The rate of formation of the lead-acid battery plate is limited by the conductivity of the positive paste. Efforts to increase the paste conductivity which have been published are reviewed. A proprietary process developed at Johnson Controls for treating the positive plate with ozone to convert the lead oxide to conductive lead dioxide is described. Plate ozonation has two effects: (i) it enhances formation by creating a conductive layer on the plate surface, and (ii) it oxidizes