Over recent years I’ve become a huge fan of the Bluetti products in general (I now own several models), and in recent years they seem to be on a mission to out do themselves year over year. One of their most versatile series is the “Elite Series” of batteries, especially the V2 line-up, which currently includes the E200 V2, the E100 V2, and the E30 V2.
The Elite 100 V2 was launched in the summer of 2025, and it’s been very well received by various communities. Like anything, it has it’s Pros and Cons but overall, this unit is a serious work horse in a light weight, and compact package.
Speaking of package, this is an area that Bluetti has put some real focus on. They have put some serious thought into designing a hard, durable plastic shell, whereas many of their competitors still have a cheap feel to it. As someone who is hard on his equipment, and is constantly banging things around a bit, the Elite batteries hold up very well. You can tell from the scuff marks that I’ve banged these around quite a lot, and I can personally say, that these hard plastic shells can take some serious abuse. If you drop it while trying to put it in or out of the trunk of your car, you probably won’t need to replace it.
Like all Bluetti products, you can connect to it via an app on your phone, allowing you to monitor your state of charge, input and output rates, do firmware updates, etc. The app could use some refreshing but it does what it needs to do, and app features depend upon the device. So you will find in the app extra features for the E100 V2, that aren’t even visible for older models like the AC180.
The closest comparison for the E100 V2 is the Bluetti AC180, which I talk about in another article (click here). This unit is quite improved over the AC180 though. It’s physically smaller than the AC180, and quite a lot lighter, making it easier to carry around with one hand. Despite it’s reduced size, it has a capacity of 1,024Wh, and power lifting rated at 2700W.
But where it’s a lot better than the AC180, is that it can handle 1000W of solar input (vs 500W), has more power cycles (so a longer life expectancy), and as a UPS it reacts in less than 10ms vs 20ms. This is a bonus if you’re using the battery as a UPS for your home or office computer. It’s also quite a lot more quiet, so it’s less likely to wake you up at night while camping. It also charges a lot faster.
Where this product really shines is in the camping and Overland communities. It’s not big enough to power an RV, but it would be a good choice for a pop-up camping trailer for a weekend, or for Overlanders with rooftop tents. Simply run an extension cord up into the tent to power some lights and charge your devices overnight, and you’re set for a few days. It would also make a nice addition to a camper van. Do you want to use a coffee pot, a 12v fridge, electric stove or griddle? No problem.
Could you power an air conditioner? Sure, but depending on the size of the AC unit, the E100 V2 would be out of power in about 3-4hrs. That’s not bad though if you’re desperate to cool down, but you’re going to need to charge it up again obviously. If you’re camping with a vehicle, give serious consideration to the Charger 1, which gets wired directly to your vehicle’s battery. This is the best option for rapidly charging your Bluetti (almost any battery pack actually) while driving from place to place.
As always, solar panels are another option, and although the E100 V2 can handle 1000W of solar input, it’s just not practical to carry around that many panels. Panels producing 100W to 200W are fairly portable, and efficient, but their efficiency largely depends on the weather. Of course there is also a Turbo charging mode available when plugging into a wall outlet, in which case you can get up to 1200W of input and charge the unit in about 70min (80% full in about 45min). On Standard charging mode, it can be charged up in about a few hours. You can also combine charging methods to speed things up even further.
As for outputs, there are lots to choose from. Four AC plugs, two USB-A, two USB-C, a 12v outlet, and a couple of DC5521 barrel ports. Those last two are an odd choice to add though. It doesn’t come with cords to plug into that, and very few people already have cords that would use those. Can you buy a cord that fits that can be used to charge your phone? Sure, but will you? Probably not. I would much prefer a wireless charging pad on top like the AC180 has. It’s a shame Bluetti doesn’t still include the wireless charge pad but it’s reasonable to exclude that feature to reduce costs and a bit of weight. Pity though because I really like that feature. Wireless charge pads do come with a risk though; many phone cases have metal in them for magnetic holders, or metal pins in the hinges of the pop-out stands. This metal can become a fire hazard when used with wireless charging pads, and that’s a detail that can be easily overlooked, and can come with dire consequences. Having said that though, sometimes phones get dirt or moisture in the charging port making them impossible to charge by plugging them in. So I still wish the Elite 100 V2 had the wireless charging pad, especially for when wireless charging is the only option to charge your phone.
All in all, this is an excellent option for weekend campers, Overlanders, or in camper vans, especially when paired with a Charger 1. It’s also a great option as back-up power supply for your computers, or use at home, the cottage, or cabin where grid power isn’t reliable. Most power outages only last a few hours in urban areas, or maybe overnight at most, so this could be a viable option if you carefully ration your power demands (although the Elite 200 V2 would be better). In more rural areas where power outages are common, and are known to last days, then something more robust, like the Apex 300 series, is recommended.
Prices on products like this are constantly fluctuating, so if you’re in the market, take a look at the Bluetti website for the latest pricing https://www.bluettipower.ca. Be sure to use the discount code “GripDriving” upon checkout. Every discount helps.
