charger

A battery charger is a device used to put energy into a cell or (rechargeable) battery by forcing an electric current through it. The charge current depends upon the technology and capacity of the battery being charged. For example, the current that should be applied to recharge a 12 V car battery will be very different to the current for a mobile phone battery. As the growth of rechargeable batteries runs parallel to the demand for battery chargers, it is important to follow each market accordingly. The replacement rate in the battery charger market varies in different end-user application markets. While the replacement rate is rather low for the automotive and industrial markets, it is high for high-tech industries such as the telecommunications and IT markets. The low replacement rate for automotive battery chargers is explained by the potential for lack of innovation and consumer interest in this area. In addition, the charger itself is characterized as durable, usually lasting longer than the car itself. Conversely, the launch of new products combined with a healthy economy explains the high repurchase rate within high-tech industries.