Patent ID: 7989102

Claim:
A battery pack structure with heater is used as a power source of a vehicle, the battery pack comprising: a housing case defining an internal space, the housing having a first housing member and a second housing member with a recessed part, the recessed part forming a spaced part; a plurality of secondary batteries located between the first housing member and the second housing member, the spaced part of the second housing member and the plurality of secondary batteries defining a single continuous open space therebetween; a heater provided on at least part of an outer surface of the spaced part directly below both the single continuous open space and the plurality of secondary batteries, in a vertical direction when the battery pack structure is disposed in a position in use, a top surface of the heater being continuous with the outer surface of the spaced part, the spaced part is configured to be heated by the heater which thereby heats the air in the single continuous open space such that heated air in the single continuous open space moves upward by natural convection and indirectly heats the plurality of secondary batteries exposed to the air that moves upward; and a cooling device that is configured to operate when a temperature of the plurality of secondary batteries is higher than a predetermined amount, the cooling device introducing cooling air from outside of the internal space into the internal space, such that the single continuous open space serves as an air passage for the cooling air.