A battery module includes a pair of end plates; a plurality of battery cells aligned with each other between the pair of the end plates, wherein each of the battery cells has a top surface, a bottom surface located substantially opposite to the top surface, and side surfaces extending between the top surface and the bottom surface; a top plate having a top base portion extending across the top surface of the battery cells and a top flange portion covering at least a portion of the side surfaces of the battery cells; and a bottom plate having a bottom base portion extending across the bottom surface of the battery cells and a bottom flange portion covering at least a portion of the side surfaces of the battery cells.