Lithium-ion batteries have become an integral part of our daily lives. From laptops and cell phones to electric vehicles and energy storage systems, Li-ion batteries power many of our most essential devices. As such, getting the most out of your Li-ion batteries is important for both financial and environmental reasons.
In this blog post, we will provide tips and best practices for prolonging the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries. Whether you want to make your electric vehicle battery last longer or prevent your laptop from experiencing reduced runtimes, this guide will help you maintain your Li-ion batteries for superior performance over time.
Avoid Full Discharges
One of the worst things you can do for any rechargeable battery is to fully discharge it on a regular basis. Deep discharges put significant strain on the battery and will shorten its lifespan.
Aim to recharge your lithium-ion batteries when they reach about a 30% state of charge. For electric vehicles, charge them whenever the state of charge falls below 50%. This avoids unnecessary full discharges that degrade the battery’s capacity and inner components over time.
Store Batteries at Moderate State of Charge
When storing lithium-ion batteries for extended periods, avoid storing them fully charged or fully depleted. Instead, aim for a state of charge of around 40%. This storage level minimizes age-related capacity loss.
For example, if you need to pack away your electric bike for the winter, give the battery a partial charge rather than a full charge. Similarly, avoid draining laptop batteries completely flat if you don’t plan on using them for several weeks or months.
Use Within Safe Voltage Ranges
While lithium-ion batteries deliver relatively steady voltages for most of their discharge cycle, very high and very low states of charge can stress battery components.
Try keeping your Li-ion batteries above 10% and below 90% state of charge whenever possible. This avoids damage from undervoltage and overvoltage conditions over time.
Additionally, refrain from using or storing Li-ion batteries outside their safe operating temperature range of 32°F to 113°F whenever possible. Extreme cold or hot temperatures accelerate age-related battery degradation.
Avoid Leaving Batteries Charging at 100%
Another culprit that reduces lithium-ion battery lifespan is keeping batteries charging at 100% state of charge for prolonged periods. This leads to accelerated losses in battery capacity over time.
As soon as your phone, laptop, or EV battery reaches full charge, unplug it if you don’t need to keep it on the charger. Letting batteries rest at 100% charge excessively strains the cell components.
Use a Battery Management System
Sophisticated battery management systems help prolong lithium-ion lifespans in several key ways. Quality BMS units protect the cells from operating outside safe voltage and temperature ranges. They also prevent both fully depleted and lengthy 100% charged states during operation or storage.
Check that Li-ion battery packs and electric vehicles that you purchase come integrated with advanced battery management systems to automatically enable these protective functions. You can also purchase standalone battery monitoring units for custom lithium battery pack installations.
Avoid Heat Exposure
Exposing lithium-ion batteries to high ambient temperatures is never a good idea. Heat accelerates age-related battery capacity losses. It also makes thermal runaway events more likely over time as cell components degrade.
Avoid leaving Li-ion batteries inside hot vehicles for extended periods whenever possible. Also, ensure proper thermal management and cooling for the batteries within EVs, energy storage systems, and other high-power battery pack setups.
Monitor for Age-Related Capacity Loss
As lithium-ion batteries go through charge and discharge cycles during normal usage, they experience gradual capacity fade over time. After several years of use, users often notice their electric vehicle no longer delivers its original maximum range or their laptops shutting down prematurely.
Keep an eye out for diminished runtimes signaling age-related capacity loss issues. When runtimes drop by 20% or more from their original capacity, it is likely time to replace aging batteries. Catching failing batteries early on helps avoid being caught without battery power when you need it most.
The Waaree Advantage: Custom Lithium-ion Solutions
Waaree is a leading energy solutions provider, delivering customized lithium-ion batteries and full systems for a range of applications. With unparalleled expertise in lithium-ion technology, Waaree’s battery solutions are engineered for longevity, safety, and performance.
Whether you need robust batteries to electrify an e-mobility fleet, require dependable off-grid solar energy storage, or want to add backup resilience with lithium batteries, Waaree delivers. Count on Waaree’s experts in lithium-ion innovation to evaluate your application, understand usage patterns and safety considerations, and engineer a custom lithium solution built to last.
Conclusion
Caring for your lithium-ion batteries goes a long way towards prolonging their lifespan and delivering reliable, long-term performance. Avoid unnecessary full discharges, temperature extremes, and prolonged stays at 100% state of charge whenever possible. Integrating batteries with monitoring and protection also safeguards your investment in Li-ion power.
Implementing lithium-ion battery best practices helps users and organizations maximize their return on investment in lithium-ion energy storage. Visit our website, waareetech.com. Waaree offers comprehensive, sustainable energy solutions under one roof. Partner with us on your exciting journey. Combining smart usage and handling rules with Waaree’s cutting-edge lithium offerings takes things to the next level for safety, longevity, and real-world value.