Abstract: The bypass element is connected in parallel with a single battery cell or a group of battery cells of a high-temperature storage battery including a plurality of series-connected electrochemical battery cells and is used both for balancing the charging state of undamaged battery cells and for the irreversible bypassing of destroyed cells which have failed with high impedance. The bypass element includes two series-connected semiconductor components, in particular semiconductor diodes, varistors or NTC resistances in each case having a different current/voltage characteristic or curve. In the event of potentiostatic overcharging of a battery cell, the first semiconductor component goes to low impedance so that the current flow necessary for charging further battery cells is determined only by the leakage current of the second semiconductor component. If a destroyed battery cell fails with high impedance, both semiconductor components break down and irreversibly short-circuit the cell with a low impedance.