A material-handling vehicle including a system for retaining a battery in a battery compartment of the material-handling vehicle, wherein the battery compartment includes a plurality of side walls, an upper structure, and a bottom structure configured to receive a battery, wherein a battery receptacle spans between the side walls, the bottom structure, and the upper structure, and wherein the battery receptacle includes a battery opening sized to allow a battery to pass through the battery opening, the system for retaining the battery comprising: a retention jaw positioned in proximity to the battery opening, wherein the retention jaw includes a battery-contact portion and a barrier portion, wherein the barrier portion is movable between a battery-retention position and a battery-release position such that battery contact with the battery contact portion causes the barrier portion to assume the battery-retention position and such that absence of battery contact with the battery contact portion causes the barrier portion to assume the battery-release position; the system for retaining the battery characterized by a battery compartment door operable to provide an open position (82, 84) in which the battery opening is unobstructed and operable to provide a closed position in which the battery opening is obstructed; and a battery-retention mechanism operatively associated with the battery compartment door, the battery-retention mechanism comprising a stopper block that is operable to be positioned within the battery compartment at a stopper block height that is closer to the upper structure than to the bottom structure when the battery compartment door is in the closed position such that the battery-retention mechanism is in a blocking position within the battery compartment with the battery compartment door in a closed position, wherein the stopper block is operable to be positioned at least substantially external to the battery compartment and to provide substantially unobstructed access to the battery compartment when the battery compartment door is in the open position (82, 84), such that the battery-retention mechanism is in a nonblocking position external to the battery compartment when the battery compartment door is in the open position (82, 84). a retention jaw positioned in proximity to the battery opening, wherein the retention jaw includes a battery-contact portion and a barrier portion, wherein the barrier portion is movable between a battery-retention position and a battery-release position such that battery contact with the battery contact portion causes the barrier portion to assume the battery-retention position and such that absence of battery contact with the battery contact portion causes the barrier portion to assume the battery-release position; the system for retaining the battery characterized by a battery compartment door operable to provide an open position (82, 84) in which the battery opening is unobstructed and operable to provide a closed position in which the battery opening is obstructed; and a battery-retention mechanism operatively associated with the battery compartment door, the battery-retention mechanism comprising a stopper block that is operable to be positioned within the battery compartment at a stopper block height that is closer to the upper structure than to the bottom structure when the battery compartment door is in the closed position such that the battery-retention mechanism is in a blocking position within the battery compartment with the battery compartment door in a closed position, wherein the stopper block is operable to be positioned at least substantially external to the battery compartment and to provide substantially unobstructed access to the battery compartment when the battery compartment door is in the open position (82, 84), such that the battery-retention mechanism is in a nonblocking position external to the battery compartment when the battery compartment door is in the open position (82, 84).