Patent ID: 7189474

Claim:
A battery pack comprising: a plurality of battery modules arranged in parallel, each of said battery modules comprising a plurality of sealed rechargeable batteries arranged in a row and integrally connected in series, said sealed rechargeable battery having a metal case; a pair of holding brackets for holding both ends of said battery modules in a direction perpendicular to the parallel direction of said battery modules; said battery modules being disposed with a cooling space provided between said battery modules; said battery pack further comprising: a tubular cover for surrounding the periphery of said plurality of battery modules so that said cover surrounds the entire periphery of said plurality of battery modules disposed with a cooling space provided therebetween; and a coolant supply device for supplying coolant from one end to the other end of said tubular cover; wherein said holding brackets are each provided with a ring-shaped protrusive wall into which said ends of said battery modules are fitted, said ring-shaped protrusive walls slide in both ends of said tubular cover, a slit is formed in said holding brackets in such a position as to correspond to said cooling space between the battery modules, and a fan is provided in the outer surface of at least one of said holding brackets.