ProView – BioLite BaseCharge 1500 Review

Nomad.  Remote.  Van-life.  Off-the-grid. Vagabond. These words have become more prominent in our society in recent years and they all have one common theme: freedom. Success is now widely being measured by free time, flexibility, and ability to travel and “get out”.  Families, couples, friends, solo adventurers have been inspired by this notion, leading to an uprising. Off-the-grid tiny homes, built out buses, vans, and SUVs are becoming more and more common as this wave of freedom seekers hit the road (literally). The Biolite BaseCharge 1500 is just a stepping stone in the path to freedom and allows for use in a wide variety of situations and environments.

I have lived in the beautiful mountains of Park City, UT for over four years now. The accessibility to mountains and desert have completely captivated my heart. I was able to test out the Biolite BaseCharge 1500 car camping in differing landscapes, conditions, and locations in Utah. The Uinta mountains are a short drive from my home and offered a perfect destination to test the Biolite, where it was faced with wind and cold temps. When I wanted a change of scenery, I drove south to the desert where it was tested in hotter temps and dusty conditions. I used the Biolite to charge my laptop, phone, speaker and power string lights and a portable projector. Our power went out for an hour one evening at my home in Park City, and I used the Biolite as a backup battery for my fridge. I am still in awe of how a battery so small can generate so much power. 

In the near future, I am planning to purchase the Biolite SolarPanels to create a completely sustainable power source for traveling, camping, and emergency use in my home. I am super stoked to have a durable, compact, and powerful tool for freedom in my gear kit. The Biolite BaseCharge 1500 is a wise investment for use in adventure and the everyday.

Features

I was impressed right off the bat by how many functional features the Biolite BaseCharge has. The wireless charging top deck was so convenient when camping so I could charge my phone without digging through the car for a charger. The amount of input and output ports on the battery makes the BaseCharge a versatile beast!

It features:

• 3 AC port
• 1 12V car port
• 2 12V barrel ports
• HPP wall/solar input
• USB-C PD
• 2 USB-A
• 2 USB-C

The amount of devices it can charge at once makes it the perfect battery for more than just car camping, but car/van/remote LIVING. From powering blenders to utilizing solar panels for energy, the Biolite can handle it all up to 2400W! The easy read dashboard gives you insight on how much power you are using in watts, how much battery is left, and how much time you have until the battery is empty. There is also a resettable energy odometer which is convenient for energy tracking. The creators of the Biolite BaseCharge made sure you would not be left in the dark (literally) — you can manage and plan your power usage with ease. Before every trip, I would check the dashboard and would know with confidence that it had enough battery power to last me the whole weekend.

Weight/Packability

One of the aspects that stood out to me the most when I first opened the box and picked up the battery was how compact and light it was for how much power it holds. This did not compromise the performance and durability of the Biolite BaseCharge. It weighs in at 28.5lbs while other brands are up to 19 lbs heavier for the same amount of power. This makes the Biolite BaseCharge 1500 the lightest power station on the market! The side handles are perfect for loading in and out of the car, or carrying it down from storage. It is the perfect rectangle shaped block that makes packing around it in the car so easy. The Biolite BaseCharge may be small(ish) but it sure is mighty.

Function/Performance

I was pleasantly surprised by how well the battery functioned in direct sun, dusty wind, cold temperatures, and indirect moisture. Most battery sources I have used in the past are very sensitive to temperature changes and lose battery power when it gets too hot or too cold. The Biolite BaseCharge can function without compromise in temperatures ranging from 30-100F. While I did not test the battery outside of that temperature range, I am impressed by the performance and capability of the Biolite BaseCharge in such a wide range of temperatures. The Biolite BaseCharge also has an impressive 2400W surge performance, which means you can independently power up blenders, power tools, refrigerators, and more! I used the BaseCharge to power my refrigerator when our power went out for an hour. The power sometimes goes out in the winter here, so I will definitely be relying on the BaseCharge to power space heaters in the event of an outage. For most people, especially those with pets and children, safety is of utmost importance. When owning such a powerful battery, it is necessary to have peace of mind knowing it has a 12 checkpoint safety system to ensure that no shorts or glitches will occur. I cannot emphasize enough how functional this power station is and how much I was able to trust its performance through a variety of conditions and situations.

