Electric commercial vehicle

Abstract

Electric commercial vehicle (1) with a driver's cab (4) and a cargo area (2) on a chassis, wherein at least one battery pack (10) is attached to the chassis and a side impact protection device (3) is attached laterally to the chassis or to the battery pack (10), characterized in that the side impact protection device (3) is designed as a closed hollow body and has at least one compressed air inlet and one compressed air outlet.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electric commercial vehicle. State of the art

[0002] Commercial vehicle chassis are typically constructed on the basis of a continuous ladder frame. Such a ladder frame consists of two longitudinal members, designed, for example, as C-profile elements, which are connected to each other by several cross members. The longitudinal members are usually bolted or riveted to the cross members. Various vehicle components are attached to the frame, such as the front and rear axles, drive units, driver's cab, transport body or fifth wheel coupling, fuel tanks, battery boxes, and the exhaust system. To ensure flexible use of a chassis type for different vehicle variants or drive systems, it is desirable to provide a modular design.

[0003] Ladder-frame chassis are sufficiently stable, but have a relatively high deadweight. This problem of high deadweight is exacerbated by the fact that increasingly stringent emissions regulations require additional exhaust gas treatment components, such as catalytic converters or urea tanks, to be installed on the vehicle. Further weight-increasing factors include the increasing electronic content of sensors and actuators, higher comfort requirements, and the use of alternative fuels or drive concepts, with hybrid or fully electric drive systems being particularly examples of the latter. High deadweight is associated with a lower payload, increased fuel consumption, and consequently with undesirable additional costs and greater pollution.

[0004] From DE 10 2009 012 350 A1 a modular chassis for commercial vehicles is known which achieves a weight reduction compared to conventional chassis while maintaining the usual stiffness and strength properties, wherein the middle assembly is designed as a box-shaped hollow profile made of formed sheet metal parts, and the longitudinal members of the front and rear assemblies are designed from profile parts that are at least partially closed, and at least one of the front and rear assemblies is detachably attached to the middle assembly.

[0005] The inner cavity of the box structure of the middle subassembly can be used, for example, to protect parts of the commercial vehicle's drive system, supply tanks, and / or exhaust system. Because one of the connection points between the individual subassemblies is detachable, the required vehicle components, such as battery packs, can be easily inserted during assembly of the commercial vehicle.

[0006] According to current European regulations, front and rear underrun protection devices on heavy goods vehicles (classes N2 and N3) or trailers (classes O3 and O4) should offer sufficient protection to vehicles of classes M1 (passenger cars) and N1 (light goods vehicles up to 3.5 t) that collide with the vehicle and prevent them from being knocked under. Side protection devices, which have been mandatory in Germany under Section 32c of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) since 1992, are subject to significantly lower mechanical requirements. Directive 89 / 97 / EEC and UNECE R 73 stipulate that they should offer pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists effective protection against the danger of being knocked under the side of the vehicle and run over by its wheels. During the approval test, such a device is considered suitable if it can withstand a force of 1 kN applied at right angles from the outside at any point.

[0007] In addition to mechanical load capacity, geometric requirements are also placed on underrun protection devices and side protection devices.

[0008] An important dimension is the ground clearance. The maximum ground clearance for side protection is 300 mm.

[0009] Such side protection is known from GB 2 576 965 A.

[0010] EP 3 338 315 B2 shows a battery pack comprising a housing in which several battery modules with several battery cells are arranged, as well as a cooling system for cooling the battery cells. The housing of the battery pack is made, for example, from a metal, in particular from aluminum. The cooling system comprises at least one cooling plate arranged outside the housing of the battery pack. The at least one cooling plate rests flat against a cover plate of the housing, and heat is dissipated from the at least one battery cell through the cover plate to the cooling plate.

[0011] Such battery packs are installed inside and outside the side members of a commercial vehicle. When installed outside the side members, they are exposed to side impacts in traffic.

[0012] Therefore, it makes sense to install side impact protection and side underrun protection on a fully electric commercial vehicle.

[0013] The generic document DE 10 2014 003 925 A1 discloses a vehicle with a chassis, a body connected to the chassis, and several attachments. Attachments may include containers, compressed air tanks, and battery carriers.

[0014] From the document DE 30 29 340 A1 a commercial vehicle with tubular underbody protection elements is known, which serve as compressed air storage.

