Lithium-based battery pack

A battery pack configured to be interfaced with an electrical device, the battery pack comprising:

• a battery pack housing;
• a positive terminal, a negative terminal, and a sense terminal configured to be interfaced with corresponding terminals of the electrical device;
• a plurality of battery cells arranged within the housing, each of the plurality of battery cells having a lithium-based chemistry and a respective state of charge, power being transferable between the plurality of battery cells and the electrical device;
• and
• a microprocessor programmed to monitor the plurality of battery cells, detect a charge imbalance among the plurality of battery cells based on the respective state of charge of each of the plurality of battery cells, and disable the battery pack when the charge imbalance is detected;
• wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to identify an imbalanced battery cell having a high state of charge relative to a state of charge of another battery cell of the plurality of battery cells;
• wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to initiate a controlled discharging process to discharge the imbalanced battery cell when the charge imbalance is detected.