A battery module having a plurality of battery cells (2), in particular lithium-ion battery cells (20) which in a longitudinal direction (3) of the battery module (1) are disposed so as to be mutually adjacent, and the plurality of battery cells (2) are mutually braced by means of a tensioning element (4), wherein a thermal compensation element (5) is disposed between a battery cell (2) and the tensioning element (4), and the tensioning element (4), on a side of the tensioning element (4) that faces away from the battery cell (2), is connected to a heating element (100).