Chinese battery specialist Carku picked up the 2026 Global Sources Innovation Award for its PB-113 portable power station at the Global Sources Consumer Electronics Show, held at Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo. The company showed off its full energy storage range at Booth 5J24 in the East Hall, using the city's trading-hub status to court international buyers face to face.
So what makes the PB-113 interesting for anyone who camps or drives remotely? It puts out a continuous 400W of AC power — enough for laptops, lights, camera gear, a small fridge or other everyday electronics when you're off-grid. The headline trick is its weight: just 5 kg, with a footprint the company says saves up to 50% of trunk space compared with conventional power stations. For road-trippers packing a small car, that difference is real.
It doubles as an emergency kit, too. The unit ships with smart jumper clamps carrying 10-stage safety protection, so a driver with a flat 12V battery can jump-start the car at the press of a single button. Under the hood sits a LiFePO4 battery rated for more than 3,000 charge cycles, paired with Carku's own battery-management hardware for real-time protection — a spec that matters if you plan to cycle the unit regularly over several years rather than leave it in the boot for emergencies.
Carku is positioning the device for both roadside assistance and off-grid living, with particular focus on Asia-Pacific, where disaster preparedness and shifting grids are pushing demand for independent power. The company has secured PSE certification in Japan as part of its regional compliance push, and offers OEM/ODM manufacturing across jump starters, starting batteries and power stations ranging from 100W to 3,600W, backed by 852 patents and CE, FCC, RoHS and UL certifications.
Why should travellers care? Portable power stations have quietly become standard kit for overlanding, festival camping and van life, but most are heavy and bulky. A 5 kg unit that combines storage, AC output and a jump-starter consolidates three pieces of gear into one — useful whether you're charging drones in the outback, keeping a cool box running at a campsite, or just avoiding the misery of a dead battery in the middle of nowhere. As award-winners like this reach retail through partner brands, expect lighter, more versatile options at consumer price points in the coming seasons.
