Abstract: A switched-capacitor balancing and characterization system for balancing and characterization of a plurality of stacked battery cells includes at least one capacitor connectable to a plurality of battery cells via switches, configured to connect or disconnect the at least one capacitor to the battery cells and a processing unit configured to control the plurality of switches. The switched-capacitor balancing and characterization system is configured to perform simultaneous balancing and characterization of the battery cells. The disclosure further relates to a battery system comprising the switched-capacitor balancing and characterization system and the stack of battery cells and to a method for simultaneous balancing and characterization of a stack of battery cells, using a switched-capacitor balancing and characterization system and/or using a battery system.