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Last Updated on March 17, 2025
As users, we want our batteries to have the same energy and performance from the moment we buy them. However, this is not possible because the battery will experience a decrease in performance due to battery self-discharge. What is self-discharge? Check out the following explanation and understand how to minimize it.
What is Battery Self-Discharge?
Battery self-discharge is a chemical reaction that happens in the battery that causes gradual loss of charge when the battery is not in use. Self-discharge will consume stored energy in the battery overtime.
Unlike discharge that caused of usage, self-discharge happens naturally even if your battery is disconnected from any device. Self-discharge can happen to every battery type, but the rate and extent vary based on battery chemistry and storage condition.
If you leave your battery unchecked and unused, self-discharge can lead to significant energy capacity loss and reduce the overall efficiency of a battery.
What Causes Battery Self-Discharge?
Battery self-discharge happens because of chemical reactions happening inside the battery. This is a normal thing to happen, and it will happen even if the battery is not actively used. These reactions will cause slow degradation of the electrolyte and electrodes in the battery, so energy loss will occur.
There are many factors leading to self-discharge though. For example, oxidation of materials or small impurities that go through the battery in the manufacturing process. This will create a formation of unwanted compounds that will alter your battery’s internal chemistry. High-quality battery manufacturers create a protective action to minimize this effect, you can do battery test to evaluate it, but you can’t completely stop it and no battery is immune to self-discharge.
Factors Affecting Self-Discharge
Like we explained before, self-discharge is a primary result of chemical reactions inside the battery. These reactions gradually consume the battery’s charge without being used. There are several factors that contribute to self-discharge, check this out to learn more about them so that you can maintain your battery performance longer.
Electrolyte decomposition
In every type of battery, electrolyte plays a crucial role. It facilitates the flow of ions between electrodes, so that you can use the energy to fuel any devices you have. But overtime, electrolytes can break down and lead to unwanted energy loss.
This decomposition of electrolyte can cause battery self-discharge to happen faster. There are several factors that contribute to these chemical reactions, such as temperature and charge cycle. Every battery type has different electrolyte stability too, so it is best for you to choose the ones that have more stable electrolytes, like lithium-ion batteries.
Internal impurities
Sometimes, the manufacturing process of the battery has contaminations. These imperfections will cause microscopic impurities to get inside the battery cells. It can lead to unintended chemical reactions, from micro short circuits to accelerating self-discharge of the battery. Make sure you choose high-quality batteries because they tend to have lower impurity levels and it will help you slow down your battery’s self discharge rate.
Storage temperature
Temperature has a significant impact on the battery and its self-discharge rates. Storing the battery in high temperature will accelerate chemical reactions and your battery will have a shorter lifespan. The safe storage temperature is different for various types of battery though, so you have to pay attention to that too. Make sure to store it in a cool and dry place, as high temperatures can damage your battery. In some cases, you might wonder, why is the battery lights on? The battery will alert you by turning the lights on as a sign of damage.
Battery Aging
The longer you store the battery, the more its internal components deteriorate even if you left it unused. What are lithium batteries used for? You can use them to power electronic devices, electric vehicles, and more. If you keep using it, the battery performance will also decrease because of repeated charge and discharge cycles. This is a normal thing that happens naturally to every type of battery, even though you can minimize it.
Older batteries often have less charge and lose energy faster when stored compared to new batteries. But it is different for various types of battery. For example, lead-acid and nickel-based batteries will degrade faster than lithium-ion.
Self-Discharge Rates Based on Battery Types
Different battery types have different self-discharge rates too. Here is a self-discharge rate based on battery types to help you understand and make better decisions for choosing the right battery for long-term storage or specific applications.
Lithium-ion Battery
Lithium-ion is rechargeable and can be used for so many purposes. This type of battery has 2-3% self-discharge rate per month, which is pretty low compared to other types of battery on this list.
Lithium-polymer Battery
This type of battery is rechargeable and has 5% self-discharge rates per month.
