The high operating temperature of the sodium metal chloride battery limits the possible applications of this storage technology. In this study, the performance of a 3.65 kWh (80 Ah, 48 V) battery at temperatures as low as 240 degrees C is measured and the efficiency at different discharge currents, cycling frequencies and operating temperatures is examined. The total available capacity of a 40 Ah string at 240 degrees C when discharging with 0.1C is found to be just 1 Ah smaller compared to 275 degrees C, which is the nominal operating temperature of the battery. However it is shown that low temperatures have a big impact on the charge duration. Starting from 20% SOC (state-of-charge) the duration of charging until the fulfillment of the end-of-charge criterion at 240 degrees C is 25 h with the quickest charging regime (0.25C, 2.7 V/cell) whereas until 90% SOC 7.6 h are required. At a limited SOC operation window from 20% to 90% the total daily efficiency of the 3.65 kWh battery is higher at 240 degrees C compared to 275 degrees C and increases from 69% if one cycle is performed daily with 0.175C discharge current to 81% for two cycles with the same discharge rate. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.