Do older Jackery models use NCM cells instead of LiFePO4?

Answered by RV Parts Giant · Upland, CA · September 26, 2026

Short answer: Older generations across the whole industry used NCM pouch cells, which is why cycle ratings used to be quoted in the hundreds. Every Jackery station we currently list states LiFePO4, with cycle ratings of 4,000 or more and 6,000 on the expandable HomePower units. We do not stock the earlier models, so check the listing you are buying.

This is a fair question and the answer matters more than most spec-sheet trivia, because chemistry decides how long the thing lasts.

Why the question exists

Portable power stations across every brand used to be built on NCM pouch cells. They are light and energy dense, which suited a product you carry. The trade is cycle life: ratings were commonly quoted in the hundreds, with capacity falling to 80% well inside a decade of regular use.

The industry has since moved to lithium iron phosphate, LiFePO4 or LFP. It is heavier for the same energy but it tolerates heat and partial charging far better, and the cycle numbers are an order of magnitude higher.

What the current listings state

Every Jackery station we list states LiFePO4. Specifically:

The Explorer 300D listing states LiFePO4 with 4,000 or more cycles to 70% capacity.
The Explorer 1000 v2 listing states 4,000 cycles, which Jackery describes as ten years or more.
The HomePower 3600 Plus listing states EV-grade LiFePO4 rated at 6,000 cycles.
The Explorer 5000 Plus listing states LiFePO4 at 4,000 cycles to 70% capacity or better.

Those are the figures on our own pages. We will not tell you what an older unit we do not sell contains.

How to check any unit before you buy

Look for the chemistry named explicitly. A listing that says only "lithium" is not telling you which kind.
Look for a cycle rating with an end point. "4,000 cycles to 70% capacity" is a real specification. "Long life" is not.
Check the weight. For the same capacity an LFP unit is usually heavier, so a suspiciously light older model is worth questioning.

Buying used

If you are looking at a secondhand unit, the chemistry question is really an age question. Ask for the cycle count from the app where the model supports it, and treat any pre-LFP unit as a consumable with unknown life left rather than a ten year purchase.

If you would rather not gamble, everything we list is current-generation and ships with the manufacturer's warranty behind it.