Japanese electronics company Elecom has recently unveiled the world’s first sodium-ion (Na+) power bank with a 9,000mAh capacity, supporting USB Power Delivery (PD) and offering up to 45W output via USB-C. With a 30W fast charging feature, you can achieve a full charge in just two hours.
Elecom emphasized that the power bank’s primary selling point is its resilience to extreme temperatures, with the company claiming it can remain operational even in temperatures as low as -35 degrees Celsius and as high as 50 degrees Celsius.
Despite its low capacity of just 9,000mAh, compared to typical Lithium-ion power banks, which typically reach around 27,000mAh, the sodium-ion power bank boasts a longer lifespan. According to Elecom, the sodium-ion power bank can last up to approximately 5,000 charge cycles (1 cycle = 100% to 0%), up to 10 times longer than Li-ion’s 500 cycles.
Aside from their wider temperature tolerance and longer lifespan, sodium-ion batteries are more environmentally friendly than industry-standard lithium-ion batteries, as they don’t use hard-to-mine metals like cobalt and lithium. As its name suggests, Sodium-ion power banks use the abundant element of Sodium.
It is also much safer and less likely to catch fire or experience thermal runaway if heat is generated inside the battery, a current issue faced by Li-ion batteries that have caught fire aboard planes. The Elecom power bank also offers additional protective functions, including overcharge and over-discharge protection, overcurrent protection, and short-circuit protection.
The Elecom sodium-ion power bank is currently available in limited quantities. It is exclusively sold at the Elecom Direct Shop for a pre-order price of JPY8,980 (~Php3,400), with a standard price of JPY9,980 (~Php3,800). International availability has not yet been announced.
Specifications:
- Battery Rated Capacity: 3.0V / 3,000mAh x 3 (9,000mAh)
- Weight: Approx. 350g
- Dimension: W 88mm x D 31mm x H 106mm
- Color: Black / Light Grey
- Charging Time: Approx. 2 hours
- Connector shape (power input): 1x USB Type-C port
- Connector shape (power output): 1x USB Type-C, 1x USB Type-A