With enough juice to power your air conditioner off-grid, the Escape Ecosystem replaces your batteries, converter, solar controller, and 110-volt inverter. Want a plug-and-play alternative to complex lithium battery systems? Put this under your dinette seat!
We literally almost tripped over this story last summer. It all started when we stopped by Goal Zero’s Draper, Utah HQ after exploring the natural wonders of southern Utah. We were met by Jeffrey Harps, Senior Manager of Business Development, and given an impromptu tour of their two-building facility. About midway through research and development, I bumped into what I thought was a cooler-style 12-volt compressor refrigerator on the floor. When we inquired if Goal Zero was getting into DC refrigerators, Jeff said yes, but the unit at my feet wasn’t a refrigerator–it was a giant lithium power system for the RV market.
Oh, the irony. Angela and I had long talked about what would happen if Goal Zero came out with a monster-sized version of our beloved Goal Zero portable lithium power station. We had visions of ditching our AGM batteries, solar controller, inverter, and otherwise twenty-year-old electrical system in our camper and upgrading to a simple plug-and-play all-in-one lithium-powered device. Suddenly, there it was, ready to bite us in the knee caps. Hello, Escape Ecosystem.
When we expressed our enthusiasm for this nascent device, Jeff was taken aback. He said, “Do you really think truck campers would be interested in our 315 Ah all-in-one expandable lithium power station?” Angela practically turned into RUN DMC–tag team rapping about all the ways our niche market was perfect for Goal Zero’s new mega battery creation.
Plugging Into Goal Zero’s Escape Ecosystem
At first blush, the idea behind of the Goal Zero Escape Ecosystem is easy to understand. Start with the concept of Goal Zero’s portable lithium power stations installed in Scout and Capri’s modular truck campers, and expand the battery size and specifications to power larger campers and RVs. At 315Ah (3,993.5 Wh), the Goal Zero Yeti Pro 4000–the hub of the Goal Zero Escape Ecosystem–has more than enough power for a truck camper battery bank. If you need more power, add another Goal Zero 315Ah tank or two, or three, or four. Simple, right?
At second blush, there are questions. How does the system integrate into an RV or truck camper? How does it handle shore power? Is it cost-effective versus installing separate batteries, converters, solar controllers, inverters, etc? The more we thought about it, the more questions we had. “Hey, Jeff, could you connect us with your Director of Product Development, please?”
Ben Pattison, Director of Product Development
What follows is a seriously deep dive into the Goal Zero Escape Ecosystem with Ben Pattison, Director of Product Development. Get ready to understand the sheer magnitude of what this system could represent to camper manufacturers and enthusiasts. It’s a potential game-changer.
Above: Ben Pattison, Director of Product Development for Goal Zero
If we had a time machine and met you in your late teens, were you doing anything that helps explain your career today?
That’s a fun question. I grew up in the United Kingdom taking things apart and learning how they worked. My family was very hands-on; always doing things and developing. We’d refit everything. I spent far too many hours underneath cars, playing with electronics, and installing stereos. That was back in the day when you could change a stereo on a car without ripping the entire dashboard apart.
I was fortunate to earn a degree in Physics and got to do what I enjoyed. I ended up drifting into developing concepts and building prototypes. I love to see how new technologies work, and I have been very fortunate to touch everything from firmware, software, electrical, optical, and all sorts of different engineering.
I think a lot of people were messing with car stereos back in the day. How did you end up working at Goal Zero as the Director of Product Development?
I was building a Sprinter van conversion during Covid. Like everyone at that moment, I wanted out of my house. So, I built a Sprinter van and started installing power into it. During that process, I came across Goal Zero and ended up joining the company and leading the product development team. I describe my job as helping the smarter people in the room bring their products and their ideas to market.
It sounds like a fascinating job. How would you describe the Goal Zero Escape System as it relates to RVs and campers?
When I built the power system for my Sprinter van, I utilized Victron components and Battle Born batteries. This was long before Goal Zero had the Escape System. What I had was a relatively complex and custom-designed system of individual components and, at the time, was the only path to a truly capable and scalable lithium power system.
