A recent thread by World of Engineering on Twitter provides a lot of good basic advice for anyone with a lithium-ion battery (or a few hundred/thousands). Sharing this information regularly is a good idea because many people don’t know that lithium batteries require any maintenance.
Everything you need to know about Lithium-ion batteries
As an electric car owner, laptop and smartphone user, you have a choice of how to extend battery life.
Many readers may already know about all of this, but I’ve seen in many internet forums, Facebook groups, and Twitter conversations that people are skeptical and even hostile to advice on this topic. “You know better than the engineers?” they asked. The counter-argument that goes for battery maintenance is that designers of laptops, solar generators, and electric cars have to take it all into account, and owners don’t have to do anything.
While it’s true that designers and engineers did consider battery safety and lifespan, that doesn’t mean you, as owner and user/driver, can’t do something to make it last longer.
With that said, let’s take a look at the thread. I’ll add some additional explanation and information along the way.
The important thing to note here is that lithium-ion batteries unlike older rechargeable battery designs have “memory” issues. It’s fine to run it only partially and then refill it. In fact, the less you take it out, the more recharge cycles you’ll get. Keep that in mind for the next section.
Specifically, what they’re talking about here is how much battery you’re using between recharges. If you always charge it fully, then run it to death (100% depth of discharge, or DoD), you’ll get a lot less battery life than if you used only half of the battery or even less. .
The relationship between the depth of discharge and the life cycle is also not linear. Being a little more conservative with battery usage can result in huge gains in battery longevity. So if you’re one of those EV drivers who only plugs in their car once a week or two and then fills it up full like you would with a gas car at a gas station, you’re not going to get that much. life outside the car as someone who plugs it in every night.
But, there’s more to it than how much you use.
How fully you charge your battery is another very important factor in how long your battery will last. The voltage figures above may not be very relevant to readers who don’t make their own batteries, so I’ll explain them further.
A laptop computer may only have a few cells, and they are connected together to add voltage up to whatever voltage the computer needs to run. Larger devices such as electric bicycles, solar generators, and environmental EVs have higher voltages using more cable cells to add to that voltage. Full-sized electric vehicles typically have 400-volt or 800-volt battery packs, again put together by connecting the individual cells described above to get that high-voltage power.
So, it is best to translate those numbers into percentages. Good manufacturers will not allow cells to charge to 4.2 volts or higher. They usually program in a “buffer” which means you never get a true 100% charge, for battery life. However, they have to balance this with the cost and how much energy storage customers can use for what they pay. So charging up to what the manufacturer allows you to charge is still more dangerous than charging it to 80-90%.
This brings the individual cell voltage closer to that 3.92 volts (depending on the particular battery cell, of course).
Most EVs have some way for you to limit how high they cost. If you can, it’s best to set it to 80% on regular days if possible, and only charge up to 100% on days where you really need all of that range. Then, add that you don’t want too much depth of discharge, so try never to drop below 10-20% unless you really need to do it to reach your goal.
As many of us probably already know, temperature is another important factor in battery longevity.
For laptops, power generators, e-bikes, scooters, and other items you can store indoors, it’s best not to let them get too hot or too cold. Keeping portable devices at room temperature in your home is best. Leaving it in a hot car, or leaving the battery in the e-bike outside is a bad idea from a battery life perspective.
For EVs, you should buy an EV with an active cooling system, usually liquid cooling. This really helps the battery last. If you want or need to buy an EV without liquid cooling (Nissan LEAF is the most common one), stay in a cool climate and/or keep it in the garage. Even with liquid-cooled and/or cooled batteries, you will also need to keep the car plugged in in some cases to keep the cooling system running.
Let’s apply all of this to the EV. In short:
Contents
Try to stay as close to 50-60% as you can.
Drive between 40% and 70%, or 20% and 80%. You won’t turn off your battery if you hit 0% or 100% once in a while, but keeping the battery there for long periods of time is pretty bad for that. You have to strike a balance here between longevity and making the car or device fit your needs.
