Backup by BioLite home backup power solutions eliminate the need for wiring to the home’s circuit breaker box, instead relying on thin battery panels that can be installed behind appliances to keep them running for days at a time. It consists of two 1.5kWh lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries (a backup core battery and a backup expansion battery). Like any uninterruptible power supply, the backup core charges permanently through the wall outlet when power is available, then switches during power outages to keep whatever device plugged into it operates.
If you need more backup power, up to five Backup Extend units can be connected to the Backup Core unit, expanding the total capacity to 9kWh, and you don’t need a contractor or electrician to install any one unit.
BioLite’s system is designed to be a cheaper, simpler alternative to whole-home backup power solutions, which rely on a central battery or gas generator to keep the entire home running during a power outage. Just a natural gas generator costs well over $5,000, and installing a Tesla Powerwall costs over $10,000.
The Backup Core battery panel sells for $1,999, but BioLite will also offer a $2,999 Backup Complete solution that pairs the Core with a single Extend battery and is eligible for a 30% home energy tax credit. The company says the 3kWh Backup Complete has enough capacity to run an 18-cubic-foot refrigerator for up to 60 hours, or a larger 26-cubic-foot refrigerator for up to 30 hours, while still allowing for occasional use of a light or other small appliance.
BioLite is launching its backup power solution to consumers through a Kickstarter campaign launched today, offering discounts to early backers or those who choose to pay a deposit and later pay in full through an installment plan. Although the company has been making products like a power-generating camping stove since 2006, this will be its most expensive product yet, and the usual caveats and risks of crowdfunded products apply here.
BioLite’s Backup battery is 29 inches tall and weighs between 35 and 40 pounds. However, they’re only 2.8 inches thick, so they can be mounted out of sight behind appliances or furniture using hardware, with installation taking about 30 minutes, the company claims. But a permanent installation isn’t necessary, and BioLite says the batteries will work just as well when placed on top of a refrigerator or slid under a bed.
