How to maintain lithium batteries for optimal performance?

Jan 15, 2025 Leave a message

Ryan Sun
Ryan Sun
As the Head of Product Innovation at Mutian Solar Energy Scientech Co., Ltd, I lead our team in developing next-generation solar power products. With a focus on efficiency and reliability, I am committed to advancing the solar energy industry.

Keeping Your Lithium Batteries Happy: A Simple Guide

Charging

1. Charging

Charging: It should be fully charged when using the product for the first time because there will be self-discharge that will reduce the power in the lithium battery and activate the active substances in it. Afterward, while using the product, charge it in time whenever the power is lower than 20% to avoid harm done to the battery life by over-discharging. Also, at any time, even if there is 50% power before charging, it is effective to charge the lithium battery.

Overcharging: Unplug the charger after charging immediately to avoid long-term overcharging.

Choose an appropriate charger: Use the original or compatible charger, and pay attention to the use of the charger to avoid using inferior charger. The current of the charger is too large, it can destroy the lithium battery protection system, will cause a short circuit, thus causing a fatal accident of the lithium battery. 

Be aware of the charging temperature: charge in The environment is not too high temperature and too low temperature environment.The best charging environment temperature is room temperature.

2. Discharging

Overdischarging: Lithium batteries are most afraid of overdischarging. The discharge power should not exceed 80% of the battery capacity. When the discharge voltage is less than a certain value, it may result in the battery being scrapped. But the mobile phone lithium battery has within it a protection circuit. So, if the voltage isn't low enough to damage the battery, then the protection circuit shall work and stop discharging.

High-power discharge should be avoided: As the discharge of the lithium battery increases, the voltage sag decreases more rapidly and reaches the cutoff voltage much earlier, but the decay rate in the final stage drops, so it is in this stage that better characteristics low-rate discharge has over high-rate discharge. Try not to discharge at high power.

Discharging
Storage

3. Storage

Best temperature: The best state for storing lithium batteries is 50% charge so that they are charged between 40% and 60% of the normal capacity. The best temperature for storage is between 4 °C and 35 °C. Avoid putting the battery in high temperatures or freezing conditions. High temperatures can affect both the production and the lifespan of lithium batteries. Charge and discharge regularly: If the battery is not going to be used for some period of time it is better to recharge and discharge it every few months. Storage conditions play an important role: lithium batteries should be stored at cool and dry places.  Also, the storage area should protect lithium batteries against impact, dropping, squeezing, or disassembly that can damage the battery's internal structure and result in compromised performance and safety.

Conclusion​
Managing temperature, charge habits and proper storage provides an opportunity to extend the life of lithium batteries by 2 to 3 years whilst maintaining over 80% of their capacity. As renewable energy continues to gain popularity, implementing battery care decision-making that will reduce e-waste and support the transition toward green energy will be increasingly important.