Expandable enclosures for prismatic and cylindrical battery cells

An enclosure for a prismatic battery cell, comprising:

• first side surfaces;
• second side surfaces connected between the first side surfaces;
• a top surface connected between the first side surfaces and the second side surfaces;
• and
• a bottom surface connected between the first side surfaces and the second side surfaces,
• wherein the enclosure is configured to receive a battery cell stack,
• wherein the first side surfaces include at least one of:
• a plurality of stiffening beads;
• and
• an offset surface comprising greater than 50% of an area of the first side surfaces,
• wherein the second side surfaces, the top surface and the bottom surface expand to allow guided expansion/contraction of the enclosure in a first direction while limiting expansion in second and third directions transverse to the first direction.