The Goal Zero Escape system and integration kit provide all of the same capabilities and lithium battery capacity, and more, in an off-the-shelf and fully integrated and scalable solution. It really meets the needs of RVers and campers. The Escape System provides both DC and AC power and is able to charge from shore power and solar. It’s incredibly flexible, but also incredibly simple to install in an RV or camper.
Does the Escape System replace an RV or camper’s entire battery and built-in electrical system, or is it designed as an adjunct to an existing battery and built-in electrical system?
The Yeti Pro 4000 and the Escape integration kit are designed to replace your batteries, your inverter, a Multi-Plus or a bidirectional inverter charger, an MPPT or PWM solar charger, and a DC-to-DC charger from a vehicle alternator. All of those components that are designed to collect and then use power are replaced by the Yeti.
In most setups, you are going to have some form of distribution capability within the RV which provides AC and, separately, your DC distribution bus. We remove all the components before those distribution panels. Then the Yeti Pro 4000 and the integration kit allow us to wire the Yeti into the AC distribution and DC distribution. We also bring the solar down into the Yeti, and bring either 12-volt from the camper connector or the alternator through to the Yeti to charge it. We’ll also connect the shore power AC connector to the Yeti to provide that charging capability from shore power.
In short, the Escape System replaces the existing battery and a majority of the electrical system, but we still use the distribution system within the RV. There’s a screen that gives you remote control of the system. The screen shows how much power you’ve got left and how much charging current you’re getting. The entire system can be controlled by the screen or by the app. The app gives you control via Bluetooth or, if you have a Wi-Fi set up, via wifi.
“The Escape System replaces the existing battery and a majority of the electrical system, but we still use the distribution system within the RV.”
The Goal Zero Escape System includes a 315 Ah (4kW) LiFePO4 lithium battery, a 3,600 watt inverter, and a 40 Ah / 3,000 Watt MPPT DC-to-DC charge controller. Does the Goal Zero Escape System effectively replace all of these components in an RV or camper?
Yes.
So, anything upstream of a distribution center (fuse panel) stays in place and anything downstream of a distribution center is replaced by the Goal Zero Escape System.
That’s a good way of putting it. Sometimes there’s a combined AC and DC fuse panel. In that case, we would need to separate out those two components. But, yes, we are feeding the fuse panel for AC and then separately for DC from the Yeti.
And solar panels are plugged directly into the Goal Zero system?
Absolutely, yes. The Yeti has the capability to take two different solar inputs or two different DC inputs to charge it via two independent MPPT circuits. We use those inputs in a couple of different ways depending on the amount of solar you have and whether it’s a drivable or towable.
Effectively, we bring up to 3,000 watts of solar directly into the Yeti. We’ll bring that in directly as DC into the Yeti and use it to charge the Yeti. Concurrently, the Yeti can be running DC loads while providing AC.
Since the Goal Zero Escape System doesn’t replace the 12-volt fuse panel, do you have a recommended fuse panel that works well with the Escape System?
Manufacturers often have their own preference for fuse panels. We will support them and make recommendations.
We typically recommend Blue Sea Fuse boards or fuse panels simply because we know the quality is there. We tend to steer people away from the no-name stuff on Amazon, simply to ensure the quality of the products they’re getting.
Is Goal Zero targeting the Escape System for manufacturers to install on their production lines or consumers to retrofit into their existing RVs and campers?
Both. We are engaged with a number of RV manufacturers about integrating the Escape system into their future products. We are working with them on their specific fitment and wiring requirements. One opportunity is for the manufacturers to pre-wire their RVs and campers so the Yeti Pro 4000 and tanks can be installed at either the factory, point of sale or down the road as an update.
That’s a fantastic idea; installing the Yeti Pro 4000 at the factory or dealer level, and then providing both the space and plug-and-play wiring for upgrading the system’s capacity through additional battery tanks.
That approach gives a lot of flexibility to the consumer.
