Method of evaluating power storage device, evaluation jig, and method of manufacturing power storage device

A method of evaluating a power storage device comprising at least:

• preparing a power storage device, the power storage device including at least a housing and an electrode assembly, the electrode assembly being accommodated in the housing, the electrode assembly including a positive electrode and a negative electrode, at least one positive electrode and at least one negative electrode being alternately stacked to form a stack portion in the electrode assembly;
• preparing an evaluation jig, the evaluation jig including an insulating tubular member and a conductive needle-shaped member, the needle-shaped member being inserted through the tubular member, and the needle-shaped member being constructed to be movable independently of the tubular member;
• adjusting a charge level of the power storage device to produce a first potential difference between the positive electrode and the negative electrode;
• selecting the positive electrode or the negative electrode as a reference electrode;
• performing an operation to insert the evaluation jig into the power storage device such that a portion other than a tip end of the needle-shaped member and the housing are separated from each other by the tubular member;
• controlling the operation to insert the evaluation jig to stop the tubular member when the tip end of the needle-shaped member comes in contact with an electrode different from the reference electrode in the stack portion;
• causing short-circuiting through the needle-shaped member by moving the needle-shaped member independently of the tubular member after the tubular member is stopped;
• and
• evaluating the power storage device based on a state of the power storage device that is short-circuiting,
• contact between the electrode different from the reference electrode and the tip end of the needle-shaped member being detected based on variation in second potential difference between the reference electrode and the needle-shaped member, and
• occurrence of short-circuiting through the needle-shaped member being detected based on the variation in second potential difference.