Asymmetric testing and deployment of storage devices

A system for testing a cell comprising:

• a charger and discharger circuit electrically connectable to the cell;
• a processor;
• a computer readable memory storing computer readable instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:
• (a) repeatedly charge and discharge the cell with a charge current and a discharge current, wherein the charge current and the discharge current have different magnitudes;
• (b) determine an equilibrium temperature that the cell reaches during step (a);
• (c) determine that the equilibrium temperature is below a maximum temperature for the cell;
• (d) record whichever of the charge current and the discharge current that has the greater magnitude as an equilibrium upper limit for the cell;
• and
• (e) record whichever of the charge current and the discharge current that has the lower magnitude as an equilibrium threshold for the cell.

An energy storage system comprising:

• a cell;
• a processor;
• a computer readable memory storing a profile for the cell, wherein the profile includes a charge-intensive profile and/or a discharge intensive profile, wherein:
• the charge-intensive profile, when included, has a charge equilibrium upper limit and a discharge equilibrium threshold that has a smaller magnitude than the charge equilibrium upper limit;
• the discharge-intensive profile, when included, has a discharge equilibrium upper limit and a charge equilibrium threshold that has a smaller magnitude than the discharge equilibrium upper limit;
• computer readable instructions stored in the computer readable memory which, when executed by the processor, cause the energy storage system to:
• operate the cell according to the charge-intensive profile by charging the cell at a current not greater in magnitude than the charge equilibrium upper limit and discharging the cell at a current not exceeding the discharge equilibrium threshold;
• or
• operate the cell according to the discharge-intensive profile by discharging the cell at a current not greater in magnitude than the discharge equilibrium upper limit and charging the cell at a current not exceeding the charge equilibrium threshold;
• or
• operate the cell according to one of the charge-intensive profile and the discharge-intensive profile for multiple charge and discharge cycles then operate the cell according to the other of the charge-intensive profile and the discharge-intensive profile for multiple further charge and discharge cycles.