Alternating current; current flows in both directions. Household current is AC.

Compound in a battery that promotes electrochemical reaction.

Absorbent Glass Mat is a lead acid battery that uses a glass mat to promote the recombination of gases produced by the charging process.

Two or more forms of the same element in the same physical state (solid, liquid, gas) that differ from each other in physical and sometimes chemical properties.

Symbol Ah is a unit of charge. Example: Drawing a current of one ampere (1A) from a battery for one hour (1h) equates in one ampere-hour (1Ah).

Electrode on which oxidation occurs; releases electrons on discharge. When applying power to a device (vacuum tube, diode, battery on charge), the anode is positive; taking power away on discharge turns the anode to negative.

Used in lead acid batteries to improve mechanical strengths of lead plates and enhances performance. Other uses are flame proofing, producing low friction applications, and building semiconductors.

Absolute state-of-charge; ability to take specified charge when the battery is new.

Absolute state-of-health; ability to store specified energy when the battery is new.

Electrochemical cell, or cells, connected in series (some in parallel); composed of the anode (negative electrode), cathode (positive electrode), separator and electrolyte as catalyst.

Charge followed by a discharge and recharge. No standard exists as to level of charge and discharge to constitute a cycle.

European legislation on waste batteries to protect the environment.

Battery energy storage system (also known as ESS).

Battery Management System used inside or outside a battery to manage charge, discharge and provide SoC; forms an essential part to assure battery longevity and safety.

Miniaturized battery also known as coin cell. Most are non-rechargeable.

Fifth most abundant element by mass in the earth crust; essential for living organisms to build bone, teeth and shells. Discovered by Humphry Davy (1778–1829). Improves mechanical strength of lead plates in lead acid batteries; enhances performance.

Unit measuring the electrical charge in a capacitor (condenser), measured in farad (f).

Component consisting of two conductive surfaces separated by an insulator. Passes AC; indefinite resistance for DC; voltage lags behind the current (opposite of a coil).

Electrical energy of a battery in ampere-hours (Ah). The stored energy is measured by observing the elapsed time while discharging at a constant current to the end-of-discharge voltage. The capacity is the leading health indicator of a battery.

Capacity correction when discharging a battery at a higher C-rate than specified.

(CO2) Odorless gas formed during combustion, respiration and decomposition of organic substances. Plants absorb CO2; excess CO2 is blamed for climate change.

Electrode in an electrochemical cell in which reduction takes place by absorbing electrons. During discharge, the cathode is positive; reverse on charge.

Abbreviation for configuration code. C-code is stored in a battery adapter and configures the analyzer to the correct battery settings (Cadex systems).

Cells in a battery pack that have unequal capacities, voltages or resistive values.

Cell polarity reverses on a deep discharge at high load. Damages affected cell.

Replenishing electrical charge to a cell or battery.

Behavior of the actual battery as opposed to monitoring peripheral activities.

Hard, lustrous, gray metal; used in batteries, magnets, and high-strength alloys.

Utilization of heat and kinetic force. Heat drives steam turbines; kinetic force produces electricity through a generator; charges a battery on deceleration.

Unit of electric charge. One coulomb (1C) equals one ampere-second (1As).

also called faradaic efficiency or current efficiency describes the charge efficiency by which electrons are transferred in a battery

Unit by which charge and discharge times are scaled. At 1C, the battery charges and discharges at a current that is at par with the marked Ah.

Keeps current constant and allows voltage to fluctuate. (NiCd, NiMH chargers)

Charge/discharge/charge. No standard exists as to what constitutes a cycle.

Number of cycles a battery can deliver. (80% depth of discharge)

Positive and negative plates are rolled up and placed into a cylindrical container.

Direct current; current flows in one direction. A battery delivers a DC current.

Converts DC to a higher or lower voltage potential.

Senses rate of temperature increase over a given time rather than by measuring the absolute value; used for full charge detection of nickel-based battery.

Capacity of a starter battery is measured with a 0.2C-rate (5h) discharge of a fully charged battery to 1.55V/cell or a 0.05 (20h) discharge to 1.75V/cell.

Depth of discharge; 100% is full discharge; 80% is commonly used for specification.

Electrostatic storage device utilizing the electrical double layer effect that is formed near the surface of the carbon electrode; also called supercapacitors or ultracapacitors.

