Reviving lithium-ion golf cart batteries can be challenging compared to lead-acid, but may be possible in some cases:
For lead-acid batteries:
- Recharge fully and equalize to balance cells
- Check and top off water levels
- Clean corroded terminals
- Test and replace any bad cells
- Consider rebuilding severely sulfated plates
For lithium-ion batteries:
- Attempt to recharge to wake up BMS
- Use a lithium charger to reset BMS thresholds
- Balance cells with active balancing charger
- Replace faulty BMS if necessary
- Repair individual shorted/open cells if feasible
- Replace any faulty cells with matching equivalents
- Consider refurbishing with new cells if pack is reusable
The key differences:
- Lithium cells are less tolerant of deep/over-discharge than lead-acid
- Rebuilding options are limited for li-ion - cells must often be replaced
- Lithium packs rely heavily on a proper BMS to avoid failure
With careful charging/discharging and catching issues early, both battery types can deliver long lifespan. But deeply depleted lithium packs are less likely to be recoverable.
Post time: Feb-11-2024
