NOVELTY - The method involves generating a thermal flux at each point of a space by an electrochemical model based on exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions, where the thermal flux is integrated at each time step according to thermal and geometric characteristics of a rechargeable electrochemical system i.e. electrochemical battery. Variable characteristics e.g. temperature, potential or active space concentration, of the system at each time step and at each mesh of the space, are calculated. A derived output signal representing thermal characteristics of the system, is generated.    USE - Method for simulating thermal characteristics i.e. thermal gradients, of a rechargeable electrochemical system e.g. electrochemical battery such as nickel-metal hydride battery or lithium ion battery, in an electric or hybrid vehicle or a wind turbine or photovoltaic energy providing installation, using a thermal characteristics simulator to dimension and design the battery and to operate a heat management unit that is utilized for managing the cooling and/or heating of the battery (all claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The method simulates the thermal characteristics of the battery in real time and in a manner synchronous to the operation of the battery, during rapid recharging of the battery, thus optimizing the thermal and electric management strategies of the battery so as to guarantee the safety of the pack of batteries and the optimized functional performance of the battery. The method prevents the vehicle supervision software from behaving in a conservative manner during utilization of energy potential of the battery, while respecting the thermal gradient limits between elements within the battery pack, thus improving the service life of the pack, and hence reducing the total cost of the vehicle. The method guarantees the safe and efficient exploitation of the capacity of the battery in any operating range of the vehicle.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for an intelligent management system for an electrochemical battery, comprising a processing unit.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a functional block diagram illustrating a method for simulating thermal characteristics of a rechargeable electrochemical system.'(Drawing includes non-English language text)'