A battery module having a multiplicity of battery cells in thermally conductive contact with an electrical resistive heating element that comprises an electrical resistive heating wire, wherein a first area of the heating element comprises an electrical resistive heating wire with a first cross section, which is in thermally conductive contact with a first outer surface region of battery cells, and wherein a second area of the heating element, which has a resistive heating wire with a second cross section different from the first cross section, is in thermally conductive contact with a second outer surface region of battery cells, and/or wherein the resistive heating element has a first area with a first laying density of electrical resistive heating wire that is in thermally conductive contact with first outer surface regions of battery cells and comprises a second area that has a second laying density, different from the first laying density, of the electrical resistive heating wire and is in thermally conductive contact with second outer surface regions of battery cells.