Skip to content
EN · km
Units
My Garage
Automotive glossary

Cell Balancing

Cell balancing equalises the charge of cells in a battery.

On this page

What is Cell Balancing?

It prevents weak cells limiting capacity. It often happens at high charge. Passive and active methods exist. Passive balancing burns off a small amount of energy from the fullest cells as heat, while active balancing moves energy to weaker cells. Balancing usually happens when the battery is near full and the car is plugged in. Severe imbalance can reduce range and trigger warnings.

How it works

The BMS bleeds or transfers charge.

Why it matters for your car

Occasional full charges may help balancing. Follow manufacturer advice.

Other terms