Our picks: for most RVs, the Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 is the best fit: 2 kWh, a built-in TT-30 RV outlet, an optional 800 W alternator charger and a relatively light 41.7 lb. For vans, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus is the best compact choice: 1 kWh, 1,000 W of solar input and a full recharge in about 1.3 hours from EcoFlow’s 800 W alternator charger. If you want to run a microwave or kettle alongside everything else, step up to the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus; for light weekend trips, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is the lightest of the group.
| Pick | Best for | Key numbers | Recharge while driving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 | Best overall for RVs | 2,048 Wh · 2,400 W · TT-30 · 41.7 lb | 800 W alternator charger: full in ~3 h (Anker) |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | Best for vans | 1,024 Wh · 1,800 W · 1,000 W solar · 27.6 lb | 800 W alternator charger: full in ~1.3 h (EcoFlow) |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus | Big loads on the road | 2,048 Wh · 3,000 W · 30 A Anderson port · 48.7 lb | 800 W alternator charger with an adapter |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | Light weekend trips | 1,070 Wh · 1,500 W · 400 W solar · 23.8 lb | Car outlet: ~12 h to full (Jackery); no alternator option listed |
How we chose: a research-based comparison of official manufacturer specifications and our transparent energy math, not hands-on tests. See How We Test. Prices change often; compare current listings before you buy.
Quick verdict: who should buy what
| If you… | Choose | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Have a travel trailer or RV with a 30 A shore plug | C2000 Gen 2 | TT-30 outlet feeds the RV’s 120 V system directly |
| Live or work in a camper van | DELTA 3 Plus (+ alternator charger) | Compact, 1,000 W solar, refills fast while driving |
| Want to cook with a microwave or kettle | DELTA 3 Max Plus | 3,000 W runs a kettle with the fridge on |
| Do weekend trips and carry it in and out | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | Lightest 1 kWh here |
| Need to run a rooftop AC for hours | None of these alone | You need a large installed battery bank or a generator |
How we picked: what matters on the road
- Charging while you drive. A car outlet gives about 100 W, which takes 12–23 hours to refill 1–2 kWh. An alternator charger (800 W) refills the same battery in 1–3 hours of driving. This is the biggest difference for van life.
- Solar input. Parked for days, solar is your fuel. More input watts means more of a rooftop array you can actually use.
- RV connection. A TT-30 outlet lets you plug an RV’s 30 A shore cord straight in (with the RV’s loads kept within the station’s 2,400 W).
- 12 V power. 12 V fridges, fans and lights run directly from DC ports, skipping the inverter’s losses.
- Size, weight and charging temperature. Space is tight in a van, and lithium batteries can’t be charged below freezing (32°F).
Specs compared
| Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 | EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 2,048 Wh | 1,024 Wh | 2,048 Wh | 1,070 Wh |
| Chemistry and cycles | LFP, 4,000 cycles | LFP, 4,000 cycles to 80% | LFP | LFP, 4,000 cycles to 70%+ |
| AC output (peak) | 2,400 W (4,000 W) | 1,800 W (3,600 W) | 3,000 W (6,000 W) | 1,500 W (3,000 W) |
| AC outlets | 5 + TT-30 | 6 | 4 (20 A) | 3 |
| RV outlet | TT-30 (120 V, 20 A max) | No | No | No |
| USB-C | 2 × 140 W + 1 × 15 W | 2 × 140 W | 140 W + 2 × 45 W | 100 W + 30 W |
| USB-A | 1 × 12 W | 2 fast-charge | 1 × 18 W | 1 × 18 W |
| 12 V outputs | Car socket 12 V, 10 A | Car socket 126 W + 2 DC5521 | Car socket + Anderson 30 A (378 W shared) | Car port 12 V, 10 A |
| AC charging | 1,800 W | 1,500 W, full in 56 min | About 1,800 W | Full in ~1 h (Emergency mode) |
| Solar input | 800 W | 1,000 W (2 × 500 W) | 1,000 W | 400 W |
| Alternator charging | 800 W, full in ~3 h | 800 W, full in ~1.3 h | 800 W with EcoFlow’s adapter | None listed in the specs we checked |
| Car outlet charging | ~100 W, ~23 h to full | Car charging cable included | Check EcoFlow’s specs | ~12 h to full |
| UPS | 10 ms | Under 10 ms | Under 10 ms | ≤20 ms |
| Charging temperature | 32–104°F | See EcoFlow manual | 32–113°F | 32–113°F |
| Size | 18.1 × 9.8 × 10.1 in | 15.7 × 8.0 × 11.2 in | 19.4 × 9.5 × 12 in | 12.9 × 8.8 × 9.7 in |
| Weight | 41.7 lb | 27.6 lb | 48.7 lb | 23.8 lb |
| Expansion | Up to ~4 kWh (BP2000) | Up to 5 kWh | 2–10 kWh | No |
How long does it last in a van? The math
Hours = (battery Wh × 0.85) ÷ device watts (add about 10 W for AC devices, since the inverter uses power too). The typical van day below uses our example wattages; check your own devices’ labels.