For retrofits on existing RVs and campers, we offer integration kits and installation guides. The kits and guides are designed to help people upgrade their existing RV and make a big step up in capability. We considered many different use cases as part of our product development, testing, and validation.
“For retrofits on existing RVs and campers, we offer integration kits and installation guides.”
Since you’re aiming the Escape System for manufacturers, what do you see as the benefits of the Escape System on the production line?
Great question. There are three main benefits that simplify the production process. First, they are procuring the entire system from a single manufacturer. If they need support or need to customize their installation, they are working with Goal Zero directly. We support the manufacturers to ensure a successful integration.
The second benefit is that we can customize our system to their needs. Specifically, we can work with them to customize the cables and routing, and figure out how the system best integrates with their build. The Escape System can be very customized depending on where they place the components.
The third benefit is that the majority of installation is being done with a dead system. From a safety and ease of installation point of view, you’re installing cables without having live batteries around the system. The Escape System is incredibly safe to work with. When it’s powered off, it has no live connections. All of the connections are to pre-made wiring, which is ready to plug and play into the Yeti Pro 4000.
Finally, you don’t need to install the Yeti in the camper at the point of manufacturing. This means that you don’t have a high-value lithium battery system being left in the camper during transit or even on dealer lots. You can install it at the point of sale.
We hadn’t considered safety and theft prevention. The consumer could also remove the system when storing a camper to prevent loss.
Exactly. And having exposed 12-volt terminals adds an element of risk on the production line and in the final product. With the Goal Zero Escape System, we take away that risk.
Does the off-the-shelf and plug-and-play nature of the system also potentially reduce mistakes on a production line?
Yes. That’s a great point. The Victron and Battle Born system I installed in my van required my engineering mindset to work out the complexities and properly integrate it. We’ve removed that requirement with the Escape System making it very production line friendly.
We are definitely not all engineers. Does Goal Zero send people to the factories to help with product and production line integration?
Absolutely. We have a dedicated team to support the manufacturers and consumers. We also have a solution center team that provides first line support to end users. For the industry, we have our design teams and a dedicated business development team. A dedicated application engineer is available to provide support for their particular installations. It can be remote support or it can be onsite problem solving where they may have some particular issues with their configuration.
One of the key benefits of Goal Zero is that all of our teams are here in our Draper, Utah office. That includes the engineering team who are a point of escalation. Should we run into any issues that we can’t resolve, or if we need to do customization, the engineering team sits within shouting distance. I think that’s a real differentiator for Goal Zero versus some of the other solutions on the market.
Would you consider a Goal Zero Escape System installation a DIY project for consumers?
We would support DIYs if they are knowledgeable about electrical set ups. However, if you’re not very familiar with RV electricity and haven’t done a number of these sorts of modifications to your camper, we would encourage you to seek an experienced installer.
Are there Goal Zero approved companies that can install the Escape System in RVs and campers?
We are working on building out that network and providing training to Goal Zero approved installers. We have a set of installation guidelines and support material for installers including RV dealerships.
While it has a level of complexity, it isn’t anything beyond what a professional already working on RV electrics would be used to. It’s easier to install than a modular electrical set up.
Can folks who retrofit the Escape System into their RVs or campers keep their existing lithium, AGM, or lead acid batteries?
We typically recommend replacing the existing battery and converters simply to be able to use that space. However, our director of e-commerce has a trailer where we’ve installed two-way switches. He can choose to remove the Escape System and go back to using his AGMs if he wants to. There’s a lot of flexibility with the right electrical configuration if people want to retain their old batteries as a backup. We can help them to get there in stages.
So the two battery systems wouldn’t power the camper at the same time. It would be either or, but certainly, it can be wired in a way where you retain your old batteries as a backup if you wanted to.
How does the Escape System work with shore power?
Shore power will come directly into the Yeti. The Yeti has the capability to both charge from that shore power and pass AC through to the camper. So while you’re plugged into shore power, you’ll be running your AC units. You’ll be running anything that’s plugged into AC shore power while charging the Yeti. The Yeti then will convert that AC to DC to power any of your DC loads at the same time as you’re plugged into shore power. So it replaces your shore power to DC converter.
