A battery (100) includes a housing (8) and at least one exposed terminal (4). A thermally conductive mechanism is positioned outside the housing but in close proximity to the terminal, defining a thermally conductive path from the terminal to a point further from the terminal. The mechanism can use thermally conductive brackets (2) that may be electrically isolated from the battery terminals. A heat sink ( 1 ) may be positioned to receive heat from the bracket. A heat pump can cooperate with the thermally conductive mechanism and the heat sink for aiding in the movement of heat. A heater (104) can be positioned within the housing for heating the inside of the housing. The battery can be encased by an arrangement of vacuum insulated panels in a way which provides for forming an external electrical connection with the battery terminals. A backup battery assembly (100) and associated uninterruptible power system are described for powering a primary load (114).
