Battery pack including horizontal cell stack structure

1 . A rechargeable energy storage system comprising:

a plurality of cell units, the plurality of cell units comprising a first cell unit, a second cell unit adjacent to one side of the first cell unit, and a third cell unit adjacent to another side of the first cell unit; and

a first cross beam member disposed between the first cell unit and the second cell unit, and a third cross beam member disposed between the first cell unit and the third cell unit,

wherein each of the cell units comprises:

a plurality of first cells arranged in a first horizontal cell stack, each of the first cells including a first end and a second end spaced from the first end by a first distance defining a first cell axis;

a plurality of second cells arranged in a second horizontal cell stack, each of the second cells including a first end portion and a second end portion that is spaced from the first end portion a second distance defining a second cell axis that is substantially colinear with the first cell axis; and

a second cross beam member disposed between the first horizontal cell stack and the second horizontal cell stack,

wherein the plurality of first cells comprises cells having different diameters and the plurality of second cells comprises cells having different diameters,

wherein each of the first, second, and third cross beam member comprises a thermally conductive material that absorbs heat from the plurality of first cells and/or the plurality of second cells,

wherein the second cross beam member comprises a pair of vertical walls spaced apart from each other with elastic spacers extending therebetween,

wherein each of the first and third cross beam members comprises a pair of vertical walls spaced apart from each other, and a pair of horizontal walls spaced apart from each other along a vertical direction,

wherein a passage is defined within the vertical walls and the horizontal walls of each of the first and third cross beam members, and

wherein cooling channels are disposed within the passage and mounted on each of the vertical walls of the first and third cross beam members with a gap therebetween, the cooling channels being configured to transport a cooling fluid therewithin.

2 . The rechargeable energy storage system according to claim 1 ,

wherein the plurality of first cells includes a first cell layer, a second cell layer, and a third cell layer, and

wherein one of the first cells in the first cell layer has a different diameter from one of the first cells in the second cell layer or the third cell layer.

3 . The rechargeable energy storage system according to claim 1 , further comprising a cell housing having a first dimension and a second dimension, the first cell axis and the second cell axis extending substantially parallel to the first dimension and the plurality of first cells and the plurality of second cells being arranged in a first cell layer that extends substantially parallel to the second dimension.

4 . The rechargeable energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first cross beam member and the third cross beam member includes a plurality of perforations that extend through each of the vertical walls.

5 . The rechargeable energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first cross beam member and the third cross beam member comprises surface channels formed on each of the vertical walls on a surface thereof facing away from the passage.

6 . A vehicle comprising:

a body;

an electric motor supported relative to the body; and

a rechargeable energy storage system supported relative to the body and electrically connected to the electric motor, the rechargeable energy storage system comprising:

a plurality of cell units, the plurality of cell units comprising a first cell unit, a second cell unit adjacent to one side of the first cell unit, and a third cell unit adjacent to another side of the first cell unit; and

a first cross beam member disposed between the first cell unit and the second cell unit, and a third cross beam member disposed between the first cell unit and the third cell unit,

wherein each of the cell units comprises:

a plurality of first cells arranged in a first horizontal cell stack, each of the first cells including a first end and a second end spaced from the first end by a first distance defining a first cell axis;

a plurality of second cells arranged in a second horizontal cell stack, each of the second cells including a first end portion and a second end portion that is spaced from the first end portion a second distance defining a second cell axis that is substantially colinear with the first cell axis;

a second cross beam member disposed between the first horizontal cell stack and the second horizontal cell stack,

wherein the first cells comprises cells having different diameters and the second cells comprises cells having different diameters,

wherein each of the first, second, and third cross beam member comprises a thermally conductive material that absorbs heat from the first cells and/or the second cells,

wherein the second cross beam member comprises a pair of vertical walls spaced apart from each other with elastic spacers extending therebetween,

wherein each of the first and third cross beam members comprises a pair of vertical walls spaced apart from each other, and a pair of horizontal walls spaced apart from each other along a vertical direction,

wherein a passage is defined within the vertical walls and the horizontal walls of each of the first and third cross beam members, and

wherein cooling channels are disposed within the passage and mounted on each of the vertical walls of the first and third cross beam members with a gap therebetween, the cooling channels being configured to transport a cooling fluid therewithin.

7 . The vehicle according to claim 6 ,

wherein the plurality of first cells includes a first cell layer, a second cell layer, and a third cell layer, and

wherein one of the first cells in the first cell layer has a different diameter from one of the first cells in the second cell layer or the third cell layer.

8 . The vehicle according to claim 6 , further comprising a cell housing having a first dimension and a second dimension, the first cell axis and the second cell axis extending substantially parallel to the first dimension and the plurality of first cells and the plurality of second cells being arranged in a first cell layer that extends substantially parallel to the second dimension.

9 . The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein each of the first cross beam member and the third cross beam member includes a plurality of perforations that extend through each of the vertical walls.

10 . The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein each of the first cross beam member and the third cross beam member comprises surface channels formed on each of the vertical walls on a surface thereof facing away from the passage.

11 . The rechargeable energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein two of the plurality of first cells that overlap each other along the vertical direction have different diameters.

12 . The rechargeable energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the second cross beam member comprises a lower wall extending between the vertical walls of the second cross beam member.

13 . The rechargeable energy storage system according to claim 1 , wherein the second cross beam member comprises a plurality of perforations extending through each of the vertical walls of the second cross beam member.

14 . The rechargeable energy storage system according to claim 13 , wherein, in the second cross beam member, each of the plurality of perforations is vertically offset from the elastic spacers.

15 . The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein two of the plurality of first cells that overlap each other along the vertical direction have different diameters.

16 . The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the second cross beam member comprises a lower wall extending between the vertical walls of the second cross beam member.

17 . The vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the second cross beam member comprises a plurality of perforations extending through each of the vertical walls of the second cross beam member.

18 . The vehicle according to claim 17 , wherein, in the second cross beam member, each of the perforations is vertically offset from the elastic spacers.