LOW PROFILE BATTERY MODULE

1 . A high voltage battery module comprising a plurality of low voltage battery assemblies, each in turn comprising

a plurality of cells with two poles at opposing ends and arranged laterally next to each other so that a pole of a cell is next to a pole of a neighbouring cell;

a cell holder arranged on one side of the plurality of laterally arranged cells so as to position the cells at a mutual distance within a given tolerance; and

a plurality of interconnectors connecting a pole of one cell to a pole of a neighbouring cell,

the battery module further comprising a connection bar at one end of the low voltage battery assemblies so as to connect a pole of an end cell of a first low voltage battery assembly to a pole of end cell of a second low voltage battery assembly, and a pair of terminals at the opposing end of the low voltage battery assemblies providing a high voltage of the battery module.

2 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 1 , wherein said plurality of cells are arranged laterally next to each other so that a pole of a first polarity of a cell is next to a pole of a second polarity of a neighbouring cell, and wherein said plurality of interconnectors connect a pole of the first polarity to a pole of the second polarity of a neighbouring cell.

3 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 1 , wherein said connection bar connects a pole of the first polarity of an end cell of a first low voltage battery assembly to a pole of the second polarity of an end cell of a second low voltage battery assembly.

4 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 1 , wherein there are arranged a plurality of voltage sensing connectors on said cell holder.

5 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 1 , wherein there are arranged a plurality of temperature sensors on said cell holder.

6 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 1 , wherein the cell holder comprises a printed circuit board.

7 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 1 , further comprising a module housing having an opening through which the plurality of low voltage battery assemblies can be inserted so that said cell holder at least in part covers the opening.

8 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 7 , further comprising a cover lid atop the cell holder closing the opening of the module housing.

9 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 8 , further comprising a seal between said cover lid and the opening of the module housing.

10 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 7 , wherein the module housing comprises a further cell holder arranged on an opposing side of the cell holder.

11 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 10 , wherein said further cell holder is formed by a bottom of said module housing by means of a plurality of neighbouring recesses.

12 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of fixation points in between individual cells of the low voltage battery assemblies.

13 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 11 , wherein the plurality of fixation points are arranged on an external side of the recessed bottom of the module housing between two neighbouring recesses.

14 . The high voltage battery module according to claim 1 , wherein a cell has a cylindrical cell housing.

15 . A method of manufacturing a high voltage battery module comprising:

forming a plurality of low voltage battery assemblies, each forming comprising in turn the steps of:

providing a cell holder adapted to position a plurality of cells, each with two poles at opposing ends, at a mutual distance within a given tolerance;

arranging the plurality of cells laterally on one side of said cell holder and next to each other so that a pole of a cell is next to a pole of a neighbouring cell;

connecting a pole of a cell to a pole of a neighbouring cell with one of a plurality of interconnectors,

the method further comprising providing of a connection bar at one end of the low voltage battery assemblies, connecting a pole of an end cell of a first low voltage battery assembly to a pole of an end cell of a second low voltage battery assembly, and providing a pair of terminals at the opposing end of the low voltage battery assemblies providing a high voltage of the battery module.