Sure, you can store an EV at a cost of 60% in refrigerated storage for a decade and never drive it, but what’s the point? It really comes down to doing the best you can.
Keep the car plugged in and in as cool a place as you can when parked.
Plugged in, charges only up to 80%, and in an air-conditioned garage is ideal, but not always possible. Sitting at 50% in the shade in the parking lot at work is better than sitting 100% in the Phoenix sun all day every day. Again, do what works best for your needs.
Take it easy on the battery pack (avoid high charge and discharge).
As with any vehicle, hitting the accelerator every time you take off from the lights is going to be harder on the battery than hypermiling. No one can hypermile all the time, and few will. So, just try to relax and drive normally. The same goes for regenerative braking (don’t do everything right before stopping), and DC fast charging (don’t use DCFC unless you need to do it to get somewhere).
Don’t take any of this too far.
You buy whatever device or vehicle you own to do something with it, and maybe even have fun. So don’t let battery car suggestions keep you from getting things done or having fun.
Need to drive a Nissan LEAF in hot weather? Do.
Want to step on the skinny pedal and have some fun here and there? Go for it!
Need to charge it to 100% to get it somewhere? Don’t let yourself be stranded!
All of these battery tips should be used when you can adapt them to your life. Making an EV battery last 50 years probably won’t do you much good, because in 2072, EVs will be much better off than they are today. The same may be true for 2032. So do what you can when you can to get a few more miles or years out of your car, but don’t overdo it.
Featured Image: A prototype battery pack for the upcoming Aptera. Image provided by Aptera.
Appreciate CleanTechnica originality and cleantech news coverage? Consider becoming a CleanTechnica Member, Supporter, Technician or Ambassador — or a patron on Patreon.
Don’t want to miss the cleantech story? Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica by email. Or follow us on Google News!
Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest guests for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.
What kills lithium-ion batteries?
Lithium-ion suffers from stress when exposed to heat, so does keeping cells at high charge voltages. Batteries above 30°C (86°F) are considered high temperatures and for most Li-ion, voltages above 4.10V/cell are considered high voltages.
What can damage a lithium battery? Damage to lithium-ion batteries can occur when the battery itself or the environment around the battery is below freezing (32°F) during charging. Charging at temperatures below freezing can cause a permanent build-up of metallic lithium (i.e., plating) on the anode, increasing the risk of failure.
What shortens the life of a lithium-ion battery?
High charge and discharge current reduces cycle life. Some chemistry is more suitable for higher currents such as Li-ion manganese and Li-ion phosphate. High current puts excessive stress on the battery. A very deep discharge will quickly permanently damage the Li-ion battery.
What affects lithium ion battery life?
The degree of degradation is affected by several factors including temperature, charge and discharge voltage, current, and battery charge or discharge rate. Understanding these factors can largely help reduce the rate of battery failure and allow the battery to better serve its purpose.
What causes lithium batteries to degrade?
LiB lifetime, in fact, decreases at high temperatures. This is because the electrolyte that is between the electrodes breaks down at high temperatures, causing the battery to lose its capacity to switch back and forth Li-ion.
Do lithium batteries degrade over time if not used?
And the battery drops even if you don’t use it. According to battery testing company Cadex Electronics, a fully charged lithium-ion battery will lose about 20 percent of its capacity after a year of regular storage.
What kills a lithium battery?
High temperatures and high currents also affect the life cycle. * 100% DoD is full cycle; 10% is very short. Cycling in the middle of charging conditions will have the best longevity. Lithium-ion suffers from stress when exposed to heat, so does keeping cells at high charge voltages.
Can you destroy a lithium battery?
Throwing lithium batteries in the trash can leak toxic chemicals and even become a fire hazard. What you can do is check if there are internal hazardous waste guidelines. While waiting for proper disposal, be sure to place the damaged battery in a non-combustible material.
What causes lithium batteries to wear out?
