We have bought this fountain in years past but they were the electrical plug-in model. This fountain's water flows as quickly as the electrical models.  The solar panel does not have storage  but comes on instantly with sun and goes off instantly in shade.  UPDATE: 14 months later, this fountain is still working perfectly, and it has been left outside in some very hot and very cold Las Vegas weather. Occasionally we have taken the pump and tubing off to wash the mold off so that the pump has full capacity. Absolutely no issues or problems.