Lithium-Ion batteries comprise thousands of small cells, each of which is capable of being a battery on its own. The Tesla storage system, for example, packs over 6,000 cells into a case that could fit into an average auto trunk. All batteries benefit from thoughtful care. There are things to remember about lithium-ion too when recharging.
Remember Aging Factors With Lithium-Ion Batteries
Everything ages as years pass, and that applies to batteries including those using lithium-ion chemistry. Battery scientists discriminate between two types of aging, namely:
- Cycling life, meaning the number of times a battery can charge and discharge, and still deliver useful energy.
- Battery lifespan, being the number of months and years we can expect a battery to keep powering our device.
In practice, of course, these two types of aging overlap, although a particular application may make one more relevant than the other. The environment within which a battery operates is also relevant.
Ambient temperature and humidity are among things to remember about lithium-ion chemistry, when we estimate how long a battery may be useful. After all, what really matters is how long a lithium-ion battery can retain at least 80% of its capacity.
Tips To Extend Useful Lithium-Ion Battery Life
Cycling and calendar lithium-ion battery life depend to an extent on the quality of the battery. Not all batteries are equal, and we get what we pay for. However, a leading auto maker suggests we may be able to extend battery life, when we apply the following four tips:
- Avoid your battery entering a very high, or a very low state of charge as this may damage it.
- Stay away from fast charging services that offer to recharge your battery in less than two hours.
- Take time to preheat your battery in winter to above 0°C, before connecting a charger.
- Do not allow your battery to discharge suddenly. It can overheat and enter a dangerous state.
Eventually all electric car batteries reach the end of the road, and we must remanufacture or recycle them. Let’s all hope that by then their replacement will be cheaper, and we can keep our favorite set of wheels running a while longer.
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