According to the researchers, these best tips to make your gadget’s battery last longer can help extend the life of lithium-ion batteries in your devices.
Researchers looked at dozens of academic documents and manufacturer’s user guides, as well as information on customer service websites, to expand the list.
“By minimizing exposure to conditions that accelerate degradation, batteries can last longer. And that has a positive impact on the environment because the production of batteries creates greenhouse gases and many other pollutants, explains lead author Greg Keoleian, director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan.
In addition, users are urged financially to avoid conditions that are adverse as the price of lithium-ion batteries may vary between 5% and 50% of the basic price of a product.
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Tips to make your Gadget’s Battery Last Longer
Many of the recommended practices related to the three main variables that affect the state of the battery: temperature, state of charge, and current.
Here are some general guidelines from researchers to maximize the life of your lithium-ion battery, as well as some manufacturer-specific recommendations:
Avoid Exposure to Extreme Temperature
Low and High when lithium-ion batteries are used or stored. High temperatures can accelerate the degradation of almost all battery components and pose significant safety risks, including the explosion of fire. If a laptop or cell phone is noticeably hot while charging, pull the power plug. Minimize exposure to low temperatures, especially when charging.
For electric vehicles, almost all manufacturers include warnings of high temperatures in their operating instructions. Some of them recommend parking in the shade and keeping the vehicle connected in hot weather so that the battery cooling system can operate when needed. It is also recommended to connect the vehicle in cold weather so that the battery heating system can be operated from the mains.
Minimize the Time the Battery Spends on 100% or 0% Charge
The extremely high and low “charge levels” charge the batteries. Use a partial charge that resets the battery to 80% SoC instead of 100%. If this is not possible, pull the plug out of the socket as soon as 100% is reached.
Samsung and LG suggest that their phones be charged when they charge 20%. Nokia and Sony report possible damage to their cell phones when the device is charged after reaching 100%.
Charge the device as soon as it has reached 100% charge level and only continue charging when the laptop has reached 95% SoC. However, many laptop manufacturers warn against leaving the computer connected after charging is complete.
You May Not want to use Fast Chargers.
The use of “quick or fast chargers” is practical, but it causes a lithium-ion battery to be damaged faster than with normal charging. Discharging a battery too quickly also worsens the battery due to many of the same mechanisms. For cell phones and laptops, reducing screen brightness, disabling location services, and deleting powerful apps can help slow down download speeds.
Some cordless power tool manufacturers advise users not to keep batteries in the charger, while others warn that the battery will not be empty. Some recommend a minimum ambient temperature of 32 F when charging the battery and a maximum of 104 degrees.
Avoid using or storing lithium-ion batteries in very humid environments and avoid mechanical damage such as breakdowns.