Lithium-Ion Battery Rate Capability

Application ID: 19129


A battery’s possible energy and power outputs are crucial to consider when deciding in which type of device it can be used.

A cell with high rate capability is able to generate a considerable amount of power, that is, it suffers from little polarization (voltage loss) even at high current loads. In contrast, a low rate-capability cell has the opposite behavior. The former type is often denoted to be power optimized, while the latter energy optimized.

Characteristic for energy-optimized cells is that these have more capacity, and are thus able to supply more energy, but only for mild loads. Accordingly, energy-optimized batteries are more suitable for portable electronics, for example, cell phones. The power energy-optimized ones fits, for example, power-demanding hybrid-electric vehicles better.

This tutorial example makes a basic rate capability investigation for a specific lithium-ion battery cell design using the Lithium-Ion Battery interface.

This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products: