The EcoFlow Wave 3 is not for the weak. I mean that literally, as it weighs nearly 56 pounds when attached to its 22-pound lithium battery. At 6,100 BTU cooling capacity, the Wave 3 is designed for a car, RV, tent, boat, or any space that might be either temporary or off the grid. The Wave 3 also has a slightly higher 6,800 BTU heat mode. I have a van and and a dog, so for me, the Wave 3 offers a specific type of assurance on hot or cold days. Portable doesn’t mean you can move it around a lot. In fact, each time you move the Wave 3, say from your home to your car to your camping spot, you need to leave it at a flat, fixed position for at least two hours and avoid tilting it beyond 15 degrees.
I tested the Wave 3 in my Toyota Sienna on an 80-degree-Fahrenheit afternoon in New York City. I was curious if EcoFlow’s claim that it could effectively lower the temperature in 15 minutes was accurate. I brought my dog, along with my friend’s dog, to see whether the Wave 3 could quickly cool down a hot parked car. I controlled the fan speed through the intuitive EcoFlow app, and I watched as it went from 85 degrees to 76 degrees in 15 minutes. Both dogs stopped panting. It’s worth noting that running the AC at full blast drains the battery quickly. It went from being 100 percent charged the night before to 77 percent when I turned it to full power to 62 percent 20 minutes later. I received curious stares from passersby as they peered into the van, seeing the panel with the two ducts and the sticker that EcoFlow provided that says, “Don’t worry, my EcoFlow A/C is on and my owner will be back soon.” Users can only access Pet Mode through the app. It will automatically turn on the Wave 3 when temperatures hit 77 degrees inside the car. I found the app easier to use than the Wave 3’s control panel. Less noisy than expected, the Wave 3 has a white-noise-like hum. According to my consumer decibel reader, at maximum the Wave 3 hovered around 60 decibels.
The EcoFlow Wave 3 is by far the most intimidating piece of gear I’ve reviewed to date. This is partly due to safety issues. The EcoFlow Wave 3’s use of R290 refrigerant, also known as propane, is a better choice for the environment but it is also highly flammable. Even though EcoFlow sells solar panels for charging the Wave 3, its number one safety rule: Do not place the Wave 3 in direct sunlight, as it may cause it to leak flammable liquids or explode. I should add that EcoFlow’s website includes a picture of the Wave 3 on a beach in direct sunlight with solar panels next to it. And while I love the option with its different intake and outtake plates and two insulated ducts to place the Wave 3 inside or outside, the Wave 3 cannot get wet. So if you’re camping and placing the Wave 3 outside your tent and in the elements, it’s best to check the weather.
Number 20 on the safety list: “Electromagnetic fields created by this product may affect the normal functioning of medical implants or personal medical devices, such as pacemakers, cochlear implants, hearing aids, defibrillators and so on.” And lastly, “If the product catches fire by accident, we recommend that you use fire extinguishers in the following order: water or water mist, sand, fire blanket, dry powder, and carbon dioxide.” If you're looking for a portable air conditioner for your next camping or road trip, the Wave 3 might be right for you as long as you’re OK with your 22-pound lithium battery topped with a propane-powered appliance. Like I said, the Wave 3 is not for the weak, nor is it for the faint of heart. —Lisa Wood Shapiro