Las Vegas-based firm Bluetti, which specializes in manufacturing portable solar-powered generators, has launched the world’s first sodium-ion solar generator, the NA300, and its compatible battery module, B480.
Bluetti says its first-generation sodium-ion battery excels in thermal stability, fast-charging capacity, low-temperature performance, and integration efficiency, despite slightly lower energy density than its lithium-ion counterparts. The solar generator and battery’s chemical components also feature more abundant materials than traditional lithium-ion batteries, lowering prices and alleviating concerns about resources scarcity.
The NA300 solar generator delivers a 3,000Wh capacity, considerably less than the 5,100Wh of the company’s EP500 Pro model. But the generator capacity shouldn’t be a big issue for consumers, as it supports up to two B480 battery modules (4,800Wh each), which brings the total capacity to 12,600Wh. The unit, recharged by solar panels, can serve a family’s electricity needs for several days or even a week during grid failures or natural disasters.
It is said that the sodium-ion solar generator seamlessly inherits all the style and appearance settings of its predecessor – EP500 Pro – especially four 20-amp traditional wall plugs, as well as a 30-amp L14-30 output port, driven by the built-in 3,000W pure sine wave inverter.
Besides, NA300 may be cited as the fastest charging solar generator since it can be recharged to 80% in less than 30 minutes at room temperature. In a low-temperature environment of -20°C, it still has an over 85% capacity retention rate and over 80% system integration efficiency. Therefore, NA300 and B480 are perfect for winter or regions with shallow temperatures.
With this launch, the North American company seeks not only to innovate in the area of batteries and generators but also to become less dependent on the current lithium market, which has been suffering problems due to high demand. Replacing lithium with sodium can be quite beneficial for the company, mainly because it is up to 1000 times more abundant than lithium on the Earth’s crust.
Bluetti plans to officially debut the NA300 and B480 sodium-ion battery power station at CES 2022 in Las Vegas.
