NOVELTY - The battery (100) has a case (40) for housing an electrode assembly (10). A cap assembly (50) comprises a cap plate (51) with a short-circuit hole (51c) for sealing an opening of the case. A short-circuiting part (60) comprises a short-circuiting plate (61) arranged at the short-circuit hole and a connection plate (62) covering a portion of the short-circuit hole at an exterior side. The connection plate is spaced apart from the cap plate and electrically connected to the electrode assembly. The case and the cap assembly are electrically insulated from the electrode assembly.    USE - Rechargeable battery e.g. low-capacity rechargeable battery and high-capacity rechargeable battery, for use as a power source for a small portable electronic device e.g. cellular phone and camcorder, and for driving a motor of an electric scooter, an electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - The short-circuiting plate and the connection plate are brought into surface contact with each other, which increases a contact area between the short-circuiting plate and the connection plate, and reduces contact resistance between the short-circuiting plate and the connection plate, thus maintaining a short circuit state, and preventing melting of the short-circuiting plate and the connection plate before a fuse part operates while allowing a large amount of current to flow through the fuse part, and hence allowing the fuse part to operate definitely. The case and the cap assembly are electrically insulated from the electrode assembly such that the case and the cap plate are maintained at an electrically neutral state, thus reducing risks due to a short circuit. The short-circuiting part operates to allow electrode terminals of the electrode assembly to be electrically connected to the cap plate when internal pressure of the battery rises to a predetermined or reference pressure or greater, thus operating the fuse part and securing safety in use of the battery.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a cross-sectional view of a rechargeable battery.    Electrode assembly (10)    Case (40)    Cap assembly (50)    Cap plate (51)    Short-circuit hole (51c)    Short-circuiting part (60)    Short-circuiting plate (61)    Connection plate (62)    Rechargeable battery (100)