Method for producing an energy storage device and counter-holder device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing an energy storage device (11), wherein a battery module (14, 14a) with at least one battery cell is provided, a viscous and curable thermal interface material (18) is provided, a carrier (16) is provided, the battery module (14, 14a) is arranged on a first carrier side (16a) of the carrier (16) such that the thermal interface material (18) is located between the carrier (16) and the battery module (14, 14a), and the thermal interface material (18) is cured.During the arrangement of the battery module (14, 14a) on the first carrier side (16a), the carrier (16) is arranged on a counter-holder device (12) supporting the carrier (16) on a second carrier side (16b) opposite the first carrier side (16a), wherein the thermal interface material (18) is heated by means of the counter-holder device (12) for curing or accelerating the curing while the carrier (16) is arranged on the counter-holder device (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for producing an energy storage device, wherein a battery module having at least one battery cell is provided, a viscous and curable thermal interface material is provided, a carrier is provided, and the battery module is arranged on a first carrier side of the carrier such that the thermal interface material is located between the carrier and the battery module. Furthermore, the thermal interface material is cured. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a counterholder device.

[0002] To manufacture a battery or energy storage device, particularly for motor vehicles, battery modules can be placed on a carrier, which can be part of a battery housing, for example, and connected to this carrier via a thermal interface material. The carrier can also function, for example, as a temperature control device or cooling base. The thermal interface material ensures good thermal connection between the battery module and this carrier. For this purpose, the thermal interface material can be applied to the carrier in a viscous state, and the battery module can then be placed on top. The current process for placing battery modules on the cooling base of a battery tray is often force-controlled.The forces required to achieve particularly small gaps filled with the thermal interface material between the carrier and the battery module are very high, which is why complex devices and process controls are required to prevent damage to the carrier and the battery module while simultaneously ensuring a homogeneous distribution of the interface material. After the battery module has been placed on the carrier, the resulting battery assembly can undergo further processing steps. However, the thermal interface material must have reached a certain strength to avoid partial detachment during subsequent handling operations. This results in relatively long curing times.

[0003] Furthermore, thermally curable interface materials are also known, but thermal curing is also difficult or complex because, if the battery module is connected to the carrier via the viscous thermal interface material and the thermal interface material is located in the gap between the battery module and the carrier, there is no longer any direct access to the thermal interface material.

[0004] For example, CN 114045148 A discloses a photothermal dual-curing thermally conductive adhesive.

[0005] A chain of production steps, which first involve pressing the battery module onto the carrier and then moving to a curing station, also requires complex process control to prevent damage to the battery module and carrier. Here, too, it is always necessary to ensure that the thermal interface material, such as a gap filler, achieves sufficient strength before the next handling operation begins, which requires both space and time. Sufficient strength must be achieved to prevent the thermal interface material from detaching from the wetted contact surfaces during subsequent handling operations.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 10 2021 123 311 A1 describes a method for producing an energy storage device, wherein a battery cell, a temperature control element, for example a cooling base, and a thermal interface element are arranged such that the thermal interface element is located between the battery cell and the temperature control element. The thermal interface element is provided as a low-melting alloy. After the low-melting alloys have been applied to the temperature control element, energy can be supplied to the alloy, in particular by means of electromagnetic induction, in order to keep the alloy in the liquid state at least until the at least one battery cell is applied.

[0007] CN 219843004 U describes a heating and adjusting device used to heat a battery module.

[0008] DE 10 2020 108 271 A1 describes a method for producing a traction battery of a motor vehicle, wherein a heat-conducting agent present between a cell module and a wall of a battery housing delimiting a receiving compartment is at least temporarily set into vibration during the production of the traction battery.

[0009] DE 10 2019 135 391 A1 describes a method for producing a traction battery of a motor vehicle, wherein firstly a heat conducting agent is applied to a base defining a receiving compartment and then a cell module is pressed onto the heat conducting agent by means of a setting device when inserted into the receiving compartment.

