The 590 format
The 590 in MEB 590 is a measurement: the module is 590 mm long. That is the whole naming convention. The same logic names the VDA formats after their length — a VDA 355 module is 355 mm long.
The three dimensions
| Dimension | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 590 mm |
| Width | 225.5 mm |
| Height | 110 mm |
| Weight | 31.4 kg |
Those are the figures for the reference module used throughout this site, the 2P8S – 227 Ah (MEB). Specifications as published by the manufacturing partner and listed in the Avantis Energy catalogue. Ask for the datasheet before you design around them.
The cell inside it
A 590 mm module is built around a prismatic cell of roughly 550 mm, with the remainder taken up by the end plates, the busbars and the sensing. Cells of that length need production equipment built for that length, which is the reason the format took time to become widely available rather than a shortage of demand.
A longer relative
The 590 format is not the only module in the family. The catalogue also lists a 1P12S – 147 Ah module at 599 × 225 × 108 mm: the same footprint and height, twelve cells in series instead of eight groups of two. If you are designing an enclosure, check which of the two you are quoting — see the specifications side by side.
Why a fixed length is worth something
Everything that touches the module is dimensioned to it: the cooling plate, the compression fixture, the enclosure, the assembly jig, the test bench. When the module length is fixed by a platform rather than by one supplier, that tooling keeps its value beyond a single order — and a second source becomes a purchasing decision instead of a redesign.