| Device (example watts) | 1 kWh (DELTA 3 Plus) | 1,070 Wh (Jackery 1000 v2) | 2 kWh (C2000 Gen 2 / Max Plus) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 V compressor fridge, ~30 W average (DC) | ~29 h | ~30 h | ~58 h |
| Laptop via AC, ~60 W (+10 W inverter) | ~12 h | ~13 h | ~25 h |
| LED lights, ~10 W (DC) | ~87 h | ~91 h | ~174 h |
| Roof fan, ~25 W (DC) | ~35 h | ~36 h | ~70 h |
| Household-style fridge, 1.5 kWh/day | ~12 h | ~12.5 h | ~24 h |
| CPAP, no humidifier (~320 Wh/night) | ~2.7 nights | ~2.8 nights | ~5.4 nights |
| Kettle, 0.5 L (~50 Wh) | ~17 boils | ~18 boils | ~35 boils |
| Microwave, 1,500 W input | ~35 min | At its 1,500 W limit | ~70 min |
A typical van day, step by step
- 12 V fridge: 30 W × 24 h = 720 Wh.
- Laptop for work: 70 W × 6 h = 420 Wh.
- Roof fan: 25 W × 8 h = 200 Wh.
- Lights and phones: about 80 Wh.
- Total: about 1,420 Wh a day. A 1 kWh station covers about 0.6 days on its own; a 2 kWh station about 1.2 days.
That’s why recharging matters more than capacity on the road. 400 W of rooftop panels at about 75% efficiency make roughly 1,500 Wh on a 5-sun-hour day, enough to cover this day. An 800 W alternator charger adds a full 1 kWh in under 1.5 hours of driving. See how many solar panels you need.
1. Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2: best overall for RVs
The C2000 Gen 2 is the only pick here with a TT-30 outlet (120 V, up to 2,400 W), the same socket as an RV’s 30 A shore connection. Plug the RV’s power cord into it and the RV’s 120 V outlets and lights run from the battery, as long as you keep total loads within 2,400 W. It holds 2,048 Wh, weighs 41.7 lb, and Anker’s optional 800 W alternator charger refills it in about 3 hours of driving; a standard car outlet takes about 23 hours. It accepts 800 W of solar and expands to about 4 kWh with a BP2000 battery. Its 9 W idle draw is modest for its size.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| TT-30 RV outlet built in | Only charges between 32°F and 104°F |
| 2 kWh at 41.7 lb | 800 W solar, less than EcoFlow’s 1,000 W |
| 800 W alternator charging option | Only one USB-A port |
| Expands to about 4 kWh | Car outlet charging is very slow (~23 h) |
| Three USB-C ports |
- Choose it if: you have a trailer or RV with a 30 A plug and want the simplest way to run its outlets and lights off-grid.
- Skip it if: you camp in freezing weather and need to charge on cold mornings, or you want the fastest solar input.
Full details: Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 review.
2. EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus: best for camper vans
In a van, space and fast refilling beat raw capacity. The DELTA 3 Plus is compact (about 16 × 8 × 11 in, 27.6 lb), takes up to 1,000 W of solar through two inputs, and EcoFlow says its 800 W alternator charger fills it in about 1.3 hours of driving. It has six AC outlets, two 140 W USB-C ports for laptops, a 126 W car socket for a 12 V fridge, and it expands to 5 kWh with extra batteries if you move into the van full time.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Fastest alternator refill in this list (~1.3 h) | 1 kWh alone won’t cover a full working day |
| 1,000 W solar input | No TT-30 outlet |
| Compact footprint | 1,800 W limits running a kettle with other loads |
| Expands to 5 kWh | Alternator charger is an extra purchase and install |
| Two 140 W USB-C ports |
- Choose it if: you drive most days and want a compact unit that refills quickly from the engine and the roof.
- Skip it if: you park for days at a time without much sun; you’ll want 2 kWh.
Full details: EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus review.
3. EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus: best for big loads
With 3,000 W of output (6,000 W peak), the Max Plus can run a kettle or microwave while the fridge and laptop stay on. Its 12 V, 30 A Anderson port suits RV and van 12 V gear, it takes 1,000 W of solar, and it expands from 2 to 10 kWh. EcoFlow’s 800 W alternator charger works with it, but EcoFlow notes it requires an extra adapter for this model. The trade-off is size: 48.7 lb and about 19 × 9.5 × 12 in.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 3,000 W output for cooking appliances | Heaviest pick at 48.7 lb |
| 30 A Anderson port for 12 V gear | Alternator charging needs an extra adapter |
| 1,000 W solar | Only four AC outlets |
| Expands to 10 kWh | No TT-30 outlet |
| Charges at 32–113°F |
- Choose it if: you cook with electric appliances or run several things at once.
