When choosing a battery for an electric-powered machine, there are many factors to consider, including battery life. But how do you accurately determine battery life?

As Maxim Khabur of battery developer Eneroc explains in today's lead piece, battery manufacturers often quote battery life in terms of hours of operation. But cycles is actually a better way to determine battery life.  

This is because it takes into account charge-discharge cycles and real-world operational factors such as the need to lift heavier loads which can deplete a battery faster. Measuring battery life by cycles therefore offers a more realistic expectation of a battery’s lifespan.

For anyone developing or working with electric vehicle systems who may need to spec a lithium-ion battery for their application — which today often includes those in the fluid power industry given electrification remains an important design focus for many of their customers — it can be beneficial to understand why cycles is a better measure of battery life so the right option can be chosen for future projects.  

What other information about batteries do you want to learn more about? Are you still finding electrification to be an area of design interest for customers? Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] anytime to offer your thoughts on these or other topics you’d like to see covered.

Sara Jensen, Editor, Power & Motion