Module backbone system

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first panel including a first upper surface and a first lower surface;

wherein the first upper surface includes a first cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface;

a first bus bar within the first cavity;

a second panel having a second lower surface in direct contact with the first upper surface;

wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the first cavity;

wherein the first bus bar includes a coupling element extending outward from the first upper surface;

wherein the second panel includes an opening;

wherein the coupling element extends through the opening; and

wherein the first cavity positions the coupling element to align with the opening.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first cavity includes an inner surface; and

wherein the first bus bar is contained within the inner surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the first bus bar and the first cavity are approximately equal in size.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the first upper surface includes a second cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface;

wherein the apparatus further includes a second bus bar within the second cavity; and

wherein the first bus bar is spaced from the second bus bar.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a first panel, the first panel including a first upper surface and a first lower surface;

wherein the first upper surface includes a first cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface and wherein the first upper surface includes a second cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface; and

wherein the first cavity is spaced from the second cavity;

a first bus bar within the first cavity;

a second bus bar within the second cavity; and

a second panel having a second lower surface in direct contact with the first upper surface;

wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the first cavity and wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the second cavity;

wherein the first bus bar includes a first coupling element and wherein the first bus bar includes a second coupling element;

wherein the apparatus further includes a first terminal of a first battery module, the first terminal being mechanically coupled to the first coupling element;

wherein the first cavity positions the first coupling element to align with the first terminal;

wherein the second bus bar includes a third coupling element;

wherein the apparatus further includes a second terminal of the first battery module, the second terminal being mechanically coupled to the third coupling element;

wherein the second cavity positions the third coupling element to align with the second terminal; and

wherein the first terminal is spaced from the second terminal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 ,

wherein the first lower surface includes a first back cavity extending into the first lower surface towards the first upper surface;

wherein the first back cavity is spaced from the first cavity and wherein the first back cavity is spaced from the second cavity;

wherein the apparatus further includes:

a first back bus bar within the first back cavity; and

a third panel having a third upper surface in direct contact with the first lower surface;

wherein the third upper surface extends over a substantial portion of the first back cavity.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 ,

wherein the first panel includes a hole extending from the first lower surface to the first upper surface;

wherein the apparatus further includes a link positioned within the hole, the link being mechanically coupled to the second bus bar and the link being mechanically coupled to the first back bus bar;

wherein the second cavity positions the second bus bar to align with the link; and

wherein the first back cavity positions the first back bus bar to align with the link.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first back bus bar includes a first back coupling element and wherein the first back bus bar includes a second back coupling element;

wherein the apparatus further includes a first back terminal of a second battery module, the first back terminal being mechanically coupled to the first back coupling element;

wherein the first back cavity positions the first back coupling element to align with the first back terminal; and

wherein the first battery module and the first back battery module are positioned on opposite sides of the first panel.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the first panel, the second panel, and the third panel have substantially similar heights; and

wherein the first panel, the second panel; and the third panel have substantially similar lengths.

10. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the first bus bar has a shape corresponding with a shape of the first cavity; and

wherein the second bus bar has a shape corresponding with a shape of the second cavity.

11. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the first cavity is coplanar with the second cavity.

12. A battery system comprising:

a backbone comprising:

a first panel including a first upper surface and a first lower surface;

wherein the first upper surface includes a first cavity extending into the first upper surface towards the first lower surface;

a first bus bar within the first cavity, the first bus bar including a first coupling element and a second coupling element;

a second panel having a second lower surface in direct contact with the first upper surface; and

wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the first cavity;

a first bay for a first battery module, the first bay comprising a first guide pin, wherein the first coupling element extends into the first bay; and

a second bay for a second battery module, the second bay comprising a second guide pin, wherein the second coupling element extends into the second bay.

13. The battery system according to claim 12 , wherein the first battery module is positioned within the first bay;

wherein the first battery module includes a first guide pin socket, a first terminal, and a second terminal;

wherein a mechanical coupling of the first guide pin and the first guide pin socket positions the first terminal within the first bay; and

wherein the first cavity positions the first coupling element to align with the first terminal.

14. The battery system according to claim 13 , wherein the second battery module is positioned within the second bay;

wherein the second battery module includes a second guide pin socket, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal;

wherein a mechanical coupling of the second guide pin and the second guide pin socket positions the third terminal within the second bay; and

wherein the first cavity positions the second coupling element to align with the third terminal.

15. The battery system according to claim 14 , further comprising:

wherein the first upper surface includes a second cavity;

wherein the second cavity is spaced from the first cavity;

a second bus bar positioned within the second cavity, the second bus bar including a third coupling element and a fourth coupling element;

wherein the second lower surface extends over a substantial portion of the second cavity; and

wherein the third coupling element extends into the first bay.

16. The battery system according to claim 15 , further comprising:

wherein the mechanical coupling of the first guide pin and the first guide pin socket positions the second terminal within the first bay; and

wherein the second cavity positions the third coupling element to align with the second terminal.