World-first Na-ion power bank has 10x more charging cycles than Li-ion

Japanese company Elecom has unveiled the world’s first power bank using sodium-ion battery technology, according to the company’s official press release. The sodium-ion power bank consists of 3 battery cells of 3,000mAh each, for a total capacity of 9,000mAh. It comes with USB-A and USB-C ports, with a maximum output of 45 watts.

Compared to the ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries we all know and use, sodium-ion batteries offer several advantages.

Advantages of sodium-ion batteries

For starters, sodium-ion batteries are considered to be more environmentally friendly, as the main substance used—sodium chloride—is much more prevalent and easier to acquire than lithium. Furthermore, sodium tends to be safer as it isn’t as reactive as lithium.

Sodium-ion batteries also tolerate lower temperatures better. According to Elecom, the new power bank tech can be used in temperatures as low as -35 degrees up to 50 degrees Celsius (or -31 to 122 Fahrenheit).

However, the main advantage rests in the charging cycles. According to Elecom, a sodium-ion power bank can go through up to 5,000 charging cycles before experiencing a significant reduction in total charging capacity. This is remarkable when you compare it to lithium-ion batteries, which only keep around 80 percent of their total charging capacity after around 500 complete charging cycles.

Disadvantages of sodium-ion batteries

If sodium-ion batteries fall short compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, it’s in size and weight.

Elecom’s newly announced power bank weighs a hefty 350 grams (0.77 pounds) and measures 106 x 87 x 31mm (4.17 x 3.42 x 1.22 inches). Comparable lithium-ion power banks with 10,000mAh capacity weigh around 150 grams (0.33 pounds) less and are more compact.

In addition, Elecom’s new sodium-ion power bank retails for 9,980 yen (~$67 USD) in their official online shop, which is understandably more expensive than its lithium-ion counterparts because it doesn’t yet benefit from economies of scale and production efficiencies. The technology is simply too new right now.

But lithium-ion batteries have come a long way since they were first made in the 1970s, so who knows how good sodium-ion batteries can be with some more R&D in the coming years? This first one is already pretty promising, so the future is looking bright.