Reinforced heel kick assembly and heel kick reinforcement method

A reinforced assembly, comprising:

• a heel kick that extends horizontally between rockers of an electrified vehicle;
• and
• a reinforcement bracket that horizontally overlaps with the heel kick and is secured to an outboard portion of the heel kick, wherein the reinforcement bracket is secured to a forward member of the heel kick having a first thickness, and the reinforcement bracket has a second thickness that is at least twice the first thickness.

A reinforcement method, comprising:

• resisting a load applied to a side of an electrified vehicle using a reinforcement bracket secured to an outboard portion of a heel kick, the heel kick extending horizontally between rockers of the electrified vehicle, the heel kick and the reinforcement bracket horizontally overlapped with each other,
• wherein the heel kick extends vertically from a mid-floor to rear floor, the rear floor vertically above the mid-floor,
• wherein a traction battery of the electrified vehicle has a first portion with a first height beneath the mid-floor, and a second portion with a second, greater height beneath the rear floor, wherein the heel kick and the reinforcement bracket are disposed in front of the second portion relative to an orientation of the electrified vehicle.