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For those that are new to Lithium technology its important to know how to increase the life span of your expensive lithium batteries.
Lithium batteries like to be kept at the 50% SOC charge levels. As a result, the best use case would be to utilize your batteries at around the 80% to 20% SOC range. Some will find this to be a bit of an inconvenience and may adjust the range of their batteries and that's fine, but your cycle life will be shortened. As an example, if you are allowing the battery to completely discharge and allow the BMS to shut the battery down, this may prevent unrecoverable damage but you would still be significantly shortening the life of the battery. Over time, this would result in dendrite formation in the cells.
As with most electronics, heat kills and lithium batteries are no exception. To charge in high heat will also shorten the life of a lithium battery as well as at high C ratings. So to charge at 0.5C or lower will also increase the life span of your expensive investment. This also applies to discharging. I like to say, lithium batteries will live the longest if kept at temperatures we ourselves find comfortable.
For those will solar systems, its best to store your system at 50% SOC. After a trip, charge or discharge your batteries to 50% SOC and shut the solar system down. You will be amazed at how long your batteries will sit at 50% SOC. With all power disconnected ( I leave my BMV712 turned on) this charge level will last well beyond winter storage as an example.
Having worked for years off and on with hybrid vehicle applications, and with several battery types has helped me to understand how to extend the life span of my lithium battery. I hope this helps you as well.
Jim
Lithium batteries like to be kept at the 50% SOC charge levels. As a result, the best use case would be to utilize your batteries at around the 80% to 20% SOC range. Some will find this to be a bit of an inconvenience and may adjust the range of their batteries and that's fine, but your cycle life will be shortened. As an example, if you are allowing the battery to completely discharge and allow the BMS to shut the battery down, this may prevent unrecoverable damage but you would still be significantly shortening the life of the battery. Over time, this would result in dendrite formation in the cells.
As with most electronics, heat kills and lithium batteries are no exception. To charge in high heat will also shorten the life of a lithium battery as well as at high C ratings. So to charge at 0.5C or lower will also increase the life span of your expensive investment. This also applies to discharging. I like to say, lithium batteries will live the longest if kept at temperatures we ourselves find comfortable.
For those will solar systems, its best to store your system at 50% SOC. After a trip, charge or discharge your batteries to 50% SOC and shut the solar system down. You will be amazed at how long your batteries will sit at 50% SOC. With all power disconnected ( I leave my BMV712 turned on) this charge level will last well beyond winter storage as an example.
Having worked for years off and on with hybrid vehicle applications, and with several battery types has helped me to understand how to extend the life span of my lithium battery. I hope this helps you as well.
Jim
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