risolto con il flag -z ...

questo è lo script completo
codice:
#!/bin/sh

full_capacity=`cat /proc/acpi/battery/BAT1/info | grep full | awk '{print $4}'`
remaining_capacity=`cat /proc/acpi/battery/BAT1/state | grep remaining | awk '{print
$3}'`
rate=`cat /proc/acpi/battery/BAT1/state | grep rate | awk '{print $3}'`

if [ -z rate ]
then
  perc=`expr $remaining_capacity \* 100 / $full_capacity`
  echo "percentuale $perc"
else
   echo "unknow"
fi

grazie ancora!!