This is often lost through side reactions that occur with the electrolyte to form compounds that ‘trap’ the free lithium, reducing the number of Li ions that can move between the electrodes. The loss of cellular ions reduces the maximum capacity a battery can achieve.
What causes lithium-ion batteries to fail?
LiB is sensitive to high charge (fast charging), operating temperature that is too high or too low, and mechanical abuse which ultimately leads to capacity fading, short circuiting, and thermal runaway hazards [3,5,6,7,8,9 ]. Repeated fast charging can accelerate battery aging, resulting in shorter battery life.
What is the leading cause of lithium-ion battery failure?
While lithium-ion batteries have built-in protection to stop them from overcharging, using unauthorized chargers can damage the battery in the long run. Apart from manufacturing defects, using low-quality components is one of the highest causes of battery failure.
How do you fix a lithium-ion battery that won’t hold a charge?
Another way to reset a lithium-ion battery is to completely discharge it and then charge it back to full capacity. This can be done by using the device until it turns off, or by plugging it into a power source and letting it run until the battery is completely discharged. Once the battery is empty, recharge it to 100%.
Why do lithium batteries stop working?
High temperature or low temperature can kill lithium battery. The effect of decreasing temperature is the reduction of the transformation of the active chemical in the cell. This then brings about a decrease in the current holding capacity of the cell for both charging and discharging.
Is it bad to overcharge lithium-ion batteries?
In lithium-ion batteries, overcharging can create unstable conditions within the battery, increase pressure, and cause thermal runaway. Lithium-ion battery packs are required to have a protection circuit to prevent excessive pressure build-up and cut off the flow of ions when the temperature is too high.
Can you recharge a rechargeable lithium battery? Do not exaggerate. Overcharging occurs when a device or battery is plugged into a charger after it is fully charged and can reduce battery life. Battery University recommends that nickel and lithium-based batteries be stored at 40 percent charge.
Is it bad to charge a lithium-ion battery to 100?
Li-ion does not need to be fully charged as is the case with lead acid, nor is it desirable to do so. In fact, it is better not to fully charge as high voltage stresses the battery.
Is the 40 80 battery rule real?
This rule prohibits charging your battery to 100%, and you shouldn’t let it dry to zero percent before you recharge it. Lithium batteries primarily used in laptops perform best between 40 percent and 80 percent.
Is it OK to leave a lithium-ion battery on the charger overnight?
Today, we want to answer a common question we get asked, ‘Is it okay to leave lithium ion batteries in the charger’? Armed with this knowledge, it becomes clear that if the correct voltage limit is set for the lithium ion battery you charge, there should be no problem leaving the lithium ion battery in the charger.
What is the best percentage to charge a lithium-ion battery?
Not letting it turn off completely will extend battery life. If you are preparing to store your battery for a period of time, make sure you do it at half charge. Unlike other types of batteries that need to be recharged during their storage time, lithium batteries perform better at 40%-50% DOD (discharge depth).
Should you leave lithium batteries on the charger?
Today, we want to answer a common question we get asked, ‘Is it okay to leave lithium ion batteries in the charger’? Armed with this knowledge, it becomes clear that if the correct voltage limit is set for the lithium ion battery you charge, there should be no problem leaving the lithium ion battery in the charger.
Can you overcharge a lithium battery?
Overcharging a lithium battery causes permanent damage to cell components and can cause serious safety problems. 1 Overcharging of one or more cells in a high-voltage multicell stack of the type required for vehicle traction can render the entire stack inoperative.
Should I leave batteries on charger?
Leaving the battery charged You can leave the battery/radio in the charger after charging is complete. Leaving the battery in the charger will not overcharge or damage it. You can remove the battery/radio from the charger at any time without damaging the battery, radio or charger.
What is the best way to charge lithium-ion batteries?
A Simple Guide to Charging Lithium-Based Batteries
- Turn off the device or disconnect the load while charging to allow the current to drop unimpeded during saturation. …
- Charge at medium temperature. …
- Lithium-ion does not need to be fully charged; partial load is better.
