Goal Zero adds Wi-Fi and mobile app compatibility to Yeti power stations

By Kraig Becker January 10, 2018

At this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Goal Zero revealed upgraded versions of several of its popular portable chargers, including its Yeti power stations and its Sherpa battery packs. These new models retain the functionality of the original versions, while adding useful features that should make it easier for outdoor adventurers, overlanders, and travelers to keep their mobile devices charged while on the go.

Dubbed the Yeti 1400 Lithium v2 and Yeti 3000 Lithium v2, the two new units will make their debut in March and sell for $1,800 and $3,000, respectively. Both models will offer the same level of performance in terms of weight and power output as the current Yeti models, but will also ship with functioning Wi-Fi out of the box. Bluetooth connectivity is promised for later in the year, with both types of networking giving users the ability to connect directly to their Yeti power stations using an iOS or Android device. An upcoming Goal Zero app will give users the ability to check the current charge level, closely monitor the health of the batteries, and control the output of power.

Goal Zero Yetti v2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

“The Goal Zero app and Yeti Lithium Portable Power Station v2s with built-in Wi-Fi makes portable power simple to manage and easily accessible,” Goal Zero’s general manager Bill Harmon said in a statement. “The ability to control outputs and check power levels is an additional layer of security and comfort to consumers who rely on undisrupted power for their essential needs.”

Recommended Videos

In addition to the upgraded Yeti power stations, the company also showed off two new versions of its Sherpa battery packs, both of which now include built-in charging cables. The Sherpa 15 Power Bank features a 3,800 mAh battery and comes with both Apple Lightning and standard micro USB cables. Meanwhile, the Sherpa 40 includes a 12,000 mAh battery and adds a USB-C cable to the mix.

The two new battery packs are also scheduled to start shipping in March. The Sherpa 15 will carry a $50 price tag, while the Sherpa 40 will sell for $80.

For more information, visit the Goal Zero website.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Kraig Becker is a freelance outdoor writer who loves to hike, camp, mountain bike, trail run, paddle, or just about any other…

Mobile

The best hurricane trackers for Android and iOS in 2024

Best hurricane tracking apps.

The hurricane season instills fear in those who find themselves in the paths of these storms, and in their loved ones who are concerned for their safety. A hurricane app is essential if you’ve stayed up all night worrying about a family member who's alone during a destructive storm.

Many hurricane trackers are available to help you prepare for these dangerous events, monitor their progress, and assist in recovery. We’ve compiled a list of the best apps for tracking storms, predicting their paths, and providing on-the-ground suggetsions for shelters and emergency services. Most of these apps are free to download and supported by ads. Premium versions are available to remove ads and add extra features.

Outdoors

Best lawn mower deals: Cordless, gas, electric and robotic

A robot lawn mower in a backyard while a family relaxes.

Mowing a lawn can be very therapeutic unless you have an older lawnmower, which makes life difficult and constantly causes you frustration. Luckily, you can snag a new lawnmower for a pretty good price, and even the more budget-oriented options have a lot of quality-of-life features that you wouldn't find on lawnmowers ten or even five years ago. To that end, we've gone about and collected some of our favorite lawnmower deals across the board, including some great robot lawn mowers that are worth checking out.
Litheli Cordless Lawn Mower U20 Handy+ -- $120, was $140

If you want a solid lawn mower, this offering from Litheli has a 13-inch cutting width, which is pretty good for the deal that you're getting. Even better, you get a 30L grass bag so you're not having to clean up after yourself, and you can mow for longer without having to stop. You also get 5 height adjustments so you can hone in the length of your grass to the perfect height, plus you get a 4.0Ah portable battery included.

Outdoors

Juiced Bikes offers 20% off on all e-bikes amid signs of bankruptcy

Juiced Bikes Scrambler ebike

A “20% off sitewide” banner on top of a company’s website should normally be cause for glee among customers. Except if you’re a fan of that company’s products and its executives remain silent amid mounting signs that said company might be on the brink of bankruptcy.That’s what’s happening with Juiced Bikes, the San Diego-based maker of e-bikes.According to numerous customer reports, Juiced Bikes has completely stopped responding to customer inquiries for some time, while its website is out of stock on all products. There are also numerous testimonies of layoffs at the company.Even more worrying signs are also piling up: The company’s assets, including its existing inventory of products, is appearing as listed for sale on an auction website used by companies that go out of business.In addition, a court case has been filed in New York against parent company Juiced Inc. and Juiced Bike founder Tora Harris, according to Trellis, a state trial court legal research platform.Founded in 2009 by Harris, a U.S. high-jump Olympian, Juiced Bikes was one of the early pioneers of the direct-to-consumer e-bike brands in the U.S. market.The company’s e-bikes developed a loyal fandom through the years. Last year, Digital Trends named the Juiced Bikes Scorpion X2 as the best moped-style e-bike for 2023, citing its versatility, rich feature set, and performance.The company has so far stayed silent amid all the reports. But should its bankruptcy be confirmed, it could legitimately be attributed to the post-pandemic whiplash experienced by the e-bike industry over the past few years. The Covid-19 pandemic had led to a huge spike in demand for e-bikes just as supply chains became heavily constrained. This led to a ramp-up of e-bike production to match the high demand. But when consumer demand dropped after the pandemic, e-bike makers were left with large stock surpluses.The good news is that the downturn phase might soon be over just as the industry is experiencing a wave of mergers and acquisitions, according to a report by Houlihan Lokey.This may mean that even if Juiced Bikes is indeed going under, the brand and its products might find a buyer and show up again on streets and trails.