LSD NiMH Battery
LSD NiMH (Low Self-Discharge Nickel-Metal Hydride) has the lowest self-discharge rate, it is as low as 0.25% per month. But, this type of battery also has lower energy density and charges slower compared to other types.
Lead–acid Battery
Lead-acid batteries are rechargeable and have been used by so many users globally. This type of battery has 4-6% self-discharge rate per month.
Nickel–cadmium Battery
This type of battery is not commonly used anymore, but some people still prefer them for specific applications like power tools or emergency backup systems because NiCd batteries can withstand harsh environments. But, this type of battery also has the highest self-discharge rate, 20-30% per month.
How to Deal with Battery Self-Discharge
Now you already understand what is battery self-discharge and what factor that causes it. How can you prevent self-discharge from happening faster to your battery? Here are some preventive actions that you can do to have a longer battery lifespan with better energy capacity.
Store Battery in a Cool Place
Lower temperatures are better for storing your batteries because it slows down the chemical process that causes self-discharge. But be careful not to store your battery in a cold or really low temperature because it can also damage the battery.
Charge Batteries Before Storing
Charging your battery before storing it for a long term makes it have better resistency and minimize battery self-discharge. Different battery type require different charge level before being stored for a long time.
For lead-acid batteries, it is recommended to store them fully charged to avoid damage to the battery due to long-term discharge. But for most lithium-ion batteries, especially those used in electric vehicles it is recommended to store the battery at 40%-60% rather than fully charged. Doing this will help extend the battery life and reduce damage to the battery from overcharging.
Charge Battery Periodically
Battery self-discharge can happen even though you don’t use your battery for a long time. When you replace a car battery and are no longer using it for a while, you’re most likely not charging it, right? That is not a best practice to minimize self-discharge. Even if batteries are stored for a long time, you need to occasionally recharge it to prolong battery lifespan.
Use Battery Management Systems
For rechargeable batteries like lead-acid or lithium-ion, having a BMS can help you monitor charge level of the battery and prevent excessive charging. This will help you maintain better battery health.
Choose Battery from High Quality Manufacturers
As we mentioned before, one of the factors that causes faster battery self-discharge is impurities from the manufacturing process. This is why choosing a high quality battery to minimize battery replacement cost is really important, make sure you buy from reputable manufacturers that ensures longevity and better performance of their product. At TYCORUN, we prioritize high-quality materials and advanced technology to provide long-lasting and reliable power for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Battery self-discharge will affect battery lifespan directly. If the self-discharge process is too quickly or you leave the battery in a low-charge state for a long time, it will suffer from deep discharge and will cause several damage to the battery.
It will reduce the battery’s overall capacity, shortened battery cycle life, and increased internal resistance. That is why we need to know the proper way to store and maintain the battery to help prevent premature self-discharge and ensure the battery lasts longer.
Self-discharge also directly impacts battery performance. This process reduces the amount of usable energy available in the battery. It will lead to the battery becoming unreliable power supply, reduced efficiency when using it, and it will also need more frequent recharge. This is why choosing a high quality battery and doing preventive action to minimize self-discharge is essential.
Battery self-discharge is a natural process that we can’t stop, but we can understand its causes and do mitigation strategies to minimize it. There are several factors that can fasten it, such as temperature and battery chemistry that play a significant role in self-discharge rate. Make sure you choose the right battery type, store batteries correctly and periodically recharge them to optimize the performance.
Who We Are
With over 17 years of experience, TYCORUN is a leading lithium battery manufacturer committed to driving innovation and development of battery technology, and the company’s current business covers two-wheeled and three-wheeled, four-wheeled power batteries, energy storage batteries, inverters, battery swap cabinets and motorcycles. Its products are widely used in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The company provides customized battery services, from cells to complete systems, and holds certifications like ISO9001, CE, TUV, and UL. TYCORUN has developed solid-state low-temperature batteries for better performance in cold conditions and uses advanced BMS algorithms for safety and longer life. It also prioritizes sustainability with low-pollution materials and eco-friendly production.
