vehicle

Abstract

Vehicle, exhibiting: a pair of suspension towers (74), each of which accommodates a suspension unit (72D) in an upright position, configured to support a front wheel (24A); a drive unit compartment (25) located between the pair of suspension towers and accommodating at least one drive unit (32) configured to drive the front wheels; at least one of a high-voltage (HP) component or a low-voltage (LP) component forming a subunit (40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 49) arranged on the upper surface of the suspension towers of a vehicle; and a driver's seat (50) which is arranged in a vehicle cabin (20) on the upper side of the vehicle's power unit compartment and which is designed such that the feet (F) of a driver (D) are positioned further towards the underside of the vehicle than the upper ends of the suspension towers, and that the head (H) of the driver (D) is positioned further towards the upper side of the vehicle than the sub-unit.

Description

BACKGROUNDTechnical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle suitable for autonomous driving. State of the art

[0002] US patent application US 2018 / 0 095 473 A discloses an electric vehicle designed for fully autonomous driving. Although this prior art discusses the arrangement of various sensors in the electric vehicle, it does not discuss the arrangement of a motor, battery, air conditioning system, or the like.

[0003] Even in vehicles capable of autonomous driving, if it is assumed that a driver will need to operate the vehicle in certain cases, an arrangement that allows efficient use of the vehicle space when a driver's seat is provided is desirable.

[0004] Further vehicle designs are the subject of CN 2 03 158 094 U, CN 1 04 520 139 A and JP 2006 - 88 977 A. SUMMARY

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle which enables the arrangement of a driver's seat in such a way as to ensure a field of vision in cases where the arrangement of the units and components involved in the travel of the vehicle or vehicle movement is concentrated on the front wheels.

[0006] A vehicle according to a first aspect includes a pair of suspension towers each housing a suspension unit in an upright state configured to support a front wheel, a power unit compartment disposed between the pair of suspension towers and housing at least one power unit configured to drive the front wheels, at least one of a high-voltage component or a low-voltage component constituting a sub-unit disposed on a vehicle upper side of the suspension towers, and a driver's seat disposed in a vehicle cabin on the vehicle upper side of the power unit compartment and configured such that feet of a driver are positioned further toward a vehicle lower side than upper ends of the suspension towers, and such that a driver's head is positioned further toward the vehicle upper side than the sub-unit.

[0007] The vehicle according to the first aspect can be both autonomously driven and driven by an occupant. The vehicle includes the power unit compartment at a vehicle front, and the power unit is housed in the center of the power unit compartment in the vehicle width direction. The vehicle also includes the suspension towers on both sides of the power unit compartment in the vehicle width direction. At least one of the high-voltage component or the low-voltage component constituting a sub-unit is arranged on the vehicle top of the suspension towers. The vehicle further includes the driver's seat at the vehicle top of the power unit compartment.The driver's seat is configured so that the driver's feet are positioned further toward the vehicle's underside than the upper ends of the suspension towers and further toward the vehicle's top than the power unit compartment, in the vehicle's vertical direction, and the driver's head is positioned further toward the vehicle's top than the lower unit. The vehicle of the first aspect allows the driver's seat to be arranged to ensure a field of vision in cases where the placement of the units and components involved in vehicle movement is concentrated on the front wheels.

[0008] A vehicle according to a second aspect is the vehicle according to the first aspect, wherein the driver's seat is configured to be removable from the vehicle cabin or stowable within the vehicle cabin.

[0009] The vehicle according to the second aspect makes it possible to use a large area of ​​the interior of the vehicle cabin during autonomous driving.

[0010] A vehicle according to a third aspect is the vehicle according to the first or second aspect, wherein a drive battery is arranged under a floor of the vehicle cabin at a vehicle rear of the drive unit compartment.

[0011] The vehicle according to the third aspect makes it possible to make the floor in the vehicle cabin deeper by arranging the battery under the floor of the vehicle cabin.

[0012] A vehicle according to a fourth aspect is the vehicle according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the high-voltage component is arranged on the vehicle top of one of the two suspension towers and the low-voltage component is arranged on the vehicle top of another of the two suspension towers.

