BATTERY THERMAL OVERLOAD PROTECTION SYSTEM

A vehicle includes an electric machine, a battery, a clamping fixture, and blades. The battery has a plurality of cells configured to deliver power to the electric machine. The clamping fixture has plates disposed on opposing ends of the plurality of cells and members secured to each of the plates. The members are secured to the plates under a tension force such that the plates apply a compression force to the plurality of cells to decrease the internal resistance of the plurality of cells. The blades are configured to sever the members to release the compression force to increase the internal resistance of the array of cells in response to a temperature of at least one cell of the array of cells exceeding a threshold.