[0010] The object of the present invention is to provide a method and a counter-holder device which make it possible to simplify and / or accelerate the production of an energy storage device.

[0011] This object is achieved by a method and a counterholder device having the features according to the respective independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent patent claims, the description, and the figures.

[0012] In a method according to the invention for producing an energy storage device, a battery module with at least one battery cell, a viscous and curable thermal interface material, and a carrier are provided, the battery module is arranged on a first carrier side of the carrier such that the thermal interface material is located between the carrier and the battery module, and the thermal interface material is cured. During the arrangement of the battery module on the first carrier side, the carrier is arranged on a counterholder device that supports the carrier on a second carrier side opposite the first carrier side. To cure or accelerate the curing, the thermal interface material is heated by means of the counterholder device while the carrier is arranged on the counterholder device.

[0013] Thus, the carrier and, via this carrier, the thermal interface material can advantageously be heated by means of the counterholder device. The counterholder device can also support the carrier during the arrangement of the battery module on the carrier. This enables higher contact forces and thus particularly small gaps between the battery module and the carrier. Because such a counterholder device, which can also be simply referred to as a counterholder, can now advantageously be used to simultaneously heat the thermal interface material and thereby cure it or accelerate its curing, no additional process step is required for such thermal curing. The thermal curing can therefore advantageously be integrated into the process step of arranging the battery module on the first carrier side.Furthermore, no additional heating device is required, as the counterholder device can advantageously be used to heat the carrier. This also enables heat to be coupled particularly close to the material and directly, as the counterholder device, when the carrier is arranged on it, has direct contact with the carrier. The counterholder device, which can simultaneously be used to heat the carrier and thus the thermal interface material, can therefore advantageously provide a combined operating device that combines a counterholder function and support function with temperature input. This linking of two process steps results in a reduction in space requirements in production.Furthermore, additional space is saved by eliminating the need for workpiece carriers with complex clamping technology, which must ensure the curing of the material over long curing distances. In addition to reducing the pressing forces, the thermal counterholder also enables shorter curing times compared to curing at room temperature. This means that the material's handling strength can be achieved without the need for long curing times and before the next handling operation. This prevents springback in the material layer of the thermal interface material, which leads to less meandering and gap formation, and thus to better wetting levels. The resulting improved cooling performance contributes to higher vehicle performance and shorter charging times when the energy storage device produced using this process is used in a motor vehicle.Thermal curing also expands the material selection for the thermal interface material, as thermal interface materials that require temperature application for curing can now also be considered.

[0014] A thermal interface material can, for example, be a so-called gap filler. It can also be a thermally conductive adhesive. The battery module can comprise just a single battery cell or multiple battery cells. The battery cells can be designed as lithium-ion cells, for example. The battery module can, for example, have a cell stack with multiple battery cells. By providing the counterholder, the carrier can be designed to be very large in terms of surface area, which makes it possible to place a very large battery module or multiple battery modules on the carrier. As already mentioned at the beginning, the carrier can be part of a battery housing, for example a base of a battery housing. Alternatively or additionally, the carrier can also be designed as a cooling device, for example as a cooling plate or cooling base.The carrier can therefore, for example, comprise integrated cooling channels through which a cooling medium can flow. The carrier can be made of a metallic material or a plastic. The carrier is preferably made of a metallic material. This allows particularly good heat conduction between the counterholder device and the thermal interface material for curing the latter. The carrier can be plate-shaped or trough-shaped. In other words, in addition to a base plate, which has, for example, the first and second carrier sides, the carrier can also have a frame surrounding this base plate. This is not absolutely necessary, however. The carrier can also be another housing component of a battery housing, for example a housing cover or a module cover for the battery module. Such a cover can also be designed as a cooling device or cooling plate.In other words, with respect to a proper installation position in a motor vehicle, the carrier can be located below the battery module or above the battery module, or fundamentally on any side of the battery module. Furthermore, it is also conceivable for such a carrier to be arranged on multiple sides of the battery module, for example, on opposite sides, in particular also via a thermal interface material. This can be done in a manner analogous to that described for arranging the battery module on the carrier.

