Portable power devices like solar generators and power stations have become increasingly popular over the last decade. As people seek eco-friendly and quiet alternatives to noisy, gas-powered generators, brands like Jackery have stepped in to meet the demand.
Jackery was founded in California in 2012 by former Apple battery engineer Z. Sun. Having worked on battery technology advancements for devices like the iPhone and iPad, Sun envisioned a future where portable green power would empower people’s lives off-grid. With Jackery, he set out to create high-quality, compact and efficient solar generators and power stations for everyone from outdoor enthusiasts to emergency preppers.
Jackery aims to pack premium power, versatility and reliability into portable and renewable products. As the brand describes it, they want to allow people to “power their journey” in an eco-friendly way, whether on road trips, camping getaways or just everyday life. Jackery’s sleek designs and Apple-esque branding project both environmental sustainability and adventurous spirit.
Over the past decade, Jackery has cemented itself as a leader in off-grid, eco-friendly power solutions. Their continued innovations reflect the ever-growing market and interest in portable power devices.
Jackery’s Products
Jackery manufactures two main categories of portable power devices designed for outdoor enthusiasts and people seeking energy independence: solar generators and power stations.
Solar generators combine a portable lithium battery pack with solar panels that can directly charge the battery pack or your devices via USB ports. Top solar generator models like the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 include panels that unfold like briefcases along with a battery pack strong enough to jump start your car.
Power stations are portable batteries without built-in solar panels, ranging from compact models that fit in your hand to larger units with features like AC outlets. Jackery’s Explorer power station line offers capacities from 240 watt-hours up to 2,000 watt-hours. The Explorer 1000 is one of Jackery’s most popular models, able to charge phones over 90 times or run a mini fridge for 8 hours.
Both solar generators and power stations offer silent, eco-friendly power alternatives to noisy, gas-powered generators. Jackery products allow outdoor enthusiasts to stay powered up without access to electrical outlets.
Product Benefits
Jackery’s portable power stations and solar generators provide a number of compelling benefits compared to traditional gas-powered generators.
Compact and Portable Design
Jackery devices are designed to be lightweight, compact and highly portable. The Explorer 1000 for example weighs only 22 lbs, making it easy for one person to carry and transport. This allows Jackery products to be easily used for a wide range of outdoor activities where portability is key.
Eco-Friendly and Efficient
Jackery products utilize lithium-ion batteries rather than relying on gasoline. This makes them much more environmentally friendly. They produce no emissions or noise pollution. The solar generator models can be recharged using the sun, allowing for renewable off-grid power.
Stylish Aesthetics
In addition to being functional, Jackery products have an elegant, minimalist design. The styling takes cues from consumer electronics brands, avoiding the loud orange and black look of typical generators. This gives Jackery products visual appeal in addition to power capabilities.
Advanced Technology
Jackery integrates high-quality components from leading brands like LG and Samsung. This results in products that are durable, efficient, and able to deliver plenty of power in compact form factors. The advanced technology makes Jackery stand out from cheaper or heavier portable power station alternatives.
Target Customers: Campers, Vanlifers, Outdoor Enthusiasts
Jackery’s portable power stations and solar generators are designed with outdoor adventurers in mind. They aim to provide eco-friendly, off-grid power for people who love to spend time camping, living in vans, or otherwise exploring off the beaten path.
The brand caters in particular to the growing community of vanlifers – people who have chosen to live nomadically in converted vans. With a Jackery portable power station, vanlifers can run small appliances and charge devices without needing shore power or a running van engine. Jackery’s compact, lightweight designs are easy to carry and use on the go.
For campers, Jackery products provide a clean alternative to loud, smelly gas generators. Campers can quietly generate solar energy to keep phones charged and run things like lights, small refrigerators, and electric grills. This enables longer, more comfortable camping trips without the noise and fumes of traditional generators.
Outdoors enthusiasts of all kinds appreciate the ability to harness portable power away from electrical infrastructure. Jackery makes it possible to work, cook, stay connected, and meet basic needs while off the grid hiking, fishing, boating, or partaking in overland trips. For people who love remote adventures, Jackery helps keep essential gear powered up.
Founding Story
Jackery was founded in 2012 by former Apple battery engineer Z. Sun. As an engineer at Apple, Sun worked on lithium battery technology and gained expertise on how to make batteries compact yet powerful.
After leaving Apple, Sun realized that portable, renewable energy solutions would be crucial for powering the electronic devices he’d spent his career working on. He saw both an environmental need and a consumer opportunity. Large, loud, gas-powered generators were the only real option at the time for renewable power while camping or living off-grid.
So in 2012, Sun established Jackery in California and assembled a team of other battery experts. Their mission was to develop attractive, eco-friendly power stations that were quiet, lightweight and easy for outdoor enthusiasts to take anywhere.
The Jackery brand took inspiration from Apple in aiming to make renewable energy feel stylish and user-friendly. Just as Apple made computers accessible to the mainstream, Jackery wanted to make portable solar power inviting and essential for any modern lifestyle.
Brand Personality
Jackery aligns itself with the adventurous, environmentally-conscious spirit of California. The brand emphasizes sustainability through the use of solar technology and lack of emissions. This allows customers to responsibly harness renewable energy, even when off-the-grid.
Jackery’s branding and messaging evokes the state’s pioneering history and culture of innovation. Just as California leads the way on environmental issues, Jackery aims to do the same within the portable power sector. The company got its start in the Golden State’s hotbed of tech innovation, bringing Apple’s design sensibilities to its products.
