Joining the Renewable Heating Hub forums is completely free and only takes a minute. By registering you’ll be able to ask questions, join discussions, follow topics you’re interested in, bookmark useful threads and receive notifications when someone replies. Non-registered members also do not have access to our AI features. When choosing your username, please note that it cannot be changed later, so we recommend avoiding brand or product names. Before registering, please take a moment to read the Forum Rules & Terms of Use so we can keep the community helpful, respectful and informative for everyone. Thanks for joining!
Stability and safety of lithium batteries
We recently reviewed a battery-operated ride on mower, and have received a few words of warning about how unstable (and potentially dangerous) lithium batteries can be when they get cold. I always take this feedback with a pinch of salt, but I've always known that batteries don't like cold, and I was wondering what the takeaway is for homeowners with battery storage (and EVs for that matter). Do you see a massive drop off on recharges during cold weather?
I'm really interested to learn more on this.
🔥 Britain’s Heat Pump Shitshow
How Installing a Heating System Became a National Nervous Breakdown
Free UK shipping.
Rewritten and updated for 2027
📘 From Zero to Heat Pump Hero
🛠️ Bodge Buster
New to heat pumps?
Take the Heat Pump Fundamentals course and use INTRO50 at checkout for 50% off.
@editor, Lithium batteries perform less well at hot and cold extremes but I think the serious problems occur (i.e. damage) when rapid charging takes place repeatedly at very low temperatures. This isn't likely in a home battery system (because the batteries are normally indoors) or a mower (because grass doesn't grow when it's that cold!). EVs that are used all year round will suffer some range loss when it's cold and their battery management systems should slow down charging to protect the batteries.
Thanks @kev-m. So is the sole issue that they don't recharge fully or only partially, and does this lead to battery damage in the long-term? I've also heard that in some circumstances, when batteries are cold and are recharged they can ignite. I imagine this must be quite rare.
🔥 Britain’s Heat Pump Shitshow
How Installing a Heating System Became a National Nervous Breakdown
Free UK shipping.
Rewritten and updated for 2027
📘 From Zero to Heat Pump Hero
🛠️ Bodge Buster
New to heat pumps?
Take the Heat Pump Fundamentals course and use INTRO50 at checkout for 50% off.
@editor, Mars, I'm at about the limit of my knowledge here but as I understand it, they recharge fully but slower, but a full charge doesn't deliver as much energy when it's cold because the chemistry at work isn't as efficient at lower temps. So to deliver the same regular amount of energy when it's cold you'd need more charging cycles, which theoretically would wear the battery out quicker.
I'm not sure about fires but I also think they must be rare.
I personally have FePO batteries which are different to the ones you are talking about and are better suited to energy storage. FePO are more stable, but less energy dense and heavier, this is better for home storage but obviously worse for vehicles. FePO are also more stable and have longer cycle lives but much less grunt output, again great for homes bad for cars.
https://blog.epectec.com/lithium-iron-phosphate-vs-lithium-ion-differences-and-advantages
- 27 Forums
- 2,775 Topics
- 65.4 K Posts
- 3,059 Online
- 7,180 Members
Join Us!
Installer Finder
Degrees of Separation
Latest Posts
-
RE: Is it just me, or does tradesperson timekeeping and communication drive you absolutely mad?
Yes, and I would suggest likely to get worse with more ...
By Batpred , 10 hours ago
-
RE: Electricity price predictions
This topic seems more suitable for this thread... I a...
By Batpred , 10 hours ago
-
RE: Why are ASHP installs so expensive?
It is clearly difficult to say, there must be cases whe...
By Batpred , 10 hours ago
-
RE: Who's your electricity provider and what's your tariff?
Hi all, I'm new to this game having spent the last 25...
By gz00 , 11 hours ago
-
RE: Panasonic Free Multi Z and Etherea Internal units.
@dgclimatecontrol Thank you for that information and re...
By Toodles , 15 hours ago
-
RE: My Kronoterm Adapt 0312 ASHP is finally installed!
@editor It was serendipitous really. Both my wife and I...
By tomasmcguinness , 20 hours ago
-
@mrkfm, I'd also suggest that whenever you're ready, st...
By Mars , 1 day ago
-
RE: Are you planning to use a wood burner to supplement your central heating this winter?
I use my stove daily for backup and comfort. Definitely...
By Margarethomas , 2 days ago
-
@rob-of-york Thanks. I wish I'd started on this site as...
By mrkfm , 2 days ago
-
RE: Solar Power Output – Let’s Compare Generation Figures
@downfield I just checked this morning and OE just r...
By Papahuhu , 2 days ago
-
RE: Passiv Smart Thermostat - Help & Forum Support
Thanks Will. I'll probably be a week or so before get...
By Singlespeed , 2 days ago
-
RE: Cooling using an air to water heat pump
From experience this summer, a single-split A2A unit on...
By Rob of York , 3 days ago
-
Analysis of the economics of switching to an A2W ASHP compared to other heat sources
This post aims to analyse the economics of installing, ...
By Rob of York , 4 days ago
-
RE: Cooling with air to water heat pumps
@editor does that mean you have to have two separate ex...
By mrkfm , 4 days ago