EVs display the allowable driving rang range rather than capacity. As the capacity fades, battery gets charged more and discharged deeper. The full capacity is hidden.

also known as impedance spectroscopy; method to test electrochemical characteristics of a battery; EIS injects AC signals at different frequencies and analyzes the response.

Conductor or plate in a cell in which an electrochemical reaction occurs.

Non-metallic conductor of electricity (typically liquid) placed between positive and negative electrodes of a battery. Ion movement enables current flow.

Formation of a restrictive film on the Li-ion cathode if the voltage is kept above 4.10V/cell. The longer the battery stays in a high voltage, the more pronounced the degradation will be.

Work measures over time. Multiplying voltage x current x time = Watt-hours (Wh). Energy is also given in joules (J); 1,000 joules are 0.277Wh.

Battery cell designed for maximum capacity. Power density may be compromised.

Also known as volumetric energy density; specifies the amount of energy a cell can hold in volume (Wh/l). Energy density is synonymous with the runtime of a battery.

In battery maintenance, one or several discharge cycles to the end-of-discharge with recharge; prevents memory buildup in NiCd and NiMH batteries.

Charge in coulombs necessary to change the potential between the plates of a capacitor by 1V. (1 Farad = 1 Coulomb per Volt)

1–3 hours charge time.

Similar to trickle or maintenance charge; compensates self-discharge of lead acid battery.

A cross between a conventional battery and a fuel cell. Liquid electrolyte of metallic salts is pumped through a core with positive and negative electrodes, separated by a membrane. The resulting ion exchange generates electricity.

Number of events in a given time. Indicates how often the AC voltage changes from positive to negative per second, or how many times a battery is cycled.

Device converts oxygen and hydrogen into electricity and water.

A form of carbon with hexagonally crystallized allotrope, used in lead pencils, lubricants, batteries and the anode of most Li-ion.

Also known as specific energy; indicates the amount of energy a cell holds in weight (Wh/kg); synonymous with battery runtime.

Agent to suppress fire. Used also for Li-ion fires.

Unit of frequency; 1Hz constitutes one full cycle per second.

Chemical element with atomic number 1; lightest and most abundant chemical element; constitutes roughly 75% of the universe's elemental mass. Hydrogen gas becomes explosive at a concentration of 4 percent.

Device to measure the specific gravity of a fluid; reads state-of-charge of a lead acid and other flooded batteries.

Charger turns off at full charge and resumes after a time to compensate for parasitic loads and self-discharge.

Intrinsically safe standards to prevent explosion in areas of flammable gas and dust.

Safety standard for primary batteries.

Safety requirements for sealed secondary cells/batteries for portable use.

Standard for rechargeable batteries for mobile computing devices.

Standard for rechargeable cells/batteries for mobile phones.

Also known as complex impedance; characterizes the electrical resistance of reactive components as a function of frequency. Rising frequency lowers the capacitive resistance and increases the inductance resistance.

Combination of capacitive, inductive and ohmic resistance; measured in ohms (R); frequency dependent.

Winding that causes an electromotive force when current is applied; frequency dependent; reacts opposite to a capacitor; measurement in Henry (H.

Electrical resistance of a battery pack in milliohms (mW). A good battery has low resistance; corrosion raises it.

Atom or molecule with unequal number of electrons and protons; provides a positive or negative electrical charge.

Energy measurement: 1 joule = 1A at 1V for 1 second. Also applies to mechanical energy.

Available in all modern technologies, Flooded (Wet), Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) & GEL.

The foundation of rechargeable batteries, invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Plante.

Widely used and available in a comprehensive range of sizes and specifications commonly used in starting, lighting, ignition, deep cycle, marine and telecommunications.

Lead acid batteries are a highly recycled commodity good with up to 99% recycled material.

Soft, silver-white metal belonging to the alkali metal group; lightest and least dense metal in the element family; discovered by Johan August Arfwedson in 1817; metal is named after the Greek word “lithos” meaning “stone.”

Has lithium-metal anode; most are non-rechargeable.

Rechargeable battery with cobalt, manganese, nickel and/or other metals as cathode and graphite anode.

Similar to Li ion with a solid polymer as electrolyte; addition of gelled material promotes conductivity.

Also known as solid-state battery; uses solid polymer as electrolyte; heat induces conductivity.

Current flow when applying an electrical load.

