In observance of President's Day, we are closed on Monday, February 19, 2024.

BLUETTI EP500 Review Summary

The BLUETTI EP500 is a dedicated solar power station tailored for home use with an impressive 5,100Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity—five times more powerful than many competitors. This eco-friendly alternative to fuel-based generators offers over 6,000 battery lifecycles, allowing extended usage before significant capacity loss. It’s probably the best solar power station on the market for all your needs.

PROS

Massive 5,100Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity.

Non-hazardous lithium-iron batteries.

Over 6,000 battery lifecycles for extended usage.

2,000W pure sine wave inverter for powering entire homes.

Dual charging options (AC and PV) for quicker charging.

UPS mode ensures an uninterrupted power supply.

Wireless charging pads included for mobile devices.

App controllability for remote management.

Regular firmware updates for optimal performance.

Safer battery with reduced heat dissipation.

CONS

Heavyweight at 167 lbs, not portable for outings.

High price point.

Laggy touchscreen interface.

Not suitable for casual or budget-conscious users.

Looking for a solar generator for your home? The upcoming BLUETTI EP500 can be great choice. Learn everything in this in-depth BLUETTI EP500 review.

Living on the East Coast, I am no stranger to power outages. The moment the sky turns dark, I just prepare myself for those long, annoying hours of power cuts.

I can’t be the only one super-annoyed with the pesky blackouts, can I?

Going for a fuel-based generator could have been a simple solution. Still, I believe we have butchered Mother Earth enough! These generators not only release pollutants like nitrogen oxide, but the constant supply of fuel can also be hard on your wallet.

I needed a cleaner solution — a solar power station.

Sadly, most solar power stations are designed to serve camping needs. But I was planning to get one for my house. After hours and hours of online research, I stumbled upon the Bluetti EP500.

This futuristic solar power station seems to outmatch others in every single category. But what makes the Bluetti EP500 a superior choice?

Let’s find out in my in-depth Bluetti EP500 review.

What is the Bluetti EP500?

If I were to describe Bluetti EP500 in one sentence, I would call it a dedicated solar power station capable of powering your entire house.

This beast of a power station comes with a 5,100Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity. To give you a comparison, our previous recommended solar power station, the Jackery Explorer 1000, comes with a 1,002Wh battery capacity.  

So, the Bluetti EP500 is 5x times more powerful than the current leader in our books.

You may notice that the EP500 uses a lithium-iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery cell instead of the typical lithium-ion. This is the biggest upgrade in my opinion.

If you know a thing or two about solar generators, you should know that they all come with a huge heating issue.

As a result, Li-ion batteries have a shorter lifespan.

Moreover, LiCoO2 (used as a cathode in the Li-ion batteries) is a hazardous material that can cause serious damage to nature. This has been a major headache for the recyclers and manufacturers.

But what about lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries? Are they safer?

Yes!

LiFePO4 is a non-hazardous material as it uses a phosphate-based cathode. Plus, lithium-iron-phosphate cells are practically incombustible.

The inclusion of lithium-iron batteries makes the Bluetti EP500 a class apart.

Also, the 2,000W pure sine wave inverter in the Bluetti EP500 should be capable of powering up your entire house.

But that's not all.

The Bluetti EP500 is stacked with features like:

  • Massive 5,100Wh battery capacity
  • New generation Li-iron battery
  • 2,000W PSW inverter
  • 4,800W surge inverter
  • 6,000+ battery lifecycles
  • 1200W MPPT solar charging
  • 4,000W 220 VAC Split phase bonding
  • Touch control display
  • Wireless charging pads
  • Dedicated UPS mode
  • App controllability

The Bluetti EP500 is truly a marvelous piece of tech, and it also brings a long list of good news for our eco-conscious community.  

How Long Will the Bluetti EP500 Last?

This solar station is quite rugged. Due to the inclusion of lithium-iron batteries, the EP500 has a long lifespan.

Both the EP500 and EP500 Pro have over 6,000 battery lifecycles. So, you can fully charge and drain the batteries 6,000 times before seeing significant capacity losses. So, these solar generator are great with long lasting solar panels

Compared to the EP500, the EcoFlow Delta has 800 battery cycles. The Jackery Explorer 1000, another top contender, has 500 cycles before the capacity drops to 80%.

This comparison shows how the Bluetti EP500 is a better solar power station.

How Fast Can You Charge the Bluetti EP500 Power Station?

Despite having a large battery capacity, this solar power station charges fairly quickly. If you use wall outlets (600W max.), the EP500 should be fully charged within 9 to 9.5 hours.

However, it charges more efficiently if you go for solar charging. With the 1,200W MPPT, it charges within 4.75 hours.

