Chinese battery equipment manufacturer Carku will unveil a sodium-ion jump starter for passenger and commercial vehicles at Automechanika Frankfurt in September.
The JS-617N uses a 115.2Wh sodium-ion battery and can supply 12V or 24V starting power. It delivers a claimed peak current of 2,500A and is designed for vehicles including cars, diesel pick-ups, heavy-duty trucks, tractors and motor homes.
Carku said the use of sodium-ion chemistry enables the unit to operate at temperatures ranging from –40°C to 80°C. The company also claims the chemistry offers greater material stability and a lower risk of thermal runaway than conventional lithium-ion alternatives.
At 3kg, the portable unit measures 277 x 126 x 156mm. Its 38,400mAh battery can also power external devices through USB and 12V outputs, while a 65W USB-C input is provided for recharging.
Carku using its own battery management and control systems
The company has equipped the JS-617N with its own battery management and control systems. Its claimed ten layers of protection include safeguards against short circuits, overcurrent, overheating and reversed clamp connections.
The product is a portable booster used to start a vehicle with a discharged battery, rather than a sodium-ion replacement for the vehicle’s lead battery.
Carku has not disclosed the supplier or detailed cathode and anode chemistry of the sodium-ion cells. It has also not provided cycle-life data, pricing or a date for commercial availability in Europe.
The manufacturer will present the unit at Automechanika Frankfurt, which runs from 8–12 September. It is also expanding its distribution network in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
Headquartered in Shenzhen, Carku operates research and development centres in Huizhou, China, and Indonesia. The company said its two manufacturing plants cover more than 110,000m² and employ over 1,000 people. It supplies jump starters, portable power stations and starting batteries, including products made for other companies under OEM and ODM agreements.
