Max Blinker Magazine 5 tips to extend the life of your Li-Ion battery
The most expensive component of e-scooters is their battery, the value of which often exceeds half the price of a new scooter. That's why it's very important that you take good care of your battery. Thanks to correct and gentle handling of the battery, you can also extend its service life by a few years. We bring you some types of basic rules on how to care for a Li-Ion battery so that it stays in good condition for years.
1. Charge the battery at room temperature
The Li-Ion batteries have been designed to work best in a standardized indoor environment with a temperature of around 20-25°C. Their use at low temperatures and temperatures below freezing reduces the usable capacity of the battery due to chemical processes that make it impossible to use all the energy obtained, up to the repeated heating of the battery. High temperatures (35°C and more) bring an increase in the volume of usable capacity of the battery; on the other hand, they significantly shorten their lifespan; especially at more than 50°C.
If you want your battery to last as long as possible and not lose its capacity, ensure its long-term use, storage and charging at room temperature. For example, if you come back home in the winter months with a scooter that has been exposed to low to freezing temperatures, first let the scooter and battery come to room temperature for a few hours. And vice versa – during the tropical summer days, let the scooter and battery cool down and only then start charging. If possible, avoid charging the battery altogether at temperatures below freezing, or at temperatures significantly exceeding 35°C. Charging at such extreme temperatures will shorten the life of your battery.
2. Do not drain the battery to zero
Regular discharge of the Li-Ion battery to zero is detrimental to it. In fact, when completely discharged, it undergoes gradual, irrefutable chemical reactions that permanently reduce its capacity. However, you will do even more damage to your battery if you discharge it to zero and at the same time leave it in this completely discharged state. Therefore, avoid regularly and completely discharging the battery and certainly do not leave it completely discharged for a long time, as this could lead to a significant, premature reduction in its capacity and problems with its repeated charging after a longer period of time.
3. Do not leave the battery charged to 100% for too long
If possible, do not leave the battery in this state for too long after charging it to 100%. In a state of complete charge, the battery is at risk of electroplating the lithium at the anode of the battery. This is especially true in the hot summer months. For example, if you come home on Friday evening with a battery discharged to 30% and you know that you won't need the scooter over the weekend, it is better to wait until late Sunday evening to charge the battery to reduce the time it takes to charge the battery to 100% with the charger connected to the scooter. If you plan to leave the scooter for a few days after it has been fully charged without riding it, it is better to complete a shorter distance with it before putting it down and thus reduce the battery charge level. If the scooter is stored for a few months for a long time, it is optimal to leave the battery only 40% charged before putting the scooter down and to easily charge it to this level once in about 8-10 weeks.
4. Optimal operating range 25%-80%
If you want your battery to last as long as possible and with the lowest possible decrease in capacity, keep its charge in a range of 25% to 80%. In the event that you have a charger that allows you to set the maximum charge, lower this maximum to 80%, which will significantly extend the life of the battery. If you have a scooter with mileage sufficient for your regular commute to and from work for a few days, don't recharge the scooter every day. It is better to charge it every second to third day when the level of charging drops to 25%. Of course, this is only true if you know that you don't have to drive anywhere that day and also the battery charge level in the morning of 50% before departure is sufficient for you. Modern Li-ion batteries do not suffer from the so-called storage effect. They don't need to be fully discharged and charged to maximum on a regular basis to get the maximum capacity. Regular, incomplete charging - e.g. from 50% to 80% - is not a problem for them and does not harm them from a long-term perspective. However, if you still feel that the battery status indicator does not show correct data over time, or that the total capacity of the battery has decreased, it is sufficient to reformat the battery from time to time by discharging it below 15% and then fully charging it to the maximum.
5. Slower charging saves battery life
Everyone likes the battery to be charged as quickly as possible. However, the truth is that charging very quickly harms the battery and shortens its lifespan from a long-term perspective. If you're not in a hurry and don't need a lightning-fast battery charge within an hour, it's better to use a slower charger that takes longer to charge the battery. This puts less strain on your battery and thanks you with an extended service life. If you have a super-fast charger, use super-fast charging only when needed. In normal circumstances, lower the charging current setting so that charging is slower. Your battery will thank you for this.
Hint
In the event that you regularly notice its distinctive heating when charging your battery, this may mean a problem with the specific charger or a poor condition of your battery, which may already be ready for replacement. In this case, we recommend that you visit the workshop and have the correct functionality of the charger and battery checked.
Summary
If you want your battery to last as long as possible and in the best possible condition, avoid extreme temperatures and very fast charging and discharging – these are the most important factors for rapid wear and tear of Li-ion batteries. If you add to this a sensible use of the scooter (rides without full load on the batteries due to maximum power of the motor, no torturing of the scooter due to frequent steep uphill drives), reduction of the full charge cycles (charging only when it is really necessary) and no discharge of the battery to zero, you can successfully extend the life of your battery by a few years.
source : 5 Tips to Extend the Life of Your Li-Ion Battery - - E-Scooter - Driving Pleasure (maxblinker.at)