What Should I Know About Lithium iron battery Winterize?

Lithium iron battery survival throughout the cold is crucial. The issue of lithium iron phosphate batteries for winter has also been brought up more and more as we enter the winter season in the northern hemisphere. In order for you to utilize lithium iron phosphate batteries more effectively in the winter, this blog will organize some information on them.

Lithium iron battery limitations in the winter

Lithium iron phosphate batteries are unquestionably lithium batteries, and they are unable to avoid the issues that lithium batteries face during the winter. Low-temperature use of lithium batteries will result in significant capacity loss, subpar cycle rate performance, and noticeable lithium precipitation. Our lithium iron phosphate batteries’ reduced durability is the most debatable effect. The effect is particularly obvious when it comes to lithium iron phosphate batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). Typically, the inflection point for lithium iron phosphate batteries occurs at or near 0 °C. Temperature can have a big impact on how well lithium iron phosphate batteries work below 0°C. LiFePO4 cells can continue to operate at 25°C even at 0°C. The lithium iron phosphate battery’s capacity at -20 C is only around 31.5% of that at normal temperature. Lithium iron phosphate batteries are often quite sensitive to low temperatures, despite the fact that certain battery manufacturers have introduced models specifically made to withstand them.

The charging and discharging of lithium iron phosphate batteries will even have an impact on the battery’s normal condition in some reasonably extreme low-temperature settings. The viscosity of the LiFePO4 battery’s electrolyte will decrease at low temperatures, causing a reduction in electrical conductivity. Additionally, the activity of the active material will also decrease, increasing the electrolyte’s concentration difference and slowing the movement of lithium ions into the negative electrode. Precipitate. The electrode’s reaction rate slows down when the temperature drops further. End result: The lithium iron phosphate battery’s efficiency will decline, and even the battery’s original structure will be damaged.

LiFePO4 battery for winter

Lithium iron phosphate batteries can still be utilized during the winter, despite the fact that their performance will be impacted. There are specific actions you must take to ensure the safety of the batteries if you decide to store LiFePO4 batteries instead of using them.

Prior to using lithium iron phosphate batteries in the winter, make sure the charging environment is cozy. It is typically advised that you charge your lithium iron phosphate batteries in an atmosphere above 0°C since, as was already noted, lithium iron phosphate batteries are generally thought to reach a turning point at this temperature. When possible, indoor charging is frequently preferable to outdoor charging. Additionally, a battery heater can be purchased if you need to charge your battery in a sub-zero climate. This will provide a steady charge for your battery. The charging guide for LiFePO4 batteries has more information.

Lithium iron battery for winter

Lithium iron phosphate batteries are actually a better option for winter in some locations when the wintertime temperature drops below -10 °C. At too-low temperatures, lithium iron phosphate batteries can no longer be used because their performance reduces to 50% to 70% of room temperature, and at lower temperatures, the performance drop is more pronounced. After deciding to let your lithium iron phosphate battery overwinter, the first thing you should do is charge it to about 50% because lithium iron phosphate batteries self-discharge, and the monthly self-discharge rate is around 3%. 50% SOC is sufficient to winterize your LiFePO4 battery, but never let your battery be stored at 0% SOC as it will undoubtedly harm your battery. To prevent the battery from losing power, all connections and loads must be turned off after charging is finished. The surface of your battery needs to be completely cleaned next because stains and oxidation can interfere with how the battery is typically stored. The battery should then be wrapped in insulating paper and kept dry, warm, and ventilated in a warm blanket or box. It’s crucial to remember that occasionally cleaning and maintenance are needed when storing batteries. A lithium iron phosphate battery must be appropriately winterized.

Conclusion

In order to increase the longevity and usefulness of your lithium iron phosphate batteries, it is essential for everybody who owns them to learn how to properly winterize them.