Provided is a laser welding apparatus configured to weld an electrode lead of at least one secondary battery of a battery module and a main bus bar configured to electrically connect a plurality of secondary batteries to each other. The laser welding apparatus includes: a laser beam emitting unit including a laser emitting element to irradiate a laser beam to the electrode lead and the main bus bar; a pressing jig including a pressing bar configured to move in a left-and-right direction such that the electrode lead is adhered to the main bus bar; and a blocking block movable to block the laser beam generated in the laser beam emitting unit from reaching the at least one secondary battery or movable to allow the generated laser beam to pass therethrough, according to a position of the pressing bar moved in the left-and-right direction.

A battery pack includes battery modules each including secondary batteries; a connection plate having a body portion at the upper portion or the lower portion of the secondary batteries and provided with connection terminals respectively in electrical contact and connection with the electrode terminal at one of the secondary batteries, and a connection portion to protrusively extend in a left or right direction from the body portion so that a part of the protrusively extending portion is bent upward or downward from the body portion and the bent end is bonded to a portion of the other connection plate; and a module housing having hollows in which the secondary batteries are inserted and accommodated, the module housing having a separating groove at an outer wall thereof by indenting a portion of the outer wall inward to be spaced apart from the bent end of the connection portion.

A battery module includes a plurality of cylindrical battery cells having electrode terminals; a module housing having an inner space to accommodate the cylindrical battery cells; and a module bus bar configured to electrically connect the cylindrical battery cells to each other. The module bus bar includes a first metal plate having a first body portion facing an outer surface of the module housing and a first contact portion configured to contact the electrode terminal; and a second metal plate having a second body portion stacked on an outer side of the first body portion of the first metal plate, a second contact portion configured to contact the electrode terminal, and a fuse portion configured to electrically connect the second contact portion and the second body portion and be disconnected at a predetermined current or above. The second metal plate has a smaller thickness than the first metal plate.

A battery module includes a plurality of cylindrical battery cells having electrode terminals; a module housing having an inner space to accommodate the cylindrical battery cells; and a module bus bar configured to electrically connect the cylindrical battery cells to each other. The module bus bar includes a first metal plate having a first body portion facing an outer surface of the module housing and a first contact portion configured to contact the electrode terminal; and a second metal plate having a second body portion stacked on an outer side of the first body portion of the first metal plate, a second contact portion configured to contact the electrode terminal, and a fuse portion configured to electrically connect the second contact portion and the second body portion and be disconnected at a predetermined current or above. The second metal plate has a smaller thickness than the first metal plate.

A cell holder for holding cylindrical battery cells in a battery module for forming a high-voltage battery, for example a traction battery for a vehicle, includes a positioning element that is configured to position a busbar for contacting battery cells held in the cell holder.

A cell holder for holding cylindrical battery cells in a battery module for forming a high-voltage battery, for example a traction battery for a vehicle, includes a positioning element that is configured to position a busbar for contacting battery cells held in the cell holder.

A battery pack assembly includes a housing, a battery cell assembly, and a fan. The housing having a plurality of sides and defining an internal cavity. The battery cell assembly positioned in the internal cavity. The battery cell assembly includes a plurality of battery cells and a frame supporting the battery cells. The frame includes a first support member, a second support member, and a plurality of leg members connecting the first support member and the second support member. The first support member and the second support member each has a body extending between a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The body defines a plurality of openings configured to align with one of the battery cells. The fan is configured to circulate air within the housing and through the battery cell assembly.

A method of manufacturing a battery pack of the present disclosure stacks a plurality of battery cells such that one surfaces face the same direction and compresses the battery cells from both sides, inserts the compressed battery cells into the case such that the one surfaces are positioned on an open end side of the case, disposes a plurality of bus bars on the one surfaces of the battery cells so as to overlap the corresponding terminal, moves a pressurizing jig so as to press the bus bars toward a bottom surface of the case from a pressurization start position corresponding to a height position of the terminal of the battery cell farthest from the bottom surface, and bonds each of the plurality of bus bars to the corresponding terminal.

A method of manufacturing a battery pack of the present disclosure stacks a plurality of battery cells such that one surfaces face the same direction and compresses the battery cells from both sides, inserts the compressed battery cells into the case such that the one surfaces are positioned on an open end side of the case, disposes a plurality of bus bars on the one surfaces of the battery cells so as to overlap the corresponding terminal, moves a pressurizing jig so as to press the bus bars toward a bottom surface of the case from a pressurization start position corresponding to a height position of the terminal of the battery cell farthest from the bottom surface, and bonds each of the plurality of bus bars to the corresponding terminal.

Provided is a battery module. The battery module includes: a plurality of battery cells each including an electrode terminal; and a bus bar connected to the electrode terminals of the battery cells neighboring each other to electrically connect the battery cells, the bus bar including a first bus bar and a second bus bar that are superposed on each other and include different metals, each of the first and second bus bars making conductive contact with the electrode terminals. Therefore, the thermal and electrical characteristics of the bus bar electrically connecting the neighboring battery cells to each other may be improved while improving weldability between the bus bar and electrode terminals.