The Bluetti EP500 Pro, the upgraded version, is even more efficient.

Depending on the grid voltage (120V/15A or 120V/25A in the US), the EP500 Pro can be charged within 3.3 hours (at 1,800W) or 2.2 hours (at 3,000W).

But wait, there’s more.

Both versions of the solar generators support dual charging. So, you can charge them through wall outlets and home solar panels simultaneously.

The EP500 gets fully charged within 3.33 hours at the 1,800W combined input. The pro version, on the other hand, does it within 1.77 hours at 4,000W.

Now that’s fast.

What Can the Bluetti EP500 Power?

Until now, I had to compromise here and there with the current solar generators available in the market. I knew that solar generators could only serve as backups.

But then I discovered the Bluetti EP500.

Not only can this generator run multiple power-hungry appliances simultaneously, but the 5,100Wh battery is also enough to power them for a long time.

Here, look at this chart:

Equipment

Power Consumption

Duration (Apx.)

Refrigerator

150W (1200W per day)

4 Days

Microwave Oven

1000W

4.1 Hours

Washer

500W

8.2 Hours

Air Conditioner

1500W

2.8 Hours

Space Heater

1500W

2.8 Hours

CPAP

40W

34 to 57 Times

Laptop

76Wh

48+ Times

Smart Phone

15Wh

187+ Times

Electric Car

1800W

10 to 16 Miles

E-Bike

500W

100 to 150 Miles

How Many Output Ports Does the Bluetti EP500 Have?

Again, Bluetti outshines others with its number of output ports. The EP500 comes with the following ports:

Sl. No.

Type of Ports

Quantity

1

120V AC

4

2

12V/10A DC

3

3

USB-A (Quick Charge)

2

4

Wireless Charging Pad

2

5

USB-C (100W)

1

6

12V/30A RV

1

You’ll get more output ports with the upgraded EP500 Pro. It has an additional 5 120V AC and 2 USB-C ports.

But what if you need more power and more ports?

In that case, you should get yourself a Split Phase Box and combine two EP500s together. The connector box comes with six 120V/20A ports and one 120~240V/30A port (NEMA L14-30)

Bluetti EP500 all ports

How Much Does the Bluetti EP500 Cost?

The vanilla Bluetti EP500 starts at $3,999 — this is one of the expensive options in the market right now. 

If you’re interested in buying the Bluetti EP500, you should use our link to get the best prices.

Bluetti EP500 Benefits

New Generation LiFePO4 Battery

With the inclusion of this new Li-iron battery, BLUETTI manages to keep the thermals in check. We all know that heat dissipation has always been a major issue with solar generators as they had Li-ion batteries in them.

So, the EP500 and EP500 Pro are both safer options in terms of thermals. Also, this battery technology ensures a longer lifespan.

Thanks to this technology, the battery has over 6,000 lifecycles.

Plus, phosphate cathode is non-toxic and will not cause damage to nature compared to the Li-ion counterpart.  

Massive 5,100Wh Battery Capacity

Bluetti outshines others in terms of battery capacity. Very few solar generators come with such an enormous 5,100Wh battery capacity.

Point Zero Titan is the only solar generator coming close to the figures of Bluetti — with around 2,000 battery cycles. How does it do it? Well, Point Zero Titan uses stackable Li-ion batteries to increase the battery cycle count.

Ability to Power Heavy-Duty Appliances with Split Phase Bonding

I couldn’t think of running my room heaters and air conditioners with a solar generator before. The insanely high initial load of these appliances made things impossible.

Now, you can run them too by pairing two EP500s together. None of the current solar generators in the market had this tech before. The Split Phase Bonding combines the AC inverter capacities and offers a combined output of 4,000W power delivery.  

Naturally, two Bluetti EP500 Pros can offer 6,000W power delivery.

AC and PV Dual Charging

I always check how fast a solar generator can charge before making the decision to buy. I go through forums after forums to find this information.

Plus, it was always a major concern for the EP500 as it has a giant battery.

The good news is that you can use AC and PV dual charging — meaning you can use wall outlets and solar panels simultaneously to charge this generator.

UPS Mode for Uninterrupted Power

UPS mode is one of the biggest features of the Bluetti EP500. Having uninterrupted power means so much to me, as I hate losing power while working on an important project on my desktop computer.

Plus, you can use a dedicated circuit to select the devices that will be connected to the UPS box. If you have a patient relying on any electric medical device, this feature could literally be a lifesaver.  

Wireless Charging

In my opinion, it’s one of the nice-to-haves of EP500. I guess everyone will appreciate how we can charge two phones wirelessly with this solar generator.

