In an article from Air Quality News, Beatrice Browning, a Ph.D. researcher at the Faraday Institution, explains that the lifetime of a battery can be reduced when the structure of its electrodes is damaged. This damage is caused by the cycling of lithium ions in and out of the electrodes. A study by the Royal Society of Chemistry identifies three main external factors that contribute to the degradation of lithium-ion batteries: temperature, state of charge (SoC), and load profile. Over time, lithium-ion batteries naturally lose capacity due to a limited number of lifecycles. Battery University suggests that counting cycles is inconclusive as discharge depth can vary, and there is no specific standard for defining a cycle.

In addition, certain applications of lithium-ion batteries, such as electric vehicles (EVs), are influenced by external factors that affect their overall lifespan. These factors include charging rates, weather conditions, and charging practices, as reported by SlashGear. Even without any use, lithium-ion batteries can age and degrade through continuous discharge, as confirmed by Newark Electronics. Furthermore, lithium batteries may experience degradation due to manufacturing defects, which could potentially have serious consequences.