A battery grid comprising a continuous cast and mechanically deformed lead-based alloy that comprises lead and silver and is essentially free of calcium, wherein the silver is at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.003 to about 0.015 weight percent, and has a predominant equiaxed grain structure that comprises grain sizes that are in a range of about 0.1 to about 5 microns. Other alloy constituents include bismuth at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.003 to about 0.002 weight percent and tin at a concentration that is in a range of about 0.2 to about 1.8 weight percent. A process for making strip of said alloy for use in manufacturing said grid. A battery comprising said grid.