Cathode material of Li-ion. Also used in steelmaking.

Lookup table to compare and derive at characteristics, such as battery capacity.

Expected margin of error (%) of charge calibration on SMBus battery.

Reversible capacity loss in nickel-based batteries.

One-millionth of a second (10-6).

Specifies battery capacity or rating; 1000mAh equals 1Ah.

Unit of frequency. Example: 1 Hertz = 1 cycle/second; 1mHz = 1,000 seconds.

One-thousand of a second (10-3).

Latin for dwarf. 1 nanometer (nm) is one-billionth (10-9) of a meter or a layer of 3–6 atoms.

Nickel-cobalt-aluminum Li-ion; serves as cathode material.

Drop in battery voltage when sealed NiCd and NiMH reach full charge; used to detect full charge.

Unit of force named after Isaac Newton; equal to accelerating 1kg a distance of 1 meter per second; (1N = 0.2248 pounds of force).

Rechargeable battery using cadmium as anode and nickel as cathode.

Rechargeable battery for satellites; pressure vessel contains the hydrogen.

Rechargeable battery developed by Thomas Edison in 1901.Used for mining; powered German V-1 flying bomb and the V-2 rockets during World War II

Similar to NiCd; anode made of a hydride alloy that is less toxic than cadmium; 30 percent more capacity than NiCd but is less durable.

Similar to NiCd; first developed in 1920; short life due to dendrite growth.

Lithium-ion with nickel, manganese and cobalt as cathode material.

Terminal voltage of batteries.

Electrical DC resistance with no capacitive and inductive reactance

Relating or belonging to carbon-based chemical compounds. Also relates to an organism, a living entity. Organic matter is the product of decay from a once living organism

Exceeding charge acceptance. The battery heats up, produces gases and is subject to an evet.

Package can contain other non-dangerous or compatible dangerous good items. Limit is one package in accordance with Section II of PI 965.

Power consumption with the device turned off.

Resistive layer that forms on some batteries after prolonged storage. Applying a brief load breaks the layer and enables current flow.

Calculates battery capacity on discharge rate; higher rates decrease capacity. Mainly used for lead acid batteries; a reading close to 1 indicates a battery with minimal loss; larger number reflect higher losses; named after Wilhelm Peukert (1897).

Salt or phosphoric acid.

Voltage x current = power in watts (W). Also in horsepower (1hp = 746W).

Battery cell designed for maximum current delivery. Energy density may be compromised.

Also known as volumetric power density; reflects loading capability of a battery.

Ratio of real power versus apparent power. The unity power factor of 1 delivers 100% current to a load; a power factor of 0.50 reduces the contribution to 50%. A purely resistive load (heater elements) has a unity power factor of 1; a purely capacitive or inductive load has a power factor of 0.

Non-rechargeable battery.

A battery in which the positive and negative plates are stacked instead of rolled.

Electronic circuit in a battery pack maintains safety when exceeding design limits.

Charges a battery in 3–6 hours.

Plots battery performance on specific energy versus specific power

Equivalent electrical circuit representing electrolyte resistance in a battery that is commonly used in electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

Inductive and capacitive resistance; frequency dependent.

Secondary discharge applied after end-of-discharge to drain the battery further; helps break down crystalline formation (memory) of nickel-based batteries.

Device that extracts hydrogen from fossil and other fuels.

American way of measuring battery capacity by applying a fixed discharge current and measuring time in minutes. Europe uses the ampere-hour (Ah) method under DIN and IEC. DIN and IEC mark the battery in Ah at a typical discharge of 0.2C-rate (5h-rate).

Remaining battery capacity before charge.

Restriction to current flow; high resistance generates voltage drop and heat.

Intersperses discharge pulses between charge pulses to promote the recombination of gases generated during fast charge; reduces memory.

Relative state-of-charge; available charge with capacity fade (also known as SoC).

Relative state-of-health; available storage capability when battery is broken in (also known as SoH)

The length of time a battery provides power with a charge.

Test standard for 12V automotive starter batteries.

Apply a full charge (charge to 14.4–16V at 16°C–43°C (60°F–110°F)). After a 24h rest, apply a regulated 25A discharge to 10.50V (1.75V/cell). Readings are in minutes of discharge time known as “Reserve Capacity” (RC).

