TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Cell: In the cell, the ionic liquid contacts both the fuel electrode and the air electrode. The fuel and air electrodes each are configured to essentially prevent liquid permeation of the low temperature ionic liquid via external surfaces. It further comprises an electrically insulating flexible separator; where the flexible fuel electrode, the flexible air electrode, and the flexible separator are wound in a roll as the non-linear compact configuration with the flexible separator positioned between the external surfaces of the fuel electrode and the air electrode to prevent electrically conducting contact between the external surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes, the flexible separator being configured to permit exposure of the external surface of the air electrode to gaseous oxygen. It further comprises one or more seal members along a periphery of the fuel and air electrodes for sealing the space between the fuel and air electrodes to contain the ionic liquid, the seal members being electrically insulating to prevent electrical conduction between the fuel and air electrodes. It further comprises a flexible internal separator that is electrochemically inert in the ionic liquid and electrically insulating, the flexible internal separator being wound in the roll and positioned in the space between the internal surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes to prevent electrically conducting contact between the internal surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes. It further comprises a flexible internal separator that is electrochemically inert in the ionic liquid and electrically insulating, the flexible internal separator being wound in the roll and positioned in the space between the internal surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes to prevent electrically conducting contact between the internal surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes. It further comprises a housing in which the roll is received. The housing has an open axial airflow receiving end and an axial airflow receiving end of the roll faces the open axial airflow receiving end of the housing, the cell further comprises an airflow generator for forcing airflow into the open axial airflow receiving end of the housing and the axial airflow receiving end of the roll between the external surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes. The housing has an open axial airflow exit end opposite the open axial airflow receiving end, and the roll has an axial airflow exit end facing the open axial airflow exit end of the housing, where the airflow generator is configured to force the airflow axially through the roll between the external surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes and axially outward from the axial airflow exit end of the roll for exit through the open axial airflow exit end of the housing. It further comprises an airflow generator configured to force airflow into the roll between the external surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes. The roll has an axial airflow receiving end and the airflow generator is configured to force the airflow into the axial airflow receiving end between the external surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes. The roll has an axial airflow exit end opposite the axial airflow receiving end, and the airflow generator is configured to force the airflow into the axial airflow receiving end of the roll between the external surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes and outwardly from the axial airflow exit end. The roll has a circumferential airflow exit defined by ends of the fuel and air electrodes on an outermost lap of the roll, and where the airflow generator is configured to force the airflow into the axial airflow receiving end of the roll between the external surface of the fuel and air electrodes and outwardly from the axial airflow exit. The ionic liquid has a vapor pressure at or below 1 mm Hg at 20 degrees C above its melting point. The ionic liquid has a vapor pressure that is essentially immeasurable at 20 degrees C above its melting point. The ionic liquid has a vapor pressure at or below 1 mm Hg at 20 degrees C above its melting point. The ionic liquid has a vapor pressure that is essentially immeasurable at 20 degrees C above its melting point. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 300 microns. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 100 microns. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 300 microns. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 100 microns. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is in the range of 1:10 to 10:1. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is greater than or equal to 1:1. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 300 microns. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 100 microns. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is in the range of 1:10 to 10:1. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is greater than or equal to 1:1. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 300 microns. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 100 microns. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is in the range of 1:10 to 10:1. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is greater than or equal to 1:1. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 300 microns. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 100 microns. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is in the range of 1:10 to 10:1. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is greater than or equal to 1:1. