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Battery packs come in all shapes and sizes, from smaller ones for an essential smartphone boost to bigger options that can charge a tablet. Some even have multiple ports to charge more than one device at once.
Portable Power Stations
Power stations take mobile power to a whole new level, allowing you to charge multiple devices at once and also plug in solar panels for off-grid camping trips. Some even work as backups for your home during a power outage. Find out more at betl.
When deciding on a portable power station, you’ll want to consider how much energy you need to run your electronics and appliances. Power stations are rated in watt hours, and the bigger the number is, the more power it can hold. For example, if you’re trying to power a 50-watt light bulb for one hour, it will use up 40 watt hours.
Typically, the control panel and outlets live on the wide side of the power station while the ports for adding power and charging are on the narrower side. Some models like Jackery’s BaseCharge 1500 and 600 have handles for grabbing when you’re moving it from campsite to vehicle or storage to your off-grid cabin.
Power Banks
Power banks can be a useful way to charge your mobile devices while on the go, and are available in a wide range of sizes and capacities. Some power banks also feature wireless charging, which can be convenient if your mobile device supports it.
Look for a power bank that comes with a warranty and an authorised service centre. Check for safety certifications, and read operating and maintenance instructions carefully to minimise damage to the internal circuitry.
Most power banks come with a USB cable that can be used to charge them. The input port is usually labelled “input” or “in”, and it may be either micro USB or the larger type A USB connector that is built into most smartphones and other portable devices.
Once a power bank is fully charged, it will typically have LED lights or a display that indicates the status of the battery. Disconnect the power bank from the power source once the indicator has finished blinking, and then use it to charge your mobile devices.
Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are a green-friendly means of transportation and, if equipped with vehicle-to-grid technology, a significant portable power supply. An average-sized EV has 60-100 kilowatt hours of battery capacity, which would be enough to power most households in the event of a blackout.
A bidirectional EV fleet can participate in grid service markets and time of use (TOU) arbitrage to curtail peak demand on the grid, reduce energy costs, and provide a valuable service to the utility. In addition, EV charging can be shifted to off-peak times to help reduce the burden on the grid.
Using EVs as mobile storage can increase a site’s resilience posture and decarbonize emergency generation, reducing the site’s dependency on fossil fuels. In order to maximize this benefit, EVs need to be strategically placed with adequate charging infrastructure. The authors of [29] proposed a nonlinear optimization problem to determine the best temporary location for MCSs with the aim of optimizing the EV charging service and minimizing the miss ratio, response time and queueing time.
Electric Motorbikes
Whether you’re a fast racer who needs the ultimate in performance or you’re just looking for an easy way to run your daily errands, there are plenty of options for electric motorbikes. Many of these models use a direct drive system that transmits power from the motor to the wheels, eliminating the need for a clutch or transmission. This can also improve efficiency and reduce maintenance costs since there are fewer moving parts.
Electic motorcycles have the added benefit of being quieter than traditional bikes, which can be a boon in urban areas where noise pollution is a concern. In addition, they don’t suffer from the same power loss issues as gas-powered vehicles when climbing hills or driving at high altitudes.
Ampersand is one of the companies leading the charge to convert East Africa’s millions of motars to electric mobility. Its e-motos feature swappable batteries that take less time to change than it does to fill up with fuel.
