A battery module, comprising: - a plurality of lithium ion battery cells disposed within a packaging of the battery module, wherein each of the plurality of lithium ion battery cells includes a respective metallic battery cell packaging and a respective thermal pouch, wherein each respective thermal pouch comprises substantially the same shape as the corresponding lithium ion battery cell, and wherein each thermal pouch includes substantially flat end portions contacting substantially flat end portions of the corresponding lithium ion battery cell, and substantially flat side portions contacting substantially flat side portions of the corresponding lithium ion battery cell, wherein the thermal pouch includes at least one flap that extends outwardly from the bottom of the flat end portion; and - at least one thermal management feature associated with the packaging of the battery module, wherein the plurality of lithium ion cells are not in direct contact with the at least one thermal management feature of the battery module, wherein the thermal management feature is configured to receive heat from the plurality of lithium ion battery cells, via the respective thermal pouches of the plurality of lithium ion battery cells, and to remove the heat from the packaging of the battery module, wherein the at least one flap is designed to contact the thermal management feature; wherein each respective thermal pouch comprises a carbon-based thermal film having a first surface that directly contacts both the respective battery cell packaging and forms the portion of the at least one flap that contacts the at least one thermal management feature of the battery module, wherein top and bottom portions of each respective thermal pouch are open, wherein the carbon-based thermal film is adapted to conduct heat via at least one graphene sheet aligned along the plane of the film. - a plurality of lithium ion battery cells disposed within a packaging of the battery module, wherein each of the plurality of lithium ion battery cells includes a respective metallic battery cell packaging and a respective thermal pouch, wherein each respective thermal pouch comprises substantially the same shape as the corresponding lithium ion battery cell, and wherein each thermal pouch includes substantially flat end portions contacting substantially flat end portions of the corresponding lithium ion battery cell, and substantially flat side portions contacting substantially flat side portions of the corresponding lithium ion battery cell, wherein the thermal pouch includes at least one flap that extends outwardly from the bottom of the flat end portion; and - at least one thermal management feature associated with the packaging of the battery module, wherein the plurality of lithium ion cells are not in direct contact with the at least one thermal management feature of the battery module, wherein the thermal management feature is configured to receive heat from the plurality of lithium ion battery cells, via the respective thermal pouches of the plurality of lithium ion battery cells, and to remove the heat from the packaging of the battery module, wherein the at least one flap is designed to contact the thermal management feature;