Systems and methods which provide nickel-zinc textile batteries formed from highly conductive yarn-based components which are configured to facilitate textile material processing, such as weaving, knitting, etc., are described. Embodiments of a conductive yarn-based nickel-zinc textile battery may be constructed using scalably produced highly conductive yarns, such as stainless steel yarns, coated or covered with zinc (anodes) and nickel (cathode) materials, wherein the foregoing yarn anode and cathode components may be coated with an electrolyte to form yarn-based battery assemblies. A conductive yarn-based nickel-zinc textile battery may be constructed by weaving or knitting such yarn-based battery assemblies into a textile material, such as using industrial weaving or knitting machines, hand weaving or knitting processes, etc.