[0013] In the vehicle according to the fourth aspect, the high-voltage component and the low-voltage component are spaced apart from each other in the vehicle width direction. This vehicle makes it possible to suppress the electromagnetic noise generated by the high-voltage component so that it does not affect the low-voltage component.

[0014] A vehicle according to a fifth aspect is the vehicle according to the fourth aspect, wherein the high-voltage component is accommodated in a high-voltage unit compartment separated from the vehicle cabin by a partition wall, and an insertion opening enabling insertion from outside the vehicle is provided in the high-voltage unit compartment.

[0015] In the vehicle according to the fifth aspect, the high-voltage component is covered by the partition wall, thereby enabling shielding of the electromagnetic noise generated by the high-voltage component. Furthermore, in this vehicle, air can flow between the high-voltage unit compartment and the vehicle exterior, but not the vehicle interior, and the high-voltage unit compartment communicates with the power unit compartment. Accordingly, this vehicle facilitates wiring from the power unit to the high-voltage component sub-unit.

[0016] A vehicle according to a sixth aspect is the vehicle according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, having the following configuration. Namely, the vehicle further includes a side ramp configured to form a bridge between a floor surface of the vehicle cabin and a road surface at a side entrance / exit on a vehicle width direction side of the vehicle cabin, and a rear ramp configured to form a bridge between the floor surface and the road surface at a rear entrance / exit on a vehicle rear side of the vehicle cabin.

[0017] The vehicle according to the sixth aspect is designed with an entrance / exit and a ramp on both a side and a rear of the vehicle cabin, which is designed with a low floor. This vehicle thus facilitates the entry and exit of passengers and the loading and unloading of luggage.

[0018] A vehicle having a seventh aspect is the vehicle having the sixth aspect, further comprising a side storage portion disposed below the floor of the vehicle cab and configured to store the side ramp, and a rear storage portion disposed below the floor of the vehicle cab so as to be spaced apart from the side storage portion in plan view and configured to store the rear ramp.

[0019] The vehicle of the seventh aspect allows the floor of the vehicle cabin to be made deeper compared to cases where two ramp storage spaces overlap in plan view.

[0020] The present invention makes it possible to arrange a driver's seat in such a way that a field of vision is ensured in cases where the arrangement of the units and components involved in the travel of the vehicle or vehicle movement is concentrated on the front wheels. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the following figures, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a vehicle cabin of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment; Fig. 2 a cross-section (section along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1) near a driver's seat in a vehicle cabin of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment, viewed from the front; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of a vehicle cabin of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Hereinafter, an electric vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in the drawings, arrow FR indicates a vehicle front, arrow UP indicates a vehicle top, and arrow RH indicates a right side in the vehicle width direction. configuration

[0023] A vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment is an electric vehicle that can both drive autonomously and be driven by an occupant. Autonomous driving is normally performed, but the vehicle 10 can be driven by an occupant in cases where the vehicle 10 is traveling on a road where autonomous driving is not permitted, to avoid hazards, or at other desired times. As shown in Fig. 1, the vehicle 10 has a substantially rectangular block-shaped exterior profile enclosed by a roof 20B, a front wall portion 20C, side wall portions 20D, and a rear wall portion 20E. Front wheels 24A are disposed at the front of the vehicle 10, and rear wheels 24B are disposed at the rear.

[0024] The vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment is formed by joining multiple modules. The vehicle 10 includes a center module 16 forming a central portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a front module 17 connected to the front of the center module 16, and a rear module 18 connected to the rear of the center module 16. A boundary between the front module 17 and the center module 16 is located slightly rearward of the front wheels 24A of the vehicle, and a boundary between the center module 16 and the rear module 18 is located slightly forward of the rear wheels 24B of the vehicle.It should be noted that in the following explanation, with respect to the vehicle front-rear direction of the vehicle 10, the portion in which the front module 17 is located is referred to as the vehicle front part, the portion in which the center module 16 is located is referred to as the vehicle center part, and the portion in which the rear module 18 is located is referred to as the vehicle rear part.

