System and method for detecting voltage suppression in a battery power source

An apparatus comprising:

• one or more computer readable storage media;
• program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media, the program instructions executable by a processing system to direct the processing system to:
• change a state of charge of the power source during one of a plurality of charge cycles and a plurality of discharge cycles;
• measure the state of charge of the power source in each of the one of the plurality of charge cycles and the plurality of discharge cycles;
• determine an overpotential value based on the measured state of charge;
• compare the determined overpotential value with one or more previously determined overpotential values;
• and
• identify an indication of possible thermal runaway in the power source based on the comparison.

A system comprising:

• a DC power source;
• a power supply;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• cause the power supply to charge the DC power source during each of a plurality of charge cycles;
• determine an overpotential value for each of the plurality of charge cycles;
• compare the overpotential value with one or more historical overpotential values;
• and
• identify an indication of possible thermal runaway in the DC power source in response to an indication of a downward trend of the overpotential value in relation to the one or more historical overpotential values.