How to Best Store Lithium Batteries and Cells

To best store lithium batteries and cells, keep them at 60-70% of their maximum charge voltage, cover the terminals to prevent shorts, and place them in fireproof containers to avoid crushing. Store them in a dry, well-ventilated environment with a stable temperature between 40°F and 80°F, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Ensure the storage surface is stable and not prone to tipping over. For long-term storage, maintain a climate-controlled environment. These practices help prevent capacity loss, damage, and potential fire hazards, ensuring the batteries remain functional and safe.

In this article, we will delve into the best practices for safely storing lithium batteries and cells, highlighting common pitfalls and providing practical advice to ensure their longevity and safety.

What Happens If Lithium Batteries Are Improperly Stored?

If lithium-ion batteries are not stored properly, they could lose capacity, have a shortened lifespan, or even start a fire. Some best practices for storing lithium batteries run contradictory to intuition. 

For example, If you are storing batteries that you expect to be able to use later, it may make sense to store them fully charged but this is not the case. Another common battery storage mistake is storing batteries in an area that has a temperature that is just fine for them 90% of the year, the 10% of the year that it is much hotter in that room can take several years of life off of your battery. This is why it's important to know how to safely store lithium batteries and cells. 

What Are The Best Practices For Storing Lithium-Ion Batteries?

When storing lithium batteries and cells, ensuring long-term safety is critical. If an animal or other disturbance causes your storage box or rack to tip over, the resulting impact can lead to dangerous incidents and fire. 

Don’t Let Stored Lithium Ion Batteries Get Crushed!

Make sure to store your batteries in a way that prevents the possibility that they have a large amount of pressure applied to them. For example, if you are storing your batteries on a shelf, you can put them in a closed box on a shelf. That way the weight from anything that is placed on top of the box is not transmitted to the lithium batteries. 

Temperature Control Is Essential

Ensure the storage room's temperature stays within the safe range for the specific chemistry of your lithium cells. Avoid storing batteries on unstable surfaces that could fall over or become damaged easily.

How To Safely Store Lithium Batteries And Cells

Keep The Terminals Covered

When storing lithium-ion batteries and cells, make sure to cover the terminals to prevent any potential short circuits. Lithium battery packs have a very low resistance. This means that even a tiny, brief short can release a large amount of power. So, it's best to tape over the connections to ensure they don't come into contact with anything conductive.

Purpose-Built Battery Containers

There are several storage solutions on the market that take the dangers of lithium battery and cell storage into consideration. Generally, what is sought after in a battery box or bag is a fireproof rating. Because of that, there exists a wide selection of fireproof battery boxes and battery bags. 

[[ aff type=aff ~ link=https://amzn.to/3XfdlG4 ~ title=`Fire Retardant Battery Bag` ~ image=https://admin.cellsaviors.com/storage/lipo battery bag.jpg ~ description=`Fire retardant lithium battery bag capable of withstanding up to 2000°F, multiple sizes available. ` ~ height=small ~ buttonText=`Check Price`  ]]

Fire Retardant Battery Bag

Fire retardant battery bags are specially designed storage solutions to ensure the safe keeping of lithium-ion batteries and cells. These bags are made from high-quality, fire-resistant materials that can withstand extremely high temperatures, often up to 2000°F. Their primary purpose is to contain any potential fires or thermal runaway events, which can occur if a lithium battery is damaged or improperly handled.

Store Lithium Batteries And Cells In The Proper Environment

It's super important to not store lithium-ion batteries and cells on a structure that could be easily tipped over or collapse in any way. If a lithium-ion battery falls from a high distance, there is a high likelihood that the damage will ruin the cell and a medium-level chance that it will cause an internal short. 

