A battery module, comprising: a first end plate having first, second, third and fourth apertures (320, 322, 324, 326) extending therethrough; a frame member having first, second, third, and fourth apertures (920, 922, 1020, 1022) extending therethrough; a first battery cell disposed between the first end plate and the frame member; a second end plate having first, second, third and fourth apertures (420, 422, 424, 426) extending therethrough; a second battery cell disposed between the second end plate and the frame member; a first shoulder bolt having a first head portion, a first shaft portion, a first shoulder portion, and a first threaded portion; the first shaft portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first shaft portion extending from the first head portion, the first shoulder portion being disposed at the second end of the first shaft portion, the first threaded portion extending from the second end of the first shaft portion; and the first shoulder bolt being disposed such that the first head portion is disposed against the first end plate and the first shaft portion extends through the first aperture of the first end plate and the first aperture of the frame member, and the first shoulder portion is disposed against the second end plate and the first threaded portion extends through the first aperture of the second end plate and is threadably received in a first nut disposed against the second end plate; wherein the first end plate has first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions, the first, second, third, and fourth apertures of the first end plate extending through the first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions, respectively, of the first end plate; the second end plate has first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions, the first, second, third, and fourth apertures of the second end plate extending through the first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions, respectively, of the second end plate, and the frame member has first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions (840, 842, 1040, 1042), the first, second, third, and fourth apertures of the frame member extending through the first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions, respectively, of the frame member. a first end plate having first, second, third and fourth apertures (320, 322, 324, 326) extending therethrough; a frame member having first, second, third, and fourth apertures (920, 922, 1020, 1022) extending therethrough; a first battery cell disposed between the first end plate and the frame member; a second end plate having first, second, third and fourth apertures (420, 422, 424, 426) extending therethrough; a second battery cell disposed between the second end plate and the frame member; a first shoulder bolt having a first head portion, a first shaft portion, a first shoulder portion, and a first threaded portion; the first shaft portion having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first shaft portion extending from the first head portion, the first shoulder portion being disposed at the second end of the first shaft portion, the first threaded portion extending from the second end of the first shaft portion; and the first shoulder bolt being disposed such that the first head portion is disposed against the first end plate and the first shaft portion extends through the first aperture of the first end plate and the first aperture of the frame member, and the first shoulder portion is disposed against the second end plate and the first threaded portion extends through the first aperture of the second end plate and is threadably received in a first nut disposed against the second end plate; wherein the first end plate has first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions, the first, second, third, and fourth apertures of the first end plate extending through the first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions, respectively, of the first end plate; the second end plate has first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions, the first, second, third, and fourth apertures of the second end plate extending through the first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions, respectively, of the second end plate, and the frame member has first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions (840, 842, 1040, 1042), the first, second, third, and fourth apertures of the frame member extending through the first, second, third, and fourth peripheral corner regions, respectively, of the frame member.