C-Rate

A C-Rate is a measurement that expresses the rate at which a battery is charged or discharged relative to its maximum capacity. It is calculated as the current divided by the battery's capacity, where 1C means the battery will be fully charged or discharged in one hour. For example, a 0.5C rate means charging/discharging at half the capacity per hour (taking 2 hours), while 2C means twice the capacity per hour (taking 30 minutes). C-Rate is crucial for determining safe charging speeds and predicting battery life in applications ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles.