A battery system includes a first electrical interface and safety switch connected to the first electrical interface and including a shape memory alloy element configured to deform from an unactuated configuration to an actuated configuration in response to reaching an activation temperature. A second electrical interface is connected to the safety switch, and the connection between the first electrical interface, the safety switch, and the second electrical interface enables electrical current to flow through a LIB cell. When the shape memory alloy element is the unactuated configuration, the safety switch directly engages the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface and enables electrical current to flow through the LIB cell. When in the actuated configuration, the safety switch disconnects from at least one of the first electrical interface and the second electrical interface and disables electrical current from flowing through the LIB cell.