Is It Bad To Completely Drain A Lithium Ion Battery?
Hi there! Welcome to my blog, where I share tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your electric bike. Today I will answer a common question that many e-bike owners have: is it bad to completely drain a lithium-ion battery on an e-bike?
The short answer is yes, it is bad. The long answer is a bit more sophisticated, but I’ll try to explain it in simple terms. Lithium-ion batteries are nowadays the most common type of batteries used on electric bikes because they have many advantages over other types of batteries. They are lightweight, have a high energy density, and can be recharged hundreds of times. However, they also have some drawbacks; one is that they don’t like to be fully discharged.
Why is that? According to various sources, when you completely drain a lithium-ion battery, you cause irreversible damage to the internal structure of the battery. This can lead to reduced capacity, increased self-discharge, and even short circuits. This damage is because when the battery voltage drops below a certain level, some chemical reactions inside the battery become unstable and produce unwanted byproducts. For example, some of the copper in the anode can dissolve into the electrolyte and then form dendrites (metallic whiskers) that can pierce through the separator and cause a short circuit. Another example is that some cathode material can release oxygen gas that can escape from the battery and reduce its capacity.
So how can you avoid this problem? The best way is to prevent deep discharges and keep your battery between 40% and 70% of its full charge. This way, you can prolong the lifespan of your battery and maintain its performance. You should also avoid leaving your battery in a low charge for a long time, as this can also cause damage. You should recharge your battery immediately after each use or at least once every few weeks if you don’t use your e-bike regularly.
Of course, sometimes you may need to use your e-bike for longer distances and drain your battery more than usual. That’s okay if you don’t do it too often. A few deep discharges won’t kill your battery but will reduce its lifespan slightly. Just make sure you recharge your battery as soon as you can after a deep discharge, and don’t let it sit in a low state of charge for too long.
I hope this blog post has helped you understand why it’s bad to completely drain a lithium-ion battery on an e-bike and how to take care of your battery correctly. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them below. And if you enjoyed this post, please share it with your friends who own e-bikes or are considering getting one. Thanks for reading!
FAQs
- Can lithium batteries be fully drained?
- No, they should not. Fully draining lithium batteries can damage them and reduce their capacity and lifetime. Keeping them between 30% and 70% charge levels is better.
- What happens when you completely discharge a lithium battery?
- Some of the copper in the anode can dissolve into the electrolyte and form dendrites that can cause a short circuit inside the battery. This can make the battery unsafe and unusable.
- Can lithium-ion batteries be deep discharged?
- No, they cannot. Deep-discharging lithium-ion batteries can harm them and lower their performance. The best relative capacity is retained at around 50% charge level and low storage temperature.
- What kills lithium-ion batteries?
- Several factors can kill lithium-ion batteries, such as overcharging, overheating, overloading, physical damage, and aging. These factors can cause internal degradation, swelling, leakage, or battery explosion.
- How do you revive a fully discharged lithium-ion battery?
- Reviving a fully discharged lithium-ion battery may not be possible, as it may have suffered irreversible damage. However, some chargers have a boost function that can try to apply a low current to the battery and see if the voltage rises. If it does not, the battery is likely dead and must be replaced.