Preliminary results are reported which were obtained using a Norvik Minit-Charger(TM) to rapidly charge low-resistance lead/acid batteries. In initial work, the Minit-Charger was used for ultrafast charging of both flooded and recombination, hybrid and antimony-free designs. Charging was carried out at up to the C/5 rate. For the flooded batteries, only modest temperature rises occurred. For a recombination battery, 40% of the previous discharge could be returned at very high efficiency within 6 min and 80% within 16 min with essentially complete recharge in 2 h with an acceptable temperature rise. Temperature rises were, however, greater for the recombination batteries, presumably because of lower heat capacities and poorer heat dissipation characteristics. Work is continuing to optimize the charger parameters, particularly for electric vehicle applications. Preliminary indications are that very fast and efficient recharging of lead/acid batteries is possible but that starved-electrolyte absorbed glass mat batteries need to be designed both for low resistance and to maximize heat dissipation and heat capacity.