[0015] DE 20 2012 102 721 U1 discloses a compressed air tank which, in the form of a square profile, forms a structural component of the vehicle.

[0016] The object of the invention is to save components and weight for a commercial vehicle. Description of the invention

[0017] The object is achieved with an electric commercial vehicle with a driver's cab and loading area on a chassis, wherein at least one battery pack is attached to the chassis and a side impact protection is attached to the side of the battery pack, wherein the side impact protection is designed as a closed hollow body and has at least one compressed air inlet and one compressed air outlet.

[0018] The side impact protection serves as a pressure vessel for the pneumatic circuit of the commercial vehicle.

[0019] In one embodiment, the side impact protection is formed from a single closed body.

[0020] In another embodiment, the side impact protection consists of individual panels, each of which is attached to a battery pack.

[0021] The individual panels are at least mechanically connected to each other.

[0022] The individual panels are connected to each other via a compressed air connection. Description of the characters Fig. 1 shows an example of a commercial vehicle in side view, Fig. 2 shows a top view of a commercial vehicle, Fig. 3 shows a battery pack, Fig. 4 shows the assembly of battery packs, Fig. 5 shows a cross-section through a side impact protection device.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a commercial vehicle 1 with a driver's cab 4 and a cargo area 2. Indicated is a side impact protection 3, which is designed as a one-piece plate and protects the side area of ​​the commercial vehicle between the trailer 5 and the wheels 6.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 2 shows an example of a longitudinal section through a commercial vehicle. The vehicle is constructed with longitudinal members 7 and cross members 8 in a chassis. All other components are attached to the members, with the driver's cab 4 being mounted on a drive unit 9, an electric motor. Battery packs 10 are attached to the longitudinal members 7, each extending outward from the longitudinal members 7. In this example, four battery packs 10 are installed on each side of the longitudinal members 7.

[0025] To protect the battery packs 10 and as underride protection, planks 3a are mounted directly on the vehicle's outer sides as side impact protection 3. The side impact protection 3 is designed as a hollow, closed body and has a compressed air inlet and a compressed air outlet.

[0026] An alternative embodiment mounts the side impact protection 3 as shown in Fig. 3, directly as a single panel 3b on the battery pack 10.

[0027] The individual panels are Fig. 4 assembled into a complete panel.

[0028] The panels 3b of the side impact protection system 3 form cavities that are used as compressed air tanks for the commercial vehicle, replacing the previously required compressed air tanks. The panels have at least one compressed air inlet and one compressed air outlet. The individual panels are connected to each other via compressed air connections, so that, as a whole, they form a compressed air tank.

[0029] In the embodiment shown, the side impact protection 3b is not installed over the entire height of the battery pack.

[0030] Solutions are also possible in which the battery packs are covered by the side impact protection along their entire height. Extending below the battery pack to the prescribed distance above the road surface is also a sensible option.

[0031] The side impact protection 3 designed in this way is connected to the compressed air system of the commercial vehicle 1.

[0032] Alternatively, the individual panels 3b are mechanically connected to each other, but form individual compressed air tanks for each battery pack 10, which have their own pressure inlet and pressure outlet and can be individually connected to the vehicle's compressed air system.

[0033] Fig. 5 shows a cross section through the side impact protection 3, which has at least one fastening means 11 with which the side impact protection 3 is attached to the commercial vehicle 1 or to the battery pack 10.

Claims

[1] Electric commercial vehicle (1) with a driver's cab (4) and a loading area (2) on a chassis, wherein at least one battery pack (10) is attached to the chassis and wherein a side impact protection (3) is provided, characterized by that the side impact protection is attached to the battery pack (10), and that the side impact protection (3) is designed as a closed hollow body and has at least one compressed air inlet and one compressed air outlet and that the side impact protection (3) serves as a pressure vessel for the pneumatic circuit of the commercial vehicle (1). [2] Electric commercial vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the side impact protection (3a) is formed from a single closed body. [3] Electric commercial vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the side impact protection (3) consists of individual panels (3b), each of which is attached to a battery pack (10). [4] Electric commercial vehicle (1) according to claim 3, characterized by that the individual panels (3b) are at least mechanically connected to one another. [5] Electric commercial vehicle (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by that the panels (3b) are connected to each other via a compressed air connection.

Images