[0015] During or after the battery module is placed on the carrier, the battery module can be pressed towards the carrier and / or the carrier can be pressed towards the battery module, for example by means of the counterholder. The pressing can be carried out in a force-controlled manner as described above. For this purpose, for example, a predetermined process force or contact force can be applied, in particular constantly, by a gantry that can act on the battery module, for example. The force-controlled placement of the battery module can be carried out in such a way that a certain force threshold is not exceeded. Such a contact force can, for example, be up to 10 kilonewtons.

[0016] After the thermal interface material has cured sufficiently, the battery module with the carrier attached to it can be removed from the counterholder device.

[0017] Arranging the carrier on the counter-holder device can, for example, be achieved simply by placing the carrier on the counter-holder device. Fastening the carrier to the counter-holder device does not have to be provided, but may be provided.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the counterholder device has a heat source for heating the thermal interface material, which heat source is designed in particular as at least one of the following heat sources: a heating cartridge and / or a high-temperature heating element and / or a nozzle heating element and / or a heating mat, in particular a silicone heating mat, and / or an inductive heating element. In principle, it is advantageous if this is an electrical heat source, which can therefore be activated, for example, by applying current and / or whose heating output can be adjusted by means of a current or a current intensity. This makes it particularly easy to control and / or regulate the heating output and heating effect. In particular, several of the above-mentioned heat sources can also be combined.The heating of the thermal interface material by means of the counterholder device is carried out, for example, by means of one or more of the heat sources mentioned.

[0019] These heat sources can advantageously be integrated into components of the counterholder device or can advantageously be or become thermally coupled to such components.

[0020] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the counterholder device comprises a support device with a contact side, on which the carrier is arranged in contact with the second carrier side before the battery module is arranged on the carrier, wherein the heat source is arranged remotely from the contact side and the heat generated by the heat source is passed on to the contact side via one or more heat conducting elements for curing or accelerating the curing of the thermal interface material.

[0021] The heat source can therefore be indirectly coupled to the contact side of the support device. The contact side of the support device therefore represents a surface or a surface region of the support device that is in direct contact with the carrier when the carrier is arranged on the counterholder device during placement of the battery module. The coupling point for coupling the heat into a component of the counterholder device can therefore be different from this contact side or even from the support device. The coupled heat can advantageously be conducted to the contact side via heat conducting elements. This advantageously makes it possible to provide a heat source at any desired location on the counterholder device, since it does not have to be positioned directly on the contact side. This allows for more flexible design options for the counterholder device.For example, metallic components of the counterholder device itself, such as the support device itself or at least parts of it, can be used as heat-conducting elements. If the heat source is located away from the contact side, the heat can also be coupled in, for example, with high-temperature heating elements or other heating elements that provide very high heat output, without generating excessively high temperatures on the contact side itself. This enables rapid and efficient heating.

[0022] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the counterholder device comprises a support device with a contact side, on which the carrier is arranged in contact with the second carrier side before the battery module is arranged on the carrier, wherein the heat source is formed as part of the contact side or directly heats the contact side. In other words, the heat source can also be integrated directly into the contact side. For example, the contact side itself can be provided by a heat mat or a heating mat which, when the carrier is arranged as intended on the counterholder device, has direct contact with the carrier. Alternatively or additionally, the contact side can also be heated inductively. The contact side is therefore preferably designed to be electrically conductive or made of a metallic material.This ensures particularly good thermal conductivity of the contact side and particularly efficient heat transfer to the interface material in any case, even with indirect heating using a spatially distant heat source.