Just use either of the charging docks on top of the device.

Moreover, the generator hardly dissipates any heat, so your phone will not encounter any thermal damage.

App Control

Of course, you’ll keep this bulky machine away from your bedroom or living room — it’ll probably stay in the garage.

Obviously, it would’ve been a hassle to walk to the garage to control the device.

The good news is — you can control it with an app.

Check out their iOS app.

Firmware Upgradeability

Wouldn’t it be nice to get regular updates for your solar generator? I can’t be the only one excited about the iOS updates every year, can I?

Yes, you’ve guessed it correctly — Bluetti offers regular firmware upgrades to patch up different issues.

For instance, the generator had a firmware bug a few months back. Operating in UPS mode, the EP500 took about 500W from the grid but had about 1,000W output. Essentially, the battery was depleting fast due to this bug. Later, Bluetti patched out this issue with a firmware upgrade.

So, you may see further upgrades in the future that will make this generator even more efficient.

Bluetti EP500 with solar panel

Bluetti EP500 Shortfalls

So, is everything sunshine and rainbows with the EP500?

Not actually.

The biggest issue with the BLUETTI solar generator is its weight. Well, I expected it to be heavy, but I didn’t think it would weigh 167lbs.

So, forget about taking it for camping.

While it does come with wheels, I don’t think the users will move it around the house that much.

Laggy touch response was the second issue that I faced. Yes, getting a touch-controlled digital screen is a big deal, but the screen felt quite laggy. Hopefully, the good folks at Bluetti will patch this up with an update in the future.

Lastly, the generator is EXPENSIVE.

While we’re getting an impressive piece of technology, not everyone can afford it at the $3,999 MSRP.

If it seems too expensive, you could consider buying their Bluetti AC200P or even the EcoFlow Delta Pro.

Pros and Cons Summary of the Bluetti EP500

Pros

  • Impressive battery backup
  • Doesn't dissipate heat due to new generation of battery cell technology
  • Ability to power heavy-duty appliances
  • AC and PV dual charging
  • Comes with UPS mode
  • Wireless charging
  • App control
  • Firmware upgradability

Cons

  • Very bulky and heavy
  • Low portability
  • The touch responsiveness is slow
  • Very expensive


BLUETTI EP500

BLUETTI EP500 PRO

Jackery Explorer 1000

EcoFlow Delta 1300

Battery Capacity

5,100Wh

5,100Wh

1,002Wh

1260aWh

Battery Cell Type

LiFePO4

LiFePO4

Li-ion NMC

Li-ion 18650

Life Cycles

6000+

6000+

500 Cycles to 80%+ Capacity

800 Cycles to 80%+ Capacity

Rated Power (PSW Inverter)

2000W

3000W

1000W

1800W

Surge Power

4800W

6000W

2000W

3300W

Charging Time

9 hours (AC)


5 hours (Solar)


3.33 hours (AC+PV)

3.5 hours (AC)


3 hours (Solar)


1.77 hours (AC + PV)

7 hours (AC)


8 hours (Solar, 2 100W Panel)

1.6 hours (AC)


3.5 to 8 hours (Solar, based on the solar panel arrangement)

Car Charging Availability

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Solar Input

1200W

2400W

200W

400W

Weight (Approx.)

167 lbs.

182 lbs.

22 lbs.

31 lbs.

Portability

Very Poor

Very Poor

Very High

Very High

Price

$$$$

$$$$$

$$

$$

The Bluetti EP500: Should You Buy It?

I would suggest getting a BLUETTI EP500 if you're looking for a powerful solar backup for your home or small office.

How powerful is powerful? Well, it boasts a massive 5,100Wh battery that outshines the competition, and with split-phase bonding, you can power heavy-duty appliances like room heaters and air conditioners, making it a game-changer.

What's more, the EP500 offers AC and PV dual charging, allowing you to recharge it quickly from both wall outlets and solar panels.

The UPS mode ensures uninterrupted power, perfect for crucial tasks. You can even select specific devices for the UPS box, a true lifesaver for medical equipment users.

Wireless charging is a handy bonus, and the EP500's minimal heat dissipation means your devices stay cool. Controlling this beast is a breeze with the dedicated app, so no need to trek to the garage.

If you're looking for a powerful, reliable, and eco-friendly generator for your home I highly recommend the Bluetti EP500.

Samira is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, but deep inside, her heart is a nomad! She's a state champion debater, a public speaker, a scriptwriter, a theater actress, but most importantly — A GREEN CITIZEN! She thinks of herself as a storyteller who thrives on enjoying the life at fullest and telling everyone the tales of life.

Subscribe to
our newsletter