C-rate
How fast you charge or discharge, relative to capacity.
C-rate is the charge or discharge power normalised to capacity: 1C empties a battery in one hour, 0.5C in two, 2C in thirty minutes. High sustained C-rate raises temperature and internal stress and, for LFP, is a leading degradation driver — so it’s both a capability spec and a longevity lever.
Definition
C-rate = power ÷ energy capacity. A 2 MWh battery discharging at 2 MW runs at 1C. The C-rate a system can sustain defines whether it suits energy (long-duration, low C) or power/ancillary (short-duration, high C) applications.
Formula
C-rate = power (kW) ÷ rated energy (kWh)
Typical range
Storage/arbitrage assets often operate ≤0.5C; ancillary-services and power assets run 1C and above. Continuous operation above ~1C is a notable degradation driver for LFP.
Why it matters
C-rate determines what markets an asset can serve and how hard it ages. Exceeding the OEM’s per-cell C-rate limit is a warranty exclusion and drives heat, which compounds thermal degradation. It’s a key input to degradation-aware dispatch.
How NuraVolt tracks it
NuraVolt monitors instantaneous and sustained C-rate against the OEM limit, flags exceedances as warranty-relevant events, and factors C-rate into the thermal-stress and capacity-fade projections.
Frequently asked questions
See also
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