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A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells and a flexible bus. Each of the battery cells has a main body, a first terminal disposed on the main body, and a second terminal disposed on the main body. The main body includes active material configured to generate power from an electrochemic

A battery module includes a plurality of battery cells and a flexible bus. Each of the battery cells has a main body, a first terminal disposed on the main body, and a second terminal disposed on the main body. The main body includes active material configured to generate power from an electrochemical reaction. The bus includes an electrical current harness configured to conduct an electrical current through the battery module and a battery management system configured to detect and transmit status information, as well as selectively control a charging and a discharging of at least one of the battery cells.

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1. A battery module with a flexible bus, the battery module having a plurality of battery cells, the flexible bus comprising: an electrical current harness configured to conduct an electrical current, the electrical current harness including a plurality of flexible bus bars to electrically connect t

1. A battery module with a flexible bus, the battery module having a plurality of battery cells, the flexible bus comprising: an electrical current harness configured to conduct an electrical current, the electrical current harness including a plurality of flexible bus bars to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells, the plurality of flexible bus bars including a first plurality of flexible bus bars configured to fold in a first direction and a second plurality of flexible bus bars configured to fold in a second direction, each flexible bus bar including a hinge configured to fold about 180 degrees, the hinges of adjacent flexible bus bars configured to fold in opposite directions, wherein each of the flexible bus bars is disposed along only one edge of the flexible bus; anda battery management system configured to detect and transmit status information of at least one of the battery cells. 2. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the electrical current harness further includes a first main terminal and a second main terminal. 3. The flexible bus of claim 1, further comprising a covering enclosing the electrical current harness and the battery management system. 4. The flexible bus of claim 3, wherein the covering substantially separates the electrical current harness and the battery management system. 5. The flexible bus of claim 3, wherein the covering is formed from at least one flexible nonconductive substrate disposed on opposite sides of the battery management system and the electrical current harness. 6. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the flexible bus is configured to connect the plurality of battery cells in series. 7. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a preformed crease. 8. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the battery management system includes at least one trace configured to be electrically connected to at least one of the battery cells, the at least one trace configured to carry an electrical signal associated with at least one parameter of the battery cells. 9. The flexible bus of claim 8, wherein the at least one trace is configured to carry an electrical signal associated with a voltage of at least one of the battery cells. 10. The flexible bus of claim 8, wherein the at least one trace is configured to carry an electrical signal associated with a temperature of at least one of the battery cells. 11. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the battery management system includes a plurality of traces configured to be electrically connected in parallel to the plurality of battery cells. 12. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the battery management system is configured to selectively control a charging and a discharging of at least one of the battery cells. 13. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the battery management system includes a resistive thermal device that is integrated into a covering enclosing the electrical current harness and the battery management system. 14. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the flexible bus is configured to have each flexible bus bar electrically connect a first terminal of one of the battery cells to a second terminal of an adjacent one of the battery cells forming an electrical current harness. 15. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the flexible bus is configured to be coextensive with only one edge of the plurality of battery cells when the plurality of flexible bus bars is electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells. 16. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the flexible bus is configured to have the plurality of flexible bus bars electrically connected with the plurality of battery cells, the plurality of battery cells disposed in a linear array. 17. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the flexible bus is configured to be coplanar with the plurality of battery cells when the plurality of flexible bus bars is electrically connected to the plurality of battery cells, a separate portion of the flexible bus coplanar with each battery cell when each flexible bus bar is folded at each hinge. 18. The flexible bus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of battery cells includes at least four battery cells. 19. A battery module with a flexible bus, the battery module having a plurality of battery cells, the flexible bus comprising: an electrical current harness configured to conduct an electrical current, the electrical current harness including a plurality of flexible bus bars to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells, the plurality of flexible bus bars including a first plurality of flexible bus bars configured to fold in a first direction and a second plurality of flexible bus bars configured to fold in a second direction, each flexible bus bar including a hinge configured to fold about 180 degrees, the hinges of adjacent flexible bus bars configured to fold in opposite directions, wherein each of the flexible bus bars is disposed along only one edge of the flexible bus; anda battery management system configured to detect and transmit status information of at least one of the battery cells, wherein the battery management system includes a plurality of traces configured to be electrically connected in parallel to the plurality of battery cells. 20. A battery module with a flexible bus, the battery module having a plurality of battery cells disposed in a linear array, the flexible bus comprising: an electrical current harness configured to conduct an electrical current, the electrical current harness including a plurality of flexible bus bars to electrically connect the plurality of battery cells disposed in a linear array, the plurality of flexible bus bars including a first plurality of flexible bus bars configured to fold in a first direction and a second plurality of flexible bus bars configured to fold in a second direction, each flexible bus bar including a hinge configured to fold about 180 degrees, the hinges of adjacent flexible bus bars configured to fold in opposite directions, wherein each of the flexible bus bars is disposed along only one edge of the flexible bus; anda battery management system configured to detect and transmit status information of at least one of the battery cells.