Rechargeable battery cell operable at normal temperature, with an SO.sub.2 based electrolyte system, a negative electrode and a positive electrode, wherein one of the electrodes has an electronically conductive discharge element. An improved cycle stability and consequently a longer useful lifetime is achieved in that, as a reaction protection material to protect the discharge element against unwanted reactions with constituents of the SO.sub.2 based electrolyte system, at least a surface layer of the electronically conductive discharge element contains an alloy of chrome with another metal and/or a protective metal, selected from rhodium, tungsten, rhenium, tantalum, platinum, iridium, osmium or technetium in pure form, as an alloy or as a constituent of a compound and/or a carbide, nitride or phosphide of titanium, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, iron, vanadium, zirconium or manganese.