Battery structure for a motor vehicle

The battery structure (1) has battery module (11) has a heat sink (13) on which battery cell (12) is arranged. The heat sink is arranged between two opposed inner surfaces (5,6) of battery housing shell (2). A projection (3) is formed from inner surface (5) of shell at the level of heat sink, such that force is made to act from outside to shell upon deformation of shell and is transferred to an opposing inner surface (6) of shell. The shell is made of material selected from metal, plastic and composite fiber.