Battery Charging Methods: A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

Efficient battery charging strategies are critical for emerging applications such as electric vehicles (EVs) and portable electronics. This study offers a comprehensive evaluation of five prevalent charging methods—Constant Current–Constant Voltage (CC-CV), Pulse, Trickle, Fast, and Taper charging—through both theoretical analysis and empirical data synthesis. Performance metrics include charging time, energy efficiency, thermal behaviour, and long-term battery health. The findings reveal that while Fast charging provides rapid energy delivery, CC-CV remains optimal for balancing speed and longevity, with potential enhancements from hybrid approaches incorporating pulse modulation.

Introduction

Battery charging is a multi-stage process designed to optimize ion intercalation while minimizing side reactions such as lithium plating and electrolyte decomposition. Key parameters influencing charging include voltage, current, state of charge (SOC), charging power, charging time, and energy efficiency. Effective charging balances electrochemical stability with user convenience.

Charging Methods:

1. CC-CV (Constant Current - Constant Voltage):
   Starts with a constant current until a voltage limit, then maintains voltage while current tapers.

   • Pros: Simple, uniform energy input, good cycle life

   • Cons: Long taper phase, thermal stress

2. Pulse Charging:
   Uses pulses of current to improve thermal control and battery longevity.

   • Pros: Enhances battery life, better thermal management

   • Cons: Complex hardware, longer charging cycles

3. Trickle Charging:
   Maintains a low current to keep the battery at full charge.

   • Pros: Maintains SOC with minimal stress

   • Cons: Inefficient time-wise, limited use cases

4. Fast Charging:
   Applies high current for rapid charging, important for EV infrastructure.

   • Pros: Short charging time, user-friendly

   • Cons: Can cause thermal hotspots and faster battery wear

5. Taper Charging:
   Gradually reduces current near full charge to prevent overcharging.

   • Pros: Protects battery, extends life

   • Cons: Increases total charge time

The choice of charging method involves trade-offs between speed, battery health, thermal management, and user convenience.

Conclusion

The comparative study demonstrates that CC-CV charging provides the most balanced performance, offering fast charging rates with moderate thermal stress and high energy efficiency, making it ideal for both EVs and consumer electronics. Fast Charging meets urgent energy demands but accelerates degradation, suggesting its use be limited to rapid-refuel scenarios. Pulse and Trickle Charging techniques significantly reduce heat generation and prolong cycle life, positioning them as preferred methods for maintenance and long-term storage. Taper Charging offers precise end-of-charge control, preventing overcharge and further safeguarding battery health, albeit at slower overall rates. Future research should explore hybridized charging schemes that integrate the benefits of multiple methods and leverage AI-driven algorithms to dynamically optimize current and voltage profiles in real time

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Atharva Patil, Falguni Bhavsar, Devvrat Vichare, Ganesh Pujari, Shreyas Amte, Parth Marotkar. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.