Battery cell with thermally conductive side walls, battery module assembly, and tooling assembly

A method comprising:

• receiving a battery cell comprising an energy storing portion and a thermally conductive shell that encloses the energy storing portion, wherein the thermally conductive shell comprises a base membrane and a cover membrane, and wherein the thermally conductive shell comprises a first perimeter portion comprising a first perimeter portion of the cover membrane attached to a first perimeter portion of the base membrane;
• applying a thermally conductive adhesive to the first perimeter portion of the thermally conductive shell;
• folding the first perimeter portion of the thermally conductive shell with the thermally conductive adhesive against a first side wall of the thermally conductive shell;
• and
• curing the thermally conductive adhesive to bond the first perimeter portion of the thermally conductive shell to the first side wall of the thermally conductive shell to form a first thermally conductive side wall of the battery cell.

A fabrication tool comprising:

• a base member comprising a bottom surface, a first side battery cell support surface, and a first side support wall;
• and
• a second side support assembly comprising a second side support base member and a second side support wall member slidably mounted to the second side support base member,
• wherein:
• the second side support wall member is offset from the first side support wall,
• the second side support wall member comprises a second side battery cell support surface and a second side support wall,
• the second side support wall member is spring biased away from the second side support base member,
• the first side battery cell support surface and the second side battery cell support surface are coplanar, and
• the first side support wall and the second side support wall comprise parallel side wall surfaces configured to retain folded side lengths of perimeter edge portions of a thermally conductive shell of a battery shell into engagement with a respective sidewall of the thermally conductive shell during curing of a conductive adhesive used to bond the folded side lengths of the perimeter edge portion to the respective sidewalls of the thermally conductive shell.