Alkaline battery with reducing agents in the electrolyte

A process for stabilizing the voltage of an electrochemical cell having an active metal anode, an aqueous alkaline electrolyte, a suitable separator and a cathode containing at least one reducible oxidic specie dischargeable over the useful life of said cathode against said active metal anode at both an undesirable high voltage and a desirable lower voltage, said process comprising assembling said cell components and including in said cell and available to said electrolyte at the time of cell closure an effective amount of an electrolyte-soluble reducing agent selected from the group consisting of alkali metal borohydrides, quaternary ammonium borohydrides, complex aluminum hydrides and hydrazine.