Can the Escape System plug into 50-amp, 30-amp, and/or 15-amp shore power?
Absolutely. It can charge and pass through 120 volts. The source doesn’t matter to the system. The system will charge with up to 15 amps. So it will bring in 1,800 watts of charging power into the system. A Yeti Pro 4000 will take less than three hours to fully charge if you plug it into a higher current source. If you’re plugging into a 30 or a 50 amp shore power connector, you can pass through up to 30 amps of power.
When we go to a campground, we have a surge protector that we plug into the post. Would that work with the Escape System?
Yes, it is fine to have a surge protector. We recommend it. The Yeti also has a number of protections built-in including mechanical thermal breakers on the input and output. It also has firmware protections for overload and surge protection to protect the Yeti and the outputs.
Could a shore power surge damage the Escape System?
It’s been tested to several different standards, which include what’s called conducted immunity. It has a very high level of internal protection. There is, of course, a point where that will break down and there’s a limit to how much it can protect, but that’s true for all electronics. But yes, it’s tested to a very high standard.
Is it okay to leave the Goal Zero Escape System plugged into shore power for extended periods of time? Let’s say we go to Florida every winter and stay at a campground for a month or two. Can I leave the Goal Zero plugged in and not worry about it being plugged in for that entire period of time?
Absolutely. It goes back to one of the main benefits of having a Yeti versus a distributed system. Instead of needing to set your float voltages, your absorption voltages, and running that risk, the Yeti is managing all of that for you. So yes, it’s absolutely happy being plugged in on a continuous basis. It’s no problem at all.
What makes an RV or camper a good candidate for a Goal Zero Escape System retrofit?
The Yeti Pro 4000 is clearly a large system. It’s also very capable, but comes at a premium of space. People need to make sure that there is sufficient space to install it in their RV or camper. We have CAD models available for consumers or manufacturers.
Some folks do not actually install the Yeti. They may use it in their home most of the time, and then they take it with them when they camp. When they arrive at a campsite, some put it underneath their camper and use it as an AC source. They essentially use it as shore power. So there’s a lot of flexibility for some smaller campers to not fully integrate it, but to just use it as a standalone source.
In Bill’s article, he mentioned the future Escape System products that we’re working on. We’re looking at how we can build more flexibility into the Escape System’s expansion tanks. We know that the Yeti Pro 4000 and the tanks are quite large for a truck camper. We are exploring how we make it a more distributable system, and more flexible in terms of the size of the tanks.
One of the members of my development team has a Scout camper. She’s passionate about how to make sure the system is more flexible for smaller campers. For me, growing up in the UK with smaller RVs and having a Sprinter Van, I understand. The Yeti Pro 4000 in my Sprinter van is a compromise. We recognize that the market is very diverse and we are looking to support that with some new products that are coming out in the medium term. We’re really excited about growing the Escape System in the future.
Can customers connect any make, model, or type of solar panels with the Goal Zero Escape System?
Absolutely. We provide a couple of different ways of doing that. With the Yeti Pro 4000 and the Escape system, we’ve increased the maximum voltage that can come in via solar. We’re now allowing up to 145 volts of solar. We encourage people to wire their panels in series, which minimizes the losses. Depending on how your configuration is, you may need to reconfigure to have a higher voltage of solar.
The system can accept up to 145 volts and up to 40 amps of solar capability. As long as you’re below those limits, we’ll bring that into the Yeti and use it to charge. We provide cables to make that connection to the existing solar array rather than going into your current MPPT or DC-to-DC.
What’s the advantage of wiring the solar panels in series?
Wired in series, the current is lower so your voltage drops are lower. Ultimately your loss is lower wired in series. It may not be possible for some systems or some people depending on how their panels are arrayed. But, if it’s possible, we would encourage people to do that to get more power into your Yeti. It is a choice and it will give you a little bit more power into the Yeti and a little bit faster charging.
