Loadshedding has no end in sight, meaning South Africans need to invest in power solutions that can get them through these outages.

Inverter trolleys and solar panels are out of the reach of most due to pricing. But EcoFlow’s River 2 is an entry-level portable power station that can help you deal with loadshedding.

After spending a month with the device, here’s what I found…

EcoFlow River 2 features

The EcoFlow River 2 is the successor to the River series, featuring significant improvements compared to its predecessor.

It’s an entry-level device featuring 5 outlets: a DC outlet, an AC outlet, two USB-A ports, and a USB-C port.

The power station is equipped with LiFePO4 (also known as LFP) batteries, which improve the longevity and safety of the batteries. You can charge these batteries in a variety of ways, including with solar panels (sold separately) or even your car.

The River 2 has a battery capacity of 256Wh and can provide 300W of output from its AC port. With its X-Boost mode, it can go up to 600W of output. This higher output is useful for appliances and devices that may have a higher starting watts requirement.

When it comes to charging the power station, the device’s X-Stream technology means you can charge it from 0% to 100% in an hour.

You can also use the River 2 similarly to a UPS thanks to its Emergency Power Supply technology, which switches over from grid power to battery power within 30ms. This isn’t recommended for sensitive devices like workstations that require a 0ms switchover. But for computers and TVs, the 30ms is quick enough to keep them from shutting down.

When your portable power station is plugged into the wall, any electronics plugged into it are powered from the grid and not its battery. When power from the grid stops, as in a blackout, the power station automatically switches to battery power within 30ms.

You can also use the EcoFlow app to monitor its battery levels and adjust settings for charging and sleep mode.

All of this comes in a package that only weighs 3.5kg, making it easy to move around.

How does the EcoFlow River 2 perform?

I own the EcoFlow River Pro, so the improvements between generations are apparent. One of the biggest improvements is the device’s enhanced functionality as an emergency power supply.

Rather than constantly charging the battery while plugged into the main grid, the River 2 is able to switch between grid power and battery power. So when there’s no loadshedding, the River 2 will feed grid power instead of battery power to the connected devices.

This improves the longevity of the batteries by avoiding constant discharging and recharging. The Battery Management System (BMS) also monitors the voltage, current, and temperature of the device and adjusts accordingly to protect the batteries’ lifespan.

So what did I use the River 2 for? Thanks to its output capacity, I was able to test it with a range of device setups.

These device setups included:

• A 43-inch TV + Chromecast Ultra.
• A smartphone + tablet + laptop.
• An Epson TW5820 projector.
• A PC with two connected displays (27-inch and 23-inch).
• An electric blanket.

When it comes to charging your smartphones and laptops, you can easily connect multiple devices to charge up. I was able to fully charge up multiple devices, multiple times.

You can even power a smart TV setup, depending on the size of your screen. For my 43-inch TV and Chromecast Ultra setup, the River 2 lasts well beyond the two-hour loadshedding slot. Usually by the end of the loadshedding slot, the River 2 would be just below 50%.

The Epson projector was more demanding, requiring 240W. This means the River 2 could power the device, but the battery only lasted 45 minutes.

For the PC and displays setup, the River 2 lasted just over 1 hour.

The tests showed the versatility of the device, but also its limitations. It is best suited for charging multiple devices or running your smart TV setup.

But in a pinch, you can use it for devices that have higher power draws that you need to only power for an hour or so.

This is what puts the River 2 above being seen simply as a large power bank, since it can run more demanding appliances. Its 30ms switchover also makes it incredibly useful. I could watch TV or work on my computer without the devices shutting down as an outage started.

That said, the fans can make a noticeable noise. This isn’t too distracting when powering devices in your living room, but the sound may make it unsuitable for use in your bedroom when you’re going to sleep. The fans switch on periodically to keep the batteries cool.

Meanwhile, monitoring it with the EcoFlow app makes it easy to check up on its battery life. Rather than getting up repeatedly to check the display, you can simply open up the EcoFlow app on your smartphone.

When the outage ends, the portable power station charges up extremely quickly — an important feature when it comes to busy schedules.

Its lightweight design also makes it easy to move between device setups.

Review verdict: Is the EcoFlow River 2 worth it?

The EcoFlow River 2 is a great starting point when it comes to dealing with outages. It can keep your devices charged or even let you stream series on your TV during a loadshedding slot.

It is best suited for these scenarios, as higher power draws drain the battery quickly. But if you quickly need to do something for work on a PC, the device is capable of letting you do this.

While the fan can occasionally be a bit noisy, this won’t be a problem with daytime usage. It’s only when you’re trying to sleep with the River 2 powering something in the same room that the noise may be considered too loud.

Its smart features are also incredibly convenient, allowing you to manage your device with your smartphone easily.

Overall, the River 2 is a quality product with great versatility and easy portability. However, if you want something that can last longer, you can look at the River 2 Pro, River 2 Max, or Delta 2 series.