Abstract: A battery charger adapted to be electrically connected to the terminals of a battery for providing a charge to the battery, the battery charger comprising a device for supplying charging current to the battery, the current supplying device being operable to alternatively and selectively supply current at a first and second rate, the first rate providing for high rate charging of the battery, circuitry for sensing the voltage of the battery while the charger is connected to the battery, the sensing circuitry being adapted to be coupled to the battery, circuitry for alternatively selecting the first rate and the second rate, the selecting circuitry being coupled to the supplying circuitry and to the severing circuitry, circuitry for severing the supply of charging current to the battery when the second rate is selected, and when the sensing circuitry senses battery voltage in excess of a first predetermined threshold voltage, and for resuming the supply of current to the battery at the second rate when the sens