Can the Yeti 4000 Pro use 48-volt solar panels?
Yes. You can bring up to 145 volts into the Yeti. If you have a 48-volt panel, you could have two in series and get 100 volts. Typically, a nominal 48-volt panel will have a slightly higher open circuit voltage, which means that we want to be careful not to exceed that 145-volt open circuit. But again, our solution center is very well-versed in solar and will support any customer to make sure they’re making good choices.
Does the built-in DC-to-DC also charge the unit from the truck alternator while driving?
We’ve got two DC inputs on the Yeti. We have the high-voltage DC input, which brings in up to 145 volts. And then we have a smaller input which comes to our legacy eight-millimeter connection. That is what’s on a Yeti 500X, for example. You can bring in up to 275 watts of power through that channel. So depending on the configuration, the Yeti has those DC-to-DCs built into it. And then you can also bring in multiple sources into that high voltage charge as well.
You can either bring in solar, solar and alternator, or multiple sources of solar. Some people choose to have solar on the roof of their camper as well as a deployable solar. Our Nomad or Boulder briefcase panels can be deployed when you camp. There are lots of different options for how you bring power into the Yeti via those two DC-DC ports.
Why is it important that the Yeti Pro 4000 battery chemistry is LiFePO4?
With lithium ion batteries, there’s a difference between the different chemistries. You’ve got lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO) versus the older Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC). There are a few important differences between them.
LiFePO4 has a few major advantages. One is that the energy density of the cell is a little bit lower. That means you have a slightly larger battery, but you also have a safer battery. It’s also made safer by the temperature at which thermal runaway occurs in the cell. The temperature at which that thermal runaway occurs is with LiFePO4 raised compared to NMC. So in the event that is an issue, it’s harder to get thermal runaway to occur.
NMC based systems, like what’s in our X-line of portable lithium power systems, you may have around 500 cycles, or 500 full charge and discharge cycles before you reach 80 percent of capacity. LiFePO4 based cells typically get around 4,000 cycles. So you’re getting about many times the usable life of the product before you are looking at that reduced capacity. NMC is still a very good technology and has a lot of useful applications given its energy density.
The Goal Zero Escape System is UL listed and IPX3 rated. What do these certifications mean to the consumer?
It means that you have a product that’s been inspected and tested, and has the factories audited by a NRTL (Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory). The consumer can be confident in the quality of the device and the quality of the manufacturing of the device.
The UL listing means that it is being tested to a standard that is adopted in the United States as being appropriate for this class of product. UL 2743 is a standard that is specifically developed for the safety of portable power packs, portable jump starters, and portable power banks. So it’s directly applicable to this class of product.
The IPX3 rating means that the environmental protection of this system is appropriate for use in RVs. Our system is also compliant with RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) when installed correctly.
Earlier you talked about people using the Yeti 4000 Pro system outside. The system is not waterproof, so how does that factor into outdoor use?
Rating UR 2743 means it’s outdoor rated, which means that it is rated to be in a rain shower. It won’t suffer any damage should it get caught in the rain, so to speak.
However, the Yeti 4000 Pro and tanks are not waterproof. There are a few products on the market that claim they are, and it’s certainly something that we are investigating, but there are a lot of compromises with making a system like this waterproof. It comes down to compromises on thermals and compromises on performance.
The Yeti 4000 Pro is certainly not something you’d want to permanently leave outdoors. It has limits. However, we wanted to make sure that if the unit is on the ground outside your camper and a rainstorm comes through, you’re not going to have a brick. That’s not a good user experience and it’s not a safe user experience.
When we started the magazine in 2007, every camper had a vented battery box and batteries weren’t in the interior of truck campers. Is it safe to have an Escape system in the interior of your RV, like under a dinette seat?
Yes. The UL listing is the certification that means it’s a safe system to have inside an RV. I completely understand the historical knowledge around venting batteries and safe practices with lead acid batteries.
Lithium ion batteries are inherently sealed units. There is no venting for the cells or battery. The worst you’re going to get from a Yeti is a little bit of heat from the electronics during charging and discharging. You may get some thermal load created, which is great in the winter, but less so in the summer.