[0023] In addition, there are several options for how and when heating can be carried out or initiated using the counterholder device. For example, heating can be carried out or initiated using the counterholder device before the carrier is arranged on the counterholder device. In particular, in this case the counterholder device can also be permanently heated or emit heat during the manufacturing process. The counterholder device or at least the contact side can, for example, be permanently kept at an essentially constant temperature. "Permanently" can refer to a predetermined manufacturing period in which one or more energy storage devices are manufactured using the counterholder device.

[0024] Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the heating takes place or is initiated by means of the counterholder device after or as soon as the carrier is arranged on the counterholder device and before the battery module is arranged on the carrier. This enables particularly rapid curing of the thermal interface material, since the curing process can be initiated by means of heat input from the counterholder device, even before the battery module is arranged on the carrier. It is also conceivable that the heating takes place or is initiated by means of the counterholder device after or as soon as the thermal interface material is arranged on the carrier and before the battery module is arranged on the carrier. This also allows the curing process of the thermal interface material to be initiated particularly early.According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, heating is carried out or initiated by means of the counterholder device after or as soon as the thermal interface material and the battery module are arranged on the carrier. For example, the heat source can only be switched on after or as soon as the thermal interface material and the battery module are arranged on the carrier. This prevents the thermal interface material from curing too quickly or too early.

[0025] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the counterholder device comprises a plurality of support elements, in particular as part of the support device, on which the carrier is arranged with the second carrier side, in particular in contact with or indirectly via a heating element, e.g. the heating mat, wherein the thermal interface material is heated by means of one or more of the support elements of the counterholder device. The counterholder device can therefore have a plurality of individual support elements, for example as a type of support columns. To heat the thermal interface material, not all of these support elements necessarily have to be used, but for example only some of these support elements or even just a single one. This also enables, for example, targeted local curing or accelerated curing of the thermal interface material.Support elements can also be heated to different degrees in order to cure the thermal interface material to different degrees or speeds in different areas.

[0026] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support elements for supporting the carrier are individually adjusted in their height, in particular by means of respective spring elements encompassed by the support elements. The provision of individual support elements as part of the counter-holder device is therefore particularly advantageous in order, for example, to be able to compensate for different heights of the carrier in certain areas. In other words, the support elements can provide particularly good tolerance compensation with regard to possible unevenness of the carrier. This allows the support function to be optimized. Furthermore, it is very advantageous if such height compensation can be carried out passively, for example by means of respective spring elements. Each of the support elements can, for example, comprise at least one such spring element.The height of each contact side of each support element can thus automatically adjust to the position of the support via such a spring element. In other words, when the support is placed on the support elements, the respective spring elements can be compressed to a greater or lesser extent, causing the support sides of the support elements to automatically adjust their height to the position of the support.

[0027] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the counterholder device comprises a support plate, in particular as part of the above-mentioned support device, on which the carrier is arranged in contact with the second carrier side, wherein the thermal interface material is heated by means of the support plate of the counterholder device. The support device can therefore also be designed as a support plate or comprise such a support plate. The carrier can therefore be placed over a large area on this support plate for support. Such a support plate also simultaneously enables large-area heating of the carrier by means of the counterholder device. The surface of the support plate can correspond approximately to the contact surface of the second carrier side. This enables particularly uniform heat input into the carrier and thus particularly uniform curing of the thermal interface material.Nevertheless, even in this case, it is possible to cure the thermal interface material locally with different degrees of intensity or speed, for example, by heating the contact side of the support plate to different degrees of intensity. This can be achieved, for example, by using a heating element, e.g., a heating mat, on the contact side, which has selectively and locally heatable heating zones.

[0028] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, during the arrangement of the battery module on the first carrier side of the carrier and while the carrier is arranged on the counter-holder device, vibrations transmitted to the carrier are generated by means of the counter-holder device. The counter-holder device can therefore advantageously be additionally equipped with a vibration function. By vibrating the counter-holder device, these vibrations can be transmitted to the carrier. In particular, the above-mentioned support device, for example the individual support elements or the support plate, can be set into vibration, whereby the carrier arranged on the support device is automatically also set into vibration. Such vibrations have the great advantage that the thermal interface material can be distributed significantly more easily between the battery module and the carrier.This allows the contact forces for pressing the battery module onto the carrier to be reduced, allowing for small gap widths while simultaneously wetting the contact surfaces more evenly. In other words, achieving such small gap widths using this type of vibration no longer requires as high contact forces as without vibration. This makes the pressing process significantly gentler on the carrier and the battery module.