[0025] It should be noted that the center module 16, the front module 17, and the rear module 18 may be modules that form only a lower side of the vehicle. In such cases, the vehicle 10 is formed by adding an additional roof module, which forms the top of the vehicle, to the center module 16, the front module 17, and the rear module 18, which have been joined together.

[0026] The center module 16 consists of center sections of the respective side wall sections 20D in the vehicle front-rear direction and a battery case 31, which will be described later. Note that several types of center modules 16 with different lengths in the vehicle front-rear direction can be prepared, so that the overall length of the vehicle 10 can be changed.

[0027] The front module 17 consists of the front wall section 20C and the vehicle front sections of the respective side wall sections 20D. The front module 17 is also configured to include a drive unit 32, a power unit 34, a junction box 40, an electric air conditioning compressor 42, a PTC heater 44, an autonomous drive unit 46, ECUs 48, and a blower 49, which will be described later (see Fig. 2).

[0028] The rear module 18 consists of the rear wall section 20E and the vehicle rear sections of the respective side wall sections 20D.

[0029] A pair of side members 14 are provided, extending along the vehicle front-rear direction on the vehicle underside of the vehicle 10. Each of the side members 14 includes a center side member 14A extending from the vehicle rear side of the front wheels 24A to the vehicle front side of the rear wheels 24B. Each of the side members 14 also includes a front side member 14B that curves from a front end of the corresponding center side member 14A toward the vehicle width direction inner side and the vehicle upper side, and then extends toward the vehicle front side. Each of the side members 14 further includes a rear side member 14C that curves from a rear end of the corresponding center side member 14A toward the vehicle width direction inner side and the vehicle upper side, and then extends toward the vehicle rear side.It should be noted that the middle longitudinal members 14A are arranged on the middle module 16, the front longitudinal members 14B are arranged on the front module 17 and the rear longitudinal members 14C are arranged on the rear module 18.

[0030] The drive unit 32 for driving the front wheels 24A is attached to the front longitudinal members 14B. A rear axle carrying the rear wheels 24B is attached to the rear longitudinal members 14C.

[0031] As in Fig. As shown in Fig. 2, a suspension member 70 is fixed to the vehicle underside of the front side members 14B with bolts or the like. A pair of front suspensions 72 supporting the front wheels 24A are arranged on outer sides of the front side members 14B and the suspension member 70 in the vehicle width direction. Each of the front suspensions 72 of the present exemplary embodiment is a double wishbone type and includes a lower arm 72A, an upper arm 72B, a knuckle 72C, and a suspension unit 72D.

[0032] The lower arm 72A is an arm extending along the vehicle underside in the vehicle width direction. An inner end portion of the lower arm 72A in the vehicle width direction is supported to swing in the vehicle vertical direction with respect to the suspension member 70, and an outer end portion of the lower arm 72A in the vehicle width direction is supported to swing in the vehicle vertical direction with respect to the pivot bearing 72C.

[0033] The upper arm 72B is an arm extending along the vehicle upper side in the vehicle width direction. An inner end portion of the upper arm 72B in the vehicle width direction is supported to swing in the vehicle vertical direction with respect to a side wall portion 74A, which will be described later, and an outer end portion of the upper arm 72B in the vehicle width direction is supported to swing in the vehicle vertical direction with respect to the pivot bearing 72C.

[0034] The pivot bearing 72C pivotally supports the outer end portions of the lower control arm 72A and the upper control arm 72B in the vehicle width direction and also rotatably supports the corresponding front wheel 24A.

[0035] The suspension unit 72D includes a damper and a spring. A vehicle-lower end portion of the suspension unit 72D is supported by a substantially vehicle-width-direction center portion of the lower arm 72A, and a vehicle-upper end portion of the suspension unit 72D is supported by an upper wall portion 74B, which will be described later.

