A vacuum cleaner with a battery unit for powering the vacuum cleaner is provided. The battery unit includes a plurality of serially connected battery cells and battery management electronics operatively coupled to the battery cells. Two enclosures are provided on either side of a central axis of the vacuum cleaner, each enclosure including a portion of the plurality of battery cells, and a portion of the battery management electronics operatively coupled to the respective portion of the plurality of the battery cells. A link strap interconnects the portions of the battery management electronics.