From a safety point of view, we make a really explicit choice of the cell manufacturers we work with and the standards they’re tested to. We are always choosing what we call tier one cells and only work with manufacturers who offer the premium grade for safety and liabilities.
Does the Escape System need ventilation?
The unit itself has two fans; one on each end. The expansion tanks don’t need ventilation, but the Yeti will need a little bit of ventilation around it to allow for airflow. Our support team can advise on specific volume requirements. If someone is looking to put a Yeti 4000 Pro in a very tight location, we can advise about the surface area of ventilation that’s required. Even if additional ventilation is required, we can help with that. So yes, there’s a little bit of ventilation required.
Tell us about the control monitor and phone app and what they control.
They both provide control of the system. The screen is designed to give you control of the different DC and AC outputs, and to see your power in and power out. The screen is very rich in terms of the information it provides. The app gives you a little bit more control in terms of configuration. We would always recommend people use the app to set the system up. However, once you’ve configured it, the screen is very sufficient to run the system on a day-to-day basis.
Equally, if you don’t want to install the screen for whatever reason, the app can give you that direct control via Bluetooth. That works very well for a lot of people.
Above: The Goal Zero App is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play
The app gives you one really important control, which is setting the AC shore power input. While the system can take up to 30 amps from shore power, sometimes you might only be able to plug into a 15 amp outlet. With the app, you can control that input on the Yeti. That prevents the system from drawing too much power and tripping a breaker.
So the system can’t automatically sense what amp level it’s plugged into?
Unfortunately, there’s no way for the system to tell what the breaker is on a pedestal. When you plug in, you do need to tell the Escape System what it’s plugged into.
Could you leave the Escape System set at 15 amps and not worry about it?
Absolutely, you’d lose the 30A of passthrough capability but that would protect it from nuisance tripping.
The main Goal Zero Escape System can be expanded with 315 Ah battery expansion tanks for up to 1,575 Ah of power. Do these tanks need to be located with the main unit, or can they be distributed throughout an RV or camper where space is available?
The tank is connected to the Yeti with a cable that enables it to be either stacked under a Yeti 4000 Pro or placed up to 15 feet away. We offer extension cables for that connection. We don’t encourage customers to make up their own cables simply because our cable isn’t just power, but also communications.
How easy is it to disconnect a Yeti Pro 4000 and bring it into a house? Is it literally plug-and-play; like pulling a couple of wires and taking it in, and then bringing it back and reconnecting the wires?
It is literally as simple as that. We offer a mounting plate that allows latching the Yeti down mechanically. Every connection is unique and can only be inserted the right way. That way we protect the use of any incorrect plugins. It’s as simple as unplug everything, bring it into the house or your garage, and then put it back in when you’re ready to use it again. It’s as simple as that.
One question a reader asked us to ask you about was lithium in the cold. What are the considerations with the Goal Zero Escape System and the cold?
The Yeti itself has a couple of different temperature ranges it will operate in; a charging temperature range, and a discharging temperature range. As with most lithium batteries, you can discharge over a wider range than you can charge over. That has to do with the chemistry of the cells.
For discharging, which is your widest operating range, you’re talking around -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a pretty wide range. If you’re going to be storing the Escape System in a location where it goes below that temperature for prolonged periods, we would recommend people bring it in simply because those cells will eventually have some damage from the cold. We provide a lot of protection with the design of the Escape System, but with lithium, there is ultimately a limit to how cold it can be stored.
Can it freeze? Say I was in Utah for all of January and February and I didn’t use the camper that entire time. Will the system be okay?
Yes. At that point, you are unlikely to be below -4 degrees Fahrenheit for that entire period of time. So it wouldn’t be a problem in that case.
Let’s say I’ve brought my Yeti Pro 4000 inside my house for the winter, but I need to unload my camper and get my truck serviced. Could I temporarily connect the cabling for the Yeti Pro 4000 to a Goal Zero 500X (for example) and power my camper jacks?