While harnessing natural energy from the sun, Jackery products allow people to adventure into remote locations. They enable campers, vanlifers and outdoor enthusiasts to roam freely without worrying about access to electricity. This liberating capability aligns with the independent, adventurous ethos of California. Just as the state’s beautiful landscapes call people to explore, Jackery products provide the portable power to make those expeditions possible.
Typical Use Cases
Jackery’s portable power stations and solar generators are ideal for several common use cases where access to electricity is limited. This makes them a popular choice among outdoors enthusiasts, travelers, and anyone wanting an emergency backup power source.
Camping
One of the most popular uses for Jackery products is while camping. Their compact size and quiet operation make them perfect for powering devices and appliances while spending time off-grid in nature. Campers use Jackery power stations to charge phones, run lights, inflate air mattresses, and power small appliances like blenders or electric grills. The solar generators can recharge using sunlight during the day to provide renewable energy. This allows campers to stay powered up without needing to plug into an outlet or use noisy, gas-powered generators.
RV Trips
Jackery products are also handy for RV and van life adventures. Their portable design makes it easy to carry them along in an RV or van to access electricity on the go. While stopped, a Jackery power station can be used to run TVs, CPAP machines, mini-fridges, and other devices without draining the RV battery. The solar generator panels can be set up outside the RV to recharge the power station during the day. This provides an unlimited clean power source while boondocking or camping off-grid.
Emergency Backup Power
In addition to recreational uses, Jackery’s portable power stations also serve as emergency backup energy sources during outages or disasters. Their long battery life provides many hours of electricity to keep essentials running when the power goes out. People rely on them to charge phones, power medical devices, run small refrigerators/freezers, and provide lighting. Jackery’s products offer reliable portable power when it’s needed most.
Recent Innovations
Jackery’s product lineup is constantly improving and expanding to meet the evolving needs of its users. The company takes an iterative approach to design, regularly releasing upgrades and enhancements to existing models. Some recent innovations include:
- The SolarSaga 200W portable solar panel, released in 2021, offers a huge improvement in solar charging capabilities. With 2x 100W solar panels that can fold out and connect together, it provides fast solar recharging for Jackery power stations even in low light conditions.
- The Jackery 1000 Pro Power Station launched in 2022 as a major upgrade to the Explorer 1000 model. With a 1002Wh capacity and ‘Ultra Charge’ technology, it can charge from 0% to 80% in just 1.8 hours when plugged into AC power. The 1000 Pro also works with dual SolarSaga 200W panels for super fast solar recharging.
- 2022 saw the debut of the Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro as the brand’s most powerful lithium battery pack yet at 1502Wh capacity. It features a handy LCD display showing real-time power usage stats. The Explorer 1500 Pro works seamlessly with SolarSaga 200W panels.
- Jackery released the Explorer 2000 Pro in 2022 as its new top-tier model, with a massive 2080Wh capacity. It can power high-draw appliances and export energy to a home during an outage. The 2000 Pro fully recharges from solar in just 2.5 hours with six SolarSaga panels.
With these upgrades, Jackery maintains its reputation for portable, eco-friendly power with improved capacity, speed, and solar integration. More user-friendly additions to the Jackery lineup are likely on the horizon.
Future Outlook
As the pioneer and leader in the portable power sector, Jackery continues to innovate and expand its product offerings to meet growing consumer demand.
According to Jackery CEO Z. Sun, the company plans to double its research and development team over the next 2 years as it prepares to roll out the next generation of portable power solutions. “We were the first to make this technology compact and portable. Our goal now is to make our products even lighter and more powerful, while ensuring they have minimal environmental impact.”
Sun explains that Jackery aims to achieve a 75% market share within the portable power station industry by 2025. The company’s stranglehold on intellectual property related to key components like high-efficiency solar panels gives it an advantage over competitors. By continuing to invest in R&D and strategic partnerships, Jackery seeks to stay ahead of copycats and new entrants.
Beyond just improving existing product lines, Jackery is exploring ways to expand into new applications of portable renewable energy. “Imagine a future where your fridge, laptop, lights all run off your personal solar generator. That’s where we see things going,” says Sun. With outdoor recreation booming, van life taking off, and climate change concerns growing, the market opportunities appear endless for Jackery.
As consumer awareness increases around eco-friendly energy, and more countries invest in off-grid power infrastructure, Jackery aims to become synonymous with portable power. Much like Apple defined smartphones and tablets, Jackery hopes its relentless focus on innovation establishes it as the go-to provider of portable power stations and solar panels. The company’s forward-thinking vision and execution have already made it a leader in the field.
The Future Looks Bright for Jackery
As portable power technology continues to advance, Jackery has established itself as a leader in this growing market. Its focus on eco-friendly, quiet, and stylish products aligns with an expanding base of outdoor enthusiasts, vanlifers, and others needing power on the go.
With strong branding that evokes adventure and sustainability, Jackery seems poised to keep innovating and improving its offerings. The company has come a long way since its Apple pedigree origins in 2012. Yet it retains that tech startup spirit and drive to empower people’s lifestyles through technology.
Jackery’s solar generators and power stations deliver on their promise of clean, renewable energy anywhere. As long as people keep venturing off the grid, the demand for Jackery’s solutions will continue to grow. The future looks bright for this forward-thinking brand rooted in both idealism and practicality. Their portable power stations light the way.