Durability/Construction

Right out of the box, I could tell that the Biolite BaseCharge was durable. It not only looks tough, but it was drop tested from 1 meter, surge tested, vibration tested, overload tested, and thermal shock tested by Biolite’s engineers. Could it get more bomber than that? The carrying side handles are so functionally designed to make loading and carrying the battery so easy. The Biolite BaseCharge is just asking to be brought on the most rugged of adventures, but also looks sophisticated enough for mobile offices or off-the-grid homes. I find so much comfort in knowing that I could rely on the Biolite BaseCharge to keep me prepared when road tripping, car camping, or for home emergencies.

Additional Considerations

The Biolite battery is best designed for dry conditions so it performed better in the desert. The time I tested it in the mountains and it got rainy, the power station stayed under the awning which is recommended from the website. The Biolite also performs best in temperatures between 30F – 100F. Even though it didn’t get that cold or that hot when I was testing the Biolite BaseCharge, I was still impressed by the wide range of environments it can be in without compromising function or performance.

The Biolite BaseCharge 1500 met the product description I read online. Before receiving the power station the Biolite website mentioned its extensive features (including the numerous input and output ports, wireless charging top deck, solar panel compatibility, 2400W surge power, easy to read dashboard, durable construction, and easy to carry side handles). The website also has incredibly detailed information regarding how long or how many times the BaseCharge can power different electronics depending on their power usage. Some examples are charging a laptop 22 times, powering a cpap machine for 21 hours, running a microwave for 62 minutes, powering a refrigerator for 20 hours, and making 164 smoothies in a blender. The options are endless, and the website stimulates the customer to think outside the box for how it can be used.

I do not own the Biolite solar panels, but they are perfectly compatible with the Biolite BaseCharge 1500. If you had four Biolite Solar Panel 100s it would charge the Biolite BaseCharge to 80% in just 4 hours. It would transform the BaseCharge into a fully remote and sustainable power system.

The Final Word

I truly love all of the extensive features of this power station: the wireless charging deck, the 2400W power surge capability, the various input and output ports, the quiet/fume free nature, and the durable construction. My favorite feature by far is the solar panel capability. I am already dreaming of the day that I build out a van and am able to be fully supported off the grid with my Biolite BaseCharge. I am thoroughly impressed by the sustainability and power that it encompasses. I do not have much criticism for the Biolite BaseCharge, but there is always room for improvement. I do wish the BaseCharge had covers for the input and output ports to protect them from dust and moisture when not in use and being exposed to the outdoors. 

Not only is Biolite on the frontline of designing the most sustainable and affordable products, but they as a company are on a mission to bring energy around the world. Over 1.2 billion people on our planet are in a state of energy poverty, meaning they have limited to no access to electricity in their towns and homes. Cheap forms of electricity that are being used in these places are often dangerous and not sustainable. These people often rely on fire to cook and heat their homes, but this contributes to harmful emissions to the planet and harmful inhalants for humans leading to disease and premature death. Biolite already operates in 23 different countries to provide resources, education, and training to help spread sustainable power sources across the globe. I am in full support of Biolite as a company that is committed to not only helping others, but also helping the planet. 

I would honestly give the Biolite BaseCharge 1500 a 5 star rating. It is a thoughtfully engineered power station that is not only light and compact, but has extensive features, is safe, and durable. It is designed to be diverse in function and purpose of use. Individuals can use the power station for whatever they need it for – home emergency, remote living, car camping, road trips, construction work, etc. The possibilities are truly endless. With remote work/living and traveling on the rise, the Biolite BaseCharge can fuel your adventures (quite literally), and take you further than you could have ever imagined. So go out there and work from your laptop on the beach, power up the blender to make margaritas in the middle of the woods, or power a projector for backyard family movie night. Whatever the occasion or situation, find freedom and peace knowing that the Biolite BaseCharge 1500 has your back.