Battery module with phase change material

A battery module, comprising:

• a battery cell assembly, comprising:
• a pouch battery cell that is substantially planar and that generates heat during operation;
• a thermal gap pad that is substantially planar and is disposed adjacent to the pouch battery cell;
• a phase change material (PCM) layer that is substantially planar and is disposed adjacent to the thermal gap pad;
• and
• an internal heat fin having a planar portion disposed adjacent to the PCM layer, wherein the PCM layer comprises a plurality of graphite layers that is impregnated with one or more phase change components, and wherein the plurality of graphite layers is aligned with a first axis that is perpendicular to the PCM layer, and wherein the plurality of graphite layers receives the heat from the battery cell via the thermal gap pad and predominantly conducts the heat toward the internal heat fin along the first axis, and wherein the one or more phase change components absorb a portion of the heat to drive a phase change of the one or more phase change components.