, the system costs 2,299 Euros (~$2456). Each additional B2000 battery costs 1,099 (~$1174) Euros.
The system is shipped from EU or US warehouses, so there are no additional costs in these sales regions. Shipping to Germany and Austria was free of charge at the time of testing.
Specifications
| Specs | OUKITEL BP2000 | OUKITEL B2000 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2048 Wh (51.2 V, 40 Ah) | 2048 Wh (51.2 V, 40 Ah) |
| Continuous power | 2,200 W | |
| Charging power AC | 1,800 W | |
| Charging power DC (solar) | 1,000 W (12-120 V/15 A) |
200 W (12-48 V/10 A) |
| Connections (output) | 5x AC, 4x USB-A (2x 12W, 2x 18W), 2x USB-C PD 100W, 1x car 12V/10A, 1x 24V/10 AV, 2x 12V/3A DC5521, connector port for B2000 | 1x USB-A (12W), 1x USB-C PD 100W, 1x car 12V/10A, 1x XT60 port (24V/15A ) |
| Connections (input) | Mains connection, 1x XT60 port (12-120V/15A Max.1,000W) | 1x XT60 (12-48V/10A) , Connector port for B2000 |
| Accessories | 3 charging cables (1x AC, 1x car, 1x solar), manual | 2 charging cables (1x car, 1x solar), manual, connection cable to BP2000 |
| Weight | 23.6 kg | 18.6 kg |
| Dimensions | 480 x 296 x 322 mm | 474 x 295 x 242 mm |
| Carrying | 2 carrying handles | 2 recessed grips |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
Overview and features: modularity is the BP2000's trump card
The Oukitel BP2000 base unit is a power station with a battery capacity of 2,048 Wh and a weight of 23.6 kilograms (~52 lb, manufacturer's specification & measured). In this respect, the BP2000 can still be described as mobile, but you will want to avoid carrying it around as much as possible.
Like many other current storage devices, the BP2000 uses LiFePO4 cells, i.e. lithium iron phosphate. The advantages of this technology are lower temperature sensitivity, fewer problems with deep discharge and better chemical stability (lower flammability) at the expense of lower energy density.
Oukitel speaks of 3,500+ charging cycles or a service life of 10 years. This would correspond to a complete daily charge and discharge. After this usage, however, the battery is not broken, but according to the manufacturer, in the worst case it has reached a capacity of around 80% and is still ready for use. However, the warranty from the manufacturer is only 3 years.
The Oukitel B2000 expansion module also has a capacity of 2,048 Wh and weighs 18.6 kilograms (~41 lb). Oukitel is showing the BP2000 in conjunction with seven B2000 expansion modules, which offer a total capacity of over 16 kWh.
Oukitel specifies 4,000 watts as the peak power that can be called up briefly, while the nominal power is 2,200 watts. This means that the BP2000 should theoretically also be able to operate very energy-hungry devices and tools. We will take a closer look at this in the following practical test.
In terms of workmanship, the BP2000 and the B2000 appear to be made of one piece. Only the plastic covers of individual ports do not give a very confidence-inspiring impression, as they are rather loose or even protrude a little.
Connection options: More is more?
In terms of connectivity, the BP2000 base unit offers everything you could wish for at first glance: 5 Schuko sockets, 2 USB Type-C ports with 100 watts PD each, 4 USB Type-A ports with 2x 12W and 2x 18W as well as 4 DC connections (1x 24V/10A AV port, 1x12V/10A car socket and 2x 12V/3A DC5521).
Charging takes place either via a mains connection (via an IEC plug) or via the XT60 port (12-120V/15A max. 1,000W) to which a PV system can be connected. The power station can also be connected to the 12V "cigarette lighter" port of a car and charged using the supplied adapter cable.
The B2000 auxiliary battery offers a USB Type-A port (5V/2.4A), a USB Type-C port (PD 100W), a 12V/10A car socket and a 24V/15A XT60 connection.
The B2000 is charged either directly via an XT60 port (12-48V/10A) using a direct current source (PV or car) or via a solid connection cable via the connected BP2000 station. Additional B2000 battery modules are connected in series and thus connected to the BP2000 base unit.
The connections are grouped together and must be activated via an associated button. Theoretically, all ports of the BP2000 or the B2000 can be used simultaneously, provided that the maximum power drawn remains within the specifications. In coupled mode, the ports of the B2000 are deactivated and any loads must be connected to the BP2000. The B2000 does not have any AC outputs.
The BP2000 is supplied with an IEC connection cable, an XT60-MC4 adapter cable for connection to a PV module and an XT60 car adapter cable. Also included: a printed quick start guide.
