Battery Care & StorageUpdated 3 days ago
Battery Care and Storage
It is important to understand the environmental factors that affect Lithium-Ion batteries as well as how to properly charge, use and store your battery to ensure performance longevity and safety.
Continue reading below to learn more about optimum temperature conditions for storage, which percentage range to run your battery down to and how to correctly prepare your battery for storage.
Charging your Battery
Cheap 110v-240v inverters and generators that DO NOT have a pure sinewave output can damage the charging equipment and your battery. Much like a laptop or TV, these chargers need a quality power source to function at peak performance and avoid damage. It is for this reason we DO NOT recommend using anything other than a pure sinewave inverter 110v-240v or conventional mains power protected by an RCD. If you are travelling and using an inverter, we would not recommend using anything under 500w. Please also consider the size of your battery supplying the inverter.
You can purchase a replacement or additional charger on our website. Click the links below to go to the website listing for the following chargers:
a. 22v Assist
b. 28v Assist PLUS
c. 40v Standard - Assist MAX & SLIM
d. 40v Fast Charger - Assist MAX & SLIM only
Click here to learn more about charging your Foil Drive battery.
Battery Storage
Temperature
Room temperatures can directly affect the temperature inside the lithium-ion battery — and this will affect how safe the battery is and how it performs. Very low temperatures can produce a reduction in the energy and power capabilities of lithium-ion batteries. High ambient temperatures, however, can contribute to a high internal temperature of the battery — which can also decrease performance and power capabilities.
Lithium-ion batteries should be ideally stored in cool, dry conditions at a temperature of 15°C. The general temperature range for lithium-ion cells lies between 5°C and 20°C (41°F and 68°F). If temperatures are too cold, such as 0°C, it can result in a slight loss of capacity due to the chemical reactions inside the battery slowing down in the low temperatures. If conditions are too hot, it can result in hazards such as fire.
Great care should be taken to ensure that batteries don’t suffer any kind of damage. This means handling the batteries carefully, not stacking them in storage, and ensure they are away from flammables such as fuels, heaters, exhausts and fireplaces, as well as in dry areas (Basements may have excessive moisture). Damage can occur if batteries are dropped, knocked or exposed to sunlight or excessive heat.
State of Charge
Many lithium-ion batteries are best stored at approximately 40-60% state of charge.
Failure to store your batteries at this rate may contribute to cell instability. The average lifecycle of a lithium-ion battery is around 300 to 500 charge and discharge cycles. However, the age of the battery, the temperature at which it is kept, and how cycling occurs can decrease battery performance. Overcharging, excessive charging voltages, and non-compliant battery chargers should be avoided when recharging your lithium-ion batteries.
Battery Discharger & Storage Device (Assist PLUS)
The battery discharger & storage device is for 28v Gen1 Assist and Assist PLUS batteries ONLY. We do not currently have a battery discharger for the 40v Gen2 batteries as of yet, however we endeavour to have this option in the near future. 
This device will discharge your battery back down to a recommended storage voltage for when the battery is going to be un-used for over a week or two. Without a discharge device, simply put your battery on charge after a session and set an alarm for an hour, removing it before fully charged!
Click here to purchase a discharger.
Watch the video below to learn more about the Discharger & Storage device.
Battery Care Overview
a. Lithium batteries DO NOT like to be left fully charged over long periods. We recommend charging the battery on the same day, or the night before you intended to use it to achieve best results.
b. Charging the battery to full and leaving it for extended periods of time (weeks or longer) will reduce the life span and performance - a result of battery chemistry not product quality.
c. Use only pure sinewave inverters to charge your battery. 500w minimum capacity for inverters.
d. Store at 40-60% charge in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area between 5-20°C (41-68°F) and away from flammables.
To learn more about Lithium-Ion batteries, click here.
To view the full Foil Drive battery range and compare, click here.
If you would like to learn more, click here to return to the Help Centre main page, or email us at [email protected].
Happy Foil Driving!