By Carin Smit, Owner

As temperatures drop, we start hearing from more van owners who notice slower charging or limited charging performance. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Cold-weather charging challenges are completely normal for lithium batteries. Every lithium system has a safe temperature range for charging and discharging, and winter conditions make those limits more noticeable.

The good news is that with simple preparation, you can protect your energy system and keep your van running smoothly all winter. Below is a clear breakdown of winter charging behavior and how to care for your batteries when the temperature dips.

Recommended Cold-Weather Operating and Charging Temperatures

Understanding your battery chemistry is the first step toward keeping everything healthy. Here are the temperature ranges for the most common batteries installed in adventure vans.

Victron Lithium Batteries

• Charging: +5°C to +50°C (41°F to 122°F)

• Discharging: –20°C to +50°C (–4°F to 122°F)

Victron batteries cannot safely charge below +5°C. Charging when the cells are too cold can damage the lithium structure, which reduces long-term performance.

Lithionics Batteries

• Safe Charging: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F)

• Ideal Charging: 10°C to 30°C (50°F to 86°F)

• Avoid Charging Below 0°C (32°F): Low temperatures can cause lithium plating

• Storage: –20°C to 50°C (–4°F to 122°F)

Lithionics batteries are very robust, but like all lithium systems, they should not charge when freezing. Keep an eye on temps if the van sits outside overnight.

EcoFlow 5kWh LFP Battery

• Charging: –20°C to 50°C (–4°F to 122°F)

• Auto Heating: Activates below 0°C when input power is available

• Recommended Charging: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F), ideally 20°C to 30°C (68°F to 86°F)

• Heating Notes: Uses about 200 to 250 watts to warm the cells. Charging begins once the battery reaches roughly 5°C (41°F).

EcoFlow’s built-in heating solves many winter concerns. As long as the battery has incoming power, it will raise itself to a safe charging temperature.

Why Lithium Batteries Struggle in the Cold

All of these temperature specs come back to one simple principle: cold slows the chemical reactions inside lithium cells. When the cell temperature is too low, ions cannot move easily. Charging during that time can cause permanent damage.

This is why:

• Some batteries slow their charging rate

• Some refuse to charge at all

• Heated batteries take longer to begin charging

• Systems may draw power first to warm the battery before actually charging it

These are normal behaviors that help protect your battery investment.

Cold-Weather Battery Care Tips

Here are the best ways to support your energy system when temperatures drop.

Warm the Battery Compartment

A small space heater placed a few feet away (never pointed directly at wiring) can help bring the battery bay above freezing. Even a slight rise in temperature makes a difference.

Use the Van’s Cabin Heat

If your batteries sit inside the living area, simply warming the cabin before plugging in or starting your charge cycle can help the battery reach a safe temperature.

Store Batteries at 30 to 80 Percent State of Charge

If your van will sit for several days or weeks, avoid storing lithium batteries at 100 percent. A mid-range state of charge helps maintain long-term health, especially in cold weather.

Final Thoughts

Cold-weather charging quirks often surprise van owners, but they are normal and easy to manage. Every lithium system has clear temperature thresholds, and understanding them helps you avoid accidental damage and protect your investment.

With a little planning and a few warm-up steps, your electrical system will perform reliably all winter long.