The influence of sulfuric acid concentration on negative plate performance has been studied on 12 V/32 Ah lead-acid batteries with three negative and four positive plates per cell, i.e. the negative active material limits battery capacity. Initial capacity tests, including C20 capacity, cold cranking ability and Peukert tests, have been carried out in a wide range of sulfuric acid concentrations (from 1.18 to 1.33 sp.gr.). High initial capacity and good CCA performance were registered for batteries with acid concentration between 1.24 and 1.30 sp.gr. The charge acceptance depends on acid concentration as well as on battery state of charge. Batteries with high SoC exhibit high charge acceptance at low acid concentrations. The cycle life tests at two discharge rates (10 and 3 h discharge) evidence that sulfuric acid concentration exerts a strong effect on negative plate performance. The cycle life of batteries decreases with increase of acid concentration. The obtained results demonstrate the high impact of lead sulfate solubility on the cycle life and charge efficiency of lead-acid batteries. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.