Endofcharge

Endofcharge is a term used in battery charging to refer to the end state of a charging cycle, at which point the battery is considered fully charged and charging is stopped or reduced to maintenance mode. It is not a formal standard; it is a descriptive label used across industries to indicate the point at which charging should transition to a lower-energy state or cessation.

In practice, end of charge is reached when charging conditions meet predefined criteria, such as reaching a target cell voltage, a sustained current taper below a threshold, or a change in detected dV/dt during constant-voltage charging. Battery management systems monitor temperature, voltage, and impedance to determine the appropriate end-of-charge moment and to prevent overcharging.

Terminations can follow various charging profiles, including constant current followed by constant voltage with a taper, or pulsed charging with end-of-charge criteria. Some chemistries and devices employ time-based cutoffs or coulomb counting, while others use adaptive algorithms designed to minimize aging and maximize safety. The specific end-of-charge criteria are often tailored to the chemistry, form factor, and intended use of the battery.

Impact and considerations: Proper end-of-charge control reduces the risk of overcharge, overheating, and capacity loss. In electric vehicles, end of charge affects charging speed, energy efficiency, and thermal management; in consumer electronics, it influences battery longevity and user experience. Ongoing research aims to improve accuracy of end-of-charge detection across diverse chemistries and operating conditions.

See also: Battery management system; Charge termination; Lithium-ion battery; Rechargeable battery.