Battery cartridges are disclosed that include a housing having a plurality of air access openings configured to selectively control flow of air into the housing; and at least two adjacent metal-air electrochemical cells within the housing, each electrochemical cell having an outer gas permeable barrier membrane layer that defines the exterior surface of the electrochemical cell; wherein there is a gap between adjacent electrochemical cells in the housing and wherein the air access openings in the housing are positioned over or partially overlapping each gap.