[0036] A pair of suspension towers 74 are each welded to the outer sides of the front side members 14B in the vehicle width direction. Each of the suspension towers 74 is plate-shaped and includes the side wall portion 74A, the upper wall portion 74B, and a lower connecting portion 74C. The side wall portion 74A extends along the vertical direction of the vehicle so that its plate surfaces face substantially in the vehicle width direction. The upper wall portion 74B is formed integrally with the side wall portion 74A so as to extend continuously from an upper end of the side wall portion 74A toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction. As described above, the suspension unit 72D is supported by the upper wall portion 74B.The lower connecting portion 74C is a portion extending from the side wall portion 74A toward the vehicle bottom and fixed to the corresponding front side member 14B. In the present exemplary embodiment, a floor panel 22 is provided to connect the side wall portions 74A on both sides in the vehicle width direction.

[0037] In the present exemplary embodiment, a power unit compartment 25 is formed by a space enclosed by the suspension towers 74 on both sides in the vehicle width direction, the suspension member 70, and the floor panel 22. In the front view, the power unit compartment 25 is arranged between the two suspension towers 74.

[0038] The drive unit 32 and the power unit 34 arranged on the vehicle upper side of the drive unit 32 are housed in the power unit compartment 25 of the present exemplary embodiment. The drive unit 32 includes at least a unified vehicle drive motor and a transmission. The power unit 34 supplies power to the vehicle drive motor, and the power unit 34 includes at least a unified boost converter and an inverter. The drive unit 32 and the power unit 34 constitute high-voltage components HP, which are driven by applying a high voltage (e.g., 200V or higher). A radiator for cooling the vehicle drive motor, etc., and an air-conditioning condenser are also housed in the power unit compartment 25.

[0039] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the power unit 34 is electrically connected to a battery 30, which will be described later, via a high-voltage cable 36. The high-voltage cable 36 is provided with a power connector 38 at a connecting portion between the center module 16 and the front module 17.

[0040] As in Fig. 2, in the present exemplary embodiment, sub-unit compartments 26 are formed by spaces on the vehicle upper side of the respective suspension towers 74, each enclosed by a space side wall 23 serving as a partition wall. The sub-unit compartments 26 include a high-voltage unit compartment 26A arranged on the vehicle upper side of the suspension tower 74 on the right side in the vehicle width direction, and a low-voltage unit compartment 26B arranged on the vehicle upper side of the suspension tower 74 on the left side in the vehicle width direction. In the present exemplary embodiment, an upper end of the high-voltage unit compartment 26A and an upper end of the low-voltage unit compartment 26B are formed to be positioned at the same height as each other.

[0041] The junction box 40, the air conditioning electric compressor 42, and the PTC heater 44, which are high-voltage components HP, are housed in the high-voltage unit compartment 26A of the present exemplary embodiment. The junction box 40 distributes the high-voltage power supplied from the battery 30 or the power unit 34 to the air conditioning electric compressor 42, the PTC heater 44, and so on. The junction box 40, the air conditioning electric compressor 42, and the PTC heater 44 correspond to subunits. Note that a DC-DC converter for stepping down a high voltage used for motive power to a low voltage used for auxiliary power, and an on-board charger for charging the battery 30 using an external power source, may also be housed in the high-voltage unit compartment 26A as other high-voltage components HP.

[0042] An insertion hole 74E provided in the upper wall portion 74B extends to the vehicle exterior of the high-voltage unit compartment 26A (more precisely, to the inside of a wheel house or wheel arch 76). A gap formed between the front side member 14B and the corresponding suspension tower 74 or between the front side member 14B and the corresponding suspension member 70 extends to the vehicle exterior of the power unit compartment 25 (more precisely, to the inside of the wheel house or wheel arch 76). Namely, the high-voltage unit compartment 26A and the power unit compartment 25 of the present exemplary embodiment communicate with each other via the wheel arch 76. The power unit 34 and the terminal box 40 are connected to each other by inserting the high-voltage cable 36 through the insertion hole 74E.

[0043] Low-voltage components LP, which operate by applying a low voltage (e.g., 12V), are housed in the low-voltage unit compartment 26B of the present exemplary embodiment. The low-voltage components LP include the autonomous drive unit 46 serving as a control unit, the ECUs 48, the air conditioning blower 49, etc. A washer for cleaning sensors, small batteries for accessories, etc., are also housed in the low-voltage unit compartment 26B as other low-voltage components LP. The autonomous drive unit 46, the ECUs 48, the blower 49, the washer, and the small batteries correspond to subunits.

