Provided is a flat plate electrode cell, comprises positive electrode plates and negative electrode plates. The positive electrode plates each comprise manganese and compressed metal foam. The negative electrode plates each comprise zinc and compressed metal foam. Both the positive and negative electrodes can have alignment tabs, wherein the flat plate electrode cell can further comprise electrical terminals tanned from the aligned tabs. The rechargeable flat plate electrode cell of the present disclosure, formed from compressed metal foam, provides both low resistance and high rate performance to the electrodes and the cell. Examples of improvements over round bobbin and flat plate cells are current density, memory effect, shelf life, charge retention, and voltage level of discharge curve. In particular, the rechargeable flat plate electrode cell of the present disclosure provides longer cycle life with reduced capacity fade as compared with known round bobbin and flat plate cells.