This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for managing a capacitor system. In one aspect, an energy storage system includes a capacitor system, a charging circuit, and a controller. The capacitor system includes one or more capacitors. The charging circuit is configured to charge the capacitor system to a first target voltage. The controller is configured to detect a first condition and is programmed, in response to the first condition, to instruct the charging circuit to charge the capacitor system to a second target voltage that is less than the first target voltage. The controller is programmed to provide a notification that the capacitor system is operating in a degraded state.