Energy Strategy Guide

Overview

This guide focuses on practical strategies for keeping your battery charged throughout a full playthrough of Outbound. For a reference breakdown of how each power source works, fuel values, and system mechanics, see the Energy System article. Everything here is about when, where, and how to set up your power sources for maximum efficiency.

Early Game: Making the Most of the Bio Burner

The bio burner is the only power source available at the start. The early game revolves around a loop of gathering fuel, traveling, and gathering more. Here are some tips to stretch your fuel supply and avoid getting stranded.

• Prioritize light lumber. Light lumber restores roughly 20% battery per unit, double the value of fibre or standard lumber. Whenever you spot it, pick it up first.

• Gather on foot before driving. Before setting off on a longer drive, sweep the area around your parking spot for fuel. Driving with a low battery is risky because stalling in a resource-poor area forces a long walk.

• Keep a fuel reserve. Carry at least two or three units of lumber in your inventory at all times. Running the battery down to zero stops the van and shuts off all powered equipment.

• Park near forests. Wooded areas in The Outdoors provide the densest lumber supply. If you need to stop and restock, look for tree cover.

• Use the axe for bigger logs. Small logs can be picked up by hand, but larger ones need an axe. Craft or find an axe early to access the full range of fuel sources.

• Watch the battery meter. The energy meter on the van's dashboard shows current charge. Check it regularly so you are never caught off guard.

When to Transition Away from the Bio Burner

The bio burner works anywhere and at any time, which makes it dependable. However, it demands constant fuel gathering and pulls you away from other activities like crafting, farming, and exploration. Start looking to transition as soon as you unlock your first renewable blueprint from a signal tower. You do not need to abandon the bio burner immediately. Instead, treat it as a backup while your renewable setup proves itself. Once your solar panels or wind turbines consistently keep the battery above 50% during normal play, you can stop gathering fuel altogether.

Solar Panel Placement Tips

Solar arrays unfold from the camper van's exterior and generate power during daylight hours. Getting the most out of them comes down to positioning and timing.

• Park in open areas. Trees and cliffs cast shadows. For maximum solar output, park the van in a clearing or open field where the panels have a clear view of the sky.

• Angle matters. Properly oriented panels capture more sunlight than ones facing away from the sun. When you park, consider the direction of sunlight.

• Clear skies are essential. Solar output drops significantly under overcast conditions and stops entirely during rain or at night. Check the weather before relying solely on solar power for a long crafting session.

• Plan activities around daylight. Run power-hungry workstations during the day when solar panels are generating. Save low-consumption tasks or driving for the evening.

• Combine with a nighttime source. Solar panels produce nothing after sunset. Pair them with wind turbines or a charged battery bank to avoid losing power overnight.

Wind Turbine Positioning

Wind turbines work day and night, making them the natural partner for solar panels. Their output depends on elevation, exposure, and local wind conditions.

• Go high. Place turbines on the van's roof or park on elevated ground like hilltops and ridges. Higher positions catch stronger, more consistent wind.

• Avoid sheltered spots. Valleys, dense forests, and spots tucked behind cliffs block airflow and reduce turbine output. Open terrain is key.

• Coastal areas are strong for wind. The Coast generally offers steady breezes, making wind turbines particularly effective there. If you are spending time near the shoreline, a turbine can carry most of your power needs.

• Mountain ridges are ideal. Mountains in The Outdoors offer both elevation and open exposure, giving turbines their best possible performance.

• Wind varies by weather. Storms and high winds increase output, while calm, clear days may produce less. A turbine that performs well in one biome may behave differently in another.

Hydro Generator Siting

Hydro generators produce steady, consistent power as long as the van is parked near flowing water. They are the most reliable renewable source, but they come with a significant trade-off: you must stay near a river or stream.

• Scout rivers on the map. Rivers and lakes are visible on the map display (added in alpha v0.5.8). Before driving to a new area, check the map for waterways and plan your parking spot accordingly.

• Flowing water only. Hydro generators need moving water. Still ponds and lakes do not work. Look for rivers and streams specifically.

• Accept the parking trade-off. Hydro power locks you to riverside locations. This is fine when you plan to stay in one spot for a while (setting up a farm or working through crafting projects), but it limits your flexibility for quick stops.

• Great for base camps. If you find a riverside spot with good access to other resources, consider making it a semi-permanent base. Hydro power keeps the battery topped up indefinitely while you work on other tasks.

