Abstract: A battery (100) has first accumulator cells (111 . . . 114) connected in series to form at least one cell string (110), and second accumulator cells (121 . . . 124) are arranged so that cells can be connected in parallel to individual cells of the first accumulator cells (111 . . . 114) by switching elements (131 . . . 133?, 134, 134?). To compensate the charge between the cells, the switching elements (131 . . . 133?, 134, 134?) can establish two-way connections (A, B) between the first and second accumulator cells. Each second accumulator cell (121) can be connected in parallel alternately either to a first accumulator cell (111) within the cell string (110) or to another adjacent first accumulator cell (112). The switching elements (131 . . .