Patent ID: 8859121

Claim:
A battery module, comprising: a case member having a storage section in which a plurality of battery cells each having a positive electrode terminal and a negative electrode terminal are arranged along a longitudinal direction in at least one layer with their axes parallel, and made so that its one side and its other side facing surfaces of the terminals of the plurality of battery cells in a direction of the axes are open surfaces opened to the exterior; a first side plate that covers an open surface on one side of the case member, and that has a plurality of opening portions that expose surfaces of the terminals of the plurality of battery cells in the direction of the axes on the one side of the case member; a second side plate that covers an open surface on the other side of the case member, and that has a plurality of opening portions that expose the surfaces of the terminals of the plurality of battery cells in the direction of the axes on the other side of the case member; a first cover member that covers the first side plate and defines a first gas discharge space between itself and the first side plate, into which gas spurted in a direction in which the respective axes of the battery cells extend flows out from the surfaces of the terminals of the plurality of battery cells in the direction of the axes on the one side of the case member via the opening portions of the first side plate; a second cover member that covers the second side plate and defines a second gas discharge space between itself and the second side plate, into which gas spurted in a direction in which the respective axes of the battery cells extend flows out from the surfaces of the terminals of the plurality of battery cells on the other side of the case member via the opening portion of the second side plate; a first guide portion having a through-hole communicating with the first gas discharge space; a second guide portion having a through-hole communicating with the second gas discharge space; and a guide portion communication member including a flexible member that connects the first guide portion and the second guide portion; and wherein the through-hole communicating with the first gas discharge space and the through-hole communicating with the second gas discharge space have respectively a lowermost surface that is positioned lower than an axis of any of the plurality of battery cells that are arranged in the case member.