An electrochemical cell, comprising a housing comprising one or more fluid inlet apertures, a negative electrode, a fluid consuming positive electrode, and at least one microvalve assembly operatively connected to said one or more fluid inlet apertures for controlling passage of fluid to the fluid consuming positive electrode, characterized in that said microvalve assembly comprises: (a) a stationary microvalve body having at least one second inlet aperture; (b) a first movable microactuator having at least two deposited layers being capable of moving between a first position and a second position, said first moveable actuator cooperating with a spring-like shape-retaining aperture cover that changes shape when pressure is applied to one side of said spring-like shape-retaining aperture cover, and said aperture cover disposed in a first occluding position to preclude entry of fluid through at least one of said one or more fluid inlet apertures; (c) upon activation of said first movable microactuator, said first movable microactuator applies pressure to said aperture cover and said aperture cover is caused by such pressure to snap from said first occluding position to a second position where said second position allows fluid to pass through said at least one of said at least one fluid inlet apertures; (d) a second movable microactuator having a multi-layer actuator having at least two deposited layers which can apply pressure to said aperture cover and cause said aperture cover to snap to said first occluding position; (e) said microactuators being connected to said microvalve body; (f) said at least one microvalve assembly having control circuitry, which control circuitry, upon demand for current from said cell, causes said first microactuator to move and to cause said spring-like shape-retaining aperture cover to snap from said first position to said second position thereby permitting fluid to flow to said cell, including through said at least one second inlet aperture, after which movement, said first microactuator is deactivated, and after demand for current ceases from said cell, said control circuitry activates said second microactuator and causes said spring-like shape-retaining aperture cover to snap from said second position to said first position where fluid cannot pass through said at least one of said one or more fluid inlet apertures, after which said first microactuator is deactivated. (a) a stationary microvalve body having at least one second inlet aperture; (b) a first movable microactuator having at least two deposited layers being capable of moving between a first position and a second position, said first moveable actuator cooperating with a spring-like shape-retaining aperture cover that changes shape when pressure is applied to one side of said spring-like shape-retaining aperture cover, and said aperture cover disposed in a first occluding position to preclude entry of fluid through at least one of said one or more fluid inlet apertures; (c) upon activation of said first movable microactuator, said first movable microactuator applies pressure to said aperture cover and said aperture cover is caused by such pressure to snap from said first occluding position to a second position where said second position allows fluid to pass through said at least one of said at least one fluid inlet apertures; (d) a second movable microactuator having a multi-layer actuator having at least two deposited layers which can apply pressure to said aperture cover and cause said aperture cover to snap to said first occluding position; (e) said microactuators being connected to said microvalve body; (f) said at least one microvalve assembly having control circuitry, which control circuitry, upon demand for current from said cell, causes said first microactuator to move and to cause said spring-like shape-retaining aperture cover to snap from said first position to said second position thereby permitting fluid to flow to said cell, including through said at least one second inlet aperture, after which movement, said first microactuator is deactivated, and after demand for current ceases from said cell, said control circuitry activates said second microactuator and causes said spring-like shape-retaining aperture cover to snap from said second position to said first position where fluid cannot pass through said at least one of said one or more fluid inlet apertures, after which said first microactuator is deactivated.