We studied cycle time (0.01–10 s with triangular input waves) and poling history (continuous versus fresh poling) dependent electric energy storage and discharge behaviors in poly(vinylidene fluoride-

co

-hexafluoropropylene) [P(VDF-HFP)] films using the electric displacement — the electric field (

D

-

E

) hysteresis loop measurements. Since the permanent dipoles in PVDF are orientational in nature

it is generally considered that both charging and discharging processes should be time and poling history dependent. Intriguingly

our experimental results showed that the charging process depended heavily on the cycle time and the prior poling history

and thus the

D

-

E

hysteresis loops had different shapes accordingly. However

the discharged energy density did not change no matter how the

D

-

E

loop shape varied due to different measurements. This experimental result could be explained in terms of reversible and irreversible polarizations. The reversible polarization could be charged and discharged fairly quickly (

<

5 ms for each process)

while the irreversible polarization depended heavily on the poling time and the prior poling history. This study suggests that it is only meaningful to compare the discharged energy density for PVDF and its copolymer films when different cycle times and poling histories are used.