An example electric vehicle battery assembly includes, among other things, a plurality of battery cells, a cold plate, and a cantilevered member to urge the plurality of battery cells toward the cold plate. An electric vehicle battery assembly according to another exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a battery cell, a cold plate, and a cantilevered member biasing a first side of the battery cell toward the cold plate to enhance thermal energy transfer between the battery cell and the cold plate. The cantilevered member biases the first side by pressing against an opposite, second side of the battery cell.