How To Ruin Your Electric Car's Battery - LFP Edition!

Summary by Krater

An analysis of a recent study by Dr. Jeff Dons' lab on LFP battery degradation explains why LFP batteries lose capacity over time and establishes four best practices for longevity and state-of-charge accuracy.

From the video

Answers: What are the best practices for maximizing LFP battery life and state-of-charge accuracy?

• LFP battery chemistry
• NMC battery chemistry
• Battery degradation mechanisms
• State of charge estimation
• Battery best practices

What it concludes

• Charge LFP batteries to 100% at least once per month to maintain range accuracy and prevent state-of-charge drift.
• Store LFP batteries at lower states of charge, around 50%, for extended periods of time to minimize degradation.
• Operate LFP batteries at lower state of charge ranges when possible to reduce battery degradation.
• Only plug in and charge your LFP car when needed, avoiding unnecessary small charge cycles.
• The primary mechanism for LFP battery degradation is lithium inventory loss on the negative electrode due to solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) growth and iron dissolution and deposition during high state-of-charge cycling.