Prismatic electrochemical cell

An electrochemical cell has a prismatic cell housing and an electrode assembly disposed in the cell housing. The cell housing is six-sided and includes a first end, a second end, and a sidewall that extends between the first and second ends. The sidewall includes a pair of major sides joined by a pair of minor sides, where each side of the pair of major sides is larger in area than each side of the pair of minor sides. The electrode assembly includes positive electrode plates alternating with negative electrode plates and separated by at least one separator to form an electrode stack. The electrode stack is oriented within the cell housing such that a stack axis that extends parallel to a stacking direction of the positive and negative electrode plates is normal to, and passes through, each side of the pair of minor sides.