[0029] The amplitude of these vibrations is preferably a maximum of a few millimeters, in particular less than 1 millimeter, and is, for example, in the order of magnitude of a few hundred micrometers, for example, approximately 0.1 millimeters. The frequency of the vibrations is preferably less than 200 Hertz, particularly preferably less than 100 Hertz and more than 10 Hertz. For example, the vibration frequency can be between 30 Hertz and 80 Hertz inclusive. The direction of vibration is preferably substantially perpendicular to the carrier or the carrier plane. These vibration parameters have proven particularly advantageous in enabling particularly good distribution of the thermal interface material and in enabling the smallest possible gap widths with the lowest possible contact forces and the most homogeneous distribution possible. To generate the vibrations, the counterholder device can comprise a vibration device. This can, for example,a linear vibrator. Linear vibrators, for example, can be used to introduce the oscillations or vibrations.

[0030] Furthermore, the invention also relates to an energy storage device produced by means of a method according to the invention or one of its embodiments. The energy storage device can have one or more battery modules. The battery modules can be arranged on the same carrier, as described above for the battery module and the carrier, or each of the battery modules can be arranged correspondingly on its own carrier. The energy storage device is preferably designed as a battery, for example as a high-voltage battery, in particular for a motor vehicle. The battery can be designed, for example, as a traction battery for the motor vehicle.

[0031] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle with an energy storage device according to the invention or one of its embodiments.

[0032] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

[0033] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a counterholder device for supporting a carrier during the placement of a battery module. The counterholder device comprises a support device with a contact side on which the carrier can be arranged and by means of which the carrier can be supported. The counterholder device comprises a heat source by means of which a thermal interface material arranged on the carrier can be cured by heating via the contact side when the carrier is arranged on the contact side.

[0034] The advantages described for the method according to the invention and its embodiments apply equally to the counter-holder device according to the invention.

[0035] Furthermore, the counter-holder device can have features as already described in connection with the method according to the invention and its embodiments.

[0036] In particular, the invention also includes further developments of the counterholder device according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the method according to the invention are not described again here.

[0037] The counterholder device can also be part of an assembly arrangement, which can also be considered part of the invention. The assembly arrangement can also comprise a control device for controlling the execution of the described method or the individual method steps. In particular, the control device can be designed to carry out a method according to the invention or one of its embodiments.

[0038] The control device can have a data processing apparatus or a processor device that is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). In particular, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit) or an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) can be used as the microprocessor. Furthermore, the processor device can have program code that is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The processor device can, for example,based on at least one circuit board and / or on at least one SoC (System on Chip).

[0039] The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also encompasses implementations that each have a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments are described as mutually exclusive.

[0040] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a mounting arrangement with a counter-holder device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0041] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0042] In the figures, the same reference symbols denote elements with the same function.

[0043] Fig.1 shows a schematic representation of an assembly arrangement 10 with a counterholder device 12 and an energy storage device 11 during production according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Furthermore, several battery modules 14 of the energy storage device are shown, as well as a carrier plate 16, which can also be simply referred to as carrier 16. According to the present illustration, some of the battery modules 14 are already arranged on the carrier plate 16, while one of the battery modules 14, which is also designated 14a, is currently being arranged on the carrier plate 16. The carrier plate 16 is, for example, a cooling base. In order to enable the best possible thermal connection of the battery modules 14 to the carrier 16, a thermal interface material 18, for example a gap filler, is also arranged between each battery module 14 and the carrier 16.The battery module 14 can be arranged on the carrier 16 by means of a gripping device 20, which, for example, has a gripping arm 20a, so that the thermal interface material 18 is located between the battery module 14 and the carrier 16. While the battery module 14 is arranged on the carrier 16, the thermal interface material 18 is in a viscous state Z1. The thermal interface material 18, which is arranged between the battery modules 14 already arranged on the carrier 16, can, for example, already be in a partially or fully cured state Z2.

