A traction battery assembly is provided which may include first and second arrays spaced apart and each having a plurality of battery cells. The battery cells may each have a positive and a negative terminal on a cell face facing the other array. The cells may be oriented in tilted stacks such that the terminals of at least one of the cells of the first array are aligned with oppositely charged terminals of two different cells of the second array. The assembly may also include a frame supporting and orienting the cells such that the cells of the arrays are tilted at opposing and inversely equal angles which are based on a width and length of each battery cell to facilitate the alignment of the terminals of at least one of the cells of the first array with the oppositely charged terminals of two different cells of the second array.