The LFP’s big advantage—or is it?
The study tested various charging ranges—from 0%-25% to 75%-100%—and under different temperature conditions. The results? Charging to 100% regularly, especially in warmer climates, can cause LFP batteries to degrade faster. For instance, in the worst-case scenario, some cells lost up to 24% of their capacity over the equivalent of 10 years of use.
While that sounds alarming, the study also notes that the actual impact on battery life might not be as significant as it seems. Even with more frequent full charges, most users will see relatively minor degradation, especially when considering the long warranties offered by manufacturers. Tesla’s LFP batteries, for example, are expected to last hundreds of thousands of miles, with a 15-year lifespan before dropping to 85% capacity. Lähde:
batterytechonline.com
Part 3. What can you do to improve degraded LFP batteries?
While complete reversal is off the table, these methods can recover 5-15% of lost capacity:
3.1 Cell balancing
Problem: Imbalanced cells force the BMS to limit capacity to the weakest cell.
Solution: Use a balance charger to equalize voltages across cells.
Example: After balancing, a 48V LFP pack with one cell at 3.2V and others at 3.3V can regain ~7% capacity.
3.2 BMS recalibration
Problem: Aging batteries give inaccurate State of Charge (SOC) readings.
Solution: To recalibrate the BMS, perform a complete discharge-charge cycle (0% to 100%) every six months.
3.3 Temperature management
Problem: Heat accelerates degradation.
Solution: Install active cooling (e.g., fans or liquid systems) to maintain 20–25°C. A study by Battery University showed LFP cells at 25°C retained 92% capacity after 2,000 cycles vs. 78% at 40°C.
Lähde:
ufinebattery.com
