title_body: Do low temperatures damage LiPo batteries? I'm wondering if low temperatures affect LiPo batteries in any way? Can colder temperatures damage the cells? Can I store my batteries in bat safe box outside, in cold/hot temperatures?
upvoted_answer: Low temperatures do affect LiPo batteries in a number of ways, first and foremost being the increase in internal resistance as the battery gets colder. This is why LiPos need to be warmed up before flying in cold weather, as otherwise they will be able to sustain a much lower discharge current than usual and will not give their full rated capacity:
  
  
  
  In flight the current flowing through the pack itself will hopefully generate enough heat internally to keep it warm, though for longer-flying platforms with low current draw (i.e. long-range fixed wing) an onboard heater or thermal insulation may be required to keep the cells warm.
  
  As for damage, it does not occur in storage or while discharging even when a LiPo battery is brought below freezing; the rated temperature range for discharging is -20° to +60°C, and the electrolyte itself does not freeze until around -40°. 
  
  In fact, storing lithium batteries at 0°C prolongs their life compared to when you store them at higher temperatures. Some owners of Li-Ion batteries even claim to "revive" dead cells by placing them in a freezer for a week or so. 
  
  The one thing you should be really careful about when storing batteries at low temperatures is the possibility of moisture condensation on the battery's terminals when you bring the cold battery into a warm room afterwards or simply if the weather changes. This can cause a short circuit, which, while unlikely to damage the battery (as the water will likely evaporate from the current before anything truly bad happens), it is still unsafe and will corrode the battery's contacts through electrolysis. 
  
  So if you decide to store your batteries in the cold, and especially outside, put them in a sealed bag together with a baggy of desiccant (e.g. silica gel) so that the air around the battery is always as dry as possible, and when bringing them inside, do not remove them from the bag until they've warmed up to the ambient temperature.
  
  However, if you try charging a lithium battery at a below-zero temperature, the battery will be rapidly and permanently damaged via the same lithium plating process that damages cells whose voltage is brought too low. The rate of damage is proportional to the charging current (i.e. more current damages your batteries faster), and the extent of it is such that manufacturers state that the battery is completely dead and should be disposed of if it's charged below zero even once.
  
  The allowable charging temperature for lithium batteries is 0-45°C, but I'd recommend sticking to the middle of the range and only charging at room temperature.
  
  Please note that the exact numbers (i.e. rated temperatures) are for Li-Ion cells, but they should be close for the whole lithium rechargeable family.