The B2000 box again contains the two adapter cables already included with the BP2000 and also contains the connection cable for connecting the B2000 to the BP2000 and a printed operating manual. There is a small storage compartment on the top of the BP2000 in which various connection cables can be stored.
The BP2000+B2000 in use as a classic power station: Energy "to go"
Equipped with a capacity of around 2 or 4 kWh, 2,200 watts of continuous power and, according to the manufacturer, up to 4,000 watts of peak power, the possible uses of the Oukitel BP2000 and B2000 as "mobile sockets" seem endless. The system can be used to transport "electricity" to any desired location and use it there as required. Electric tools in the garden, cooking utensils on the balcony, a coffee machine in the car - wherever energy is needed, the Oukitel BP2000 can bring it to the desired location.
Three points should be borne in mind:
- Firstly, the BP2000 is not weatherproof, the device must be protected from moisture and excessive dirt.
- Secondly, the BP2000 and B2000 together weigh over 40 kilograms (~88 lb). The individual modules can be carried over shorter distances, but this is not really comfortable.
- Thirdly: A total of 5 220V sockets invite you to connect numerous power-hungry devices, but if used simultaneously, the peak load can quickly be exceeded and the device switches off.
The operation of the Powerstation is intuitive and simple, despite the rather difficult to understand explanations in the operating instructions. Both the BP2000 and B2000 have an On/Off button. Individual connection groups can be activated or deactivated with an assigned button. If the power station is not required, the connection groups should be deactivated or the station should be deactivated completely (press and hold On/Off for several seconds), otherwise a continuous discharge will occur. In the test, we observed a loss of around 15% over a period of 12 hours, only due to the activated AC connection group without a connected consumer.
The display shows the charge level as a percentage, as well as the current input and output power. The expected remaining runtime (or charging time) in the current operating status is shown on the left-hand side. Unfortunately, the display is very reflective, especially when used outdoors.
In the test, we loaded the BP2000/B2000 combination with all kinds of electrical equipment. The numerous sockets on the device prove to be very practical here, as there is usually no need for additional distributors. When simultaneously operating several connected devices, we observe a limit of just over 3,000 watts, above which the power station switches off and the message "Overload" appears on the display. After a few seconds, the BP2000 is ready for use again.
During our tests, we also found a number of individual devices that were too energy-hungry for use with the BP2000. For example, the Oukitel BP2000 refused to work with a connected Kärcher K4 high-pressure cleaner with the message "Overload", as well as with an ALKO electric lawnmower. Charging an electric car on the BP2000 also did not work. Various household appliances, such as a current Samsung washing machine, an induction hob, a hot air fryer or a Weber electric grill could be operated without any problems via the BP2000 (with and without a connected B2000).
We emptied the batteries several times in the course of our tests, and on average we observed a usable capacity of around 3.7 kWh. This is around 91% of the specified gross capacity.
The expected runtimes depend directly on the connected consumers. While an electric grill, hob or iron, for example, can be operated for around 1.5 hours at a continuous load of around 2 kW (BP2000+B2000), the expected runtime is correspondingly longer for frugal appliances. A notebook with an average consumption of 20 watts could be operated off the grid for more than 20 days, assuming 8 hours of daily operation.
Uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
The integrated UPS function is an extremely exciting application scenario. If the BP2000 is connected to the mains supply and a consumer is connected to the power station at the same time, the device activates UPS mode (Uninterruptible Power Supply). If the mains supply fails, the BP2000 switches to power supply via the connected batteries within 10 milliseconds. Connected devices can thus continue to operate without interruption, which worked without any problems in the test with a PC, a monitor and a modem.
Use as storage for a balcony power plant
Not least because of the boom in balcony power plants, i.e. 1-2 photovoltaic modules that are mounted on the balcony or terrace and connected directly to the power grid via micro inverters and fed into the grid, the demand for corresponding storage solutions is also increasing. As a rule, all the energy is fed into the grid, covering all or part of the currently required load, while surplus energy is "donated" to the grid, as there are no feed-in tariffs for such small systems. The idea of temporarily storing energy that is not required and releasing it at a later time when it is needed is an obvious one. It is also possible to use a mobile PV module, as offered by Oukitel in the online store.
Oukitel also envisages the BP2000 being used as a PV storage device. However, there are a few limitations in the details. Two basic points that should be observed are already stated in the operating instructions: "Do not expose the device to rain or snow" and "Do not use or store the product in direct sunlight for long periods of time."
This would require the device to be installed indoors (including the necessary cable feed-throughs to the PV modules outside) or at least in a well-protected place, whereby the BP2000 can also become noisy when charging or releasing energy (more on this below).