[0044] The autonomous driving unit 46 is configured to include an autonomous driving ECU that controls autonomous driving of the vehicle, an interface ECU that controls communication between a steering unit and an acceleration / deceleration unit, and the like. Several sensors that detect the situation around the vehicle 10 are connected to the autonomous driving unit 46 via signal cables. These sensors include a camera that images a predetermined area, a millimeter-wave radar that emits sensing waves over a predetermined area, and a light detection and ranging device / laser imaging detection and ranging device (LIDAR / LADAR: optical distance and speed measurement systems) that scans a predetermined area. The ECUs 48 include ECUs other than those used for autonomous driving, such as a body control system ECU and a multimedia ECU.

[0045] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the battery 30 is housed under the floor of a vehicle cabin 20, specifically, on the underside of a floor panel 21 in the center of the vehicle. More specifically, the battery 30 is arranged between the two center longitudinal members 14A in the center of the vehicle and housed in the battery housing 31, which is attached to the center longitudinal members 14A.

[0046] In the present exemplary embodiment, a floor surface 20A serving as a floor is formed by the floor panel 22 separating the power unit compartment 25 from the vehicle interior 20, and by the floor panel 21 separating the battery case 31 from the vehicle interior 20. The floor surface 20A includes a lower floor portion 21A formed by the floor panel 21, and a raised front floor portion 22A formed by the floor panel 22 at a higher position than the floor surface 20A at the lower floor portion 21A. In the present exemplary embodiment, a portion of the floor surface 20A corresponding to the lower floor portion 21A from the vehicle center to the vehicle rear is formed as a flat floor surface.

[0047] The lower floor portion 21A is disposed further toward the vehicle underside than a vehicle axle shaft AS1 of the front wheels 24A and a vehicle axle shaft AS2 of the rear wheels 24B. The battery case 31 is disposed on the vehicle underside of the lower floor portion 21A. The vehicle cabin 20 is formed with a sufficient height for an onboard occupant to stand upright on the lower floor portion 21A. Note that an occupant can be represented by a dummy of an adult with a standard (average) physique, such as a global side impact dummy (World SID) of an adult American male in the 50th percentile (AM50). Namely, the vehicle cabin 20 of the present exemplary embodiment has a height at which there is a clearance between the head of an AM50 dummy and the roof 20B when the AM50 dummy stands upright on the lower floor portion 21A.It should be noted that the example of an occupant is not limited to an AM50 dummy and can be another crash test dummy or a model with a statistically determined standard body type.

[0048] A seat 50 serving as a driver's seat on which a driver D can sit is disposed in the raised front floor portion 22A. The seat 50 includes a frame 50A fixed to the floor panel 22, a seat cushion 50B fixed to the frame 50A and including a seat base, and a backrest 50C fixed to the rear of the seat cushion 50B. An instrument panel 52 is disposed along the front wall portion 20C at the vehicle front side of the seat 50. A steering wheel 54 is disposed on the instrument panel 52 so as to face the driver D. Pedals (an accelerator pedal and a brake pedal) are disposed on the vehicle underside of the instrument panel 52.

[0049] As in Fig. 2, the seat 50 is arranged between the two suspension towers 74 and between the high-voltage unit compartment 26A and the low-voltage unit compartment 26B in the vehicle width direction. The seat 50 is configured such that the feet F of the seated driver D are positioned further toward the vehicle bottom than the upper wall portions 74B of the suspension towers 74 and further toward the vehicle top than the power plant compartment 25. The seat 50 is also configured such that the head H of the seated driver D is positioned further toward the vehicle top than the high-voltage unit compartment 26A and the low-voltage unit compartment 26B.

