Positive plates for the carbon lead-acid battery (CLAB) with porous carbon grids coated with lead have been prepared and tested. Lead coating thickness in the range between 20 and 140 micrometers has been shown to positively influence the discharging profile and the cyclic lifetime of the plates. Thicker coating improves both the cyclic life and discharge performance. The increase of battery specific energy by 50% is expected by employing the lightweight carbon grid with 60 μm lead coating for positive plates, and 20 μm for negative.