There are a large number of battery parameters. Depending on which application the battery is used for, some parameters are more important than others. The following is a list of parameters that may be specified by a manufacturer for a given type of battery. For example, in a typical battery for a general car, the energy density is not relevant - a battery is 0.0XX% of the total battery weight and consequently this parameter would typically not be listed for a conventional car battery. However, in electric vehicle applications, the battery weight is a significant fraction of the overall weight of the vehicle and so the energy densities will be given.
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Parameter |
Applications |
Examples |
Comments |
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Nominal Voltage |
All |
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Usually standardized to 12V |
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Battery Capacity |
All |
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Given as a function of discharge rate |
|
Internal Series Resistance |
High current applications |
Running motors |
|
|
Self Discharge Rate |
Applications that are only recharged periodically |
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Energy/Power Density |
Mobile applications using significant amounts of battery energy |
Electric vehicles, satellites, portable electronics, etc |
|
|
Cut-off voltage |
Mobile applications using significant amounts of battery energy |
Electric vehicles, satellites, portable electronics, etc |
|
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Efficiency |
Application in which charging is restricted or heat should be minimized |
Stand-alone energy systems |
|
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Depth of discharge |
Application which experience regular, deep discharge |
Stand alone energy systems, traction batteries |
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Temperature range |
Applications which experience large variations in temperature |
Stand alone energy systems, some transport applications |
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Battery lifetime |
All |
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Specified as either time or cycle life |
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Maintenance requirements |
All |
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Safety |
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