The cell-impedance-controlled concept to explain the chronoamperometric curves obtained from intercalation compounds is revisited and inspired by the recent publication entitled "Discussion of three models used for the investigation of insertion/extraction processes by the potential step chronoamperometry technique" [C. Montella, Electrochim. Acta 50 (2005) 3746-3763]. The main issues the author pointed out have been critically discussed and then, the validity of the cell-impedance-controlled model has been verified from the combination of experimental and theoretical approaches. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.