A sealing element (10) for sealing battery cells (18) of a battery module (34) for the purely electric drive of a motor vehicle has a first sealing disk (12) for a seal-forming attachment between a housing (32) and a first attachment frame (44), a second sealing disk (14) spaced from the first sealing disk (12) for a seal-forming attachment between the housing (32) and a second attachment frame (46), and receptacle pockets (16), connecting the first and second sealing disks (12, 14) for accommodating battery cells (18) therein. The first and second sealing disks (12, 14) and the receptacle pockets (16) are manufactured in one piece from a common sealing material. Thus, the battery cells (18) can be sealed with respect to a cooling medium that flows through the housing (32) thereby avoiding the risk of electrical short-circuits via the cooling medium.