If you want to feed solar energy directly into the household grid, there are also restrictions: The BP2000 provides a 24V/10A AV port for this use, to which an inverter is connected, allowing previously stored energy to be released into the home network. The appropriate connection cable is also available as an option (MC4 to Aviation Plug). In purely mathematical terms, this results in a theoretical maximum output of 240 watts. However, a suitable inverter that can cope with the low voltage of 24V must first be found.
The B2000 additional battery offers a more powerful XT90 output (48V/15A), which can theoretically deliver up to 720 watts of power. Unfortunately, this port cannot currently be used with a BP2000 station connected.
Slow or fast, AC or DC - Oukitel BP2000 supports versatile charging options
There are basically two different ways to charge the BP2000 or the connected B2000: via a connection to the socket (AC) or via various DC sources, for example connected PV modules or via a 12V car socket using the adapter cable supplied. If the B2000 auxiliary battery is connected to the BP2000, access to the AC connection socket hidden under a flap is blocked and requires the unpleasant use of long fingernails or tools.
The quickest way to charge is via mains power with the Quickcharge function activated. In this way, the Oukitel BP2000 and connected expansion batteries are charged with around 1,800 watts. A full charge with a fully depleted memory takes around 2.5 hours. The slow charge function limits the energy consumption to around 800 watts, a full charge takes correspondingly longer.
The supplied XT60-to-car adapter cable can prove helpful on the road, for example in the car or camper. However, with a maximum charging power of around 120 watts, it takes quite a while to charge a significant amount of energy into the storage unit.
It can be faster with connected PV modules. Oukitel speaks of a maximum of 1,000 watts, which can be fed in via the XT60-to-MC4 adapter that is also included in the scope of delivery. To achieve this high charging power, several PV modules would have to be connected in series. Oukitel's own portable solar module delivers 400 Wp, which is roughly equivalent to the power that conventional current PV modules can deliver.
As the BP2000 can be charged simultaneously via the mains connection (AC) and DC input, the maximum charging power is 2,800 watts, at least in theory. In practice, one or the other option will probably be used in most cases.
The B2000 expansion battery can also be charged - in solo mode - via an XT60 port using connected PV modules, although the charging power is limited to 200 watts.
Emissions: The BP2000 can also get loud
In addition to the ample dimensions and the impressive weight, the BP2000's noise level was particularly surprising. The power station has several integrated fans that start up depending on the temperature inside. There are various speed levels, whereby even the lowest level observed can be described as loud with a volume of around 50 dB(A) (measured at a distance of 1 m/~3 feet). Even with a slow charge or low load, the fans start up again and again, which we find extremely annoying, especially indoors. At its peak, for example during AC fast charging or high loads, our measuring device even scrapes the 60 dB(A) mark.
One positive aspect of the overzealous fans is that the casing is always kept at a safe temperature. We were unable to measure surface temperatures of over 35 °C (95 °F) in any of the situations we observed.
Conclusion: Oukitel's BP2000 can do a lot, but not everything
With a storage capacity of 2 or 4 kWh, there is no need to worry about connecting small devices, including laptops. We consider the Oukitel BP2000 Powerstation (also in combination with the B2000 extension battery) primarily as a powerful off-grid energy source with high capacity, preferably for outdoor use, for example when camping, or for operating electrical tools in remote locations. The BP2000 also appears suitable as an emergency backup system for home use or as a UPS unit.
Oukitel's BP2000 and B2000 combo is an attractively priced modular storage system that makes exciting applications possible, especially in the camping and RV sector.
We see an exciting area of application in the camping sector, for example as an upgrade for camper vans or as a power supply in boats. By using (mobile) PV modules, an individually dimensioned storage system that can be upgraded at any time can be continuously filled and the energy can then be called up again as required with a high power potential.
You should be aware of the size and weight of the BP2000 and the B2000 storage solution. You should also bear in mind that the system does not remain silent under load (charging and discharging), but can even become very loud due to the built-in cooling. Powerful electrical appliances can overload the power station, and we have observed that the system shuts down at around 3,100 watts of short-term peak power.
We do not consider the Oukitel BP2000 to be suitable for stationary use as storage for a PV system with feed-in to the home network due to a number of aspects.
Price and availability
Oukitel is currently offering the BP2000 Powerstation in its own online store for 1,299 Euros (~$1387). If you choose the package with the B2000 additional battery, the price is 2,299 Euros (~$2456). An additional B2000 battery pack costs 1,099 Euros (~$1174). Bundles with mobile PV modules are also available.
Oukitel uses EU or US warehouses, depending on the destination country, which means that no additional charges are incurred in these sales regions. Shipping to Germany and Austria was free of charge at the time of testing.
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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