Battery having protective tape on connecting band of electrode

A battery comprising:

• an external case;
• an electrode assembly held in said external case and having a first end and a second end, said electrode assembly including:
• a first electrode plate having an active material portion comprised of active material loaded into a porous metal substrate, having a connecting band of exposed substrate at said first end of said electrode assembly, and having an active material border at a boundary between said connecting band and said active material portion;
• a separator;
• a second electrode plate layered with said first electrode plate via said separator such that an end of said second electrode plate projects beyond said active material border of said first electrode plate toward said first end of said electrode assembly;
• and
• protective tape attached to at least one side of said connecting band of said first electrode plate such that an end of said protective tape opposite said first end of said electrode assembly extends past said active material border toward said second end of said electrode assembly;
• and
• a collector plate welded at a plurality of locations to said connecting band of said first electrode plate so as to electrically connect said first electrode plate to a battery terminal.