- Skip it if: weight and space are tight; the C2000 Gen 2 has the same capacity and is 7 lb lighter.
Full details: EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus review.
4. Jackery Explorer 1000 v2: best for light weekend trips
At 23.8 lb and about 13 × 9 × 10 in, the Explorer 1000 v2 is the easiest to carry from the car to a campsite. It charges from the wall in about an hour in Emergency mode and accepts 400 W of solar. For life on the road, its limits show: the specs we checked list no alternator charging, so driving adds power only through the car outlet (Jackery lists about 12 hours to full), and 1,500 W of output can’t run a kettle with anything else on.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Lightest 1 kWh here (23.8 lb) | Car charging only, ~12 h to full |
| Fast wall charging (~1 h) | 400 W solar input |
| Quiet charging mode | Only three AC outlets |
| Car port for a 12 V fridge | Not expandable |
| Charges at 32–113°F | UPS switchover up to 20 ms |
- Choose it if: you take weekend trips and recharge at home between them.
- Skip it if: you live on the road and need to recharge while driving.
Full details: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 review. Need something even smaller? See our best small power stations for camping.
Comparing it with Anker’s 1 kWh unit? See Jackery vs Anker SOLIX.
Three real-world setups
1. Full-time van, remote work
Using the 1,420 Wh day above: a 2 kWh station plus 400 W of rooftop solar covers a sunny day, and an 800 W alternator charger catches up after cloudy ones (about 1.8 hours of driving replaces a full day). With a DELTA 3 Plus, add an extra battery or plan to drive most days.
2. Travel trailer at a campsite without hookups
Plug the trailer’s 30 A cord into the C2000 Gen 2’s TT-30 outlet and the trailer’s lights, outlets and a small fridge run normally. Keep the total under 2,400 W: skip the rooftop AC and electric water heater, which use far more than a battery this size can sustain. See can a power station run an AC for why.
3. Weekend car camping with a 12 V fridge
A 12 V fridge at about 30 W plus phones and lights uses roughly 800 Wh a day. A Jackery 1000 v2 or DELTA 3 Plus covers about one day on its own; a 100–200 W folding panel stretches it through a weekend.
Common mistakes
- Counting on the car outlet. About 100 W means 12–23 hours to refill 1–2 kWh. For daily driving, budget for an alternator charger.
- Running 12 V devices through the inverter. Use the DC ports for fridges, fans and lights to skip conversion losses.
- Expecting to run the rooftop AC. An RV air conditioner draws more than these batteries can sustain for long.
- Charging below freezing. Lithium batteries shouldn’t be charged under 32°F; keep the unit inside the living space in winter.
- Leaving it loose. A 40–50 lb box needs a strap or bracket in a moving vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
What size power station do I need for van life?
For weekends, 1 kWh is usually enough. For full-time life with a fridge and remote work, plan on about 2 kWh plus solar and an alternator charger, based on our example day of about 1,420 Wh.
Can a power station power my whole RV?
Through a TT-30 outlet, it can feed the RV’s 120 V outlets and lights, up to the station’s output (2,400 W on the C2000 Gen 2). It won’t run the rooftop AC or electric water heater for long.
Is an alternator charger worth it?
If you drive most days, yes. At about 800 W it refills 1 kWh in under 1.5 hours; a car outlet at about 100 W takes around 10 hours for the same energy. It needs a proper install connected to the vehicle’s battery.
Can I charge a power station while driving and use it at the same time?
Most current power stations support pass-through use, so a 12 V fridge can keep running while the station charges. Check your model’s manual for its limits before you rely on it.
Power station or a built-in lithium house battery?
A power station is plug-and-play and moves with you; a built-in system can be larger and neater but needs a real electrical install. Many van owners start with a power station. For fixed systems at home, see home battery vs portable power station.
The bottom line
For RVs with a 30 A plug, the Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 is the easiest fit thanks to its TT-30 outlet. For camper vans, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus with an alternator charger refills fastest in the smallest box. Pick the DELTA 3 Max Plus for heavy cooking loads and the Jackery 1000 v2 for light weekends. Whatever you choose, plan how you’ll recharge before you plan capacity. Compare brands in EcoFlow vs Jackery.
Sources
- Anker SOLIX, C2000 Gen 2 specifications and charging times (official).
- EcoFlow, DELTA 3 Plus and 800 W Alternator Charger (official, including adapter note for DELTA 3 Max Plus).
- EcoFlow, DELTA 3 Max Plus specifications (official).
- Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 specifications as published by TechRadar and a retailer listing (car charging time, ports).
