System and Method for Maximizing Battery Capacity while in Long Term Storage
AssigneeZero Motorcycles, Inc.
InventorsBenjamin Theodore Odegaard, Bryan Scott Cady, Nathan Glenn Knight
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
When in long term storage, battery degradation is avoided by performing battery charge cycles at a voltage level where a change in the battery's voltage divided by a change in the battery's storage capacity is at a minimum, rather than discharging the battery to its minimum storage capacity and then charging to its maximum storage capacity. Further, based on physical and practical limitations, such battery charge cycles can instead be performed within a range or delta Depth of Discharge (“DOD”) and corresponding battery voltage levels rather than at a single voltage level, while still avoiding battery degradation.
Claims22
A method of avoiding battery degradation, the method comprising:
- determining a representative discharge rate for a battery;
- determining a voltage level where a change in the battery's voltage divided by a change in the battery's storage capacity is at a minimum;
- determining a representative long term storage time period for the battery;
- determining a minimum long term storage voltage value and a maximum long term storage voltage value, each corresponding to limits of a range of Depth of Discharge (DOD) values;
- determining that the battery is in long term storage;
- measuring, by a processor, a depth of discharge of the battery;
- determining that the measured depth of discharge is at or below the minimum tong term storage voltage value;
- and,
- charging the battery to the maximum long term storage voltage value.
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A battery management system configured to avoid battery degradation, the battery management system comprising processing logic configured to:
- determine a representative discharge rate for a battery;
- determine a voltage level where a change in the battery's voltage divided by a change in the battery's storage capacity is at a minimum;
- determine a representative long term storage time period for the battery;
- determine a minimum long term storage voltage value and a maximum long term storage voltage value, each corresponding to limits of a range of Depth of Discharge (DOD) values;
- determine that the battery is in long term storage;
- measure, by a processor, a depth of discharge of the battery;
- determine that the measured depth of discharge is at or below the minimum tong term storage voltage value;
- and,
- charge the battery to the maximum long term storage voltage value.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.