Management unit and method for managing electric energy stored in a battery comprising a number of series-connected cells

A management unit (1) and method for managing electric energy stored in a battery (2) composed of a number of series-connected cells (3), the management unit (1) having: a main equalizing circuit (4), which forms the primary of an electric transformer (5) and has a constant alternating-current generator (6) powered by the battery (2) and which feeds alternating current of constant intensity through the main equalizing circuit (4); and, for each cell (3) of the battery (2), a secondary equalizing circuit (7), which forms the secondary of the electric transformer (5), is connected parallel to the cell (3), has a one-way electronic device (8) which imposes electric current flow to the cell (3) in one direction only, and is connected to a drive device (9) that can be activated to zero the voltage applied to the cell (3) by the secondary equalizing circuit (7).