EcoFlow Wave 3 assessment: a transportable A/C and heater that’s higher in each approach

I’ve been testing the EcoFlow Wave 3, a follow-up to the all-in-one battery-powered air conditioner, heater, and fan I reviewed final summer time. EcoFlow has dialed again its absurd advertising and marketing with a extra highly effective unit that may be recharged by way of a number of strategies, together with the solar. Solely now it will probably robotically (attempt to) keep a set temperature vary and act as a devoted dehumidifier, too.

I used to be grateful to have EcoFlow’s Wave 2 with me final summer time whereas vanlifing round Portugal and Spain. That much less highly effective A/C helped to offset daytime temps hitting 37 levels Celsius (98.6 diploma Fahrenheit) and made 25C (77F) nights comfy sufficient to sleep. However it solely labored in small areas and underneath simply the correct circumstances. The third-generation moveable warmth pump from EcoFlow can’t carry out miracles. We’re nonetheless solely speaking 6100BTU (1800W) of cooling and 6800BTU (2000W) of heating. And placement is restricted by cumbersome consumption and exhaust hoses, and the area wanted for a receptacle to gather any drained water.

However when you personal a van, surf shack, work shed, roof-top tent, boat, or one other small area requiring occasional temperature management, then the Wave 3 might be for you. Costs are discounted for a restricted time to $849, or $1,399 with the battery bundle, earlier than they rise considerably subsequent month.

Whereas the Wave 2 was restricted to areas smaller than 10 sq. meters (107 sq. ft), the Wave 3 is designed to work in areas as much as 17 sq. meters (180 sq. ft). To check the declare, I used the Wave 3 as a heater inside a 14.8 sq. meter (161 sq. ft) tiny dwelling concerning the measurement of a delivery container, and as an A/C inside a 9 sq. meter (97 sq. ft) Class-B Sprinter van. The Wave 3 has built-in Wi-Fi (and Bluetooth), so I may join it to my Starlink Mini and handle operation remotely over the superb EcoFlow app.

As a heater in a one-room tiny dwelling, the Wave 3 may solely simply deal with the area, however was a marked enchancment over the Wave 2. With temperatures starting from 8C (46F) to 10C (50F) outdoors, the Wave 3 at most warmth may keep temperatures inside at round 14C (57F) to 17 C (63F). I received 13 hours of runtime off the optionally available 1024Wh LFP battery utilizing a mixture of Eco and Sleep modes beginning within the night and operating by way of the night time. The warmth was weak, but it surely was the distinction between needing one down-filled cover as an alternative of two.

In Sleep mode — the bottom setting — the Wave 3 is comparatively quiet at round 45dB when measured from a distance of 1 meter. The sound turns into exhausting at Eco or above, reaching 60dB in Max mode, making it a lot louder than the 53dB I measured from the Wave 2. It additionally makes a gradual 36dB buzzing sound when charging earlier than falling silent after the battery is full.

After reviewing its predecessor, I already had a good suggestion of how nicely the extra highly effective Wave 3 would cool my van through the day (combined) and at night time (good). It carried out as I anticipated, however I nonetheless hoped for extra.

Just like the Wave 2, the brand new EcoFlow Wave 3 is helpless to chill the inside of my van when parked in direct daylight, even with insulated solar reflectors put in within the home windows. There’s an excessive amount of warmth produced by all that cup and metal to maintain it from seeping into the inside, even in Northern Europe in April.

On one sunny afternoon when the surface temperature by no means exceeded 18C (64F), I shut all of the doorways and home windows, put the reflectors in place, and cranked the Wave 3 as much as most cooling. As an alternative of lowering the inside temperature, it rose from 24C (75F) to 28C (82F) over a interval of 90 minutes earlier than I referred to as it quits. To maintain my van cool in these conditions, I’d must completely set up a high-capacity (and dearer) rooftop A/C on my van. Advantageous, I anticipated this outcome, and EcoFlow is clearer about the limitation this time.

I strongly advise pet homeowners to not depend on the Wave 3’s new Pet Mode. Whereas it’d add a couple of minutes of consolation to your animal, the Wave 3 cannot maintain them secure in a sunny parking zone.

As anticipated, the Wave 3 did significantly better once I parked within the shade. On a barely hotter 19C (66F) afternoon, the Wave 3 introduced the inner temps right down to 16C (61F) — the unit’s lowest setting — and maintained it. So, just like the Wave 2, I anticipate the Wave 3 would maintain me comfy in my van at night time even when outdoors temps had been 25C (77F) or perhaps a little greater.

When operating off the battery in Max cooling, the Wave 3 died after nearly three hours of operation. The 8-hour runtime EcoFlow claims is just for the much less highly effective Eco mode.

I didn’t stress-test the dehumidifier. I imply, it really works, and it may be helpful to forestall mildew from rising in an RV when parked in storage through the low season, for instance. That may assist maximize your worth for cash by making the Wave 3 helpful year-round.

The EcoFlow Wave’s dual-use heating and cooling portability and BTUs per sq. inch have all the time set it aside from opponents. The third-generation Wave 3 takes a profitable formulation and improves on it, with out the unrealistic advertising and marketing hype that created confusion and disappointment from patrons of the Wave 1 and Wave 2.

However EcoFlow’s Wave 3 warmth pump stays a distinct segment product for anybody who want to often warmth or cool small areas in temperate climates, particularly in the event that they’re positioned off the grid.

Pricing for the Wave 3 is a large number as a consequence of EcoFlow’s insistence on utilizing limited-time coupons to goose buying. On the time of publication, you’ll be able to buy the Wave 3 with out the battery for $849 ($799 with coupon), however you then miss out on the photo voltaic charging and portability. Most can be higher off with the Wave 3 plus battery combo, currently discounted to $1,399, earlier than rising to its full record worth of $2,198 after Could twenty fifth. And whereas EcoFlow sometimes gives steep reductions on its Chinese language-manufactured merchandise all year long, these might be Trumped by tariffs shifting ahead.

Photographs by Thomas Ricker / The Verge