| Lithium-ion batteries can be operated at -40 degrees, but the cell impedance at that temperature will rise dramatically, resulting in significantly reduced output current. This is not harmful to the battery, but it will operate at a significantly lower voltage at any given current. Available capacity to a given cut-off voltage will also be reduced, perhaps to less than 20 percent of the capacity at 23 degrees C. The reason for the increase in impedance is that the liquid electrolyte becomes viscous at very low temperatures, which reduces its conductivity.
What does the term "1C" mean when used in specifications for rechargeable batteries?
The letter "C" refers to the rated Capacity of a rechargeable battery. For example, a battery with a rated capacity (C) of 1,000 milliamperes (mAh), can be charged or discharged at a current of 1,000 mA for one hour, which is referred to as a "1C" rate of charge or discharge. Similarly, if that same 1,000 mAh battery was charged or discharged at a current of 200 mA, you would be able to do so in 5 hours (1,000 divided by 5). This is called the C/5 rate.
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