An electrochemical cell comprising a cell housing, and an electrode assembly disposed in the cell housing, the electrode assembly comprising positive electrode plates alternating with negative electrode plates and separated by at least one separator, wherein each of the positive electrode plates comprise an electrically conductive first substrate; a first coating disposed on the first substrate, where the first coating is formed of a first active material; a first clear lane that is disposed along an edge of the positive electrode plate, the first clear lane being free of the first coating; a first opening disposed within the first clear lane, and a fold along a first fold line that extends along a margin of the opening, whereby a portion of the first clear lane overlies a side of the electrode stack; and each of the negative electrode plates comprise an electrically conductive second substrate; a second coating disposed on the second substrate, where the second coating is formed of a second active material; a second clear lane that is disposed along an edge of the negative electrode plate, the second clear lane being free of the second coating; a second opening disposed within the second clear lane, and a fold along a second fold line that extends along a margin of the second opening, whereby a portion of the second clear lane overlies a side of the electrode stack; and the electrochemical cell comprises an electrically conductive first inner plate that extends through each first opening and is electrically connected to each of the positive electrode plates, and is disposed between each of the portions of first clear lanes and the electrode stack, and an electrically conductive second inner plate that extends through each second opening, is electrically connected to each of the negative electrode plates, and is disposed between each of the portions of the second clear lanes and the electrode stack. a cell housing, and an electrode assembly disposed in the cell housing, the electrode assembly comprising positive electrode plates alternating with negative electrode plates and separated by at least one separator, an electrically conductive first substrate; a first coating disposed on the first substrate, where the first coating is formed of a first active material; a first clear lane that is disposed along an edge of the positive electrode plate, the first clear lane being free of the first coating; a first opening disposed within the first clear lane, and a fold along a first fold line that extends along a margin of the opening, whereby a portion of the first clear lane overlies a side of the electrode stack; and an electrically conductive second substrate; a second coating disposed on the second substrate, where the second coating is formed of a second active material; a second clear lane that is disposed along an edge of the negative electrode plate, the second clear lane being free of the second coating; a second opening disposed within the second clear lane, and a fold along a second fold line that extends along a margin of the second opening, whereby a portion of the second clear lane overlies a side of the electrode stack; and an electrically conductive first inner plate that extends through each first opening and is electrically connected to each of the positive electrode plates, and is disposed between each of the portions of first clear lanes and the electrode stack, and an electrically conductive second inner plate that extends through each second opening, is electrically connected to each of the negative electrode plates, and is disposed between each of the portions of the second clear lanes and the electrode stack.