Can a superconductor charge a battery?

To charge a battery it is necessary to know the difference between positive and negative charges. We argue that a superconductor described by the conventional theory of superconductivity doesn’t know the difference between positive and negative charges, therefore it cannot charge a battery. Instead, a superconductor described by the theory of hole superconductivity can. We argue that existing experiments can be interpreted to imply that real superconductors can charge batteries, which undermines the credibility of the conventional theory. We propose a new experiment that can establish whether or not real superconductors are described by the alternative theory of hole superconductivity. • To charge a battery, a superconductor needs to know the difference between positive and negative charge. • Superconductors described by the conventional theory don’t know the difference, hence cannot charge a battery. • Superconductors described by the alternative theory of hole superconductivity can charge batteries. • Real superconductors can charge batteries. • An experiment is proposed to decide whether or not the theory of hole superconductivity describes reality.