This article explains the specifications you may see on battery technical specification sheets used to describe battery cells, modules, and packs.
Battery Technical Specifications
- Nominal Voltage (V) – The reported or reference voltage of the battery, also sometimes thought of as the “normal” voltage of the battery.
- Cut-off Voltage – The minimum allowable voltage. It is this voltage that generally defines the “empty” state of the battery.
- Nominal Capacity (Ah for a specific C-rate) – The coulometric capacity, the total Amp-hours available when the battery is discharged at a certain discharge current (specified as a C-rate) from 100 percent state-of-charge to the cut-off voltage. Capacity is calculated by multiplying the discharge current (in Amps) by the discharge time (in hours) and decreases with increasing C-rate.
- Nominal Energy (Wh (for a specific C-rate)) – The “energy capacity” of the battery, the total Watt-hours available when the battery is discharged at a certain discharge current (specified as a C rate) from 100 percent state-of-charge to the cut-off voltage. Energy is calculated by multiplying the discharge power (in Watts) by the discharge time (in hours). Like capacity, energy decreases with increasing C-rate.
- Cycle Life (number for a specific DOD) – The number of discharge charge cycles the battery can experience before it fails to meet specific performance criteria. Cycle life is estimated for specific charge and discharge conditions. The actual operating life of the battery is affected by the rate and depth of cycles and by other conditions such as temperature and humidity. The higher the DOD, the lower the cycle life.
- Specific Energy (Wh/kg) – The nominal battery energy per unit mass, sometimes referred to as the gravimetric energy density. Specific energy is a characteristic of the battery chemistry and packaging. Along with the energy consumption of the vehicle, it determines the battery weight required to achieve a given electric range.
- Specific Power (W/kg) – The maximum available power per unit mass. Specific power is a characteristic of the battery chemistry and packaging. It determines the battery weight required to achieve a given performance target.
- Energy Density (Wh/L) – The nominal battery energy per unit volume, sometimes referred to as the volumetric energy density. Specific energy is a characteristic of the battery chemistry and packaging. Along with the energy consumption of the vehicle, it determines the battery size required to achieve a given electric range.
- Power Density (W/L) – The maximum available power per unit volume. Specific power is a characteristic of the battery chemistry and packaging. It determines the battery size required to achieve a given performance target.
- Maximum Continuous Discharge Current – The maximum current at which the battery can be discharged continuously. This limit is usually defined by the battery manufacturer in order to prevent excessive discharge rates that would damage the battery or reduce its capacity. Along with the maximum continuous power of the motor, this defines the top sustainable speed and acceleration of the vehicle.
- Maximum 30-sec Discharge Pulse Current –The maximum current at which the battery can be discharged for pulses of up to 30 seconds. This limit is usually defined by the battery manufacturer in order to prevent excessive discharge rates that would damage the battery or reduce its capacity. Along with the peak power of the electric motor, this defines the acceleration performance (0-60 mph time) of the vehicle.
- Charge Voltage – The voltage that the battery is charged to when charged to full capacity. Charging schemes generally consist of a constant current charging until the battery voltage reaching the charge voltage, then constant voltage charging, allowing the charge current to taper until it is very small.
- Float Voltage – The voltage at which the battery is maintained after being charge to 100 percent SOC to maintain that capacity by compensating for self-discharge of the battery.
- (Recommended) Charge Current – The ideal current at which the battery is initially charged (to roughly 70 percent SOC) under constant charging scheme before transitioning into constant voltage charging.
- (Maximum) Internal Resistance – The resistance within the battery, generally different for charging and discharging.