Portable generators cover a wide swath from 1800-watt units that are great for camping to 10,000-watt beasts that can run an entire job site crew. New to this sector is Energizer, a brand name well-known for its alkaline batteries. The Energizer eZV7500 and its brethren in the line come from Midland Power, a Canadian company that also sells generators under the Hyundai brand.
First Impressions
At first glance, the generator seems well-built. The frame doesnโt leave me with any concerns. I like the 10โณ wheel size to help get across job site grounds. I didnโt actually get to test them out, though. As one of the very first units off the plane, I was missing an axle rod. That said, the never flat wheels are right in line for diameter and width that Iโm seeing from brands like Honda or Briggs & Stratton, so I donโt have any qualms about them.
The handle locks in place and folds down out of the way when you donโt need it. Thereโs nothing really exciting or disappointing to write home about in that category.
There are a couple things missing. One โ and itโs not a big deal for every Pro โ is the lack of a lift hook for getting the Energizer generator to higher levels on job sites. The lack of GFCI protection is going to be the bigger concern.
Starting
The Energizer eZV7500 portable generator features an electric start with a recoil backup. Electric start is always nice to have, particularly with this size of generator. Youโre already hauling it out of the trailer, thereโs no need to work harder on starting it.
The battery is physically smaller than most units in this class. Midland chooses to go with a 12V, 25.6 Wh lithium battery over the lead-acid ones most brands use. This is less capacity than weโre used to seeing, though the battery manufacturer claims itโs equivalent to a 7 โ 9 Ah lead-acid battery.
Power
One of the major points people look for on a generator is what motor it has. Theย Energizer eZV7500 portable generator doesnโt carry any of the major brand names, but itโs got some of the features we want to see. Itโs a 4-stroke, 15 horsepower, 420 cc engine with an overhead valve design and electronic fuel injection.
Like all gasoline engines, itโll last longer the better you maintain it. Assuming youโre caring for it like you should, Midland backs it up with a 3-year warranty for parts and labor on residential use. Commercial use gets a 6-month warranty.
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This Energizer generator model will give you 7500 watts of peak power and 6500 watts of continuous power. Thatโs more than enough for a small job site crew to stay in business. Itโs also a great bet for emergency storm power or to run a hunting cabin. Everyoneโs needs are different, of course, so check out our guide to see how much power you need from your generator.
Midland tells us that this generator deals with energy spikes, so you can charge your sensitive electronics without fear.
Runtime
On the runtime side, youโre in decent shape. The 6.6-gallon metal fuel tank will run for 7 hours at full capacity and 15.5 hours at 25% load. The tank is well within range of its peers and unless youโre running at 100%, you should have enough fuel in the tank to make it through a full workday.
Editorโs Note: We received an early sample and the specificaions now show the gas tank is 5.5 gallons.
Outlets
Energizer covers nearly all of your outlet bases with this model. Youโll be able to pull 54A at 120V or 27A at 240V. Thatโs enough to power nearly anything on the job site or for a short-term power interruption. Hereโs the list of what you get:
- (2) 120V, 20A AC outlets
- (1) 120V, 30Aย L5-30R
- (1) 120/240V, 30Aย L14-30R
- (1) 120/240V, 50Aย NEMA 14-50R
Noise Level
This is not a quiet generator. At 76 dB(A), itโs going to irritate your neighbors โ at least the ones that donโt have a generator themselves. Itโs not overly loud, though, so just invite them over to enjoy your hospitality to take the edge off after a storm.
Price and Value
The Energizer eZV7500 portable generator will run you $1899. Thatโs on the higher side of the class, though not as high as a Honda with the same features. The major question is going to be how well that engine holds up over sustained use on the job site. Considering you can get a similar generator starting around $1000, that engine reliability will make or break the brand as it enters the market at this price.
That aside, Iโd expect to see GFCI protection at this price level.
The first shipments are just coming in, and youโll be able to find them on Amazon and Home Depot along with several other retailers.
The Bottom Line
The juryโs still out on this one. With a mid-range price and no major initial quality issues, itโs going to take more time for the market to see how reliable Energizerโs engine turns out to be. GFCI protection is the only glaring oversight on an otherwise excellent build.
Energizer eZV7500 Key Features
- Portable inverter generator powered by a massive 420cc engine with EFI
- Produces 7500 surge watts and 6,500 rated watts of clean energy free of voltage spikes
- Heavy duty and portable design makes transporting this generator easy because of its built-in wheels and top-mounted collapsible handle
- EcoMode throttle feature automatically adjusts the inverter generatorโs motor to prevent the usage of unnecessary gasoline
- Lightweight and durable design makes transporting easy due to its built-in wheels and collapsible handle
Energizer eZV7500 Specifications
- Model: Energizer eZV7500
- Engine: OHV Engine, 3900RPM Max.
- Engine Size: 420cc 15HP
- Starting System: Electric and Manual Recoil
- Starting Watts: 7,500 W
- Running Watts: 6,500 W
- Maximum Amps: 120/240V 54/27A
- Fuel Tank Size: 6.6 Gal
- Run Time: 7 H @ 100%, 15.5 H @ 25%
- Outlets: (2) 120V 20A (5-20), (1) 120V 30A (L5-30), (1) 120/240V 30A (L14-30), (1) 120/240V 50A (14-50)
- Noise Rating: 76dBA at 25% load
- Weight: 190 lbs
- Warranty: 3 Years Limited (residential), 6 months (commercial)
- Price: $1,899
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