Here’s a glossary of Batteries – Consumer & Automotive terms and abbreviations, covering chemistries, capacities, automotive batteries, rechargeable options, and usage concepts. This is designed as a master reference for consumers, retailers, and electronics enthusiasts.
🔋 BATTERIES GLOSSARY – CONSUMER & AUTOMOTIVE
A
Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) – Lead-acid battery technology using fiberglass mats to hold electrolyte; maintenance-free.
Ampere (A) – Unit of electric current.
Ampere-Hour (Ah) – Battery capacity rating; current supplied over time.
Anode – Negative electrode in discharging batteries.
Automotive Battery – Battery designed to start and power vehicles.
Alkaline Battery – Common primary battery chemistry with zinc-manganese dioxide.
Auxiliary Battery – Secondary battery in vehicles for accessories.
B
Battery Management System (BMS) – Monitors, protects, and balances rechargeable battery packs.
Battery Pack – Collection of cells connected to deliver higher voltage or capacity.
Battery Shelf Life – Storage time a battery can retain charge.
Battery Terminal – Connection point for battery leads.
Button Cell / Coin Cell – Small, round batteries used in watches, calculators, and toys.
C
Capacity (mAh / Ah) – Total charge a battery can store.
Charge / Recharge – Process of replenishing battery energy.
Cell – Single electrochemical unit producing voltage.
C-rate – Rate of charge/discharge relative to battery capacity.
Cyclic Battery – Designed for repeated charge and discharge cycles.
Cranking Amps (CA / CCA / MCA) – Measure of battery ability to start engines.
Chemistry / Battery Type – Electrochemical makeup: lead-acid, NiMH, Li-ion, LiFePO4.
D
Deep Cycle Battery – Designed to provide sustained power over longer periods.
Discharge – Process of a battery releasing stored energy.
Dry Cell – Sealed battery with paste electrolyte (non-liquid).
Dual Battery System – Vehicle setup with two batteries for engine and accessories.
E
Electrolyte – Liquid or gel conducting ions between battery electrodes.
Energy Density – Energy stored per unit mass or volume.
Electric Vehicle Battery – Large, rechargeable battery powering EV propulsion.
End-of-Discharge Voltage (EODV) – Minimum safe voltage during discharge.
Equalization Charge – Controlled overcharge to balance lead-acid cells.
F
Float Charge / Maintenance Charge – Low-level charge keeping battery topped off.
Fast Charge – Rapidly charging battery using high current.
Flooded Lead-Acid Battery – Traditional battery with liquid electrolyte.
Form Factor – Physical size and shape of a battery.
G
Gel Cell / Gel Battery – Lead-acid battery with gelled electrolyte.
Green Battery / Eco-Friendly Battery – Recyclable or environmentally safer chemistry.
H
Hybrid Vehicle Battery – Battery in hybrid vehicles supporting electric motor.
High Discharge Rate – Battery capable of supplying large current over short time.
Horsepower Cranking (HCA) – Alternative measure of starting capability.
I
Internal Resistance (IR) – Resistance inside battery affecting performance.
Interconnect / Bus Bar – Connection between cells in a battery pack.
J
Jump Start / Booster Pack – Battery or device to start vehicles with flat battery.
Joule – Unit of energy, sometimes used for battery discharge calculation.
K
Kilowatt-Hour (kWh) – Energy capacity unit, often for EV batteries.
Key Terminal / Positive & Negative – Battery electrical connection points.
L
Lead-Acid Battery – Common automotive and backup battery type.
Li-ion (Lithium-Ion) – Rechargeable battery used in consumer electronics.
LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate) – Safer, long-life lithium battery chemistry.
Load Test – Testing battery performance under simulated usage.
Life Cycle – Number of charge/discharge cycles before capacity drops.
M
Memory Effect – Reduced capacity in NiCd/NiMH if not fully discharged before recharge.
Maintenance-Free Battery – Battery that doesn’t require electrolyte topping.
Max Discharge Current – Maximum current battery can safely deliver.
Moisture / Corrosion Protection – Prevents terminal degradation.
N
Nickel-Cadmium (NiCd) – Rechargeable battery with memory effect issues.
Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) – Rechargeable battery with higher capacity than NiCd.
Nominal Voltage – Average voltage during normal operation (1.2V, 3.6V, 12V, etc.).
O
Overcharge / Overvoltage Protection – Prevents battery damage from excessive charging.
Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) – Voltage measured without load.
Oxidation / Corrosion – Electrochemical degradation of terminals.
P
Parallel / Series Connection – Combining batteries to increase capacity or voltage.
Primary Battery – Non-rechargeable battery (alkaline, zinc-carbon).
Pulse Discharge – Short bursts of high current from battery.
Portable Power Bank – Rechargeable battery used for charging devices on the go.
Q
Quick Disconnect / Terminal Connector – Battery connection allowing easy removal.
Quality Control / QC – Testing for battery reliability and safety.
R
Rechargeable Battery / Secondary Battery – Battery designed for multiple charge/discharge cycles.
Reserve Capacity (RC) – Time a battery can supply load without recharging.
Recycling / Disposal – Proper handling of used batteries.
Rated Capacity – Manufacturer-specified energy storage.
Ripple Current – AC component in DC battery output.
S
Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA) – Maintenance-free lead-acid battery.
Self-Discharge – Natural loss of battery charge over time.
State of Charge (SoC) – Current energy percentage of battery.
Starter Battery – Automotive battery optimized for engine starting.
Storage Temperature – Safe temperature range for keeping batteries.
Safety Vent / Valve – Prevents pressure buildup in sealed batteries.
Smart Battery / Battery Pack with BMS – Battery with built-in monitoring and protection.
T
Trickle Charge – Low-rate continuous charge to maintain full capacity.
Thermal Runaway – Dangerous overheating in lithium-based batteries.
Terminal / Post – Electrical connection point of a battery.
Topping Charge – Small charge to restore full battery capacity.
U
UPS Battery – Battery used in uninterruptible power supply systems.
Under-Voltage Protection – Prevents battery from deep discharge damage.
User Replaceable / Non-Replaceable – Refers to consumer batteries in electronics.
V
Voltage Sag / Drop – Temporary reduction in voltage under load.
Volt / Voltage – Electrical potential difference.
VRLA (Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid) – Sealed battery with pressure relief valves.
W
Watts / Power Output – Energy delivered per unit time.
Weight / Energy Density – Mass relative to stored energy.
Wet Cell – Lead-acid battery with liquid electrolyte.
Watt-Hour (Wh) – Total energy stored in a battery.
X
X-Ray Inspection – Non-destructive testing for battery defects.
Y
Yield / Manufacturing Yield – Percentage of batteries meeting quality standards.
Z
Zinc-Carbon Battery – Traditional primary battery chemistry.
Zero-Discharge / Safe Storage – Storage at low state of charge for longevity.
Published 17th Feb. 2026