A battery cooling system is described, including a thermally conductive cooling plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. A first group of battery cells may be disposed on the first surface of the cooling plate, a second group of battery cells may be disposed on the second surface of the cooling plate, and a thermally conductive interstitial layer may be coupled between the cooling plate and the first group of battery cells, and between the cooling plate and the second group of battery cells. The cooling plate is configured to draw heat from the first group and the second group of the battery cells.