Housing for securing battery cells in a battery module

A battery module, comprising:

• a housing, including:
• a first end plate defining a first end of the housing, the first end plate including a slit centered along a length of the first end plate;
• a second end plate defining a second end of the housing opposite the first end;
• a first side plate coupled to the first end plate and the second end plate, thereby defining a first side of the housing, the first side plate extending substantially perpendicular to the first end plate and the second end plate;
• a second side plate coupled to the first end plate and the second end plate, thereby defining a second side of the housing opposite the first side, the second side plate extending substantially parallel to the first side plate;
• a center plate mated with the slit and coupled to the first end plate and the second end plate, the center plate including:
• a substantially planar first side facing the first side plate,
• a substantially planar second side opposite the first side of the center plate, and facing the second side plate, and
• a bottom surface;
• a back plate including an opening disposed along a length of the back plate, the opening extending to a surface of the back plate disposed external to the housing, wherein at least portion of the bottom surface of the center plate is disposed within the opening;
• a cover removably attached to the housing and extending substantially parallel to the back plate, the cover having a top surface external to the housing, a bottom surface facing the back plate, and an opening, the center plate having a tab that passes through the opening of the cover and at least partially above the top surface of the cover, the tab being configured to support an additional housing disposed on top of the housing and adjacent to the top surface of the cover;
• and
• a plurality of battery cells secured within the housing.

A method, comprising:

• providing a plurality of plates configured to form an exterior perimeter of a housing, the plurality of plates including at least a first side plate, and a second side plate opposite the first side plate;
• providing a center plate positioned to bisect the housing, thereby forming a first half and a second half of the housing, wherein the center plate includes:
• a substantially planar first side facing the first side plate, and
• a substantially planar second side opposite the first side of the center plate, and facing the second side plate;
• providing a cover supported by the center plate and removably attached to the housing, the cover including a top surface external to the housing, a bottom surface opposite the top surface of the cover, and an opening extending from the top surface of the cover to the bottom surface of the cover;
• providing a back plate including an opening disposed along a length of the back plate, the opening of the back plate extending to a surface of the back plate disposed external to the housing, wherein
• the center plate is positioned such that at least portion of the bottom surface of the center plate is disposed within the opening of the back plate,
• the cover is positioned such that the bottom surface of the cover faces the back plate, and
• a tab of the center plate passes through the opening of the cover and at least partially above the top surface of the cover;
• disposing a first plurality of battery cells within the first half of the housing;
• disposing a second plurality of battery cells within the second half of the housing, wherein, when coupled together, the plurality of plates, the center plate, and the cover substantially enclose the first plurality of battery cells and the second plurality of battery cells within the housing;
• compressing the housing such that a compressive force is exerted on the first end plate towards the second end plate;
• coupling individual plates of the plurality of plates to each other;
• and
• coupling the center plate to the first end plate and the second end plate.