Companion Rover 1300 Power Station: Tested
Getting off-grid once meant little more than a canvas tent, a sputtering gas lantern, and burnt sausages cooked over an open fire. Back then, the only light source was the dodgy dolphin torch, which occasionally required a sturdy ‘tap’ to get it working, and the only “luxury” was the lack of phone reception. The fridge was either an Esky stuffed with ice that melted faster than your food disappeared, or if you had a car fridge, you quickly became an expert at ‘off-road roll-starting’ after running the car battery flat.
Fast-forward to today and camping has become a game of glamping one-upmanship. Portable espresso machines, fairy-lit tents, drone passovers, and carefully curated campfire photos have taken over, all shared with the hashtag “Disconnect To Reconnect.” The term “social camper” is no longer about campfire yarns but about fedora hats and photographing your Blundstone boots that have never seen dirt, before recharging your GoPro for the next “wish you were here” moment.
Sure, it’s a bit over the top, and maybe we’d love to return to ‘the good ol’ days’, but let’s face it, we’ve always documented our adventures – and having reliable power when you’re off-grid is more than just a flex; It’s practical. If we’re honest, it helps to make those campfire dinners more than just burnt sausages and charred blowflies because your headtorch ran out of batteries.
Enter the age of battery boxes and portable power units – new tech that’s as rugged as those trusty ‘Blunnies’ and maybe just as useful. Such units are modern-day camping essentials, capable of keeping your fridge running, your induction stove sizzling (kind of – see In the field), and your devices fully charged, no matter where you find yourself.
Here at Australian Geographic Adventure, we got our hands on the Companion Rover 1300 Power Station and soon found that it is more than just trendy tech for the Insta generation. In fact, the Rover 1300 is the kind of gear that doesn’t just make camping easier; it makes it better, and that makes it ‘funner’.
Design
Whilst portable power units are no new kid on the block, the Companion Rover 1300 Power Station is undoubtedly a step up from the hefty, bulky, oversized battery boxes of the past. It is designed for adventurers requiring a hefty chunk of safe and dependable off-grid power in a solid, well-designed, well-engineered, standalone unit. At approximately 395mm (L) x 190 mm (W) x 220mm (H) and weighing 15.2 kilograms, the Rover 1300 isn’t exactly feather-light, but it packs a hefty 1344Wh 60Ah @ 22.4V LiFeP04 lithium battery and a whopping ten output ports. The Rover 1300 can feed multiple devices simultaneously via a combination of two 240V AC outlets, two 12V DC (10A) cigarette lighter ports, two USB-A ports, two USB-C PD ports (with one offering 100W output for fast-charging laptops and other devices) and one Anderson connection.
Inbuilt is a hero component: A 1200W bidirectional pure sine wave inverter that not only enables super-fast charging (90 minutes to 80% capacity and 2.2 hours to 100% when connected to 240V AC) but also delivers standout power delivery features like ‘Power Boost’ that handles 1800W for power demanding appliances like induction stoves or portable kettles. An inbuilt surge peak feature handles unexpected surges up to 2400W for a few seconds, and a nifty bonus feature is the unit’s ability to be used as an Emergency Power Supply (EPS), meaning it can be integrated into a system to automatically take over from grid power within 20 milliseconds in case of a blackout. Most importantly, the bidirectional inverter delivers up to 1200W of clean, stable energy, making it safe for sensitive electronics like laptops.
Charging is managed via three inputs: a 240V AC wall charger, a 12V DC car charger, or XT60 solar charging (using the included XT60 to Anderson adaptor). The Rover 1300 features a built-in MPPT controller for direct connection to solar panels (up to 400W), eliminating the need for a regulator. A temperature sensor provides a cut-off safety feature for overheating and operates two fans on the unit’s backside.
All the above is managed by the onboard Battery Management System (BMS), which ensures optimum operation for both charging and output and delivers real-time information via an easy-to-read full-colour LCD smart display. The bright display provides input/output power, battery capacity, and estimated run time based on current usage. For after dark, a handy built-in LED light is a thoughtful touch, providing extra illumination around the unit.
In the field
First and foremost, the Companion Rover 1300 Power Station is more Tassie devil than pygmy possum in the portable power unit world – t’s stocky and has grunt. Companion offers smaller portable power stations, but they lack the punch of the Rover 1300, whose 15kg Besser-block size makes it anything but a ‘chuck in at the last minute’ piece of gear. That said, the smooth aluminium finish and built-in carry handle ensure that the Rover is easy enough to haul around and toss onto a tailgate or camp table. This will feel like heaven for anyone who has ever lugged a 25kg AGM battery box. Plus, the Rover 1300 fits perfectly into the rear footwell of my trusty Land Rover Discovery 4.
The clear LCD was fantastic, straight out of the box. I loved the easy-to-read oversized percentage and the super helpful ‘time to empty.’ The display clearly indicated whether I was charging or discharging the Rover using AC, DC, USB, or other connections. An easy-to-read display truly is a dream.
