A zinc-air battery cell assembly comprising: a cathode can that includes: a planar base, and an elongated cathode sidewall that extends to a terminal cathode sidewall end, and an anode can that includes: a planar top end, and an elongated anode sidewall that extends to a terminal anode sidewall end, the anode can disposed nested within the cathode can with the elongated anode sidewall disposed parallel and adjacent to the elongated cathode sidewall. The zinc-air battery assembly further includes a cavity defined by the cathode can and the anode can disposed nested within the cathode can, and a grommet that provides a seal between the cathode can and the anode can while also keeping the anode can and the cathode can separate.