Continuous Power
Definition
Maximum power that a battery system can sustain indefinitely without thermal limiting or degradation. Typically limited by thermal management capability.
Why It Matters
- Determines steady-state application power capability
- Must be sustained at minimum SOC and worst-case temperature
- Lower than peak power due to thermal constraints
- Critical specification for sizing battery systems
Common Pitfalls
- Not specifying duration for "continuous" (industry typically means 30+ minutes)
- Quoting peak power when continuous power is the limiting constraint
- Not drating for temperature and SOC
- Not validating continuous power capability through testing