Emergency lighting device for operating an illuminant strip having at least one illuminant, preferably a light-emitting diode strip with at least one light-emitting diode, comprising a) a supply path for providing electrical energy for the illuminant strip , b) a battery terminal for electrically connecting a battery to the supply path of the emergency lighting device , and a charging circuit configured to charge the battery if the battery is connected by means of the battery terminal to the supply path of the emergency lighting device, and c) a control unit , d) wherein the control unit , if the battery is electrically connected by means of the battery terminal to the supply path of the emergency lighting device , is configured to detect the open circuit voltage, V BAT , of the battery as a first electrical parameter of the battery , and is furthermore configured: ∘ to determine that a basic technology of the battery corresponds to a first basic technology if the open circuit voltage, V BAT , of the battery is less than a predetermined voltage threshold value, and to determine that the basic technology of the battery corresponds to a second basic technology if the open circuit voltage, V BAT , of the battery is greater than the predetermined voltage threshold value. - wherein the control unit is configured - to detect a second electrical parameter, - to determine a battery type of the basic technology of the battery on the basis of the second electrical parameter, - to detect the internal resistance (R BAT ) of the battery as a second electrical parameter, and - to determine the battery type of the basic technology of the battery on the basis of the internal resistance (R BAT ), and wherein the emergency lighting device is designed to charge the battery, on the basis of the determined battery type, with the charging operation suitable for the battery type. a) a supply path for providing electrical energy for the illuminant strip , b) a battery terminal for electrically connecting a battery to the supply path of the emergency lighting device , and a charging circuit configured to charge the battery if the battery is connected by means of the battery terminal to the supply path of the emergency lighting device, and c) a control unit , d) wherein the control unit , if the battery is electrically connected by means of the battery terminal to the supply path of the emergency lighting device , is configured to detect the open circuit voltage, V BAT , of the battery as a first electrical parameter of the battery , and is furthermore configured: ∘ to determine that a basic technology of the battery corresponds to a first basic technology if the open circuit voltage, V BAT , of the battery is less than a predetermined voltage threshold value, and - wherein the control unit is configured - to detect a second electrical parameter, - to determine a battery type of the basic technology of the battery on the basis of the second electrical parameter, - to detect the internal resistance (R BAT ) of the battery as a second electrical parameter, and - to determine the battery type of the basic technology of the battery on the basis of the internal resistance (R BAT ), and <EOS>