Do batteries hold less charge as they age?

08 April 2014

Part of the show Power to your Elbow: Better Batteries

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Question

Kat asked:

As a phone gets older, the battery just doesn’t seem to hold as much charge anymore. Why do you have to charge it longer for less and less?

Answer

Graham Verity from GP Batteries - It is like the battery is getting tired. When we talked to designers, it’s very important for them to realise that a battery is not like any other electronic component. It doesn’t do exactly what it says on the tin and you have to look after it. Impurities are building up within the cell. It’s becoming not as effective. It’s inevitable. A battery will not go to the end of its life and then just die. It will slowly fade away...