This means that even if there is a BMS installed, it can't do anything about it. Remember a BMS will only stop a short if it is outside the battery pack, it cannot stop internal damage that is causing a short. Furthermore, if the damage is to the BMS it could cause the BMS to fail. If the damage is bad enough, the cell could overheat to the point of thermal runaway. Then, the next thing you know your house is burning down because your cat knocked a box of batteries off of a tall cabinet. To avoid this unlikely but possible scenario, it's best to know how to safely store lithium batteries and cells.

So, Should Lithium Batteries Be Stored Full Or Empty?

For optimal storage, maintain lithium batteries and cells at 40 to 60 percent of their maximum charge voltage. Storing them fully charged can cause internal damage over time. To prevent unexpected shorts, keep the terminals covered. Store the batteries and cells in a sturdy box or carton to avoid crushing.

It’s easy to assume that the best voltage to store a battery at would be fully charged. After all, you would want the battery to be fully charged when you use it again and all lithium-ion batteries have some degree of self-discharge, so why not store lithium-ion batteries fully charged? 

The reason is that the full state of charge is the most reactive state of a lithium-ion cell. That means that the processes that naturally happen inside the cell to slowly degrade it over time are happening strongest when the battery is fully charged. This is why it's important to store lithium batteries and cells at the proper voltage.

When you aren't using your lithium batteries and cells, they should be brought to around 40 to 60% of their maximum charge voltage. In the case of NMC lithium-ion, this is about 3.7V, which is also the nominal voltage. This is because the chemistry in the lithium-ion cells is more active in the higher ranges of the cell’s voltage. This causes damage to the cell and increases internal resistance over time.

How Do You Store Lithium Batteries Long Term?

Long-term is relative, but this generally means several years. If you are going to store lithium batteries and cells for several years, then a climate-controlled environment is required. The batteries need to be kept at no higher than a 60% state of charge, and they need to be stored in a container or some other apparatus that keeps them safe and separate from their surroundings. 

Common Mistakes in Lithium Battery Storage

Incorrect storage of lithium batteries can lead to various issues, from reduced battery life to severe safety hazards. One common mistake is storing batteries fully charged. Although it might seem logical to keep them at full capacity for immediate use, this practice accelerates the degradation process.

High temperatures also pose a significant risk; even if a storage area is suitable for most of the year, a few weeks of excessive heat can significantly shorten a battery's lifespan. Another frequent error is failing to cover the terminals, which can lead to dangerous short circuits. Additionally, placing batteries on unstable surfaces can result in falls and impacts, causing physical damage and potential internal shorts. These mistakes underscore the importance of understanding and following proper storage guidelines to ensure battery safety and longevity.

Lithium Ion Battery Storage Maintenance Tips

Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping stored lithium batteries in optimal condition. Periodically checking the batteries for any signs of damage, such as swelling or leakage, can help identify issues before they become severe. Implementing a first-in, first-out rotation method ensures that older batteries are used first, preventing them from degrading due to prolonged storage.

Also, continuously monitoring the storage environment, particularly temperature and humidity levels, helps maintain the conditions needed for safe and effective storage. By routinely inspecting and managing stored batteries, you can significantly extend their lifespan and ensure they remain safe and functional for future use.

Conclusion

Storing lithium batteries and cells improperly can lead to capacity loss, shortened lifespan, and even dangerous fires. To avoid these issues, it's important to know how to best store lithium batteries and cells. How to Best Store Lithium Batteries and Cells. Keep batteries at 40-60% of their maximum charge, cover terminals to prevent shorts, and store them in fireproof containers to avoid crushing. Ensure they are in a dry, well-ventilated environment with a stable temperature between 40°F and 80°F, away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Additionally, place them on a stable surface to prevent tipping.

For long-term storage, a climate-controlled environment is essential. Proper storage not only extends the lifespan of your batteries but also ensures safety, preventing potential fire hazards. By adhering to these guidelines, you can ensure that your lithium batteries remain functional and safe for future use. 

We hope this guide helps you store your lithium batteries and cells safely and effectively. Thanks for reading|!