In 1854 he began work as an assistant lecturer in physics at the Conservatory of Arts and Crafts in Paris.

In 1855, Planté discovered the first fossils of the prehistoric flightless bird Gastornis parisiensis (named after him) near Paris.

[3] His early model consisted of a spiral roll of two sheets of pure lead, separated by a linen cloth and immersed in a glass jar of sulfuric acid solution.

In 1881, Camille Alphonse Faure would develop a more efficient and reliable model that saw great success in early electric cars.

In 1989 the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences established the Gaston Planté Medal, which is awarded every few years to scientists who have made significant contributions to the development of lead-acid battery technology.