Amazingly simple discovery extends Li-ion battery lifespan by 50% — meaning you don't have to replace your gadgets as often

A battery symbol on a digital interface in the dark with a blue light on to indicate charging.

Replacing gadgets like smartphones or laptops just because the battery stops holding charge can be a real headache. But new research outlines a way to give common lithium-ion batteries a much longer lifespan — starting with their very first charge cycle.

Charging Li-ion batteries — which power most personal electronics and electric vehicles (EVs) — at high temperatures or currents before they hit the shelves could extend their average lifespans by 50%, researchers said in a new study published Aug. 29 in the journal Joule.