Abstract: A three-stage rapid charging process for maintenance-free lead storage batteries with a fixed electrolyte, which produces consistently recurring full charging of both electrode polarities even under cyclic loading, includes a first charging stage which proceeds at a constant current of the magnitude of a four-hour to eight-hour current until a temperature-dependent charging voltage is reached, a second charging stage which then continues at this temperature-dependent charging voltage for a limited time, and which is continuously adjusted to the battery's temperature, and a third charging stage which is again time-limited and which constitutes a secondary charging which proceeds according to an I/V characteristic curve with an initial charging current limited to between 0.05 and 0.5 times a ten-hour current and a battery voltage which is limited to between 2% and 8% above the temperature-dependent charging voltage.