News Summary

• The barrel effect has a major impact on rechargeable battery lifespans.
• Engineers are working to improve battery management systems (BMSs) to improve energy efficiency and overall longevity.
• Researchers are also pursuing other methods for mitigating or fully removing the barrel effect.
• These kinds of improvements, as well as other emerging battery innovations, could make for batteries that last longer and with less energy loss.
• In your phone, a BMS is protecting against too much current, overcharging, over-discharging, and heat.
• With multicell batteries, the weakest component within the system determines overall capacity.