How many times can a lithium-ion battery be recharged?
Lithium batteries have no limit on the number of times they can be recharged. Regular manufacturers can charge and discharge the battery at least 500 times, and the capacity is maintained at more than 80% of the initial capacity. If charged and discharged once a day, the battery can be used for two years.
How many times can a rechargeable battery be recharged? The rechargeable battery can be recharged and reused from 500 to 1000 times depending on usage. Different battery technologies affect battery performance.
Can you continuously charge a lithium-ion battery?
Li-ion cannot absorb overcharge. When fully charged, the charging current must be cut off. Continuous drip charge will cause metal lithium plating and jeopardize safety. To minimize stress, keep lithium-ion batteries at peak limits as short as possible.
How long can a lithium battery be charged?
Lithium-ion batteries In fact, partial charging is safer and can extend the overall life of lithium-ion batteries. A typical charge or usage cycle for a lithium-ion battery is 8 hours of use, 1 hour of charging and another 8 hours of use. No cooling period is required.
Can you damage a lithium battery by overcharging?
Overcharging a lithium battery causes permanent damage to cell components and can cause serious safety problems. 1 Overcharging of one or more cells in a high-voltage multicell stack of the type required for vehicle traction can render the entire stack inoperative.
Can you leave a lithium-ion battery charging all the time?
Lithium-ion batteries can be used up to 20% of their remaining capacity. Unlike lead acid batteries, they won’t damage the battery to take advantage of charging opportunities, meaning users can plug in the battery during lunch breaks to charge and finish their shift without the battery getting too low.
How many times can you recharge 18650 batteries?
Most 18650 cells are rated between 300 and 500 cycles. That means your cell can charge up to 4.2 volts, and discharge up to 2.5 – 2.8 volts, 300 to 500 times maximum without too much loss in performance. As the 18650 cell nears the end of its life, the decline in performance occurs suddenly and rapidly.
When should I charge my 18650?
It’s best to recharge at 3.6 volts, they have no capacity left, and you can damage the cell if you discharge up to 3.5 volts. going to 3.5 volts will damage the cell.
Do lithium-ion batteries need to be fully discharged before charging?
Battery experts suggest that after 30 charges, you should allow the lithium-ion battery to run low completely. Continuous partial discharge creates a condition called digital memory, reducing the accuracy of the device’s power meter. So let the battery drain to the cut-off point and then recharge it.
How many hours does a 18650 battery last?
In other words, the average uptime of your 18650 battery depends on the voltage of your vape and the frequency of use. The new batteries provide between 10 and 13 hours of vaping, but they will lose some working time over time.
How can I make my lithium-ion battery last longer?
Minimize the amount of time the battery spends at 100% or 0% charge. Very high and low ‘charge state’ stress battery. Consider using a partial charge that returns the battery to 80% of the SoC instead of 100%. If that is not possible, unplug the device as soon as it reaches 100%.
Is it OK to leave a lithium-ion battery on the charger overnight?
There’s nothing dangerous about having your phone charged overnight, and modern phones and laptops include mechanisms to minimize battery load if your device is plugged in all the time.
How do I keep my lithium battery healthy?
Storage
- Charge or discharge the battery to approximately 50% of capacity before storing.
- Charge the battery to about 50% of capacity at least once every six months.
- Remove the battery and store it separately from the product.
- Store the battery at a temperature between 5 °C and 20 °C (41 °F and 68 °F).
How long should a lithium-ion battery last?
The approximate lifetime of a Lithium-Ion battery is usually around two to three years or 300 to 500 charge cycles, whichever occurs first. One charge cycle is the period of use from fully charged, to fully charged, and fully charged again.
Do lithium batteries degrade if not used?
And the battery drops even if you don’t use it. According to battery testing company Cadex Electronics, a fully charged lithium-ion battery will lose about 20 percent of its capacity after a year of regular storage.
Comments are closed.