Modular electric vehicle battery configuration

A vehicle having an electric motor and a pack for storing energy, said vehicle configured having a first seat, configured to face forward, and

• a compartment for receiving the pack,
• wherein the compartment includes reinforcing features, including walls that form a firewall, said firewall connected to body sides that create a structure for resisting torsional bending forces experienced by the vehicle in use, wherein said compartment is configured:
• as a cage for functioning as a torsion box, and integral with the vehicle structure and/or a body, and behind the first seat;
• and
• to extend laterally across the vehicle substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis,
• wherein the pack is configured having a lateral module configured to extend laterally across the vehicle substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle,
• wherein the height of the compartment extends in a vertical direction between:
• a lowermost point of the compartment that is beneath the lowest point of the first seat adjacent to the compartment, and
• an uppermost surface of the compartment that is above at least one of:
• the top of a seat back of the first seat;
• the maximum height of a cushion in the first seat in a first row;
• an average height of the cushion in the first seat in the first row;
• and
• a hip-point of at least the first seat in the first row.