Method and device for charging a traction battery

摘要

The invention relates to a method for charging traction batteries. In order that the method makes a high-quality charging process possible and can be used at commercial prices, a charging current is dependent on a cell voltage. This dependency is predetermined by a charging characteristic. The charging characteristic consists essentially of a proportional region, a region with an approximately constant cell voltage and a region with an approximately constant charging current. The proportional region can be bounded by values of the cell voltage of approximately 2 volts and 2.4 volts and by values of the charging current which are between approximately 50% and 100% of the maximum available charging current. The gradient of the charging characteristic in the proportional region can be dependent on a maximum charging power which can be emitted and is governed by an AC transformer. The invention furthermore relates to an apparatus for carrying out a method for charging traction batteries. In order to improve the apparatus in such a manner that it can technically implement the method according to the invention, a charging process is defined by means of a charging controller and a regulator, in accordance with a charging characteristic which is internal to the apparatus. The charging controller may be completely electronic and may be connected to a supply network by leads.