JM Lithium Battery Series 31：The Impact of Temperature on Lithium-Ion Battery Lifespan

Meta Description: Learn how temperature affects lithium-ion battery life through clear data tables and real-world insights into discharge, cycle durability, and self-discharge.

Abstract：Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are everywhere, but temperature is a hidden culprit behind their aging. This guide uses simple tables and easy-to-understand curves to show how hot and cold temps hurt battery life—whether you’re discharging, cycling, or storing them. You’ll walk away with practical takeaways for keeping your batteries running longer.

1. Introduction

Think of lithium-ion batteries like a runner—they perform best in mild weather. Too hot, and they burnout fast; too cold, and they can barely move. To show just how much temperature matters, we’re going to break down three key areas: how batteries discharge, how many cycles they last, and how they lose charge when sitting idle. Let’s start with discharge.

2. Temperature and Discharge: When Cold and Heat Kill Capacity

Take a look at how different temps affect a battery’s ability to deliver power (from the Different Temperature Discharge Curve @0.5C). We’ve summarized the key findings in a table:

In plain terms: moderate temps let the battery work at full strength. Cold locks up its “energy flow,” and heat slowly eats away at its internal parts.

3. Cycle Life: How Many Charges Until It Dies?

A battery’s cycle life is how many times you can charge and discharge it before it’s only 80% as good as new. Temperature and how deeply you discharge it (DOD) are a deadly combo, as seen in the Cycle Life Curve @1C. Here’s a snapshot:

The science is simple: every charge-discharge cycle stresses the battery. Heat turns that stress into damage, while cold causes lithium to build up on electrodes (like rust), leading to short circuits.

4. Self-Discharge: When Batteries Lose Charge While Sitting

Even when you’re not using a battery, it loses charge—this is self-discharge. The Different Temperature Self Discharge Curve shows just how fast heat makes this happen:

Why? Heat speeds up tiny chemical reactions inside the battery—think of it like leaving a phone battery in a hot car for a year. Cold slows this down, but remember: if a battery is partially charged and stored cold, it can still develop lithium “plating” issues.

5. Conclusion

Temperature isn’t just a number—it’s the secret to making your lithium-ion batteries last. Keep them in moderate temps (around 25°C) for charging, discharging, and storage. If you can’t avoid extremes, know the tradeoffs: cold kills performance fast, heat kills longevity slow. Use these tables and curves as a cheat sheet for designing better battery systems—whether you’re building an EV, a solar storage setup, or just want your phone to last longer.