Precautions when charging lithium-ion batteries
1. To extend the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries, they should be charged and discharged frequently. Develop the habit of charging electric vehicles when the battery level reaches 80%, and never wait until the battery is completely depleted. Furthermore, lithium-ion batteries should never be stored for extended periods.
2. When charging the battery of an electric vehicle, the ignition switch must be turned off, and the battery must not be inverted. It should be fully charged in one go, and should not be charged in multiple attempts.
3. Electrical appliances should not be stored in a discharged state. Therefore, batteries should be fully charged once a month when they are not in use.
4. Lithium-ion batteries require a matching charger when charging. Because the raw materials and manufacturing processes of lithium-ion batteries are different, the technical requirements for chargers are also different. Therefore, only by using a dedicated charger can the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries be extended and safety hazards be prevented.
Precautions for charging lead-acid batteries
1. Do not change the charger casually, and do not remove the speed limiter on the controller.
If a long riding distance is required for a lead-acid battery, multiple chargers can be used. Use a supplementary charger for daytime top-ups and the original charger for nighttime charging. Removing the speed limiter from the controller, while increasing the bike's speed slightly, can reduce safety and shorten battery life.
2. Protect the charger.
Most current lead-acid battery chargers lack high vibration resistance design. After vibration, the internal potentiometers in many chargers will drift, causing parameter fluctuations and resulting in abnormal charging. It's also important to ensure proper ventilation of the charger during charging; otherwise, it will affect the charger's lifespan and may also impact the charging status. All of these factors can damage the battery, making proper charger protection crucial.
3. Charge it every day.
Charging daily keeps lead-acid batteries in a cycle state, extending their lifespan. Lead-acid batteries don't have a strong memory effect, and frequent discharges significantly impact their lifespan. Many chargers only charge the battery to 97%–99% after the indicator light changes to show full charge. While charging only 1%–3% has a negligible impact on range, it contributes to undercharging. Therefore, even after the indicator light changes to show full charge, it's beneficial to continue float charging as much as possible, which also helps prevent sulfation.
