Instead of wiring to a home breaker box, the Backup by BioLite home power solution relies on small battery panels that can fit into the back of appliances to keep them running for days at a time. It is built around two 1.5kWh lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, or LFP) batteries, a Backup Core and a Backup Extend. Like any uninterruptible power supply, the Backup Core keeps itself continuously charged from a wall outlet while power is available, then switches to keep anything plugged into it running during a power outage.
If you need more backup power, up to five Backup Expansion units can be connected to the Backup Core unit to expand the total capacity to 9kWh, and you don’t need a contractor or electrician to install any of them.
The BioLite system was designed to be a cheap and easy alternative to whole-home backup power solutions that rely on a central battery or gas-powered generator to keep the whole house running during a power outage. A natural gas generator alone can cost more than $5,000, while installing a Tesla Powerwall can set you back more than $10,000.
The Backup Core battery panel will retail for $1,999, but BioLite will also offer a complete Backup solution for $2,999, pairing the Core with one Extend battery, which qualifies for a 30 percent local tax credit. The company says the 3kWh Backup Complete has enough power to keep an 18 cubic foot refrigerator running for up to 60 hours or a larger 26 cubic foot refrigerator running for up to 30 hours while allowing for occasional use of lights or other small appliances.
BioLite is bringing its backup power solution to consumers with a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign starting today, with discounts for early backers or those who choose to put down a deposit and pay in full over time with an installment plan. Although the company has been around since 2006, making products like an electric camp stove, this will be its most expensive offering to date, and the pitfalls and pitfalls common with crowdfunded products apply here.
Backup batteries by BioLite measure 29 inches long and weigh between 35 and 40 lbs. Each measures 2.8 inches, however, allowing it to be placed inconspicuously behind furniture or furniture using hardware that takes about 30 minutes to install, the company says. But permanent installation isn’t necessary, as BioLite says the batteries will work as they’re placed in the refrigerator or in a drawer under the bed.