An electrode assembly (500, 702, 704, 706, 708, 800a, 800b) for a stacked-cell battery, wherein the electrode assembly comprises: a first active material layer (504, 804, 818); a first current collector layer (502, 802, 820) adjacent to and in electrical contact with an outer surface of the first active material layer; a tab element (512, 514, 600, 650, 822, 838, 854) having an end lead portion (602, 608, 652, 658, 824, 828, 840, 856) and a second lead portion (826,), the end lead portion being in electrical contact with at least one of the first active material layer and the first current collector layer, and the second lead portion having first and second portions, the first portion being substantially adjacent to a surface of at least one of the first active material layer and the first current collector layer and extending away from the end lead portion to a periphery of a side facet of the electrode assembly and being substantially flush to the side facet of the electrode assembly, and the second portion extending away from the first portion and past the periphery of the side facet of the electrode assembly, the second lead portion being adapted to provide an electrical connection to the electrode assembly; and an insulative layer covering an inner contact area (604i, 654i) of the second lead portion to electrically insulate this portion of the tab element. a first active material layer (504, 804, 818); a first current collector layer (502, 802, 820) adjacent to and in electrical contact with an outer surface of the first active material layer; a tab element (512, 514, 600, 650, 822, 838, 854) having an end lead portion (602, 608, 652, 658, 824, 828, 840, 856) and a second lead portion (826,), the end lead portion being in electrical contact with at least one of the first active material layer and the first current collector layer, and the second lead portion having first and second portions, the first portion being substantially adjacent to a surface of at least one of the first active material layer and the first current collector layer and extending away from the end lead portion to a periphery of a side facet of the electrode assembly and being substantially flush to the side facet of the electrode assembly, and the second portion extending away from the first portion and past the periphery of the side facet of the electrode assembly, the second lead portion being adapted to provide an electrical connection to the electrode assembly; and the end lead portion being in electrical contact with at least one of the first active material layer and the first current collector layer, and the second lead portion having first and second portions, the first portion being substantially adjacent to a surface of at least one of the first active material layer and the first current collector layer and extending away from the end lead portion to a periphery of a side facet of the electrode assembly and being substantially flush to the side facet of the electrode assembly, and the second portion extending away from the first portion and past the periphery of the side facet of the electrode assembly, the second lead portion being adapted to provide an electrical connection to the electrode assembly; and an insulative layer covering an inner contact area (604i, 654i) of the second lead portion to electrically insulate this portion of the tab element.