Jackery has just pulled the wraps off its newest portable power station, the Explorer 1500 Ultra, and it’s aiming squarely at people who actually use these things outside – not just those who keep them pristine in a garage for the occasional blackout. Unveiled this week at CES 2026, the new unit is designed to be tougher, lighter, and more weather-resistant than most power stations in its class, with specs showing how Jackery is leaning hard into real-world use cases. 
Beyond just portable power, the company is also showcasing innovative new products that target much bigger ambitions – literally. With a new solar gazebo and a self-following robot, the Jackery is dramatically expanding the scope of its solar and portable power initiatives.
I’ve spent years testing and using portable power stations in the field, charging everything from e-bikes and electric motorcycles to camera gear, laptops, and even electric construction equipment. One thing you learn quickly is that lab specs don’t always translate well when dust, rain, vibration, and uneven terrain enter the picture.
Jackery seems to be acknowledging that reality head-on with the Explorer 1500 Ultra.
The headline feature here is durability. The Explorer 1500 Ultra carries an IP65 rating, which is still rare in higher-capacity power stations. That means full dust protection and resistance to water jets, which is a big deal if you’ve ever tried running a power station outdoors during a drizzle, in a sandy environment, or on a jobsite. Jackery says the unit is built to withstand drops, vibration, and even Level-9 seismic standards, which may sound extreme until you’ve watched a power station tumble out of a truck bed.
Despite that rugged construction, weight has gone down. The Explorer 1500 Ultra tips the scales at 38.6 pounds (17.5 kg), which Jackery claims makes it the lightest IP65-rated power station in its class. For anyone who regularly hauls a power station to a trailhead to recharge e-bikes or drags one across a field to top off tools, that matters more than you might expect.
On the power side, the Explorer 1500 Ultra packs a 1,536Wh LiFePO₄ battery, rated for up to 4,000 cycles to 70% capacity. Continuous output is rated at 2,000 watts for 15 minutes (think running a powerful corded saw), with a peak output of 3,600 watts. More importantly, Jackery says it can sustain those higher loads longer than many competitors, which is often what determines whether a power station can actually start and run high-demand devices.
Charging is also quick by current standards. Using Jackery’s ChargeShield 2.0 fast-charging system, the Explorer 1500 Ultra can recharge from the wall in as little as 1.5 hours. Solar input is rated up to 800 watts, allowing a full recharge in around 2.5 hours under ideal conditions – a spec that will appeal to off-grid users and overlanders.
Output options include AC outlets, USB-C and USB-A ports, and a 12V car outlet, covering most common use cases. Jackery also highlights support for running Starlink systems off-grid, claiming up to 50 hours of runtime with Starlink Mini based on internal testing.
Taken together, the Explorer 1500 Ultra looks ready to move into genuinely rugged, professional-grade portable power. If it performs in the field the way the specs suggest, it could be a compelling option for anyone who actually relies on portable power as more than just a backup, but rather as part of their daily workflow.
Beyond portable power stations, Jackery is also using CES 2026 to signal a much bigger shift in how it thinks about energy capture and storage at home. The company is debuting two other decidedly unconventional products: a solar-powered backyard gazebo and an autonomous solar robot. Together, they could help turn the entire yard into part of a distributed solar energy system tied into its Essential Home Backup lineup.
The Jackery Solar Gazebo is exactly what it sounds like – and more. At a glance, it’s a modern outdoor living structure, but built into the roof are high-efficiency solar panels capable of delivering up to 2,000 watts of solar capacity and generating as much as 10 kWh per day. The idea is simple: while you’re sitting outside, hosting friends, or just enjoying some shade, the gazebo is quietly generating electricity and feeding it into a home battery system like Jackery’s Explorer 5000 Plus for later use.
Jackery says the Solar Gazebo is designed to be a dual-purpose structure, combining comfort and utility. The aluminum-framed structure includes a louvered roof for shade, integrated AC outlets, and even options like a pull-down projector screen, turning it into an outdoor entertainment hub. It could just as easily serve as covered storage for things like a golf cart or other electric equipment, all while continuously harvesting solar energy. With a claimed 25-year warranty, Jackery is clearly positioning it as long-term infrastructure rather than a novelty add-on.
Then there’s the Solar Mars Bot, which may be the most futuristic thing Jackery has ever shown. The updated version of the company’s autonomous solar robot uses AI-enhanced computer vision to drive itself, follow users, and reposition automatically to maximize sunlight throughout the day. Unlike fixed solar panels or portable power stations that have to be carried and manually deployed, the Mars Bot is designed to move itself where the sun is best, recharge autonomously, and then deliver power where it’s needed.
The Solar Mars Bot features retractable 300W solar panels and is intended to operate nearly around the clock, supporting everything from extended power outages to off-grid connectivity. Jackery envisions it powering devices like Starlink terminals, IoT systems, and even other robots, effectively creating a new category of mobile, self-sustaining energy generation. There aren’t any solid tech specs, but the 5,000 in the name seen on the demo of the bot’s phone app might point to a 5,000Wh capacity. And there’s no news on price or release date, but the fact that it’s already been through two years of development is a good sign that it stands a chance of making it to market.
The Solar Mars Bot is still very much a glimpse of where home and personal energy systems could be headed, but it fits neatly into Jackery’s broader push toward a more flexible, consumer-controlled energy ecosystem.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.
Micah Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery nerd, and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling books DIY Lithium Batteries, DIY Solar Power, The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide and The Electric Bike Manifesto.
The e-bikes that make up Micah’s current daily drivers are the $999 Lectric XP 2.0, the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2, the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission, and the $3,299 Priority Current. But it’s a pretty evolving list these days.
You can send Micah tips at Micah@electrek.co, or find him on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.
Best $999 electric bike ever!
Great e-bikes at great prices!

source