Power During a Blackout: All Options at a Glance

A power cut doesn’t automatically mean darkness and paralysis — if you’re prepared. There are many ways to generate, store or conserve electricity during a blackout. This article gives you a comprehensive overview.

Option 1: Power bank (available immediately)

For: Smartphones, tablets, small devices
Capacity: 10,000–30,000 mAh = 3–10 smartphone charges
Cost: €30–80
Advantage: Affordable, available immediately, low maintenance
Disadvantage: Must be charged beforehand, limited capacity

👉 Charging your mobile without mains power: Power banks and more →

Option 2: Portable power station

For: Laptops, lamps, small household appliances, mobile phones
Capacity: 300–2,000 Wh
Cost: €300–2,000
Advantage: Genuine 230V socket, high capacity
Disadvantage: Expensive, heavy, must be charged beforehand

Well-known brands: Jackery, EcoFlow, Bluetti, Anker

Option 3: Balcony power plant (long-term solution)

What it’s for: Daily power supply, charging
a power station Output: 400–800W depending on the module
Cost: €300–800
Advantage: Generates fresh power every day as long as the sun is shining
Disadvantage: Requires a balcony/roof, no power generation at night or when it’s cloudy

During a blackout: Combine with a separate storage unit (power station) → charge during the day, use at night.

👉 Balcony power station test: The best models of 2026 →

Option 4: Car as a power source

What for: Charging
mobile phones and power banks Capacity: Depends on fuel tank capacity
Cost: Car adapter: €10–30, Inverter: €30–100
Advantage: Immediately available if you have
a car Disadvantage: CO risk in garages, petrol consumption

Option 5: Generator (for homeowners)

What it’s for: Larger loads — heat pump, fridge, multiple appliances
Power: 1,000–10,000W
Cost: €500–5,000
Advantage: High power, can run
many appliances Disadvantage: Noisy, requires petrol/diesel/gas, must be operated outdoors

Not a practical option for most tenants.

How much electricity do you really need?

My recommendation depending on your budget

Budget under €100: 20,000 mAh power bank + car charging cable
Budget €100–500: + 300Wh
portable power station Budget €500+: + Balcony power plant for daily recharging
For homeowners: + Generator for emergency heating

👉 Power during a blackout: The detailed guide →
👉 Emergency rucksack with power bank: Fully equipped →

What to do in the first few minutes?

When the power goes out, staying calm is more important than acting quickly. Most mistakes happen in the first few minutes due to panicked behaviour.

• Assess the situation: Is it just your house or the whole street?
• Check the fuse box: Has a fuse blown?
• Notify the network operator: Call the fault line or use the app
• Switch on a wind-up radio: Listen to official announcements
• Unplug sensitive devices: PC, TV, stereo system — to protect against power surges when the electricity returns
• Keep the fridge and freezer doors closed: this will maintain the temperature for 4–8 hours

Reduce electricity consumption during a blackout

The less electricity you use, the longer your emergency power will last. You can reduce consumption to a minimum with simple measures:

• Set priorities: Lights, fridge, mobile phone — switch everything else off
• Eliminate standby mode: Every device on standby uses unnecessary power
• Use LED bulbs: They use 80% less energy than standard bulbs
• Only open the fridge briefly: this keeps the temperature stable for longer
• Unplug chargers: Disconnect them once the device is fully charged
• Create a schedule: Use certain devices only at specific times

How much power your car can provide

Almost every German has one in the garage or outside the front door: a car. And almost nobody knows that it can serve as an emergency power source during a blackout. No generator needed, no expensive power station — the car you already own is often enough.

Every modern car has at least:

• 12V cigarette lighter socket — for car chargers
• USB ports (in newer vehicles)

You can use these to charge:

• ✅ Smartphones and tablets
• ✅ Power banks (as a backup)
• ✅ Battery-powered devices via USB
• ✅ Laptops (with a suitable adapter)

Method 1: Charging via the cigarette lighter (without the engine running)

Many people don’t realise this: the cigarette lighter provides power even when the engine isn’t running — as long as the ignition is set to position 1 or 2 (depending on the vehicle).

Caution: This will drain the car battery. After 1–2 hours of charging, check whether the car still starts. Rule of thumb: Charge for a maximum of 30–60 minutes, then start the engine briefly to recharge the battery.

Method 2: Charging with the engine running

Engine running → alternator charges battery → you charge devices. In theory, you can charge continuously as long as there is petrol.

Efficiency: A running engine consumes approx. 0.5–1 litre of petrol per hour when idling. With a 40-litre tank, you have 40–80 hours of charging power.

Important: Always operate outdoors — never in the garage (risk of CO poisoning!)

Method 3: Inverter — a proper power socket from your car

A car inverter (12V → 230V) turns the car battery into a proper household socket. This allows you to run almost all standard devices.

• Small inverters (150–300W): Laptops, lamps, small appliances
• Larger inverters (1000W+): Also camping stoves, small cool boxes

Cost: €20–80 for a good car inverter.

Electric cars and hybrids: Special possibilities

Modern electric cars (e.g. VW ID.4, Ford F-150 Lightning, Hyundai Ioniq 5) have a ‘Vehicle-to-Load’ (V2L) function: they can supply household power directly from their large battery — up to several kilowatt-hours.

An electric car with a 60kWh battery can therefore supply a standard household with basic power for 2–5 days.

Full hybrids usually only have 12V systems, like normal cars.

What you should NOT do

• ❌ Run the engine in enclosed spaces (CO poisoning)
• ❌ Completely discharge the car battery — the car will then no longer start
• ❌ Run high-power appliances without an inverter
• ❌ Rely on the car as your sole source of power (you may run out of petrol)

The car as part of your blackout plan

Your car is a good addition — but not a complete replacement. The best combination:

• Power bank for everyday use
• Car for larger charging jobs
• Balcony power station for long-term power supply

👉 Balcony power station review: Continuous power without the mains →
👉 Power during a blackout: An overview of all options →
👉 Emergency rucksack with power bank: The best models →

Ensuring communication and information

During a power cut, the internet often goes down before the mobile network. Anyone who relies on information needs alternatives:

• Hand-crank radio: Receives emergency announcements even without electricity or the internet — essential
• Power bank (fully charged): Keeps your mobile phone going for 2–5 days
• Important numbers on paper: authorities, family, doctor — in case your mobile runs out of battery
• Text messages instead of calls: still work when lines are overloaded

→ The best hand-crank radios for a power cut

Heating and warmth without electricity

One of the underestimated dangers during a blackout: the cold. Many heating systems require electricity to operate — including gas and oil-fired systems. What helps:

• Limit living space to one room (easier to heat)
• Layers of blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing
• Camping gas heater (only with adequate ventilation!)
• Seal windows with blankets or plastic sheeting
• Maintain body heat through movement

→ Heating without electricity: a comparison of the best solutions

Common mistakes in power provision

• Power station never charged: Must be charged and checked regularly
• Insufficient capacity planned: 300 Wh is enough for 1 night, not for 3 days
• No petrol supply: Petrol stations have no power during a blackout
• Generator operated indoors: Life-threatening due to CO poisoning
• Sensitive devices not disconnected: Power surges when the electricity returns can destroy everything