Multistep Constant Current-Constant Voltage Charging Strategy for a Valve Regulated Lead-Acid Battery

This article investigates the evaluation of different charging patterns of multistep constant current-constant voltage (MSCC-CV) for fast charging of a valve regulated lead-acid battery for electric vehicles. In this article, four parameters are sensed and feedback for closed-loop operation, i.e., battery temperature, terminal voltage, state of charge (SOC), and time. The battery current is dynamically adjusted in response to these four parameters for three different charging patterns. The three charging patterns of MSCC-CV by controlling 1) SOC and temperature, 2) the terminal voltage, SOC, and maintained temperature, and 3) the charging time and SOC. Further work is carried out to investigate the effects of charging strategies on battery health. As per the experimental results, it has been demonstrated that charging pattern with four-step by regulating battery terminal voltage, SOC, and maintained temperature shortens the charging time to 3.6 h as compared to conventional constant current-CV with improved battery life and health.