The present disclosure includes a battery module having a stack of electrochemical cells that includes terminals, a housing that receives the stack of electrochemical cells, and a bus bar carrier disposed over the stack of electrochemical cells such that bus bars disposed on the bus bar carrier interface with the terminals of the stack of electrochemical cells. The bus bar carrier includes opposing first and second guide extensions, the stack of electrochemical cells is disposed between the opposing first and second guide extensions, and the opposing first and second guide extensions physically contact a first outer electrochemical cell and a second outer electrochemical cell, respectively, of the stack of electrochemical cells to guide the terminals of the stack of electrochemical cells toward corresponding ones of the bus bars disposed on the bus bar carrier.