Lead-Acid Battery

A lead acid battery is a rechargeable battery that stores chemical energy in the reaction between lead plates and a sulfuric acid electrolyte: on discharge both plates convert toward lead sulfate as the acid weakens, and charging reverses the reaction, restoring metallic lead at the negative plate and lead dioxide at the positive plate along with the electrolyte acid strength. French physicist Gaston Plante invented it in 1859, the first rechargeable battery of any kind, using two lead foil spirals separated by cloth and immersed in dilute sulfuric acid; in 1881 Camille Alphonse Faure patented a lead oxide paste manufacturing method that sharply cut production costs and raised capacity, making the battery practical at scale. Though heavier and less energy dense than newer chemistries, lead acid batteries remain unmatched for delivering the high electrical surges automotive starting requires, and around 150 million units shipped in North America alone in 2024. In 1999 lead acid batteries still accounted for 40 to 50 percent of the entire world battery market by value, a position built almost entirely on automotive and backup power demand.