Yamaha battery subjected to high temperatures - still safe to use?

[bikeman242]

I have a bike with the Yamaha PW X motor and external downtube battery.

I realized today that my wife left the battery in the backseat of the car for about 48 hours. Car is parked outside during the heat wave.

It has been extremely hot lately. Temperature nearing 100, with heat index, 110 degrees.

I am wondering if the battery is still safe to use, or the heat may have melted the internals. I don’t want it to catch fire when charging or riding.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I have a bike with the Yamaha PW X motor and external downtube battery.

I realized today that my wife left the battery in the backseat of the car for about 48 hours. Car is parked outside during the heat wave.

It has been extremely hot lately. Temperature nearing 100, with heat index, 110 degrees.

I am wondering if the battery is still safe to use, or the heat may have melted the internals. I don’t want it to catch fire when charging or riding.

I think that is a question best left answered by the manufacturer. I do know that the Yamaha manual warns against parking the bike with the battery left in direct sunlight.

 

[PedalUma]

Does anyone have ideas on how to safely test it? If it was over 100 outside the car it could have been exposed to temps of 130 or more for six hours over two days. I doubt this battery has a USB port. If it did and it were mine I would test that first.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Does anyone have ideas on how to safely test it? If it was over 100 outside the car it could have been exposed to temps of 130 or more for six hours over two days. I doubt this battery has a USB port. If it did and it were mine I would test that first.

Samsung 18650-35E cells state a discharge cell surface temperature of 60C° / 140F° maximum.. so he may be ok.
Again I'd be hesitant to take forum advice before hearing from the manufacturer.

 

[bikeman242]

I called Yamaha and they told me that they do not have any specific information about the max temperature a battery can be subjected to.

This information is not in the manual either. It does, however, state that the batter gets hot while charging, between 104 and 158 degrees, so don’t touch it and get burned.

Yamaha said their tech support team is reserved for Yamaha bikes only. My bike is a BH with a Yamaha system that was purchased during the fire sale last year on bicycle blue book. Yamaha said to contact BH tech support, which no longer exists.

@Ravi Kempaiah

 

[Gionnirocket]

I called Yamaha and they told me that they do not have any specific information about the max temperature a battery can be subjected to.

This information is not in the manual either. It does, however, state that the batter gets hot while charging, above 140 degrees, so don’t get burned.

Yamaha said their tech support team is reserved for Yamaha bikes only. My bike is a BH with a Yamaha system that was purchased during the fire sale last year on bicycle blue book. Yamaha said to contact BH tech support, which no longer exists.

@Ravi Kempaiah

One question for Yamaha maybe to identify the cells used in your particular battery. Then contact the cell manufacturer.
or
@Ravi Kempaiah

 

[Ravi Kempaiah]

I called Yamaha and they told me that they do not have any specific information about the max temperature a battery can be subjected to.

This information is not in the manual either. It does, however, state that the batter gets hot while charging, between 104 and 158 degrees, so don’t touch it and get burned.

Yamaha said their tech support team is reserved for Yamaha bikes only. My bike is a BH with a Yamaha system that was purchased during the fire sale last year on bicycle blue book. Yamaha said to contact BH tech support, which no longer exists.

@Ravi Kempaiah

If any of the outer plastic is not melted and the battery is working properly, then it should be ok.
One of the reasons I trust Bosch/Yamaha/Shimano batteries is that their packs are UL certified and UL test procedures involve extensive high and low temp testing.
Some of the UL test procedures involve cycling the pack at temperatures more than 120'F. So, I think you are ok in this case. Of course, it is good to exercise caution and check the battery thoroughly. Perhaps you could post a picture or two here.

Just for reference. Yamaha packs have a robust BMS that protects the pack against voltage and temperature anomalies.

 

[bikeman242]

Thank you. Battery shows no deformities whatsoever.

How do you suggest I check to make sure battery works? Put it in the bike and take it for a ride, or try to charge it?

When I hold the button for 20 seconds to assess battery capacity, I first get one blinking LED, then all four LEDs light up. This seems normal to me.

Here are some pictures

 

[Coolbob]

I have many items that use lithium batteries that spend a lot of time in my vehicle under temperatures from 25 to 130f. My iPod lives in my vehicle 365 days a year and after four years and thousands of charge cycles it's just now starting to show diminished battery capacity. I have camera batteries that stay in the trunk year round, they do tend to have a shorter life than the ones that stay in the house, but they charge and function just fine. My laptop often spends time in the trunk under less than ideal battery storage conditions as well and it's fine. If the battery works and charges normally, then I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[ActionJackson]

I have a bike with the Yamaha PW X motor and external downtube battery.

I realized today that my wife left the battery in the backseat of the car for about 48 hours. Car is parked outside during the heat wave.

It has been extremely hot lately. Temperature nearing 100, with heat index, 110 degrees.

I am wondering if the battery is still safe to use, or the heat may have melted the internals. I don’t want it to catch fire when charging or riding.

Probably not the same batteries but I have had a Yamaha drive bike and battery in the past, almost 5 years I had the last one. It was stored in a metal storage shed outside most of the time. Max ambient air temperatures outside of the shed were probably about 40°C, however it’s on asphalt. Suffice to say, it’s seen higher temperatures. Never had a problem with it. I think the main point is, don’t use it or charge it during high temperatures. In Japan Yamaha batteries are made by Panasonic.

 

[Gionnirocket]

Thank you. Battery shows no deformities whatsoever.

How do you suggest I check to make sure battery works? Put it in the bike and take it for a ride, or try to charge it?

When I hold the button for 20 seconds to assess battery capacity, I first get one blinking LED, then all four LEDs light up. This seems normal to me.

Here are some pictures
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I think you are ok... So I would put it on the bike and go for a ride provided it wasn't already drained.
Then I would monitor it while giving it a full charge to be sure it accepts it.
Keep an eye out for case deformity or warm spots on the pack

I think one way to further test, though probably not necessary would be to monitor its temperature during/after a load test by riding the bike and then the same with charging. You could use one of those no contact temperature guns seen often now checking people for fever. All areas of the pack should stay within I say 15°F of ambient and there should be no area clearly much higher than others.
The use of a thermal imaging camera would be even better.. if you happen to have one laying around.

But again... I think you'll be just fine.