Most tech enthusiasts will know that Li-ion batteries in your phones, laptops, tablets, and watches can have a longer life cycle if they’re not always charged to 100%. If you didn’t know this, it’s true, and it’s not a myth. Let’s delve into why today.
When a Li-ion battery is recharged, from an external power source, it forces Lithium ions to move from positive to negative terminals through the electrolyte, when discharged the reverse happens and power is delivered to the load. During the discharge process, all the Lithium ions don’t reach back to the positive terminal and with repeated usage, it forms a layer of Li atoms on the negative terminal(reducing efficiency for the next cycle). Another key thing is the depth of Discharge(DoD) of Li-ion batteries. Here’s where Depth of Discharge (DoD) comes in. DoD is the percentage of battery capacity that’s been used up. For instance, a 60% DoD means 60% of the battery power has been discharged.

The larger the DoD value, more the deposition of Li atoms on the terminal and the thicker it becomes in further discharge cycles. This is what is causing the drop in battery capacity over multiple cycles. It can reduce the overall lifetime to say around 500 charge cycles before overall capacity drastically drops.
To increase your battery’s lifespan, you need to reduce the DoD, meaning limit the level to which a battery discharges and also the maximum level to which it can be charged. A 60% DoD can potentially triple your battery recharge lifetime cycles(Check the table). However, this means power output in a single cycle is smaller. So, if possible, keep your devices at 60-80% max capacity and charge only when it’s below 20%. It’s a small change that can make a big difference to your battery’s lifespan!
BTW, If you’re keen on diving deeper into batteries and related topics, drop comments or DM! I’m considering creating a detailed BackToBasics series if there is enough interest, but it’ll take some time.
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