A rechargeable pencil battery has a hollow cylindrical positive electrode including nickel hydroxide; a gelled negative electrode comprising at least one of zinc and a zinc compound; a separator interposed between the hollow cylindrical positive electrode and the gelled negative electrode; and a negative electrode current collector inserted into the gelled negative electrode. Rechargeable batteries of the invention are capable of between about 50 and 1000 cycles from a fully charge state to a fully discharged state at a discharge rates of about 0.5C or greater, in some embodiments about 1C or greater. Batteries of the invention have a ratio of length to diameter of between about 1.5:1 and about 20:1, and therefore can be longer than typical commercially available batteries but also include batteries of commercial sizes e.g. AAAA, AAA, AA, C, D, sub-C and the like.