Charging the unit is a breeze. Simply plug it in at home before you head out, and it’ll be charged faster than you can find your missing tent pegs. If you plan to charge the unit in the car while driving, plug it into the 12V socket, but make sure it is a lengthy trip because, as I found out, a six-hour drive only gives a 50% charge. Of course, if it’s a short trip, your best hope is to get to camp early on a sunny day and use Mother Nature to power your trip; I topped up a tidy 24% (51% – 75%) in three hours with my 200W solar blanket.
For the following days of exploration, I daisy-chained the Rover to my trusty vehicle’s 12V outlet and camp fridge to keep the Rover charged and the refrigerator running. I would park at camp in the afternoon with cool drinks, chilled food, and a plan to swim in the river and chill. The best bit was I didn’t need to worry about changing leads or switching stuff around, as the Rover’s battery management system cuts off charging if the input voltage drops below 10V. This meant I could forget all about it, and there was minimal risk of ever returning to a flat battery.
Setting up and using the Rover 1300 was as simple as plugging in a device and pressing the correct AC or DC button. The Rover was charging my fridge and topping up my head torch battery in no time (don’t try to convince me you’ve never packed a head torch with a flat battery. Thankfully, the Rover features a surprisingly handy built-in LED light). The Rover 1300 can easily power most 45-litre fridges for over three days before needing a charge. On my first day and a half, the unit exceeded expectations and only dropped 32% while keeping the fridge running and charging multiple devices. I was happy to disconnect from the world, but for those who prefer to stay online, the Rover can charge your smartphone 70 to 80 times or power a 75W Starlink for 15 hours.
In search of empty roads and starlit skies, I charged fridges, head torches, phones, and cameras, finding constant and reliable power to be a dream. When the devices were fully charged, the Rover’s BMS detected a drop in current and eventually turned itself off. The auto-off feature can be troublesome for some power units, particularly with smart batteries or smaller devices that draw a very low current, like smartwatches or earbuds. However, the tech experts at Companion are one step ahead, and the ability to override the auto standby by long pressing the DC or AC button to keep it powered on and charging such devices is a real winner.
Of course, the luxury of a hefty 1300Wh battery (105Ah @ 12.8V) and 1200W of power didn’t mean I could operate a coffee machine, heater, and cooktop all at once. However, it did allow me to charge my arsenal of devices, from cameras and drones to laptops and headlamps. The Rover’s USB-C PD port was a lifesaver, enabling me to charge my laptop and camera batteries quickly and effectively.
I would have loved it if the extra go-go juice enabled me to completely ditch gas canisters and exchange my old burners for an induction cooktop – but not just yet. While the Rover handled induction cooking reasonably well, it’s not quite there yet, and if you walk that path, you’ll need a solid recharge plan, as induction cookers are among the biggest power drains. Our high-capacity Rover 1300 drained nearly 50% in a single day after cooking bacon and eggs for breakfast, boiling a few saucepans of water throughout the day, and preparing sausage pasta for dinner.
To be honest, using an induction stove in the middle of the bush feels like cheating. It can be brilliant at times but comes with its nuances. Induction uses Pulse Width Modulation (PWM), which means the cookers turn the power on and off to maintain a constant temperature. In some cases, this causes the Rover to spike to 1500W (or more) before dropping to zero. Many cookers draw 2000W, exceeding the Rover’s 1200W capacity, so it’s essential to choose one that operates under this limit. I tested both the Westinghouse and Dune single-burner induction cookers. The Westinghouse ran smoothly at medium temperatures, while the Dune cooker often overloaded the Rover, showing that not all induction stoves are created equal. Also, just a side note, the fan kicking in and out while using your induction cooker might be the deciding factor for some users to switch back to gas.
Fortunately, just as induction drained the Rover, the sun recharged it as effectively. During my evaluation, I experienced several sunny days (which is quite rare for me), and combining the Rover with a 200W solar blanket proved an outstanding choice. The unit recharged consistently under partially cloudy skies, making it perfect for extended off-grid journeys.
Over several outings now, the Companion Rover 1300 Power Station has performed admirably and handled nearly everything we threw at it. While we’d love to see a slightly more powerful unit to manage induction and perhaps a more weatherproof design or waterproof cover for outdoor use, these are more of a wish list than a real failing. We must search hard for a complaint; maybe we could mention fan noise… and at more than $1700, it is undoubtedly a pricey unit, but with such an investment comes a very clever and capable power supply.
The final word on the Companion Rover 1300 Power Station
The Companion Rover 1300 Power Station is an outstanding portable power performer. If you’re an adventurer needing off-grid power and valuing reliability, the Rover 1300 is a no-brainer. It merges intelligent design, impressive capacity, and innovative features to deliver a dependable portable power solution. From powering your fridge to recharging your phone, it’s one companion you won’t want to leave behind. The built-in bidirectional pure sine wave inverter excels, elevating the unit from 12V DC limitations to provide AC power for a nearly endless list of devices. Its ability to be easily charged by the sun, your car, or at home is a real win, and it doesn’t just make camping easier; it makes it better.
RRP: $$2299.99 See OZtrail for more info on the full Companion Rover Power Station range.
