The self-discharge rate of lithium batteries does not have a fixed value. It is influenced by factors such as battery type, material system, temperature, and state of charge (SOC), resulting in significant variations in self-discharge behavior across different scenarios.
1.Self-discharge rate ranges for different types of lithium batteries
01.Lithium-ion battery
At room temperature (25°C) and fully charged: The monthly self-discharge rate typically ranges between 2% and 8%.
Ternary lithium batteries: Monthly self-discharge rate of approximately 2%–5%, offering more stable performance;
Lithium iron phosphate batteries: Monthly self-discharge rate of approximately 3%–8%, slightly higher than ternary lithium batteries, with self-discharge significantly increasing at low temperatures;
Lithium cobalt oxide batteries: Monthly self-discharge rate of approximately 3%–6%, commonly found in mobile phone and laptop batteries.
02.Lithium Polymer Battery (Soft-Pack)
Similar to lithium-ion batteries within the same system, the monthly self-discharge rate ranges from 2% to 7%. Due to a more compact packaging process, the self-discharge rate is slightly lower than that of cylindrical lithium-ion batteries.
03.Lithium primary battery
Extremely low self-discharge rate, with an annual self-discharge rate below 1%, making it suitable for low-power devices requiring long-term storage (such as IoT sensors and smart meters).
2.Key Factors Affecting Self-Discharge Rate
01.State of Charge (SOC)
The higher the battery charge level, the faster the self-discharge rate. Maintaining the SOC within the optimal storage range of 40% to 60% can reduce the self-discharge rate by 30% to 50%.
02.Battery Degradation Level
Aged batteries (with high cycle counts) experience intensified internal side reactions, resulting in self-discharge rates exceeding 50% compared to new batteries.
03.Production Process
The purity of electrode materials, electrolyte formulation, and separator performance all influence internal leakage current. The more advanced the manufacturing process, the lower the self-discharge rate.
3.Reference Standards in Industry Applications
Consumer Electronics Batteries: Requires a monthly self-discharge rate at room temperature ≤5% to ensure sufficient charge retention after prolonged inactivity;
Power Batteries (Electric Vehicles): System-level monthly self-discharge rate ≤3% (including BMS power consumption), accounting for both the battery's inherent self-discharge and the static power consumption of the management system;
Energy Storage Batteries: Stricter self-discharge rate requirements apply. For lithium iron phosphate energy storage batteries, the monthly self-discharge rate at room temperature must be controlled at ≤2% to minimize energy loss in the storage system.
Post time: Jan-28-2026