[0050] As in Fig. 1, a rear entrance / exit 60R, which allows an adult occupant to enter or exit the vehicle, is arranged in the rear wall section 20E at the rear of the vehicle interior 20. The rear entrance / exit 60R is closed by a flap door 62R pivotally attached to one end in the vehicle width direction of the rear entrance / exit 60R. A rear ramp 64R, which extends diagonally downward from the lower floor section 21A toward the road, is also arranged at the rear entrance / exit 60R. Namely, the rear ramp 64R ​​forms a bridge between the lower floor section 21A and the road during operation. When the vehicle 10 is traveling, the rear ramp 64R ​​is in a rear storage section 66R (see Fig. 3) provided between the floor panel 21 and the battery case 31, and is pulled out of the rear storage section 66R toward the rear of the vehicle when used by an occupant for entry or exit.

[0051] A side entrance / exit 60S, which allows an adult occupant to enter or exit the vehicle, is arranged in one of the side wall sections 20D on one vehicle side (on the left side in the vehicle width direction) of the vehicle cabin 20. The side entrance / exit 60S is closed by a sliding door 62S, which is slidably attached to the vehicle rear of the side entrance / exit 60S. A side ramp 64S, which extends diagonally downward from the lower floor section 21A toward a sidewalk (or the road), is also arranged at the side entrance / exit 60S. Namely, the side ramp 64S forms a bridge between the lower floor section 21A and the sidewalk (or the road) during operation. When the vehicle 10 is traveling, the side ramp 64S is in a side storage section 66S (see Fig. 3) which is provided in a gap between the floor panel 21 and the battery case 31, and is used by an occupant for getting in or out and is pulled out from the side storage section 66S to the left side in the vehicle width direction.

[0052] As in Fig. 3, the side storage section 66S is disposed at a location spaced from the rear storage section 66R so as not to overlap the rear storage section 66R in plan view. Namely, the side ramp 64S is stowed at a location spaced from the rear ramp 64R ​​so as not to overlap the rear ramp 64R ​​in plan view. Summary of the exemplary implementation

[0053] The vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment includes the autonomous drive unit 46 and is suitable for both autonomous driving and passenger driving. The front module 17 at the front of the vehicle 10 includes the power unit compartment 25, in the center of which in the vehicle width direction at least the power unit 32 is housed, and also includes the pair of suspension towers 74 on the sides of the power unit compartment 25 in the vehicle width direction. The sub-unit compartments 26, in which the high-voltage components HP and the low-voltage components LP, which are sub-units, are housed, are arranged on the vehicle upper side of the respective suspension towers 74. The sub-unit compartments 26 include the high-voltage unit compartment 26A, in which the high-voltage components HP are housed, and the low-voltage unit compartment 26B, in which the low-voltage components LP are housed.It should be noted that the high-voltage components HP and the low-voltage components LP include units required for moving and controlling the vehicle 10, units required for autonomous driving, units related to the air conditioning system, other auxiliary devices, and the like. The vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment thus allows the placement or arrangement of units and components related to the vehicle 10 to be concentrated at the front of the vehicle. This allows for a larger vehicle cabin 20 to be realized.

[0054] Furthermore, in the present exemplary embodiment, the seat 50 serving as a driver's seat is arranged between the high-voltage unit compartment 26A and the low-voltage unit compartment 26B in the vehicle width direction and at the vehicle upper side of the power unit compartment 25. The seat 50 is installed such that the feet F of the driver D are positioned further toward the vehicle bottom than the suspension towers 74 and further toward the vehicle top than the power unit compartment 25, and the head H of the driver D is positioned further toward the vehicle top than the sub-unit compartments 26 in the vehicle vertical direction.

[0055] Namely, in the vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment, lowering the position of the seat 50 in the vertical direction of the vehicle at the vehicle front part where the arrangement of the units and components is concentrated makes it possible to ensure headroom for the driver D. In addition, the sub-unit compartments 26 are arranged lower in the vertical direction of the vehicle than the head H of the driver D. Thereby, the field of vision of the driver D to the sides can be ensured.

[0056] The present exemplary embodiment makes it possible to arrange the driver's seat in such a way that a field of vision can be ensured in cases where the arrangement of the units and components involved in the travel or movement of the vehicle is concentrated on the front part of the vehicle.

