Gaston Plante and his invention of the lead-acid battery-The genesis of the first practical rechargeable battery

摘要

In 1860, the Frenchman Gaston Plante (1834-1889) invented the first practical version of a rechargeable battery based on lead-acid chemistry-the most successful secondary battery of all ages. This article outlines Plante's fundamental concepts that were decisive for later development of practical lead-acid batteries. The 'pile secondaire' was indeed ahead its time in that an appropriate appliance for charging the accumulator was not available. The industrial success came after the invention of the Gramme machine. In 1879, Plante obtained acceptance for his work by publishing a book entitled Recherches sur l'Electricite. He never protected his inventions by patents, and spent much of his fortune on assisting impoverished scientists.