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Welcome To Evlithium Best Store For Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4) Battery |
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Winterizing LiFePO4 batteries is crucial, especially as the northern hemisphere enters winter. This guide provides essential information to help you maintain and effectively use your LiFePO4 batteries during the colder months.
LiFePO4 batteries, like all lithium batteries, face challenges in low temperatures, leading to serious capacity degradation, poor cycle rate performance, and lithium plating. The most noticeable effect is reduced battery life. For electric vehicles (EVs), this impact is more pronounced. LiFePO4 batteries typically start to experience performance issues around 0°C. At this temperature, their performance begins to decline sharply. For instance, at 0°C, they maintain their capacity relatively well, but at -20°C, their capacity drops to about 31.5% of what it is at room temperature (25°C). While some manufacturers have developed LiFePO4 batteries for low temperatures, these batteries are still significantly affected by the cold.
In extreme cold, charging and discharging LiFePO4 batteries can disrupt their normal function. Low temperatures increase the electrolyte's viscosity, reducing conductivity and active material activity. This causes a greater concentration difference in the electrolyte and slows lithium ion diffusion, leading to lithium plating. As the temperature drops further, the electrode reaction rate decreases, reducing battery efficiency and potentially damaging the battery's structure.
Despite winter challenges, you can still use LiFePO4 batteries with proper precautions. If you plan to store them instead of using them, follow these steps to ensure safe storage:
1. Charge in a Comfortable Environment:** Charge your LiFePO4 batteries in environments above 0°C. Indoor charging is preferable to outdoor charging. If you must charge in sub-zero temperatures, consider using a battery heater for smooth charging.
2. Storage Preparation: In regions where temperatures drop below -10°C, storing LiFePO4 batteries is a better option. Charge the battery to about 50% to account for the self-discharge rate (approximately 3% per month). Avoid storing the battery at 0% SOC to prevent damage. Disconnect all connections and loads to prevent power loss.
3. Cleaning and Insulation: Clean the battery surface thoroughly to remove stains and oxidation, which can affect storage. Wrap the battery in insulating paper and store it in a room-temperature, ventilated, and dry environment, possibly with a warm blanket or box.
4. Regular Maintenance: Periodically inspect and maintain the battery during storage. Proper winterization ensures the battery remains in good condition.
It's important to note that the connection of the Battery Management System (BMS) does not affect storage. As temperatures rise, the capacity of properly stored LiFePO4 batteries will gradually recover.
Learning how to winterize LiFePO4 batteries correctly is essential for those who own them. Proper winterization extends battery life and ensures they continue to perform well in the future.
Edit by paco