[0057] In the vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment, of the key units and components involved in the movement and control of the vehicle, only the battery 30 is not located in the front of the vehicle, but is located in the center of the vehicle. In the center of the vehicle, the battery 30 is located under the floor of the vehicle cabin 20, that is, at the bottom of the floor panel 21. The battery 30 is also located farther toward the bottom of the vehicle than the axle shaft AS1 of the front wheels 24A. In the present exemplary embodiment, the arrangement of the battery 30, which is not housed in the front of the vehicle, under the floor of the vehicle cabin 20 at the rear of the front of the vehicle, allows the floor of the vehicle cabin 20 to be lowered.

[0058] In the vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment, the high-voltage unit compartment 26A and the low-voltage unit compartment 26B are arranged separately from each other in the vehicle width direction on both sides of the driver's seat. Namely, the high-voltage components HP supplied with high voltage and the low-voltage components LP supplied with low voltage are arranged separately from each other in the vehicle width direction on both sides of the driver's seat. Thus, the vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment makes it possible to suppress the electromagnetic noise generated by the high-voltage components HP compared to the low-voltage components LP, compared to cases where the high-voltage components HP and the low-voltage components LP are arranged side by side. In particular, the influence of electromagnetic noise on the autonomous drive unit 46 can be suppressed.

[0059] In the present exemplary embodiment, the high-voltage components HP serving as subunits are housed in the high-voltage unit compartment 26A, which is separated from the vehicle cabin 20 by the corresponding compartment side wall 23. Namely, the high-voltage components HP are covered by the compartment side wall 23, thereby enabling shielding of the electromagnetic noise generated by the high-voltage components HP.

[0060] Air can flow between the high-voltage unit compartment 26A and the vehicle exterior through the insertion opening 74E provided for the corresponding suspension tower 74. Air can also flow between the power unit compartment 25 and the vehicle exterior, so that the high-voltage unit compartment 26A communicates with the power unit compartment 25. The present exemplary embodiment thus facilitates wiring from the power unit 32 to the high-voltage component subassemblies. Although air can flow between the low-voltage unit compartment 26B and the vehicle interior 20, airtight grommets prevent air from passing between the low-voltage unit compartment 26B and the power section 25, even when wiring runs between them.Namely, in the present exemplary embodiment, no air can flow between the low-voltage unit compartment 26B and the vehicle exterior, so that the low-voltage unit compartment 26B is waterproof and dustproof, and electronic components such as the ECUs can be protected.

[0061] Furthermore, in the vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment, the low-floor vehicle cabin 20 is provided with the side entrance / exit 60S and the side ramp 64S on one side of the vehicle, and with the rear entrance / exit 60R and the rear ramp 64R ​​on the rear of the vehicle. Thus, the present exemplary embodiment enables easy entry and exit of a passenger or a wheelchair in cases where the vehicle cabin 20 is used as a passenger compartment. The present exemplary embodiment also enables easy loading and unloading of luggage or trolleys in the vehicle when the vehicle cabin 20 is used as a luggage compartment.

[0062] Note that, in the vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment, the side storage portion 66S in which the side ramp 64S is stored and the rear storage portion 66R in which the rear ramp 64R ​​is stored are not arranged to overlap in plan view. This exemplary embodiment allows the floor of the vehicle cabin 20 to be lower than in cases where the side storage portion 66S and the rear storage portion 66R would overlap in plan view. Example variations

[0063] In the exemplary embodiment described above, the terminal box 40, the air conditioning electric compressor 42, and the PTC heater 44, which are high-voltage components HP, are arranged in the high-voltage unit compartment 26A. However, this is not limited to this. For example, some of these high-voltage components HP may be arranged in the power unit compartment 25.

[0064] Furthermore, in the vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment, there is no restriction on the orientation of the heights of the high-voltage unit compartment 26A and the low-voltage unit compartment 26B in the vertical direction of the vehicle. The heights of the high-voltage unit compartment 26A and the low-voltage unit compartment 26B can be freely selected according to the number of units and components housed therein, within a range that ensures the field of vision of the driver D.

