Power station or generator?
Why hire a battery power station instead of a generator?
Both give you mains power where there isn’t any. A generator burns petrol and has to stay outside. A power station is a big rechargeable battery: silent, fume-free and safe to use in your kitchen, tent or site cabin.
At a glance
The same job, done differently
For the things most people need in a power cut, on a campsite or at a stall, a power station does the job without the noise, fumes and fuel.
A generator still wins for heavy loads running all day, like welders, electric heaters or a whole house. We’ll tell you if that’s you.
The advantages
Why a power station is easier to live with
Safe indoors
Petrol generators give off carbon monoxide, which you can’t see or smell and which can kill. They must never be used in a home, garage, porch, awning or tent. A battery power station has no exhaust, so it can sit next to the fridge or the bed.
Near-silent
No engine, just a quiet fan when it’s working hard. You can sleep next to it, take a phone call by it, and keep the peace with neighbours, campsite quiet hours and wedding guests.
No fuel
No petrol station runs in a storm, no cans to store, no spills or smell. We deliver it fully charged. Recharge it from a socket, your car or a solar panel, or we’ll swap it for a charged one.
Takes over by itself
Plug the fridge and router into it and leave it plugged into the wall. If the power cuts, it switches over in a split second, so the fridge keeps going and the Wi-Fi stays up. No going outside in the dark and rain to start an engine.
Clean power for electronics
It gives steady, mains-quality power (a pure sine wave), which suits laptops, TVs, routers and medical equipment like CPAP machines. Cheaper open-frame generators can give rougher power that sensitive kit doesn’t like.
Nothing to start, service or guard
No pull-cord, no oil or spark plugs, no fuel going stale. It stays inside, out of the weather and away from anyone who fancies a generator left in the garden.
Cost
What it costs to hire
A power station costs a little more to hire than a generator, but there’s no fuel to buy, it can go indoors, and it takes over by itself when the power cuts.
- Power station: for a power cut at home, £68 for the first day for a fridge-freezer, Wi-Fi, lights and phones, then £51 a day, delivered fully charged, with swaps included. Just Wi-Fi, lights and phones is £34. For camping and events, small units start at £14 a day.
- Petrol generator: local hire is typically £39 to £53 a day (November 2026), plus fuel. A small 2 kW generator running all day at a light load can get through around 10 litres of petrol.
- By the week, a generator can be cheaper to hire, especially for heavy loads. Add the fuel, and remember it has to stay outside.
See all our prices, or find out how much power your appliances use.
Being honest
When a generator is the better choice
Batteries are best for steady, everyday loads. For some jobs, a generator is still the right tool.
- Heavy loads all day: welders, electric heaters, kilns, big catering kit or a pressure washer running for hours.
- The whole house: washing, drying, heating and cooking all at once. A generator connected through a changeover switch, fitted by an electrician, can do that. A power station runs the essentials: the fridge, Wi-Fi, lights, phones, TV and a kettle.
- Long jobs with heavy use and no way to recharge, where battery swaps aren’t practical.
Our finder tells you if your list is more than battery hire suits, and shows what uses the most, so you can decide.
Power stations and generators: questions
Can I use a power station indoors, unlike a generator?
Yes. A battery power station has no engine and no exhaust, so there's no carbon monoxide. It can sit in your kitchen, living room, tent or site cabin. Never run a petrol or diesel generator inside a home, garage, porch, awning or tent.
Is hiring a power station cheaper than hiring a generator?
A power cut at home costs £68 for the first day for a fridge-freezer, Wi-Fi, lights and phones, then £51 a day, or £34 for just Wi-Fi, lights and phones. That includes delivery fully charged and any battery swaps, with no fuel to buy. Local generator hire is typically £39 to £53 a day, plus fuel, and it has to stay outside. By the week, or for heavy loads running all day, a generator can work out cheaper.
Will a power station run my whole house?
No. It runs the essentials: the fridge-freezer, Wi-Fi, lights, phones, the TV and a kettle, which come to about 2.5 kWh a day. Washing, drying, electric heating and cooking all day need a generator connected by an electrician, or to wait until the power is back.
How long does it run compared with a generator?
A generator runs for as long as you keep refuelling it. A power station runs until its battery is flat. An Elite 200 V2 keeps a typical fridge-freezer going for about a day and a half on one charge. After that, recharge it from a socket, your car or solar panels, or we'll swap it for a charged one.
Is a power station safe for a CPAP machine or laptop?
Yes. It gives steady, mains-quality power (a pure sine wave), which suits laptops, routers and medical equipment like CPAP machines. If you rely on equipment for your health, a power station is a good part of your plan, but it should never be the only plan for life-critical equipment.
When should I hire a generator instead?
For heavy loads running for hours, like welders, electric heaters, kilns or big catering kit, and for powering a whole house. Our finder tells you if your list is more than battery hire suits.
Ready when you are.
Get a price online in a couple of minutes, or call us for friendly advice from someone local.