Battery module

A battery module, comprising:

• a plurality of battery cells arranged in a row;
• a plurality of bus bars connecting the plurality of battery cells in series;
• and
• a short circuit member that is mechanically connected to a first battery cell among the plurality of battery cells and that is electrically connected to a second battery cell among the plurality of battery cells,
• wherein the first battery cell further includes a membrane that is electrically short-circuitable to the short circuit member, in response to an overcharge of the battery module,
• wherein the short circuit member includes:
• a planar base region that is mechanically connected to the first battery cell;
• a planar first extension region that extends from the base region in a plane orthogonal to a plane of the base region and overlies the membrane of the first battery cell;
• and
• a second extension region that extends from the base region and that is electrically connected to the second battery cell,
• wherein each of the first and second battery cells includes an electrode assembly, a case accommodating the electrode assembly, and a first terminal and a second terminal passing through the case and extending from the electrode assembly, and
• wherein the second extension region of the short circuit member is electrically connected to the second terminal of the second battery cell, the first battery cell further includes a membrane that is electrically short-circuitable to the short circuit member, in response to an overcharge of the battery module.