• Combine with solar for coverage. Hydro handles the baseline load, and solar panels add extra power during daytime for heavy crafting sessions.

Building a Mixed Energy Setup

No single power source covers every situation. The most effective strategy is to combine sources so that at least one is always generating.

Recommended Combinations

In practice, solar + wind is the most versatile combination for players who move frequently. Add hydro when you settle into a longer camp.

Biome-Specific Energy Strategies

Different biomes reward different energy setups. Adapting your approach to the region you are exploring saves time and keeps the battery healthy.

The Outdoors

• Forests: Dense tree cover blocks both sun and wind. Rely on the bio burner or park at a forest edge where panels can catch sunlight. Lumber is plentiful here, so the bio burner remains viable longer than in other areas.

• Open plains: Ideal for solar panels during the day. Wind turbines also perform well if you park on slightly elevated ground.

• Mountains: Elevation makes wind turbines highly effective. Mountain ridges are some of the best spots in the game for wind power. Solar also works above the treeline.

The Coast

• Beaches: Open and sunny, beaches suit solar panels. Coastal breezes also help wind turbines, though weather along the coast can be less predictable.

• Riverside areas: Rivers and streams near the shoreline make hydro generators a strong choice. Combining hydro with coastal wind provides excellent coverage.

• Cliffs and headlands: Elevated coastal terrain is excellent for wind turbines. If you can find a clifftop spot near water, you have access to both wind and hydro.

Battery Management Tips

The van has a single battery that powers everything. Good battery habits prevent emergencies and let you get the most out of your power sources.

• Upgrade battery capacity early. Larger battery banks store more surplus power, giving you a bigger buffer for nighttime, storms, or long drives between good parking spots. Prioritize battery upgrades in the technology tree when they become available.

• Charge before driving. Driving consumes power steadily. Top off the battery before setting out on a long drive, especially if your next destination does not have reliable power conditions.

• Monitor the dashboard. The energy meter on the van's dashboard is your best friend. Get into the habit of checking it before starting power-hungry activities.

• Balance speed and efficiency. The driving system tracks both charge consumption and motor temperature. Driving fast drains the battery quicker and heats the motor. Moderate speeds conserve power on longer routes.

Reducing Power Draw

Generating more power is only half the equation. Cutting unnecessary consumption stretches your battery further.

• Turn off idle workstations. Crafting workstations and cooking stations draw power while active. If you are not actively using them, turn them off to save charge.

• Minimize lighting. The van's headlights and interior lights consume charge. During daylight hours or when parked safely, switch off lights you do not need.

• Batch your crafting. Instead of running a workstation for one item at a time, queue up multiple jobs and run them in a single session. This avoids repeatedly powering the station on and off.

• Consider your upgrades. Storage upgrades and the pop-up camper mode add to the van's overall power draw. Before adding new modules, make sure your power setup can handle the extra load.

Going Fully Renewable

Eliminating the bio burner entirely is the ultimate energy goal. A step-by-step approach to getting there.

1. Unlock your first renewable source. Visit signal towers to find solar panel or wind turbine blueprints. Solar is often the first one available.

2. Run renewables alongside the bio burner. Keep gathering fuel as a safety net while you learn how your renewable setup performs in different conditions.

3. Unlock a second renewable source. Adding wind to solar (or vice versa) covers the day/night gap. This is the turning point where fuel gathering becomes optional.

4. Upgrade battery capacity. A bigger battery stores surplus from peak generation (sunny afternoons, windy nights) and carries you through low-output periods.

5. Add hydro when available. Hydro generators are the final piece. When parked near water, they provide a constant baseline that makes the whole system nearly self-sufficient.

6. Stop carrying fuel. Once your mixed setup reliably keeps the battery above 30% through a full day-night cycle, you can free up inventory space by dropping the fuel habit.

Going fully renewable is not about flipping a switch. It is a gradual transition where you build confidence in each new source before letting go of the previous one.

Common Energy Mistakes

See Also

• Energy System for detailed mechanics, fuel values, and system breakdowns

• Bio Burner for the starting power source

• Technology Tree for unlocking renewable energy blueprints

• Signal Towers for finding blueprints in the world

• Biomes for regional conditions that affect energy output

• Weather and Day-Night Cycle for weather impact on generation

• Camper Van for van systems and dashboard information