Battery

A battery comprising:

• a first battery module;
• a second battery module;
• a connection switching circuit configured to selectively switch a connection between the first battery module and the second battery module to a series connection or a parallel connection, wherein
• the connection switching circuit includes:
• a series switch element provided at a midpoint in a series connection of the first battery module and the second battery module;
• a first parallel switch element provided in parallel with a series circuit of the first battery module and the series switch element;
• and
• a second parallel switch element provided in parallel with a series circuit of the second battery module and the series switch element,
• a conductive path, which connects the first battery module, the series switch element, and the second battery module in series in this order between input and output terminals of the connection switching circuit, is formed in a U shape, and
• the first parallel switch element and the second parallel switch element are disposed inside the conductive path.