Patent attributes
Provided are a method and an apparatus for rapidly charging a battery, such that a battery can be rapidly charged while having an extended lifetime. The method for charging a battery according to the present invention charges a battery by starting from an initial charging rate higher than 1 C, while stepwise decreasing the charging rate, such that a negative electrode potential of the battery does not drop to a level less than or equal to 0V. An occurrence of Li-plating of a negative electrode of the battery can be prevented by the criteria for preventing the negative electrode potential from dropping to a level less than or equal to 0V, thereby providing an effect of rapidly charging the battery while extending the lifetime of the battery.
