Battery module and electric vehicle

A battery module comprising:

• a plurality of cells;
• and
• a cell restraining structure for packaging and managing the plurality of cells, the cell restraining structure comprising an internal frame and an external shell fit with the internal frame to form a plurality of chambers for receiving the plurality of cells respectively,
• wherein the internal frame comprises an elastic element forming at least one first surface of each of the plurality of chambers, the elastic element being elastically deformed as being pressed by a predetermined amount by a corresponding cell received in each of the plurality of chambers such that the elastically deformed elastic element exerts a first force to the corresponding cell,
• wherein the elastically deformed elastic element is further deformed or tends to recover in responding to reversible expansion or contraction of the corresponding cell in operation such that a restraining force to the corresponding cell is determined by the first force, and
• wherein the cell restraining structure further comprises a smoke guiding element interposed between the external shell and front surfaces of the plurality of cells, each front surface comprising positive and negative tabs, the smoke guiding element comprising a body panel and a flange disposed at a surface of the body panel that faces the plurality of cells, the flange resting against the front surfaces of the plurality of cells and comprising two first flange portions protruding perpendicular to the body panel on both sides of the body panel, two second flange portions spaced inwardly from the two first flange portions and extending parallel to the two first flange portions, and a plurality of third flange portions formed between the two second flange portions and extending perpendicular to the two second flange portions, the plurality of third flange portions disposed parallel to each other with an interval corresponding to a width of each of the plurality of cells, and at least one of the two second flange portions being provided with an opening between two of the plurality of third flange portions adjacent to each other.