An alkaline electrochemical cell comprises: (a) an unplated cylindrical steel container, with one end closed to form a bottom and the other end open, which forms a positive current collector; (b) a cylindrical, annular cathode of manganese dioxide inside the container; (c) a cylindrical anode of gelled zinc placed inside the cylindrical void at the centre of the cathode; (d) an ionically permeable separator interposed between (part of) the outer surface of the anode and the inner surface of the cathode; (e) an alkaline aq. electrolyte comprising KOH wetting (partially) the anode, the cathode and the separator; (f) a negative current collector electrically connected to the anode; (g) a sealing disc placed at the top of the cylindrical steel container to seal in the contents but with the negative current collector passing through the disc; and (h) a conductive polymeric coating of max. thickness 0.002 in., comprising electrically conductive carbon in a film-forming binder and resistant to chemical reaction with the alkaline electrolyte, which is placed between the outer wall of the cathode and the inner wall of the steel container and is in electrical contact with both.    The coating (h) has discontinuities in it and covers &lt; 100% of the inner surface of the container to that the electrolyte is in direct contact with at least part of the inner surface of the unplated steel container. The cell has a lower internal resistance w.r.t. another cell having no conductive polymer coating but an otherwise identical construction.    Also claimed is a cell as above in which the polymer coating (h) contains a conductive filler.    USE -   The coating is used to improve the performance characteristics of alkaline prim. batteries e.g. of sizes AAA, AA, C and D.    ADVANTAGE -   The thin, conductive coating of the polymer prevents the formation of a high resistance layer between the cathode and the positive current collector, even during storage at elevated temps.. Thus the cell has low internal resistance (claimed), reduced contact resistance between the positive current collector and the cathode mix and an increased shelf life. The use of nickel-plated steel is avoided and cell of superior performance is produced at reduced mfg. cost.