Patent ID: 8691421

Claim:
A battery module having a plurality of plate-shaped battery cells which are sequentially stacked, wherein the battery module is configured in a structure in which two or more battery cell units are connected in series to each other so that the battery cell units are stacked, each of the battery cell units is configured in a structure in which two or more battery cells are connected in parallel to each other in a state in which the battery cells are in tight contact with each other, the battery cells being mounted in a housing, and external input and output terminals of the battery module composed of a module cathode terminal and a module anode terminal are both located at a same side of the battery module or opposite sides of the battery module depending upon the number of the battery cell units constituting the battery module, wherein the housings are coupled to each other to surround an overall outside of a battery cell stack constituted by the two or more battery cells excluding cathode and anode terminals of the battery cells.