Fast Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries

We try to understand the fast recharge capability of automotive lithium-ion batteries and its effect of fast charge on capacity degradation. We find out that 5 Ah prismatic Li-ion cells can be fully recharged in 3 minutes under a constant rate of 20C, or in 2 min (25.5C) from 0% to 85% state of charge (SOC) without undue stresses. We cycle the battery at 16C charge rate from 0 to 100%SOC and do not see any unexpected battery capacity loss in 50 cycles, where half of the cycles are charged at1C-rate as a reference capacity check. We realize that the batteries under the fast charge tests do not experience any negative impacts related to mass transport in either solid electrodes or the electrolyte system. In the paper, we propose a new procedure to measure the ac and dc resistances of the battery under continuous operation. Electrochemical impedance analyses on the whole battery and the individual electrodes are also conducted.