NOVELTY - A high rate, nickel zinc cell (12) has a nickel hydroxide positive electrode (14) and a zinc negative electrode (46) comprising copper foam, which is secured to the copper current collector (22) at its edges, and which is pasted with a paste mixture consisting primarily of zinc oxide. The copper foam is pressed to form pockets (50), which face the copper current collector when assembled.    USE - For a high rate nickel zinc battery (claimed) in hybrid battery configurations for use in a traction device, such as a motor vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - The invention augments high-energy batteries, which may have slow power delivery rates, and provides high current pulses when needed. It ensures that adequate acceleration and hill climbing capability are provided for the vehicle, where short duration but high power demands may be placed on the hybrid battery; and provides a stable and high rate configuration for a nickel zinc battery. The inventive thin film nickel zinc batteries is capable of energy densities, which are greater than 60 W hours/kg, and have a power density greater than 1000 W/kg; permits optimization of power delivery for minimal cost; are compact; and of relatively low mass.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A high rate, nickel zinc cell has a nickel hydroxide positive electrode, a zinc negative electrode, an alkaline electrolyte, and a microporous separator (20). The cell is structured as a bipolar cell having a current collector, with the positive electrode at its one side and the negative electrode at its other side, and where the electrolyte contacts the positive and/or negative electrodes and is contained by the separator. The current collector comprises a sheet copper substrate in contact with the zinc negative electrode. A sheet nickel substrate (24) is laminated to the copper current collector, in contact with the nickel hydroxide positive electrode. The nickel hydroxide positive electrode is applied in a thin film to the face of the sheet nickel substrate, remote from the copper current collector. The zinc negative electrode comprises copper foam, which is secured to the copper current collector at its edges, and which is pasted with a paste mixture consisting primarily of zinc oxide. The copper foam is pressed to form pockets, which face the copper current collector when assembled. Access to the negative electrode for oxygen generated at the positive electrode during overcharge conditions, is provided. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for a high rate nickel zinc battery (10), comprising an assembly of at least2 high rate nickel zinc cells, where the battery comprises a series arranged assembly of at least2 cells with a microporous separator being placed between each contiguous pair of cells, and each respective cell is contained in a housing (30, 32), and the respective housings for each of the cells are assembled together to provide a leak proof containment, for the electrolyte on each side of the microporous separator.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure is a plan view of a high rate nickel zinc battery comprising two high rate nickel zinc cells.    High rate nickel zinc battery (10)    High rate, nickel zinc cell (12)    Nickel hydroxide positive electrode (14)    Microporous separator (20)    Current collector (22)    Sheet nickel substrate (24)    Housing (30, 32)    Zinc negative electrode (46)    Pockets (50)