Fully charge the battery and cool to -18°C (0°F) for 24 hours. While cold, apply a discharge current equal to the specified CCA reading. To pass, the voltage must stay above 7.2V (1.2V/cell) for 30 seconds.

Test standard for electric vehicle; energy consumption, range.

North American standard for electrical connectors for electric vehicles.

Rechargeable battery

Capacity loss due to internal leakage.

Isolates cathode and anode in a battery; acts as catalyst to promote ion movement from cathode to anode on charge and in reverse on discharge.

Rechargeable battery with high specific energy for defense and aerospace

Overnight charge lasting 10–16 hours at a charge current of 0.1C.

System Management Bus is a two-wire interface based on I2C; communicates with the battery and device by accepting control parameters and providing battery status, such as state-of-charge, manufacturer information, cycle count and error messages.

High cell resistance. The voltage drops on a load and is unable to clamp on charge. Very cold temperature and lack of electrolyte causes this condition.

A film composed of lithium oxide and lithium carbonate forms on the surface of the Li-ion anode. The SEI layer grows with cycling and can form a barrier to obstruct ion flow.

Used by planetary astronomers to refer to the duration of a solar day on Mars. A Mars solar day has a mean period of 24 hours 39 minutes 35.244 seconds.

Also known as gravimetric energy density; indicates the amount of energy a cell contains in weight (Wh/kg); relates to battery capacity; governs runtime.

Weight ratio of a chemical solution compared to water at a specified temperature. SG of water is 1.0; the electrolyte of a fully charged lead acid battery is about 1.30.

Also known as gravimetric power density; reflects the loading capability or the amount of current the battery can deliver; readings in W/kg.

Analysis of a compound or a battery when scanned with a frequency.

Hard glassy mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium and aluminum that forms a three-dimensional chemical structure. Manganese-based Li ion has such a spinel structure.

Indicates charge level of a battery; normally measured in percent. SoC has no relationship with capacity.

Reflects battery readiness that verifies capacity, current delivery, voltage, SoC, self-discharge and more; measured in %. (Capacity, current delivery and SoC are most basic.)

Reflects battery performance that verifies capacity, current delivery, voltage and self-discharge; measured in %. SoH excludes SoC.

Formation of lead sulfate crystal in a lead acid battery that inhibits current flow; storage at low state-of-charge causes this.

Electrochemical capacitor also known as an ultracapacitor or double-layer capacitor; specific energy is a fraction of Li-ion. Has high cycle life; offers good cold temperature performances.

Uncontrolled disintegration of a battery from the inside out; can be caused by cell defect, overcharging, excess heat and other abusive conditions.

A voltage created by the junction of dissimilar metals when a temperature difference exists between these junctions

Electrical resistor that changes resistance with temperature.

Substance used for anode material of some lithium-based batteries.

Also known as maintenance charge, compensates self-discharge of a battery.

Safety acceptance test for lithium-based batteries by Underwriters Laboratories. Other agencies are IEC 62133, IEEE 1625, IEEE 1725, BAJ (Japan), UN. In 2010, UL 1642 transitioned to IEC 62133, made fully effective on 1 May 2012.

Safety norms for shipping battery products

Bi-directional data port featuring a 5-volt supply and two data lines to accommodate auxiliary devices and to charge batteries.

Maintenance-free lead acid battery recombines oxygen (positive plate) with hydrogen (negative plate) on charge; valve regulates pressure by release of excess gases.

Electric energy potential per unit charge. 1V = 1J/Coulomb. (1,000 joules = 0.277Wh).

During prolonged storage, some battery systems develop a passivation layer. This results in a momentarily lower voltage until the film is dissipated through discharge.

Battery thresholds on charge and discharge.

Current is allowed to fluctuate in saturation mode while the voltage is capped (lead acid and Li ion charging).

Unit of power; ampere (A) times volt (V) equals watts (W)

Unit of electrical energy equivalent to a power consumption of one watt for one hour (One watt-hour = 3600 Joules). Multiplying a battery voltage (V) by the rated capacity (Ah) gives the battery energy in Wh. Example: 14.4V x 2.5 Ah = 36 Wh.

Applying a momentary current pulse to a battery to evaporate a short.

Generates electrical energy by an oxidation process of zinc and oxygen. Most zinc-air batteries are non-rechargeable, provide high specific energy but have poor load capabilities.