LOAD BEARING BATTERY PACK

A battery pack for an electric vehicle configured to transfer a tensile load, such as from a seat restraint system, through the battery pack to underlying vehicle structure includes a battery tray, a plurality of prismatic electrochemical cells arranged in major face-to-major face relationship, and at least one flanged beam having a web located between adjacent cells and at least one flange at an upper end of the web on which a battery pack lid is secured.