[0044] While the battery module 14a is arranged on the carrier 16, it is pressed by means of the gripping device 20 in the direction of the carrier 16, specifically with a contact force F. The pressing can be controlled such that this contact force F does not exceed a predetermined threshold value.

[0045] In order to prevent deformation of the carrier 16 during pressing, a counter-holder device 12 is advantageously provided. The carrier 16 has a first carrier side 16a, which faces the battery module 14, 14a, and a second carrier side 16b opposite the first carrier side 16a. The counter-holder device 12 engages the second carrier side 16b to support the carrier 16. The counter-holder device 12 comprises a support device 22, which in this example comprises a plurality of support elements 24. In addition, the support device 22 has a contact side 24a, which in this case is provided by the respective contact surfaces 24 on the support element 24, which directly contact the second carrier side 16b for support. In other words, the carrier plate 16 can be placed directly on this contact side 24a of the support elements 24.The support elements 24 can be designed such that they can be individually leveled in their height relative to the z-direction shown and / or can be adapted to the height of the carrier 16 or the second carrier side 16b, for which purpose, for example, each support element 24 can comprise an integrated spring element.

[0046] By means of the support device 22, the carrier plate 16 can now advantageously be supported from below, while the battery module 14a is placed from above and pressed against the carrier plate 16.

[0047] It is particularly advantageous that the carrier 16 and, via this, the thermal interface material 18 can be heated by means of the counter-holder device 12. For this purpose, the counter-holder device 12 can comprise a heat source 26. In the present example, the support elements 24 are arranged on a base plate 28, into which the heat Q generated by the heat source 26 or the heat flow Q ̇can be coupled. The base plate 28 and the support elements 24 can be made of metallic material or at least comprise components made of metallic material, so that a particularly good heat conduction path is provided from the coupling point 28a to the contact side 24a of the respective support elements 24. However, it is also conceivable for the heat source 26 to be integrated directly into the support device 22 or even into the contact side 24a, or for example to be placed on top of it as a heating mat or something similar. The curing of the gap filler 18 in the production process can thus be accelerated by thermal activation, whereby process times can be shortened and a wider range of materials with better properties can be considered as thermal interface material 18. As a result, the joining process and curing are combined in one station by a combination operating device, namely the thermal counterholder 12.The temperature is thus introduced via the counterholder 12, which optionally additionally excites the material 18 through an additional vibration 34 or vibrations 34, thereby ensuring lower pressing forces during the joining process. Accordingly, the counterholder 12 can also comprise a vibration device 30 with vibration elements 32. The vibrations 34 generated by the vibration elements 32 or generally by the vibration device 30 are transferred accordingly to the support device 24 and, via this, to the carrier 16. This allows smaller gap widths between module 14a and the carrier 16 to be achieved while simultaneously applying lower contact forces F. The combination device, i.e. the counterholder 12, can therefore even combine a vibration-controlled process with temperature introduction.This combination of two or even more process steps results in a reduction in the space required in production, as well as additional space savings because a workpiece carrier with complex clamping technology is no longer required. Furthermore, this thermal vibration counterholder 12 not only reduces the pressing forces 11 but also enables shorter curing times compared to curing at room temperature.

[0048] Overall, the examples demonstrate how the invention can provide a thermal vibration counterholder for battery assembly. This enables excitation of the gap filler material in the cavity during the pressing process with additional heat input. The excitation can be achieved by a vibrating counterholder device, which conducts the vibrations and a heat flow through the cooling base, i.e., the support, into the material. Linear vibrators, for example, can be used to introduce the vibration oscillations. The temperature input can be achieved using various electrical heating elements, such as heating cartridges, high-temperature heating elements, nozzle elements, silicone mats, inductive heating, and so on.

