Did you know the first lead acid battery came from the workshop of Gaston Planté in 1859? And that it was the first rechargeable battery ever? At the time, Gaston was 25 years old and an assistant at the Conservatory of Arts and Crafts in Paris. He must have been like the Bill Gates of his day, tinkering with technology. We write this as a tribute to the enduring nature of lead-acid batteries he invented.
Proof Everywhere of the Enduring Nature of Lead-Acid
‘Enduring’ means long lasting, continuing, permanent, and durable. Gaston Planté’s brilliant invention has certainly stood the test of time. Nowadays, it powers emergency lighting, medical equipment, uninterruptible power systems, and a host of other things he never dreamed of. What makes the enduring nature of lead-acid amazing? It is such a simple solution.
The Amazing Simplicity of Lead-Acid Battery Design
When you think about it, what could be simpler than pairs of lead plates separated by diluted sulfuric acid to transport their ions. However, lead-acid batteries are not self-sustaining yet. They still need power running through them to give them life. The enduring nature of lead-acid batteries could be a key to the green revolution. We already recycle 95% of them, while they are playing an increasing role in small wind and solar grids. One reason is they are so simple, anybody can understand them in a matter of minutes. Compare this to the alternatives!
What Became of Gaston Planté Afterwards?
Gaston was a scientist, not an entrepreneur like Bill Gates. He left it to Camille Alphonse Faure to develop a commercial lead-acid battery. Gaston went on to explore other aspects of the wonder phenomenon; electricity. We owe him much for his work on static electricity, and stepping up voltages with banks of capacitors. However, we owe him most for his discovery of the enduring nature of lead-acid batteries.
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Preview Image: Recharged Lead Acid Battery
