Making a high capacity rechargeable hydride battery comprises: (1) preparing a hydrogen storage material and its hydride electrode as a negative electrode, where the electrode comprises: (a) a hydrogen storage material from gp. having compsn. formula AaBbNicDyMxRz and at its hydride, where: A is at least one element from Ti, Zr and Mg; B is at least one element from Al, V, Mn, Si, Pd and Ag; D is at least one element from Cr, Fe, Co, Ch, Zn, Nb,Mo, W and Sn; R is at least one element from C, B, Ca, Sb, Bi, Sc, Y, Hf, Ta, O, N, Ge, Ga, and Mn (mischemical); M is at least one element of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, P and S; a is 0.10-0.85, b is 0.01- 0.65, c is 0.02-0.75, x is 0-0.30, y is 0-0.30 (atomic mol. ratios), and a+b+c+y+x+z = 100, and the atomic mole ratio of Ti is not greater than a, but greater than zero; if present Mm is 0-8.0 at.%, O is 0-2.0 at%. and Mn is 0.15 at.% and less than 30 wt. % Zr; and (b) the prepn. step comprises homogenously melting the component elements of the hydrogen storage material in a crucible selected from graphite, zirconia, alumina, and water-cooled copper under less than 1 atm. protective atmos. selected from inert gas, hydrogen, hydrocarbon gas and combinations of these, where the negative hydrogen storage electrode is prepd. by sintering under vacuum at 450-950C without binder or with one or more powder binders from the gp. of Cu, Al, Zn, carbon black PTFE, polyox and methylcellulose; (2) preparing a positive metal oxide electrode having an electrochemical capacity from 0.45 to 0.75 AH/cc, comprising a nickel oxide plus 1-15 wt.% Co oxide and 1-15 wt.% of conductive powder from gp. of Ni, Cu, C, Zn, Al or combinations of these and the N/P ratio, the electrochemical capacity ratio of negative to positive electrode is 1.0-2.0; (3) providing a separator selected from polyamide, polypropylene, and polysulphone; (4) providing an electrolyte; (5) providing a container; and (6) assembling a rechargeable hydride battery by placing the separator between negative and positive electrodes, placing the separator and positive and negative electrodes in the container and placing the electrolyte in the container in contact with the negative and positive electrodes.    Also claimed are: (i) two further processes for the mfr. of a high capacity rechargeable hydride battery; (ii) three hydride batteries; and (iii) a material for a hydrogen storage and hydride electrode.    USE -   Used for rechargeable hydride batteries.    ADVANTAGE -   The process produces improved high capacity rechargeable batteries, partic. rechargeable nickel-hydride batteries.