diff --git a/src/donuts_labs_battery/20260309_self_discharge/VTT_CR_00125_26.pdf b/src/donuts_labs_battery/20260309_self_discharge/VTT_CR_00125_26.pdf new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9142f41 Binary files /dev/null and b/src/donuts_labs_battery/20260309_self_discharge/VTT_CR_00125_26.pdf differ diff --git a/src/donuts_labs_battery/evidence_drip_feed.md b/src/donuts_labs_battery/evidence_drip_feed.md index 93c37c6..c566dc3 100644 --- a/src/donuts_labs_battery/evidence_drip_feed.md +++ b/src/donuts_labs_battery/evidence_drip_feed.md @@ -1,5 +1,45 @@ # Evidence drip feed +## Mar 9 2026 - Self-discharge + +VTT report: [VTT_CR_00125_26.pdf](20260309_self_discharge/VTT_CR_00125_26.pdf) + +Their [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77kF5GEnQM8) had this wording: + +> As in previous tests, the test starts with the same 1C capacity test to show the cell is exactly the same as our other +> test articles. + +I'm skeptical that simply having a capacity test is sufficient to prove the cells are equivalent, though I'm not a +battery expert. It's probably a good indication but it doesn't strike me as impossible to artificially produce a similar +behavior across this one dimension in different kinds of cells. I keep harping on this because the _same cell_ +performing well across all the claimed dimensions is critical to the veracity of the overall claim here. + +This time there is, however, a little more clarity in the wording in the VTT report: + +> Three visually identical cells were provided for testing and labeled DL1, DL2, and DL3. Each cell was subjected to +> different tests conducted in parallel, all of which began with an initial capacity test. This report presents the +> results of the self‑discharge tests performed on cell DL1. + +I think this is more explicitly (than in past reports) that there is a single set of three cells provided to VTT for use +across all the tests that they are trickling results out from. + +Note that it still does not tell us whether VTT was instructed which cell to use for which tests, or whether it was up +to VTT to make that choice. + +Regarding the self discharge test, quoting the report: + +> Cycle 1: The cell was charged at a constant current of 24 A until a charge throughput of 6.668 Ah was reached, +> followed by a one‑hour idle period. The cell was then charged again at 24 A to an additional 6.667 Ah, corresponding +> to a total state of charge of approximately 50 %. Subsequently, a 240-hour idle period at ambient temperature was +> initiated. During the idle period, the cell voltage was recorded at a sampling interval of 10 s. After the idle +> period, the cell was discharged at 24 A current until the voltage reached 2.7 V. At the end of the tests, the cell was +> charged to approximately 25 % state of charge before it was disconnected. + +It is unclear to why a 50% state of charge was chosen, and who made that choice. For real life applications it would +matter a lot if the self discharge rate was much higher at higher states of charge, so I would expect either tests based +on a very high state of charge or alternatively one at a high level and one at a lower. Because the test only addresses +50%, it leaves it open that the self discharge rate could be very high at higher states of charge. + ## Mar 2 2026 - High Temperature performance VTT report: [VTT_CR_00124_26.pdf](20260302_high_temp_capacity/VTT_CR_00124_26.pdf)