That’s a great question. In theory, yes. I mean it’s not something we currently have accessories and cables available to do, but it’s a really good question. If you don’t mind, I’m going to take it back to the team and see whether we offer a set of cables to do that.
That would be great. Does the system have a battery disconnect?
One of the big improvements we made between the Goal Zero X line and the sixth generation of products is that we added a master power switch. Effectively, it acts as a battery disconnect within the Yeti. Once that switch is open–deactivated–it turns off. For good practice, we’d say to charge it at least once a year if it’s disconnected.
For the record, does the Goal Zero Escape System make any noise?
It can. It depends on the load on the system. Two fans come on to make sure that the thermal load in the system is managed. You would have to drive it hard to put the fans on. Even when operating, they have a PWM (pulse-width modulation) control. They are limited to what’s absolutely necessary. So yes, they have a little bit of noise, but it is very minimal at 45 decibels.
Will the Goal Zero Escape System be updated with future firmware updates?
Absolutely, yes. There are seven different processes within the 4000 and all of them can be updated via the app. In the event that we offer new capabilities or accessories, you’ll be able to update it. In the unfortunate case where there’s something that isn’t working exactly as we’d like, in many cases, we can update it and offer users help without having to send it back to the factory. With the customer’s permission, we can remotely connect and troubleshoot.
With the 4000, we added a more rich display. The display itself actually has a message capability now. We can talk the user through troubleshooting locally on the system. The 4000 has a verbose display, which means that our support agents can really talk a user through troubleshooting and get very rich data even without having cloud connectivity.
What’s the warranty for the Goal Zero Escape System?
There’s a five-year warranty that includes the Escape system, which includes the Yeti PRO 4000 and Tank PRO 4000. The warranty is handled directly with Goal Zero. If you get a professional installation through the dealer, you need to go through your dealer first.
If an owner has an issue with their Goal Zero Escape System, how is that handled by Goal Zero?
Our solution center team is based here in Utah and they are very passionate about our products. If there is an issue, we make sure that we look after our customers. People have chosen to invest in us and, we respect that.
What does the Goal Zero Escape system cost?
The Escape Drivable Kit is $4,199.95. That includes the Yeti Pro 4000, the drivable wiring kit, and the cabling that comes with it. The kit can scale with additional tanks or by adding solar panels.
We have a number of home back-up customers with the full 1,575 Ah kit. That’s a huge amount of backup. It will run their home for days, if not weeks. It’s easy to add capacity later if you find you need more power. I think that’s one of the beauties of this. It’s very simple to add an additional tank for more capacity.
“It’s very simple to add an additional tank for more capacity.”
Is it cost-effective to choose the Goal Zero Yeti Pro 4000 and Escape System versus a Victron and Battle Born system with separate components?
You definitely have more choices when installing a custom system. Technically, you can choose a cheaper system, but it won’t have the same performance. I was looking at one of your articles about an Off-Grid Solar Electric upgrade where there’s an alternative Victron system. It was a slightly smaller system in terms of capacity and a slightly smaller system in terms of power.
That system cost a little bit more than the Escape system. So absolutely, I think the Escape System is cost-effective. With the Yeti 4000, you can take it out of your RV and use it in an emergency solution in your home or you can use it in multiple RVs. If I had to do it again, I would certainly install the Yeti 4000 Pro and Escape System rather than putting thousands of dollars into an electrical system in my van.
Rumor has it Goal Zero is working on smaller versions of the Escape System. What can you tell us?
We’re always working on new products and technologies. The engineers here and our partners are always looking at the next generation and what’s going on in the market. There’s a proximity between our engineering team, our business development team, our sales teams, and our customer support teams. We are incredibly close. We talk regularly. That means that any feedback, whether good or bad, is fed into our development processes. We continue to invest in improving our firmware, improving our products, and making them better for our customers. We don’t always get it right, but we are passionate about making our products better.
For more information on Goal Zero’s products, visit their website at GoalZero.com. Click here for a Goal Zero brochure.
