Electric vehicle battery system

A battery bay configured to be disposed at an underside of an at least partially electric vehicle, the battery bay comprising:

• a frame defining a cavity configured to at least partially receive a battery pack therein;
• a latch comprising a hook configured to engage a striker coupled with the battery pack, the latch rotatably pivoted about an axis substantially parallel with a plane formed by the underside of the vehicle, the latch configured to retain the battery pack at least partially within the cavity;
• a latch housing;
• an input link including a first pivot point and a second pivot point, wherein the first pivot point is permanently attached to a torque bar which rotates with respect to a first portion of the latch housing;
• a coupler link rod including a first rod end and a second rod end, wherein the first rod end is pivotably coupled to the second pivot point of the input link;
• and
• the latch including a third pivot point and a fourth pivot point, wherein the third pivot point is pivotably coupled to the second rod end of the coupler link rod and the fourth pivot point is pivotably coupled to a second portion of the latch housing.