When you invest in lithium-ion batteries, you’re investing in batteries that last 10 times longer than lead-acid batteries. You want the battery life to be as long as possible to get the highest return on your lithium investment. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to ensure your rechargeable lithium-ion battery gets maximum battery life. Learn our top three tips for extending lithium-ion battery life.

Charge your lithium-ion battery with right actions

One of the main benefits lithium ion batteries offer is quick charging, but to get the most out of the battery, make sure it’s charged in the right way. Charging at the appropriate voltage ensures optimal 12V battery life. 14.6V is the best practice charging voltage, while ensuring the number of amperes is within the specification range of each battery pack. Most available AGM chargers charge between 14.4V and 14.8V, which is acceptable.

Be careful to deposit

For any device, proper storage has an important impact on battery life. Avoiding extreme temperatures is critical to battery life. When storing lithium-ion batteries, comply with the recommended storage temperature of 20 °C (68 °F). Improper storage may lead to component damage and shortened battery life.

When lithium-ion batteries are not in use, please store them in a dry place with a discharge depth (DOD) of about 50% of the energy used by the battery, that is, about 13.2V.

Don’t ignore the discharge depth

You may want to let the device use up all of its power before charging the battery. But, realistically, your lithium-ion battery is best avoided deep DOD in order to preserve its useful life. You can extend the life cycle by limiting your DOD to 80% (12.6 OCV).

When you’re investing in lithium-ion batteries rather than lead-acid batteries, it’s important to keep your batteries healthy through diligent maintenance. Taking these steps to protect your battery will not only give you value for money, but will also allow your apps to run longer on greener power.