The Development History Of Lithium-ion Battery Chargers

With the development of portable products such as mobile phones and the widespread application of lithium-ion batteries, chargers for lithium-ion batteries have become increasingly sophisticated in design and function. However, the market also suffers from a large number of substandard products of poor quality. The main problems lie in the connection to the AC mains power supply, the interference voltage at the power terminal, the radiated interference field strength, and the charging voltage. At this time, chargers began to develop towards standardization, universality, and low standby power consumption. Dual-slot chargers and chargers that automatically identify lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride batteries gradually became mainstream.

Since October 15, 2024, China has implemented mandatory product certification (CCC certification) for chargers used in electric bicycles, and plans to mandate the use of the CCC mark for sales from November 1, 2025. This measure aims to improve product safety from the source and reduce the risk of fire caused by charger-battery incompatibility (such as overcharging a lithium-ion battery with a lead-acid charger). The implementation of the new national standard GB 42296-2022 has driven technological upgrades in electric bicycle lithium battery chargers in areas such as interface mis-plugging prevention, communication coordination, and system-level security, leading to a trend of industry consolidation among leading companies.

In recent years, charger technology has continued to develop towards higher efficiency, intelligence, safety, and specialization. For example, high-power chargers have emerged that adopt a PFC+LLC high-efficiency power architecture, integrate an MCU for charging control, support wide voltage input, and are equipped with active cooling fans. Simultaneously, the industry has also seen the emergence of patented designs targeting safety features such as shock resistance and short-circuit protection.