By Lesa 
It’s safe to say, without too much hyperbole, that we’re living in some pretty uncertain times. This manifests as geopolitical problems that can cause severe headaches (or worse) to extreme weather events that are increasingly becoming the norm, and the kinds of cyber attacks that aren’t only limited to stealing your data, but also to bringing down entire facilities in order to wreak havoc with a nation’s infrastructure.
Although some of those issues are more likely than others, the fact is that without proper preparation, you can leave yourself exposed to events outside of your control and end up in a situation where you’re suffering unnecessarily. While we can’t predict everything that could happen, we can arm ourselves with the right tools that enable life to continue regardless of what occurs. A great case in point is power. Options like generators can keep our homes and businesses running along nicely until grid power is once more restored, ensuring a quality of life continuation that doesn’t depend entirely on state intervention.
The Rising Need For Reliable Power Backups
As we alluded to in the introduction, there has never been a more acute need for some form of backup power not reliant on the grid. Although the occurrences of power outages may be less than in the past, the point is that we are all now so hooked on energy that we simply can’t envision life without it. Not only this, but the very things we use in everyday lives and that have become indispensable extensions of ourselves are all powered by and require energy, actually, to remain useful. The best option for those seeking an affordable and quick way to start the process of suitable power is to search online for mobile diesel generators for sale that meet your most immediate power needs. For those seeking something a little more advanced, you have plenty of options, but it’s essential to pair this with a regular standby generator to ensure a quick and easy way to provide power to your family or business. So what options are available to the average individual or business that wants to take the first steps towards personal agency?
- Portable generators: These are perhaps the most common and reliable, and tend to use fossil fuels to power them. What they lack in sophistication, they more than make up for in affordability and reliable power output.
- Battery power stations: You can get some incredibly powerful battery-powered stations these days, with some even offering days of power on one charge. The primary downsides are that they can be expensive and have a limited energy capacity. The most powerful consumer-grade units will struggle to power anything beyond the usual array of electrical devices.
- Solar charging systems: When paired with a solar charging system, you can dramatically increase the usage of a battery system. However, you are at the whims of the weather and can take a long time. But it’s certainly a great addition to cover all bases.
- Hybrid mobile power units: These offer the best of both worlds, but the compromise is that many are a master of none, so to speak.
| Feature | Battery station | Fuel generator |
| Refuel speed | Slow (possible fast charging, but can degrade the battery, reducing the lifespan). | Immediate. |
| Runtime | Finite and based on the battery capacity. | Continuous with consistent refueling. |
| Initial cost | High. | Low to moderate. |
| Lifespan | 3,000–5,000 cycles | 10+ years with the right maintenance. |
| Weather | Sensitive to cold and heat. | Rugged enough for most environments (but does require constant monitoring in adverse conditions). |
Fixed Grid Limitations That Haven’t Gone Away
Despite trillions invested in grid modernization, the electrical grid remains surprisingly fragile. It is prone to overloading, not enough capacity, and the ever-present issue of physical and cyber attacks that can bring it down with surprising ease. It is also unable to handle weather events that are either bad enough to cause physical damage or hot enough to cause it to overload and cut off. Even if you’re not interested in the blame game or pointing fingers at those responsible, you still need to prepare for the possibility that one day, the grid will fail in your area and may not come back online for days. By investing in a minimum of portable power units, you can give yourself peace of mind that you’re not relying on aging infrastructure that has had little to no upgrades, and can keep your home and business operational for a certain amount of time.
The Operational Advantages Of Portable Energy Systems
For some homes and businesses, it might be vital to install a dedicated backup power system that can keep the lights on and important electrical devices running. However, for most folks, a portable unit will suffice, and in some cases, may be the preferred choice.
Mobility For On-The-Go Operations
The most obvious advantage of a portable solution is just that…the fact that it’s portable! Whether you’re a contractor who needs to charge up your battery packs or a homeowner who needs to power different parts of your home, having portability is a great benefit. It gives you options and enables you to bring power wherever it’s required, instantly.
Immediate Deployment With Minimal Setup
Most portable solutions have been designed with ease of use in mind. This is true for both your bog-standard fossil fuel generators as well as those that operate using a battery pack. The fact that you can almost use them in a plug-and-play fashion means that they can be used in an emergency for rapid energy use, and also for less serious needs where you don’t want to mess around with a long setup period.
Affordability And Scalability
While you may see the adverts for Tesla’s Powerwall and others like it, these often remain far outside of the budget of the average person. Of course, if your business or facility depends on regular power, then the investment in larger systems could be worth it, but for most, portable power units provide the best bang for your buck in terms of power to cost. It’s also possible to scale up as you need it by chaining multiple devices together.
Portable generators are amazing devices that ensure continuous power in whatever situation you might need it. IT might be that you’re seeking an affordable way to ensure zero interruptions during a power outage, or simply that you need to charge up multiple high-capacity devices while on the move. Whatever your circumstances, these solutions are a great addition for most people.