Lead–acid battery

A rechargeable electrochemical battery that stores and releases energy through reversible reactions between lead-based electrodes and sulfuric acid electrolyte. Its low cost and high surge-current capability make it widely used for vehicle starting and backup power.

Lead–acid battery discharge reaction: The cell reaction that converts lead and lead dioxide into lead sulfate while producing electrical energy. It describes how both electrodes change as the battery supplies current.
Lead dioxide: A lead oxide compound that serves as the positive active material in a charged lead–acid cell. It supplies the positive plate’s active material before discharge converts it to lead sulfate.
Automotive battery: A vehicle battery that supplies electrical power for starting, lighting, and onboard systems. Conventional internal-combustion vehicles commonly use lead–acid batteries for engine starting.
Lithium-ion battery: A rechargeable battery that moves lithium ions between electrodes during charging and discharging. It usually offers greater energy density, while lead–acid often costs less and delivers strong starting current.
Gaston Planté: A French physicist who invented the lead–acid battery in 1859. His rechargeable cell established the chemistry that later became practical for widespread power storage.
Lead–acid battery charging reaction: The reverse electrochemical reaction that restores lead and lead dioxide from lead sulfate. Charging drives the discharge products back toward the battery’s charged state.
Porous lead: A sponge-like form of metallic lead used as the negative active material in a charged lead–acid cell. Its large reactive surface supports the negative electrode’s discharge reaction.
Starter battery: A battery designed to deliver a brief, high current for starting an engine. Lead–acid batteries can provide the large surge current needed by starter motors.
Nickel–metal hydride battery: A rechargeable battery that uses a hydrogen-absorbing alloy and a nickel oxyhydroxide electrode. It avoids lead but generally serves different cost, voltage, and packaging trade-offs.
Camille Alphonse Faure: A French engineer who developed a method for coating lead plates with active material in the 1880s. His design substantially increased capacity and helped make lead–acid batteries commercially useful.

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