Battery module with bimetallic terminal busbar and adaptable connector interface

Abstract

A battery module is provided. The battery module comprises a plurality of battery cells. Each battery cell comprises a first electrical terminal and a second electrical terminal. The battery module further comprises at least one bi-metallic busbar, e.g., at least one first busbar. The at least one first busbar comprises a metallic part, e.g., a first aluminum part, electrically coupled to the first electrical terminals of a first group of the plurality of battery cells. The first busbar further comprises another metallic part, e.g., a first copper part. The first copper part comprises a first interface part electrically coupled to the first aluminum part. The first copper part comprises a first terminal part configured to be electrically coupled to a conductor external to the battery module.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A battery having a top, a bottom, and a side between the top and bottom, the battery comprising:
 a first terminal busbar that conveys current towards the top and parallel to the side;   one or more first busbars arranged along the top that convey the current along the top in a direction away from the side, wherein the one or more first busbars are coupled to first battery cells;   one or more second busbars arranged along the bottom that convey the current along the bottom in a direction towards the side, wherein the one or more second busbars are coupled to second battery cells; and   a second terminal busbar that conveys the current towards the top and parallel to the side.   
     
     
         22 . The battery of  claim 21 , wherein the first terminal busbar further conveys the current towards the side and parallel to the top. 
     
     
         23 . The battery of  claim 21 , wherein the second terminal busbar further conveys the current parallel to the top and along the side. 
     
     
         24 . The battery of  claim 21 , wherein the first battery cells are arranged above the second battery cells. 
     
     
         25 . The battery of  claim 21 , wherein a cooling plate is arranged between the first battery cells and the second battery cells. 
     
     
         26 . The battery of  claim 21 , wherein the current conveyed by the second terminal busbar flows towards an external conductor. 
     
     
         27 . The battery of  claim 21 , wherein:
 each of the first battery cells comprise respective first electrical terminals and respective second electrical terminals; and   a first polarity of each of the first electrical terminals is opposite of a second polarity of each of the second electrical terminals; and   the first electrical terminals are each coupled to one of the one or more first busbars.   
     
     
         28 . The battery of  claim 27 , wherein the second electrical terminals are each coupled to a second busbar of the one or more first busbars. 
     
     
         29 . The battery of  claim 21 , wherein:
 each of the second battery cells comprise respective first electrical terminals and respective second electrical terminals; and   a first polarity of each of the first electrical terminals is opposite of a second polarity of each of the second electrical terminals; and   the first electrical terminals are each coupled to one of the one or more second busbars.   
     
     
         30 . The battery of  claim 29 , wherein the second electrical terminals are each coupled to a second busbar of the one or more second busbars. 
     
     
         31 . A battery enclosure, comprising:
 a top, a bottom, and a side between the top and bottom forming an enclosure via space between the top, the bottom, and the side; and   a battery comprising:
 a first terminal busbar that conveys current towards the top and parallel to the side; 
 one or more first busbars arranged along the top that convey the current along the top in a direction away from the side, wherein the one or more first busbars are coupled to first battery cells; 
 one or more second busbars arranged along the bottom that convey the current along the bottom in a direction towards the side, wherein the one or more second busbars are coupled to second battery cells; and 
 a second terminal busbar that conveys the current towards the top and parallel to the side, wherein the first battery cells, the second battery cells, the one or more first busbars, and the one or more second busbars are arranged within the enclosure. 
   
     
     
         32 . The battery enclosure of  claim 31 , wherein the first terminal busbar further conveys the current towards the side and parallel to the top. 
     
     
         33 . The battery enclosure of  claim 31 , wherein the second terminal busbar further conveys the current parallel the top and along the side. 
     
     
         34 . The battery enclosure of  claim 31 , wherein the first battery cells are arranged above the second battery cells. 
     
     
         35 . The battery enclosure of  claim 31 , wherein a cooling plate is arranged between the first battery cells and the second battery cells. 
     
     
         36 . The battery enclosure of  claim 31 , wherein:
 the first terminal busbar and the second terminal busbar each comprise a first conductive material;   the one or more first busbars and the one or more second busbars each comprise a second conductive material; and   the first conductive material has a higher conductivity than the second conductive material.   
     
     
         37 . The battery enclosure of  claim 31 , wherein:
 each of the first battery cells and each of the second battery cells comprise a respective first electrical terminal and a respective second electrical terminal;   each respective first electrical terminal has a first polarity;   each respective second electrical terminal has a second polarity; and   the first polarity is opposite the second polarity.   
     
     
         38 . The battery enclosure of  claim 37 , wherein:
 the first electrical terminals of the first battery cells are each coupled to one of the one or more first busbars;   the second electrical terminals of the first battery cells are each coupled to a second busbar of the one or more first busbars;   the first electrical terminals of the second battery cells are each coupled to one of the one or more second busbars; and   the second electrical terminals of the second battery cells are each coupled to a second busbar of the one or more second busbars.   
     
     
         39 . A method of manufacturing a battery, comprising:
 arranging a plurality of battery cells over a bottom member;   arranging a side member in a vertical orientation at an edge of the bottom member to partially enclose the plurality of battery cells;   arranging a first busbar over the plurality of battery cells;   electrically coupling the first busbar to each battery cell of the plurality of battery cells; and   electrically coupling the first busbar to a second busbar comprising a terminal part.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 arranging the plurality of battery cells along a top surface of a cooling plate; and   arranging a second plurality of battery cells along a bottom surface of the cooling plate.