Power stations for campervans and vans: how much battery you need on the road
A cooler, lights, a laptop and a coffee in the morning, parked in the hills with no campsite in sight. Here's how much energy a real day in the van uses, how to recharge on the road and which stations suit the way you travel.
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Why a power station in your campervan
A power station is a battery with sockets, USB and 12 V outputs, all in a box you can carry. In a campervan it has three clear advantages over a fixed installation:
- No installation: charge it at home, put it in the van and you're done. It works just as well in a hired van, a tent or the car.
- Several ways to recharge: at the campsite socket, with a folding solar panel or from the 12 V socket while you drive.
- It works all year: when the van is parked, the same battery keeps your home running in a power cut, or gives you power in a country house with no grid.
How much energy a day in the van uses
These are typical figures for a day on the road. They're approximate: the cooler in particular uses quite a bit more in high summer.
| Device | Use | Energy per day |
|---|---|---|
| 12 V compressor cooler (40 L) | All day | About 250-400 Wh, depending on the heat |
| LED lights | 5 h | About 50 Wh |
| Phones (2) | One charge each | About 30 Wh |
| Capsule coffee machine | 2 coffees | About 100 Wh, but it draws 1,300 W at once |
| 12 V water pump | 15 min | About 15 Wh |
| Laptop | 4 h of work | About 150-250 Wh |
Without remote work, a typical day comes to about 450-600 Wh; with a laptop, 600-850 Wh. To work out your own figures, use our calculator with the "Campervan or camping" option.
Rule of thumb: for a weekend with a cooler, a 1 kWh station and a 200 W panel give you plenty of margin. If you live in the van or work remotely on the road, think 2 kWh.
How to recharge on the road
With a folding solar panel
It's the most convenient option if you stay several days in one place. A 200 W panel can put back about 700-840 Wh on a clear summer day, almost what a day in the van uses. We explain how to choose one in our portable solar panels guide.
From the 12 V socket while you drive
Every station can charge from the vehicle's 12 V socket, but it usually gives only about 100-120 W: filling 1 kWh takes almost a full day's driving. It works as a top-up. Some brands sell much faster alternator chargers.
At the campsite socket
If you stop at a campsite or an area with hook-up, today's stations charge very quickly: EcoFlow's and BLUETTI's 1 kWh models reach 80% in about 45 minutes.
What to check when choosing a station for your campervan
- 12 V output for the cooler: running a compressor cooler from the station's 12 V socket is more efficient than using the 230 V socket, because you avoid inverter losses.
- Weight and size: in a van, every litre counts. A 1 kWh station weighs about 11-13 kg; secure it so it doesn't move while driving.
- Noise: if it will run while you sleep, look for quiet models. Some stations' fans are noticeable under heavy loads.
- Solar input: the more it accepts, the more you'll get from a large panel if you stay several days in one place.
- LiFePO4 battery: safer and good for thousands of cycles. All the ones we recommend use it.
- Temperature: most don't accept charging below 0 °C, and it's best not to leave them in the sun inside the van in summer. Check the spec sheet if you travel in winter.
Recommended power stations for campervans
All of them are reviewed in our power station comparison. Click a model to see its full review.
Weekend trips
| Model | Capacity | Why in a campervan | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 | 288 Wh | Only 4.3 kg, with 140 W USB-C for the laptop. | Check price |
| ALLPOWERS R600 | 299 Wh | 600 W at a very good price to get started. | Check price |
Campervan with a 12 V cooler, two or three days
| Model | Capacity | Why in a campervan | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic | 1,024 Wh | Very quiet (30 dB), ideal for sleeping with the cooler running. | Check price |
| ALLPOWERS R1500 | 1,152 Wh | Lots of capacity per euro and up to 650 W of solar input. | Check price |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | 1,024 Wh | 2,000 W: handles the coffee machine with no trouble. | Check price |
Van life or remote work on the road
| Model | Capacity | Why in a campervan | Shop |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOSSiBOT F2400 | 2,048 Wh | 2 kWh at a good price for several days of autonomy. | Check price |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus | 2,048 Wh | 3,000 W and expandable up to 10 kWh if you need more. | Check price |
A power station or a fixed battery installation?
The classic alternative is a fixed lithium leisure battery with a charger connected to the alternator. It's more integrated in the van and charges faster while you drive, but it needs installing and, depending on the case, it may have to be approved as a modification at the Spanish vehicle inspection (ITV).
A power station needs no work or paperwork, can be used outside the van and covers your home in a power cut. For trips, and for anyone who doesn't want an installation, it's the simplest option.
And when the van is parked
The same station works at home if the power goes: it keeps the fridge, router and lights going for hours. We explain what else to prepare in our blackout kit checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I charge the power station from the 12 V socket while I drive?
Yes, they all allow it, but the 12 V socket usually gives about 100-120 W, so filling a 1 kWh station takes almost a full day's driving. It's a good complement to a solar panel or the campsite socket.
How many days will a compressor cooler run on a 1 kWh station?
A 40 L compressor cooler uses about 250-400 Wh a day depending on the heat, so a 1 kWh station keeps it going for about two or three days if nothing else is connected. With a solar panel, it can run indefinitely in summer.
Is a power station or a fixed leisure battery better?
It depends on how you use it. A fixed battery is more integrated and charges faster on the move, but needs installing. A power station needs no work, can be used outside the van and covers your home in a power cut.
Can I leave the station inside the van in heat or cold?
Best to avoid direct sun in summer and frost in winter. Most stations don't accept charging below 0 °C; check the model's spec sheet if you travel in winter.