Systems, devices, and methods for a variable compression battery cell pack for a vehicle

A variable compression battery cell pack for a vehicle battery in a vehicle, comprising:

• a plurality of battery cells in a cell stack;
• a variable compression mechanism comprising:
• a machine press configured to expand and retract to compress and decompress one or more battery cells based on a compressive load, and
• an end plate configured to evenly distribute the load over a surface area of the one or more battery cells, the machine press being connected to the end plate, and the end plate being mounted to the one or more battery cells;
• a battery pack formed in the shape of a rectangle and defining a cavity for holding the cell stack and the variable compression mechanism;
• a sensor coupled to the cell stack configured to detect pressure on the cell stack;
• and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) electronically connected to the cell stack, the variable compression mechanism, and the sensor, configured to:
• receive a compression setting for the plurality of battery cells,
• receive a pressure reading from the sensor,
• determine a compressive load input based on the compression setting and the pressure reading, the load input indicating to increase or decrease compressive load exerted on the cells,
• when the load input indicates to increase compressive load exerted on the cells, cause the machine press to expand to compress the plurality of battery cells in the cell stack, and
• when the load input indicates to decrease compressive load exerted on the cells, cause the machine press to retract to decompress the plurality of battery cells in the cell stack.

A vehicle including a system for expanding and contracting compression on battery cells in the vehicle, the vehicle comprising:

• a plurality of battery cells in a cell stack;
• a variable compression mechanism comprising:
• a machine press configured to expand and retract to compress and decompress one or more battery cells based on a compressive load, and
• an end plate configured to evenly distribute the load over a surface area of the one or more battery cells, the machine press being connected to the end plate, and the end plate being mounted to the one or more battery cells;
• a battery pack formed in the shape of a rectangle and defining a cavity for holding the cell stack and the variable compression mechanism, the cell stack being positioned in the battery pack between a rigid member and the variable compression mechanism;
• a plurality of sensors coupled to the cell stack and the variable compression mechanism configured to detect pressure on the cell stack;
• and
• an electronic control unit (ECU) electronically connected to the cell stack, the variable compression mechanism, and the plurality of sensors, configured to:
• receive a compression setting for the plurality of battery cells,
• receive a pressure reading from the plurality of sensors,
• determine a compressive load input based on the compression setting and the pressure reading, the load input indicating to increase or decrease compressive load exerted on the cells,
• when the load input indicates to increase compressive load exerted on the cells, cause the machine press to expand to compress the plurality of battery cells in the cell stack, and
• when the load input indicates to decrease compressive load exerted on the cells, cause the machine press to retract to decompress the plurality of battery cells in the cell stack.