Tech History: The Lead-Acid Legacy of the First Rechargeable Battery

The world’s first rechargeable battery was invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté. He developed the lead-acid battery, which used lead plates submerged in sulfuric acid to store and release electrical energy. Unlike earlier batteries, it could be recharged by reversing the chemical reaction using an electrical current.

Despite being over 160 years old, this technology is still widely used today in vehicles, backup power systems, and solar energy storage. Its simplicity, reliability, and ability to deliver high surge currents make it remarkably enduring in modern applications.