BATTERY CELL DESIGNS THAT FACILITATE INCREASED HEAT TRANSFER AND THERMAL PERFORMANCE

Battery cells are described for use within traction battery packs. The exemplary battery cells include designs that facilitate increased heat transfer and thermal performance. For example, an exemplary prismatic battery cell may include an electrode assembly having a plurality of electrode stack layers, and each electrode stack layer of the plurality of electrode stack layers includes a major side surface that is positioned normal to a major face of a prismatic outer housing of the cell. An exemplary cylindrical battery cell may include a first plurality of standoffs protruding outward from a base of an cylindrical outer housing of the cell, and a second plurality of standoffs protruding outward from a cover of the cell. The standoffs cooperate to establish cooling channels when the cylindrical battery cell is stacked together with additional cylindrical battery cells.