European countries have unexpectedly encountered a shortage of portable charging stations in their markets. As it turned out, this is due to permanent Russian air attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Massive attacks by Russian troops using missiles and drones against critical infrastructure in Ukraine have been ongoing for four consecutive years, however, at the beginning of the autumn-winter period of 2025-2026, they intensified significantly. Unable to conquer the territory of Ukraine through direct military aggression, the Russians resorted to a strategy of inspiring an energy crisis and causing blackouts in major Ukrainian cities. In response, during the last year of the war, Ukrainian citizens purchased portable power plants with a total capacity of over 3 GW, which is comparable to the capacity of one reactor at a nuclear power plant. According to experts, such a volume of private reserve energy is a unique phenomenon for all of Europe and a vivid example of society’s adaptation to energy threats caused by military actions.
However, due to the extremely high demand in Ukraine, there is currently a shortage of these charging stations in European countries. According to market experts, about 80% of all stocks intended for European markets were redirected to Ukraine this winter.
The most popular charging stations on the Ukrainian market are 256-1000 Wh for using household appliances during long power outages, as well as 1000-2000 Wh for powering the entire house. In turn, Ukrainian commercial enterprises are more likely to choose large-capacity non-volatile systems up to 90 kWh, often combining them with their own generators. First of all, they do this to support important infrastructure, in particular in the IT sector and for arranging workspaces.
Due to the objectively difficult energy situation, the Ukrainian authorities, in order to overcome the shortage of these devices, abolished customs duties and VAT on generators and batteries, which further stimulates the export of relevant equipment from the markets of European countries.
According to rough estimates, devices from the Chinese company EcoFlow occupy from 50% to 60% of the Ukrainian market. This is due to the early entry of this company into the Ukrainian market and aggressive marketing. The Chinese brand Bluetti also confidently occupies second place, occupying about 20-25% of the market. This brand is especially popular among those consumers who appreciate LFP batteries (LiFePO4), which the Bluetti company began to mass-produce earlier than its competitors. Other brands – Jackery (PRC), Anker Innovations (PRC), Zendure (PRC) and local brands – together share the remaining 15-20% of the Ukrainian market.
In any case, the huge volume of purchases of charging stations in Ukraine has created a unique situation for Europe, when there is a shortage of such equipment in the markets of some European countries. First of all, we are talking about states that are logistics hubs or neighbors of Ukraine. Thus, the shortage of devices is recorded in warehouses in Poland – the main transit state through which most private orders from Ukraine and volunteer aid pass. The shortage of charging stations is also felt in Germany, which is the largest hub for official EcoFlow and Bluetti dealers in Europe. Due to mass purchases of this equipment by so-called “gray” dealers for resale in Ukraine, the waiting times for stations by German buyers have increased by several more weeks. In addition, the shortage of portable charging stations is felt in France and the Netherlands, where large electronics distribution centers are located. As experts have noticed, stocks of the relevant equipment are regularly washed out of these two states in very large wholesale batches. Ultimately, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are also feeling the impact of increased demand for charging stations.
In the United Kingdom, there is currently no hype for portable charging stations, but, in general, the demand for such equipment in the British Isles is growing similarly to the situation in the member states of the European Union. British consumers are interested in optimal solutions for guaranteeing backup power, as well as options for ensuring uninterrupted construction and field work. At the same time, if Ukrainians, due to a significant shortage of electricity, buy any generators that are available on sale, then the British, who are in different conditions, show increased interest in the most environmentally friendly and silent units. Against this background, more and more suppliers are appearing in the UK and the number of different models is increasing – both for household use and for supporting important infrastructure. Today, there are serious questions in British society about the slow development of the network of charging stations for electric vehicles and the reality of achieving government targets in this area within the specified timeframe, however, this concerns the infrastructure for EVs and does not concern portable batteries and generators.
Overall, Russia’s war against Ukraine and the deliberate destruction of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by Russian forces have led to a widespread demand for energy sustainability and increased interest in backup power sources on the European continent. Given that all major brands associated with the manufacture of relevant equipment (including solar panels, home energy storage systems, cables) are of Chinese origin, European countries should establish/strengthen their own production of such products. Especially since in the context of geopolitical turbulence, the demand for it will only continue to grow.