Contemporary lead-acid batteries have a high internal resistance and a limited utilization of their positive active materials (PAM). In order to alleviate these problems, lead (alloy) foam-based positive electrodes for lead-acid batteries are prepared by electrodepositing lead on a copper-foam substrate. Using scanning electron microscopy, flame atomic absorption spectrometry, finite element analysis, cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic charge/discharge tests, the effect of the lead foam collectors on the electrochemical performance of the positive electrodes is characterized. The thickness of the lead coating has a strong effect on the corrosion-stability of the copper-foam substrate. In addition, the charge/discharge performance of the batteries is greatly improved by the lead-foam collectors. At the 20-2 h discharge rates, the utilization efficiency of the PAM of 40-PPI lead-foam battery is improved by 19-36% from the cast-grid battery. Combined with the finite element analysis, it appears that the 3D connected network structure of the positive lead foam electrode can reduce the surface current density, the polarization resistance, and the ohmic resistance of the battery because of its larger contact area with the active material. As a result, the lead foam battery has a higher utilization efficiency of the PAM. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.