In the late 1700's, many inventors were investigating the potential of storing energy, but it really began making headway in the 1800's. They began getting better charges and the energy from the batteries kept getting better as well. They became so much more effective that product applications presented themselves such as using batteries in doorbells, telegraphs, and telephones. Over two hundred years later, we're still using batteries for some of these same products.
Here are some other milestones:
1) The first fuel cell was invented in 1839, which enhanced a battery's effectiveness through producing electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen.
2) In 1859, a French inventor developed the first practical rechargeable battery. His concept is still being used in vehicles to this day.
3) In 1866, another French engineer invented a way to make the battery secure from leaking. It was called a dry cell battery and it allowed batteries to be moved from location to location without experiencing corrosion from the battery thus ruining items that were leaked upon.
4) In 1901, Edison invented the Alkaline Storage Battery which doubled the lifespan of a battery.
5) In 1949, the Eveready Battery Company, developed an Alkaline battery that was more than five times longer lasting. Enter the Energizer Bunny concept.
6) The first solar battery was invented in 1954, and the very next year, the first solar company opened its doors by the name of Bell Solar Battery.
7) Duracell Battery Company was incorporated in 1964.
The advances in battery life and power have been amazing, but what I still can't wrap my head around, is that it all started with Benjamin Frankin 274 years ago.