5 Ways to Extend the Life of a Lithium-Ion Battery

 

A durable and reliable battery is a must for every camper, especially when you love to go off-grid with your RV. The lithium-ion RV battery is often the best choice to ensure worry-free camping and travel. It helps limit your generator’s runtime while minimizing charging time and providing other benefits like weight savings, less maintenance, and higher energy density. So, you will want to take measures to extend its lifespan to ensure it can keep up with your adventures and lifestyle. Here are five ways to do that:

 

Invest in the best lithium-ion battery

Firstly, choose the best lithium-ion technology for a good start. Consider lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4), which has excellent chemical and thermal stability. It can stay cool in high temperatures and is incombustible in case of mishandling during rapid discharges or discharges or when short-circuiting occurs.

 

Use appropriate technologies with it.

Pair your lithium-ion RV battery with an appropriate solar charger controller equipment or inverter/charger to maximize its lifespan and charge efficiency. You can also invest in a smart battery management system that can help you track the usage and health of the battery. It will alert you when the battery is running low on charge, in case you forgot to check, and it tracks the temperatures of the cells and other battery metrics to ensure safe operating and charging ranges.

 

Avoid overcharging

A lithium battery has a built-in battery management system (BMS) that protects it against overcharging, short-circuiting, and over-discharging. However, that doesn’t mean you should be careless and let it charge for too long, so you can prolong its lifespan and maximize its performance.

 

Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures.

A lithium-ion RV battery may be built tough and not need maintenance, such as a cooling-down period. However, it will still be vulnerable to damage if charged or stored at improper temperatures. Follow the manufacturer's specifications. In most cases, it’s safe to discharge between -40 degrees and 131 degrees Fahrenheit and charge between 32 degrees and 113 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

Ensure proper storage

When not in use, store the lithium-ion RV battery with around 40 to 50 percent state of charge and in a cool, dry place. Batteries can discharge when idle, so check every few months to ensure the state of charge does not go below 20 percent.