Claims

[1] Method for producing an energy storage device (11), comprising the steps: - providing a battery module (14, 14a) with at least one battery cell; - providing a viscous and curable thermal interface material (18); - providing a carrier (16); - arranging the battery module (14, 14a) on a first carrier side (16a) of the carrier (16) such that the thermal interface material (18) is located between the carrier (16) and the battery module (14, 14a); - curing the thermal interface material (18); characterized bythat during the arrangement of the battery module (14, 14a) on the first carrier side (16a), the carrier (16) is arranged on a counter-holder device (12) which supports the carrier (16) on a second carrier side (16b) opposite the first carrier side (16a), wherein for curing or accelerating the curing, the thermal interface material (18) is heated by means of the counter-holder device (12) while the carrier (16) is arranged on the counter-holder device (12). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the counter-holder device (12) has a heat source (26) for heating the thermal interface material (18), which is designed in particular as at least one of the following heat sources (26): - a heating cartridge; - a high-temperature heating element; - a nozzle heating element; - a heating mat, especially a silicone heating mat, - an inductive heating element. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the counter-holder device (12) comprises a support device (22) with a contact side (24a) on which the carrier (16) is arranged in contact with the second carrier side (16b) before the battery module (14, 14a) is arranged on the carrier (16), wherein the heat source (26) is arranged remotely from the contact side (24a) and the heat (Q) generated by it is conducted to the contact side (24a) via one or more heat-conducting elements (28, 24) for curing or accelerating the curing of the thermal interface material (18). [4] Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized byin that the counter-holder device (12) comprises a support device (22) with a contact side (24a) on which the carrier (16) is arranged in contact with the second carrier side (16b) before the battery module (14, 14a) is arranged on the carrier (16), wherein the heat source (26) is formed as part of the contact side (24a) or heats the contact side (24a) directly. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heating is carried out or initiated by means of the counter-holder device (12), - before the carrier (16) is placed on the counter-holder device (12), or - after or as soon as the carrier (16) is arranged on the counter-holder device (12) and before the battery module (14, 14a) is arranged on the carrier (16), or - after or as soon as the thermal interface material (18) is arranged on the carrier (16) and before the battery module (14, 14a) is arranged on the carrier (16), or - after or as soon as the thermal interface material (18) and the battery module (14, 14a) have been arranged on the carrier (16). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the counter-holder device (12) comprises a plurality of support elements (24), in particular as part of the support device (22), on which the carrier (16) is arranged with the second carrier side (16b), wherein the thermal interface material (18) is heated by means of one or more of the support elements (24) of the counter-holder device (12). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the support elements (24) for supporting the carrier (16) are individually adjusted in their height, in particular by means of respective spring elements encompassed by the support elements (24). [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the counter-holder device (12) comprises a support plate, in particular as part of the support device (22), on which the carrier (16) is arranged in contact with the second carrier side (16b), wherein the thermal interface material (18) is heated by means of the support plate of the counter-holder device (12). [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that during the arrangement of the battery module (14, 14a) on the first carrier side (16a) of the carrier (16) and while the carrier (16) is arranged on the counter-holder device (12), vibrations (34) transmitted to the carrier (16) are generated by means of the counter-holder device (12). [10] Counterholder device (12) for supporting a carrier (16) during the placement of a battery module (14, 14a), characterized by in that the counter-holder device (12) comprises a support device (22) with a contact side (24a) on which the carrier (16) can be arranged and by means of which the carrier (16) can be supported, wherein the counter-holder device (12) comprises a heat source (26) by means of which a thermal interface material (18) arranged on the carrier (16) can be cured by heating via the contact side (24a) when the carrier (16) is arranged on the contact side (24a).

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