Battery (All): Terminology: Charging
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2010 Volvo V70, 2009 Volvo V70, and 2008 Volvo V70. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The process by which a battery is supplied with energy by a charger or the generator (GEN) in the car. During charging, the lead sulfate in the plates is converted back to pure lead on the negative plates and to lead oxide on the positive plate. Water is consumed, sulfuric acid is formed and the density of the acid increases.
This reaction can be written:
2 PbSO4 + 2 H2 O → PbO2 + Pb + 2 H2 SO4