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LiFePO4 vs lithium-ion: how long does a power station last?
Updated
Buy LiFePO4 (also written LFP). Power stations with LiFePO4 cells are rated for 3,000 to 4,000 charge cycles. Older lithium-ion (NMC) models were commonly rated for 500 to 1,000. The trade is weight: LiFePO4 is heavier for the same capacity. All five units on this site now list LiFePO4 cells.
What a cycle rating means
One cycle is one full battery's worth of use, such as 100% down to 0%, or two days of 50% each. The rating tells you how many cycles pass before the battery holds only a set share of its first-day capacity. The battery does not die at that point. A 1,024Wh unit at 80% simply acts like an 819Wh unit.
Read the fine print, because makers do not all use the same finish line. Some count cycles to 80% capacity and some count to 70%. The same battery earns a bigger cycle number with the 70% finish line.
What the listings claim
| Model | Chemistry on listing | Cycle claim on listing |
|---|---|---|
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | LiFePO4 | At least 80% capacity after 4,000 cycles |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | LFP | Over 70% capacity after 4,000 cycles |
| BLUETTI AC180 | LiFePO4 | We did not see a cycle count in the listing bullets |
| Anker SOLIX C300 | LiFePO4 | Designed to last 3,000 cycles |
| Jackery Explorer 300 | LiFePO4 | Over 4,000 cycles before reaching 70% |
These are maker claims. We have no way to check them.
Cycles turned into years
| How you use it | Cycles per year | 1,000 cycle battery | 4,000 cycle battery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every day (van life, off-grid cabin) | 365 | Under 3 years | About 11 years |
| Every weekend | About 50 | About 20 years | Longer than the electronics will last |
| A few outages a year | Under 10 | Cycle life does not matter. Age and storage habits do | |
If you only use a power station for outages, you will never wear out either chemistry by cycling. For you, LiFePO4 matters less for cycle count and more because it tolerates sitting at a high charge and is a more heat-stable chemistry. If you will use it daily, LiFePO4 is the only sensible choice.
How to make any power station last
- Store it indoors. Heat ages batteries faster than use does. A hot garage or car trunk is the worst place.
- Check it every three months and top it up. Follow the storage level in your manual. A lithium battery left empty for months can be ruined.
- Do not charge it when it is below freezing unless the manual says it is allowed.
- Register the warranty. The BLUETTI AC180 and Anker SOLIX C300 listings both state a 5-year warranty.
Watch out for old stock
Some models changed chemistry partway through their life and kept the same name. The Jackery Explorer 300 listing states LiFePO4 today. If you buy used, or from a seller with old stock, check the label or manual for LiFePO4 or LFP before you pay.
Picks
- For daily use: Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2. It has the strictest claim here, 4,000 cycles to 80%. Caveat: owners note the fast recharge is from wall power only. Solar and car charging are much slower.
- For carrying: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2. It is the lightest 1 kWh LFP unit here at 23.8 lb. Caveat: its cycle claim uses the easier 70% finish line, and a few owners had a unit fail at around six months, so keep the warranty paperwork.
Put your own numbers into the runtime calculator, or compare all five units on the best picks page.