Structural Battery Design for Lower Sill Height in EVs
Here’s PatSnap Eureka !
Summary
Problems
Current electric vehicle battery packs compromise cabin ergonomics and aerodynamic efficiency due to high sill height and the need for external side-spanning structures, which occupy valuable space and increase energy consumption.
Innovation solutions
A structural battery pack design where the battery casing forms the vehicle body's bottom and incorporates a deformable section that absorbs side impact energy, eliminating the need for external side-spanning members and allowing a lower sill height, with the battery pack integrated between longitudinal members of a pre-assembled frame structure.
TRIZ Analysis
Specific contradictions:
General conflict description:
Principle concept:
If external side-spanning structures are used to protect the battery pack, then crash safety is improved, but vehicle width and aerodynamic drag increase
Why choose this principle:
The battery pack casing is merged with the vehicle's side impact protection structure. The casing includes deformable sections that directly absorb side impact energy, eliminating the need for separate external side-spanning members. This integration maintains crash safety while reducing vehicle width and aerodynamic drag.
Principle concept:
If external side-spanning structures are used to protect the battery pack, then crash safety is improved, but vehicle width and aerodynamic drag increase
Why choose this principle:
The battery pack casing serves multiple functions: it encloses and protects the battery cells, provides structural support, and acts as the side impact absorption structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate protective structures, reducing overall vehicle dimensions and aerodynamic resistance.
Application Domain
Data Source
AI summary:
A structural battery pack design where the battery casing forms the vehicle body's bottom and incorporates a deformable section that absorbs side impact energy, eliminating the need for external side-spanning members and allowing a lower sill height, with the battery pack integrated between longitudinal members of a pre-assembled frame structure.
Abstract
An electric vehicle includes: a frame with two spaced-apart longitudinal members having an upper transversely oriented wall member that is situated a vertical distance Hu from a bottom plane and a lower transversely oriented wall member that is situated near the bottom plane, and a battery pack with an array of battery cells defining an array top surface, an array bottom surface and an array side surface. A casing top plate contacts the array top surface, a casing bottom plate contacting the array bottom surface and a casing side wall, connected to the top and bottom plates and contacting the array side surface. The casing top plate is situated a vertical distance Hct from the bottom plane that substantially corresponds with the distance Hu. The battery pack includes a longitudinal impact absorption structure.