Commuting - How does cold affect Lithium Ion Batteries

All:

I have heard that cold (32f & below) can affect the run time of lithium ion based batteries.

Does anyone have any studies or white papers on this subject?

Thanks.

Specific answers really depend upon the particular battery.

http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2005_03/pr2901.htm

http://www.cap-xx.com/resources/app_briefs/ab1004.pdf

http://www.urbanfox.tv/articles/batteries/b1batteries.html


This is the really good stuff.

OK

http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/E92.pdf

http://data.energizer.com/PDFs/l91.pdf

I am thinking of replacing my Light & Motion NimH with a Lithium-Ion battery for longer run times. I head that Lithium-Ion batteries do not like the cold.

Read my post. LiIon do much better than NiMH in the cold.

My L&M Li-ion has run down to -20*f with no problems.

My L&M Li-ion has run down to -20*f with no problems.

I don't think my house has ever been down to -20f !! :) There would be some problems.

Yeah, it's a bummer. When I bought my HID parts, the stuff I had read indicated the LiIon was useless in the cold, and NiMH worked better, so I went with NiMH though I'd have preferred LiIon due to lower weight. I'm not a weight weenie but if 2 things are the same cost and the one that's 2 pounds lighter works better, it's a no-brainer.
Ah well, I'm stuck with it for a few years until the battery craps out.

But FWIW, My NiMH has performed totally fine down to -5*F which is as cold as I've seen since I got it. I do charge it more when it's cold, and I bring it inside, and I don't really keep track of runtime; I have nominal 3.5 hours, but my commute is 45 minutes, I only usually use the light on the way in, and I charge "when I think of it" which is usually every 3 to 4 days, so I'm pushing it sometimes. When it's really cold I try to remember to charge every other day. Besides on those days sometimes I'm running the rear strobe in the afternoon, which draws a lot less but it does take the battery down a bit.

I don't think my house has ever been down to -20f !! :) There would be some problems.

I actually use it on a bicycle outdoors.

I actually use it on a bicycle outdoors.

I get it.:)

I have experienced -30 in another place. The lead acid battery in my car was not working very well. But it worked just good enough. I should have used a 110v battery warmer.

Thanks for the feedback and advice