An Adaptable Capacity Estimation Method for Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on a Constructed Open Circuit Voltage Curve

The inevitable decline in battery performance presents a major barrier to its widespread industrial application. Adaptive and accurate estimation of battery capacity is paramount for battery operation, maintenance, and residual value evaluation. In this paper, we propose a novel battery capacity estimation method based on an approximate open circuit voltage curve. The proposed method is rigorously tested using both lithium–iron–phosphate (LFP) and nickel–cobalt–manganese (NCM) battery packs at multiple charging rates under varied aging conditions. To further enhance capacity estimation accuracy, a voltage correction strategy is implemented utilizing the incremental capacity (IC) curve. This strategy also verifies the potential benefits of increasing the charging rate to shorten the overall test duration. Eventually, the capacity estimation error is consistently controlled within 2%. With optimal state of charge (SOC) interval selection, the estimation error can be further reduced to 1%. Clearly, our proposed method exhibits excellent compatibility across diverse battery materials and degradation states. This adaptability holds substantial scientific value and practical importance. It contributes to the safe and economic utilization of Li-ion batteries throughout their entire lifespan.