TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Arrangement: The battery cell further comprises an electrolyte disposed within the soft pocket chamber. The electrolyte is an aqueous solution containing a compound chosen from potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride. A semipermeable membrane (124) is disposed in the soft pocket upper portion to allow gases to flow out of the soft pocket upper portion. The membrane is permeable to gases but impermeable to liquids. The semipermeable membrane is made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The soft pocket closing mechanism comprises at least one strap and one or more bolts and nuts. The top opening comprises expansion restrainers to limit the expansion of the top opening of the soft pocket beyond the retaining structure position. The metallic anode comprises a planar anode base portion and a tab portion. The anode base portion is disposed within an enclosure bag. The anode base portion has a lower edge and an upper edge, the lower edge being shorter in length than the upper edge. The anode base portion is trapezoidal in shape. The metallic anode comprises an electrically conductive support structure to which a metallic anode material is attached. The metallic anode material is zinc. The gas cathodes are air cathodes. The metallic anode is retained firmly within the soft pocket by a resilient retaining component. The battery cells are electrically connected in series. The soft pocket comprises a molded integral piece w-shaped in cross-section. The periphery of wall (I) is attached to structure (I) and the periphery of wall (II) is attached to structure (II), by mechanical force without glue.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Materials: The semi-permeable membrane disposed in the soft pocket upper portion is made of polytetrafluoroethylene. The soft pocket comprises a fabric reinforced membrane comprising an alkaline-resistant fabric selected from vinylon, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene propylene diene monomer, butyl rubber, ethylene-propylene copolymer and chlorosulfonated polyethylene. The membrane has at least one alkaline-resistant coating comprising neoprene, polypropylene, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride, on the fabric.