Mention ‘battery’ in an automotive context right now and the first thought that pops up in most minds would be an EV’s battery. Given the growing EV segment, nobody would hold it against you but lest we forget the traditional, and still very much relevant, 12V battery that the majority of cars require. Most car
Most car owners have adopted a ‘fix-and-forget’ approach with that battery. You will only notice it when your car refuses to start, leaving you looking for a jump-start.
Despite the shift towards EVs and rapid development for those batteries, the door on innovation and improvements for the humble 12V battery should never be closed, keeping with the Japanese philosophy of “Kaizen” with its continuous, incremental improvement. In that regard, the approach appears to be ‘evolution, not revolution.’
However, Aeson Power did not get that memo. Their range of sodium-ion 12V batteries (SIB) look to be a game-changer compared to the conventional lead-acid or lithium-ion batteries.
The range, launched in Malaysia in late 2025, delivers significantly lighter weight, improved durability, stable performance over a wider temperature spectrum (perfect for local weather), less chance of thermal runaway and longer lifespan.
From Lab to Lead-Acid Replacement
While SIBs might seem like it just gained prominence, research surrounding it ran parallel to lithium-ion batteries around the 1970s. Lithium demonstrated better performance and commercial promise at the time, shelving sodium-ion.
The surge in EVs resulted in lithium demand skyrocketing and the resultant search for an alternative revived interest in SIBs. They emerged as a cost-effective and safe alternative to lithium-ion or lead-acid batteries
Sodium is the sixth most abundant element, widely available from soda ash and can be sourced from seawater. It also reduced cost by 30-40%.
Yes, we know sodium is not salt, it is merely a component of salt, which is usually what comes to mind when it is mentioned. Plus, we just wanted to use a catchy headline.
Nonetheless, lead-acid batteries do have a reason to be salty. The benefits of SIBs are, frankly, unbelievable.
Lead-acid units are proven but there is always room for improvement. They use lead plates and corrosive sulphuric acid. Not only is the former heavy, the latter could leak during an accident while the lifespan is short and is vulnerable to heat.
On the other hand, SIBs function by use sodium-based electrochemistry with modern cell designs for improved energy density and output. There are no liquids within the casing.
Then there is thermal runaway, where a battery’s internal components break down and generate their own heat. The onset temperature for lithium-ion is much higher compared to SIBs.
In Malaysia, heat is a major issue and lithium-ion units will lose efficiency while Aeson Power’s SIBs can operate in temperatures up to 80 degrees Celsius.
Lastly comes SIB’s ability to be fully discharged without damaging internal chemistry. In the case of a lithium-ion battery, fully discharging it to 0% will result in the copper current collector dissolving into the electrolyte. Attempting to recharge it could lead to a short circuit and fire.
This is not the case for SIBs, meaning they can be stored in an inert state and be back to full efficiency when recharged.
Simplify, then add lightness
Yes, we did quote Colin Chapman on an article regarding car batteries. It does relate though. Without heavy lead plates, SIBs are ridiculously light. You could easily pick one up in its box with one hand.
We fitted our test unit in a modest first-generation Perodua Myvi. Even in its tiny NS40 size, the difference was staggering. The original lead-acid unit weighed in around 9kg while the Aeson Power SIB was only just over 2kg.
That difference in poundage becomes wider the bigger you go. A larger NS70 lead-acid typically weighs in around 14-15kg but Aeson Power’s SIB is barely over 4kg.
This could very well be the poor man’s racing battery. After all, why spend thousands on carbon fibre body parts when the battery can easily shave 10kgs off?
Built for the long haul
Lead-acid units typically last 18-24 months, or typically about 300-500 full charge-discharge cycles. Even the most advanced absorbed glass mat (AGM) types can go up to 700 cycles.
Aeson Power SIBs? Try 1,500 to 3,000 cycles on for size, with the majority closer to the higher end of that scale. That is a significantly longer lifespan. Their range of start-stop batteries boast around 180,000 start-stop cycles.
On top of that, they also maintain a higher usable capacity thanks to deeper discharge tolerance. Additionally, SIBs also possess a lower self-discharge rate, meaning they lose their charge at a much slower rate compared to lead-acid units if the vehicle is left parked for extended periods of time.
In fact, SIBs offer a more cost-effective solution for fleet operators as the marginally higher initial cost will easily be offset by its longevity and efficiency.
In conclusion but keep reading
To sum things up, SIBs simply keep the electrical system running smoothly and more efficiently to reduce the load on the engine. Furthermore, lead-acid units take longer to charge, thus keeping the alternator working harder for longer.
SIBs have lower internal resistance, thus charging faster before the alternator channels its power directly to the compressor and cooling fans which subsequently will aid the air-conditioning to blow cooler air.
Simply put, a SIB is pure efficiency when compared to a lead-acid unit, up to the point of fuel savings around 5%.
Where can I get it?
Having been launched last year, you can find the nearest dealer for Aeson Power SIBs on their website here.
There are two main series:
Starting Series (NaPulse Black)
- NS40 – RM369
- NS60 – RM389
- NS50L / 55D23L – RM469
- NS70L / 55D26L – RM529
- D31L – RM629
Start-Stop Series – from RM458 to RM1,359 depending on battery size
Can I get one for free?
Yes, you can. To celebrate our real-world test of the battery, we are teaming up with Aeson Power to give one lucky reader the chance to win a new SIB for your own car.
How to participate:
- Follow Aeson Power Malaysia on Facebook by clicking here.
- Share this article or the Facebook post on your own Facebook page.
- Answer the following three questions by commenting on this article’s Facebook post here.
- Complete the slogan below in the same Facebook post because there is bound to be more than one right entry and we need a tiebreaker
Question 1: Unlike lithium, which is rare and difficult to mine, sodium is the Earth’s ______ most abundant element, making it sustainable for the future. What is its rank?
Question 2: What is the maximum amount of full charge-discharge cycles the most advanced lead-acid batteries can have?
Question 3: What percentage of fuel savings does a SIB have over a conventional lead-acid battery?
Complete the following slogan: “Lead-acid batteries are a thing of the past, but Aeson Power’s sodium-ion batteries are the future because_____.”
- 1 x Aeson sodium-ion car battery (model TBC, vehicle compatibility pending)
- Contest ends on 7 April 2026 and winners will be contacted directly by the organiser via Facebook
- T&C applies