In the case of lithium-ion batteries that need to be stored for a long time and not used, they must be kept in a 50-60% state of charge. The following guide is based on batteries that are kept at the right temperature and humidity and in the correct state of charge. Under these conditions, standard lithium batteries can have a lifespan of up to ten years. Lithium-based military and medical batteries can have a lifespan of up to twenty years or more.
The optimal storage temperature for lithium-ion batteries is 10 °C (50 °F). The higher the temperature at which the lithium-ion battery is stored, the faster it will self-discharge. When you are not using your lithium-ion batteries, store them in a state of charge (SoC) of between 40% and 50%. And keep in mind that lithium-ion batteries should never be stored fully charged or discharged.
On the one hand, lithium-ion batteries will gradually self-discharge and will lose much of their lifespan if they are fully charged all the time. On the other hand, storing lithium-ion batteries fully discharged will damage the battery cell. If the lithium or lithium-ion battery is exposed to environments with high humidity, the performance and life of the lithium-ion batteries will be reduced. The scope of the effect can refer to the following relationship between the storage temperature of lithium batteries and the rate of permanent capacity loss.
If you don't pay attention to how batteries are stored in the short or long term, it can cause them to overheat and cause a sensation known as thermal leak. Lithium-ion batteries have many advantages, such as high voltage, high compactness, high energy density, and long lifespan, to name just a few. It is recommended to use a battery protector to protect LiFePO4 batteries if you store them together with the entire system. However, it is essential that people know how to store them correctly so that their performance can be optimized for many years to come.
One thing to keep in mind is that the low self-discharge rate of LiFePO4 batteries is 2% per month, which means that a lithium battery will lose 2% of its charging capacity every month during storage time. It is forbidden to store it in places with strong static electricity and strong magnetic fields; otherwise, it will easily destroy the battery's safety protection device and lead to hidden unsafe dangers. Use a normal compatible lithium battery charger to charge the battery, do not use substandard or other battery chargers to charge the lithium battery. During the winter, I recommend storing lithium-ion batteries at 50% charge in an environment above freezing.
If you are going to store lithium batteries, charge them to 50% and make sure that they maintain their charge every two or three months. LiFePO4 lithium-ion batteries for golf carts require little maintenance, RV & for many other applications. My motorhome was “solar-ready”, but I had to add several components to complete the system, including two OWL batteries. You should also keep in mind that lithium-ion batteries can be damaged if you overcharge them for too long.
Is it OK to charge the lithium-ion battery to 100% for maximum use on a fishing trip where I don't have access to recharge it until I return? You must recharge it every 1 month to prevent the lithium battery from discharging naturally and going into deep discharge mode (charging less than 20%), which will affect the life of the lithium battery.
