BioLite Expands NanoGrid Modular Lighting System

May 12, 2017

Flatpack lantern and new string lights offer big light in small

Brooklyn, NY, May 12, 2017 – BioLite, an innovator in off-grid energy technologies, wants to change the way outdoor adventurers light up the night. Debuting this spring are three additions to its modular NanoGrid Lighting System: the BaseLantern, the world’s first flatpack Bluetooth lantern, and the SiteLight Mini and SiteLight XL, portable string lights that transform a campsite into an off-grid home.

With these new lights, the BioLite NanoGrid System now includes three USB-rechargeable edge-lit lanterns – BaseLantern (Regular and XL), PowerLight, PowerLight Mini – and three string light designs – SiteLight XL, SiteLight, and SiteLight Mini. All six components are cross-compatible, enabling adventurers to design their own custom light and power setup.

“The NanoGrid puts a stake in the ground for what users should expect from outdoor rechargeable lighting,” said BioLite CEO Jonathan Cedar. “Shareable energy via powerbank integration, space-saving designs, and efficient light distribution come together to create your own personal grid. Whether you’re traveling solo or looking to power a group campsite, there’s a combination of the NanoGrid ready for you to put you in control of your energy and create home wherever you go.”

Central to the system is the new BaseLantern. Just one-third the size of comparable lanterns, this powerful yet compact light utilizes advanced edge-lit technology to create the world’s first 500-lumen flatpack lantern. It is also BioLite’s first connected product, providing a mini smartgrid that’s controllable via Bluetooth. The new mobile app unlocks various functions, like color controls, alarms, and proximity control. The internal rechargeable battery can be used to for up to 50 hours of light or fully charge up to four smartphones.

For those who want even more power, there’s the new BaseLantern XL. Featuring a 12000 mAh rechargeable li-on battery, the BaseLantern XL offers even more power to light large group settings and charge devices.

“The BaseLantern brings the smartgrid off-grid. The Bluetooth-linked app delivers unprecedented control and analytics to help you manage your energy,” said Cedar. “With smart features like proximity on/off, and enough power to run up to 16 overhead SiteLights, the BaseLantern is redefining how people can create a home in the outdoors.”

The BaseLantern is the perfect hub for the two new string light products, the SiteLight Mini and SiteLight XL. Providing customizable off-grid lighting, these lights are easy to pack and provide bright overhead lighting never seen in the outdoors.

The SiteLight Mini is pocket-size, stackable string lighting that can fit in the palm of your hand. Four pre-strung lights sit across ten feet of cord for instant setup and packs down easily into a compact, protective form with effortless cord management.

The SiteLight XL lights up the night with a guaranteed full moon wherever you go; its clever design lets adventurers bring big light in the form of a 12” 300 lumen globe lantern that collapses down into a stuff sack you can carry in your pocket.   The result is access to packable ambient light that offers a welcome break from harsh spotlights and pointlights typically found at your nighttime campsite.

Thanks to a new adapter included in each set, all SiteLights are compatible with any USB power source, enabling curious users to try out these highly affordable string lights with their existing portable power gear.

Getting the Job Done

In developing the NanoGrid, the BioLite team explored various “jobs” around the campsite and identified five events that get significantly harder when the sun goes down and you don’t have access to good light: wayfinding, setup, meal prep, hangout, and tent time. As a result, this mix-and-match line is designed to serve up the right light for the job, and the BioLite website even offers examples and recommendations of which piece of gear fits the task at hand.

BaseLantern Features

• 500-lumen edge-lit lantern
•  Battery:
  •      BaseLantern: 7,800 mAh rechargeable internal battery
  •      BaseLantern XL: 12,000 mAh rechargeable internal battery
• LEDs display battery remaining
• Micro-USB charge in
• USB charge out x 2 (charge up to 4-6 phones depending on model)
• SiteLight ports x 2
• Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) App: Complete lighting control, timer, proximity activation, and real-time energy feedback. Runs on Bluetooth Low Energy (LE). Compatible with Android and iOS. App not required for basic lantern functionality.
• Burn time (hours):
  •     BaseLantern: 54 LO / 5 HI
  •     BaseLantern XL: 78 LO / 7.5 HI
• Weight:
  •     BaseLantern: 1.29 lbs.
  •     BaseLantern XL: 1.43 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.08 x 5.0 x 1.73 inches
• Stainless steel folding legs: Raise off the table, angle for task-lighting or hang from a branch
• MSPR:
  •     BaseLantern: $99.95
  •     BaseLantern XL: $129.99

SiteLight Mini Features

• 150 lumens total
• 4 lights pre-strung on 10 feet of cord
• Daisy-chainable with all BioLite SiteLights
• Dimmable when connected to BaseLantern or PowerLight
• Weight: 2.5 ounces
• Dimensions: 1.85 x 1.85 x 2.75 inches (stacked)
• Outputs: 2.5 mm connector
• Includes USB adapter
• MSRP: $19.95

SiteLight XL Features

• 300-lumen 12” globe collapsible into pocketable stuff sack
• Daisy-chainable with all BioLite SiteLights
• Dimmable when connected to BaseLantern or PowerLight
• Weight: 3.52 ounces
• Dimensions: 5.7 x 1.57 x 4.52 inches (packed); 12.6 x 11 x 11 inches (expanded)
• Outputs: 2.5 mm connector
• Cord length: 15 feet
• Includes USB adapter
• MSRP: $29.95

About BioLite
BioLite is a social enterprise out to reinvent the way people access energy beyond the grid. The company creates breakthrough cooking, charging, and lighting solutions for both outdoor enthusiasts as well as rural families living in energy poverty. It has been the recipient of numerous recognitions including Popular Science’s Best of What’s New, Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards, BusinessWeek’s Most Promising Social Enterprise, and a nomination for REI’s Vendor of the Year. Headquartered in Brooklyn, NY, the company was founded in 2009 by Jonathan Cedar and Alec Drummond. It is a proud member of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves. Discover more about BioLite at BioLiteEnergy.com