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 300 microns. The distance of the space between the fuel and air electrodes is in the range of 10 microns to 100 microns. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is in the range of 1:10 to 10:1. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is greater than or equal to 1:1. The ionically conductive medium consists essentially of the low temperature ionic liquid. The ionically conductive medium consists of the low temperature ionic liquid. The ionically conductive medium is devoid of a solvent for dissolving the low temperature ionic liquid. The low temperature ionic liquid is a room temperature ionic liquid. The low temperature ionic liquid is a room temperature ionic liquid. The low temperature ionic liquid is a room temperature ionic liquid. The low temperature ionic liquid is a room temperature ionic liquid. The ionically conductive medium consists essentially of the low temperature ionic liquid. The ionically conductive medium consists of the low temperature ionic liquid. The ionically conductive medium is devoid of a solvent for dissolving the low temperature ionic liquid. The low temperature ionic liquid is a room temperature ionic liquid. The low temperature ionic liquid is a room temperature ionic liquid. The low temperature ionic liquid is a room temperature ionic liquid. The low temperature ionic liquid is a room temperature ionic liquid. The compact configuration is the flexible fuel electrode and the flexible air electrode being folded in an alternating manner with portions of the air electrode's external surface facing one another and portions of the fuel electrode's external surface facing one another. It further comprises separators positioned between at least the portions of the air electrode's external surfaces facing one another, the separators being configured to permit exposure of the portions of the air electrodes external surface to gaseous oxygen. The flexible fuel electrode and the flexible air electrode are wound in a roll as the non-linear compact configuration, where the cell further comprises a retainer structure for positioning fuel electrode and the air electrode so that the external surfaces of the fuel electrode and the air electrode are maintained in spaced apart relation to prevent electrically conducting contact between the external surfaces of the fuel and air electrodes and permit exposure of the external surface of the air electrode to gaseous oxygen. The fuel and air electrodes each are configured to essentially prevent liquid permeation of the low temperature ionic liquid via external surfaces; where the ionic liquid has a vapor pressure at or below 1 mm Hg at 20 degrees C above its melting point; and where a ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is greater than or equal to 1:1. The ionic liquid has a vapor pressure at or below 1 mm Hg at 20 degrees C above its melting point; and where a ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is greater than or equal to 1:1. The metal fuel comprises a metal selected from an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal and a post-transition metal. The metal fuel comprises a metal selected from zinc, aluminum, gallium, manganese, and magnesium. The metal fuel comprises a metal selected from an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal and a post-transition metal. The metal fuel comprises a metal selected from zinc, aluminum, gallium, manganese, and magnesium. The metal fuel comprises a metal selected from an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal and a post-transition metal. The metal fuel comprises a metal selected from zinc, aluminum, gallium, manganese, and magnesium. The metal fuel comprises a metal selected from an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal and a post-transition metal. The metal fuel comprises a metal selected from zinc, aluminum, gallium, manganese, and magnesium. The metal fuel comprises a metal selected from an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal and a post-transition metal. The metal fuel comprises a metal selected from zinc, aluminum, gallium, manganese, and magnesium. Alternatively, the electrochemical metal-air cell comprises: a fuel electrode for oxidizing a metal fuel; an air electrode for absorbing and reducing gaseous oxygen; an ionically conductive medium comprising a low temperature ionic liquid having a melting point at or below 150 degrees C at 1 atm, the ionic liquid being contained in a space between the fuel electrode and the air electrode for conducting ions for supporting the electrochemical reactions at the fuel and air electrodes; where the ionic liquid contacts both the fuel electrode and the air electrode. The fuel and air electrodes are configured to essentially prevent liquid permeation of the low temperature ionic liquid via the external surfaces. The vapor pressure of the ionic liquid is at or below 1 mm Hg at 20 degrees C above its melting point. The vapor pressure of the ionic liquid is at or below 0.1 mm Hg at 20 degrees C above its melting point. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is in the range of 1:10 to 10:1. The ratio of combined electrode thickness to ionic liquid thickness is greater than or equal to 1:1. The ratio is greater than or equal to 2:1. The ratio is greater than or equal to 3:1. The metal fuel comprises zinc. Preferred Method: In the method above, the ionic liquid is at a temperature at which the vapor pressure of the ionic liquid is at or below 1 mm Hg. The ionic liquid is at a temperature at which the vapor pressure of the ionic liquid is at or below 0.1 mm Hg. The ionic liquid is at a temperature at which the vapor pressure of the ionic liquid is essentially zero. The metal fuel comprises zinc.