An electric vehicle battery is considered “out of order” when its charging capacity, as measured by SOH (State of Health), falls below 70%. At this point, the vehicle triggers an alert, as the battery can no longer deliver the required performance.
However, this does not mean that the battery is unusable. It simply means that its nominal voltage is lower. For example, a new battery (100% SOH) may have a voltage of 10V. Once its SOH reaches 70%, the voltage will be 7V.
The good news is that this lower voltage can be compensated for. By assembling more cells or modules, it’s possible to achieve the same capacity as a new battery. The result is a reconditioned battery whose lifespan is not altered, and which can be used for new applications.