[0065] As described above, the vehicle 10 of the present exemplary embodiment is capable of autonomous driving. Except in cases where the vehicle 10 is traveling on a road where autonomous driving is not permitted, or in cases where the vehicle 10 is driven by a passenger to avoid danger or the like, the driver's seat is not essential. Thus, in the present exemplary embodiment, the seat 50 and the steering wheel 54 may be configured to be attachable and detachable with respect to the vehicle 10. Furthermore, the seat 50 may be configured to be received under the floor (namely, at the vehicle bottom of the floor panel 22) or to pop up to lie flat against the front wall portion 20C or the compartment side wall 23. The steering wheel 54 may be configured to be stowed in the instrument panel 52.

[0066] It should be noted that in the present exemplary embodiment, the steering wheel 54 and the pedals are provided as operating elements for the driver D. However, there is no limitation thereto. Buttons, a joystick, a touch panel, or a controller using a combination of these methods may be provided as the driving operating device. Such a controller may be attachable and detachable to the vehicle 10 or may be stored in the instrument panel 52.

[0067] As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, by configuring the seat 50 as a driver's seat and the driving controls (steering wheel 54, pedals, etc.) such that they are removable from the vehicle cabin 20 or stowable within the vehicle cabin 20, a larger area of ​​the interior of the vehicle cabin 20 can be utilized during autonomous driving. For example, the raised front floor portion 22A can be used as a luggage compartment or as a passenger compartment.

[0068] Although each of the front suspensions 72 of the present exemplary embodiment is a double-wishbone suspension, this is not limited to this. As long as the suspension units 72D are arranged in the suspension towers 74, other types of suspension, such as a strut type suspension or a multi-link type suspension, may be used.

Claims

[1] Vehicle comprising: a pair of suspension towers (74), each of which receives a suspension unit (72D) in an upright state, which is configured to support a front wheel (24A); a drive unit compartment (25) disposed between the pair of suspension towers and accommodating at least one drive unit (32) configured to drive the front wheels; at least one of a high-voltage component (HP) or a low-voltage component (LP) forming a subunit (40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 49) arranged on a vehicle top side of the suspension towers; and a driver's seat (50) arranged in a vehicle cabin (20) on the vehicle upper side of the power unit compartment and configured such that feet (F) of a driver (D) are positioned further toward a vehicle underside than upper ends of the suspension towers, and that a head (H) of the driver (D) is positioned further toward the vehicle upper side than the lower unit. [2] The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the driver's seat is configured to be removable from the vehicle cabin or stowable within the vehicle cabin. [3] A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a drive battery (30) is arranged under a floor of the vehicle cabin at a vehicle rear side of the power unit compartment. [4] Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the high-voltage component (40, 42, 44) is arranged on the vehicle top side of one of the two suspension towers; and the low-voltage component (46, 48, 49) is arranged on the vehicle top of another of the two suspension towers. [5] A vehicle according to claim 4, wherein: the high-voltage component is housed in a high-voltage unit compartment (26A) which is separated from the vehicle cabin by a partition wall (23); and an insertion opening (74E) allowing insertion from outside the vehicle is formed in the high-voltage unit compartment. [6] Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a side ramp (64S) configured to form a bridge between a floor surface (20A) of the vehicle cabin and a road surface at a side entrance / exit (60S) on one side in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle cabin; and a rear ramp (64R) configured to form a bridge between the floor surface (20A) and the road surface at a rear entrance / exit (60R) at a vehicle rear of the vehicle cab. [7] Vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising: a side storage section (66S) disposed beneath the floor of the vehicle cabin and configured to store the side ramp; and a rear storage section (66R) disposed beneath the floor of the vehicle cabin so as to be spaced apart from the side storage section in plan view and configured to stow the rear ramp. [8] Vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: the vehicle is formed by connecting a plurality of modules (16, 17, 18) in a vehicle front-rear direction; and the suspension towers, power unit compartment, sub-unit and driver's seat are arranged in a front module located at a front of the vehicle.

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