System and method for operating a rechargeable electrochemical cell or battery

An electrochemical cell management method comprising:

• controlling an electrochemical cell such that, for at least a portion of a charge cycle, the cell is charged at a charging rate that is lower than a discharging rate of at least a portion of a previous discharge cycle,
• wherein:
• an average discharging rate during the previous discharge cycle is equal to or less than an average charging rate during the charge cycle, and
• an average discharging rate during discharge of at least 5% of a discharge capacity of the cell during the previous discharge cycle is at least 2 times higher than the average charging rate during the charge cycle.

An electrochemical cell management system comprising:

• an electrochemical cell;
• and
• at least one controller configured to induce a discharge of the cell before and/or after a charging step of the cell,
• wherein:
• an average discharging rate during a previous discharge cycle is equal to or less than an average charging rate during a charge cycle, and
• an average discharging rate during discharge of at least 5% of a discharge capacity of the cell during the previous discharge cycle is at least 2 times higher than the average charging rate during the charge cycle.

An electrochemical cell management method comprising:

• inducing a discharge of an electrochemical cell before and/or after a charging step of the cell;
• and
• controlling the cell such that, for at least a portion of a charge cycle, the cell is charged at a charging rate that is lower than a discharging rate of at least a portion of a previous discharge cycle other than the induced discharge,
• wherein:
• an average discharging rate during the previous discharge cycle is equal to or less than an average charging rate during a charge cycle, and
• an average discharging rate during discharge of at least 5% of a discharge capacity of the cell during the previous discharge cycle is at least 2 times higher than the average charging rate during the charge cycle.