FRONT STRUCTURE FOR AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Abstract

[Problem to be solved] A front structure for an electric vehicle is designed to protect a power cable connector during a frontal collision by using a structure that saves space, is lightweight and inexpensive. [Solution] A front structure includes a drive motor unit 10 and an electrical supply unit 20, which are housed in a front area of ​​an electric vehicle, a power cable 40 connecting the units, and a compressor support 50 for fixing the electric compressor 30 to a side surface section of the drive motor unit 10 in the vehicle width direction. A motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40 is located between the drive motor unit 10 and the electric compressor 30 in a top view, and the compressor support 50 is arranged such that it covers the motor-side connector 41 in a top view from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to front structures for an electric vehicle. [Technical background]

[0002] Electric vehicles have a structure in which various units, such as a drive motor unit and a power supply unit, are installed in an engine compartment at the front of the vehicle. For example, patent specification 1 shows a front structure for an electric vehicle, in particular a structure for housing an electrical device in a front compartment corresponding to the engine compartment.

[0003] In the mounting structure according to patent specification 1, a connector for the power cable, which connects the electrical device attached to a structural object in the front of the vehicle to an internal vehicle power source, is attached to a rear surface of the electrical device facing the rear of the vehicle. A protector is attached to a rear area of ​​the electrical device to cover the connector, with a gap between the connector and the protector. A projection is located on the rear of the electrical device, extending rearward and bearing against the protector with a distal end surface. The projection and another structural object behind the connector are located on a straight line extending longitudinally in the vehicle.If a vehicle is involved in a frontal collision and a current transformer recoils, the impact force is transferred via the protector to the protrusion and distributed across the entire current transformer housing. As a result, deformation of the protector is reduced and the connector is protected. [Patent specification]

[0004] [Patent 1] JP 2021 - 115 892 A [Disclosure of the invention][Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the conventional structure according to patent specification 1, parts (protector and projection) designed to protect the power cable connector are present, while these parts form a structure to cover the entire connector. Therefore, space is required around the connector, which may increase both weight and cost. Consequently, there is room for improvement.

[0006] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its objective is to create a front structure for an electric vehicle which is able to protect a connector of a power cable at the time of a frontal collision by means of a structure which saves space, has low weight and costs little. [Means to solve the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above objective, creates a front structure for an electric vehicle.The front structure comprises a drive motor unit mounted in a front area of ​​the electric vehicle; a power cable connecting a power supply unit located in the electric vehicle to the drive motor unit; and a support for fixing an internal vehicle unit, different from the drive motor unit, to the power supply unit on a side surface section of the drive motor unit in the vehicle width direction of the drive motor unit, characterized in that the power cable has a connector wired to a side surface section of the drive motor unit; the connector is located between the drive motor unit and the internal vehicle unit in a top view; and the support is arranged such that it covers the connector in a top view from the outside in the vehicle width direction. [Advantages of the invention's modes of operation]

[0008] The front structure for an electric vehicle according to the present invention makes it possible to protect the connector of the power cable at the time of a frontal collision by means of the structure, which saves space, has low weight and costs little. [Brief description of the drawings] Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a front structure for an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. Figure 2 is a top view of the front structure according to the embodiment. Fig. Figure 3 is a front view illustrating the front structure according to the embodiment. Fig. Figure 4 is a view of the front structure according to the embodiment shown on the right. Fig. Figure 5 is a right-hand view of a state in which an electric compressor and a steering shaft support are installed according to Fig. 4 are away. Fig. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a compressor carrier of the embodiment when viewed diagonally from the top left of the vehicle. Fig. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the compressor carrier of the embodiment when viewed diagonally from the bottom right of the vehicle. [Method of carrying out the invention]

[0009] One embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. Figure 5 shows views of a front structure 1 of an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. In each of the drawings described below, the direction of an arrow F indicates the front of the vehicle in its longitudinal direction, the arrow direction U points to the top in the vehicle's height direction, and the arrow direction R and the arrow direction L indicate the direction to the right and left sides, respectively, when the vehicle front is viewed from inside the passenger compartment.

[0011] Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front structure according to the embodiment when viewed from the right front of the vehicle. Fig. Figure 2 is a top view of the front structure 1 as seen from the top of the vehicle, and Fig. Figure 3 is a front view of the front structure 1 when viewed from the front of the vehicle. Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows side views of the front structure 1 when viewed from the right side of the vehicle, showing a state in which an electric compressor 30 and a steering shaft carrier 60 are installed. Fig. 4 (described below) are removed and in Fig. 5 are shown.

[0012] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5 is a front structure according to the present embodiment used as an internal structure of an engine compartment 100 located in the front section of an electric vehicle. This is a vehicle that runs using a motor, or by using both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine in an electric vehicle, a plug-in hybrid vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, and a fuel cell vehicle, to name examples. An example in which the front structure 1 according to the present embodiment is used as an internal structure of the engine compartment 10 of an electric vehicle is described below; however, the front structure of this invention can also be used in a similar way in other electric vehicles besides an electric car.

[0013] A front structure 12 of the present embodiment comprises a drive motor unit 10, a power supply unit 20, and an electric compressor 30 as separate units installed within the engine compartment 100. The drive motor unit 10 and the power supply unit 20 are electrically connected to each other via a power cable 40. The electric compressor 30 is fixed to the drive motor unit 10 by means of a compressor bracket 50. The power supply unit 20 is only in Fig. 4 indicated by a dashed line, its representation is in the Fig. Items 1 to 3 and 5 have been omitted. In the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. Figure 4 also omits the illustration of the power cable connecting the power supply unit 20 to the electric compressor 30. In the present embodiment, the electric compressor 30 corresponds to the "in-vehicle" unit according to the invention, while the compressor support 50 is equivalent to the "support" according to the invention.

[0014] Although not shown in detail here, the drive motor unit 10 is a unit in which an inverter, a motor, and a transaxle transmission are housed and integrated in a common casing 11, also referred to as the e-axle (E-axle). The inverter controls the electricity supplied by the power supply unit 20 via the power cable 40. The motor converts the electricity controlled by the inverter into rotational force. The transaxle transmission appropriately decelerates the motor's rotation and transmits the rotation to axles. The drive motor unit 10 is located near the center of the engine compartment 100 in the vehicle's width direction ( Fig. 1) The drive motor unit 10 is supported by a vehicle body frame located in a vehicle front section, via a mount in the form of an anti-vibration rubber.

[0015] The housing 11 of the drive motor unit 10 has an upper surface section 11A with a substantially planar surface opposite the vehicle top ( Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5) The upper surface section 11A is essentially trapezoidal in shape, with two edges extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and running essentially parallel to each other in plan view. A right-side surface section 11B and a left-side surface section 11C of the housing 11 extend towards the underside of the vehicle, starting from a right-side edge and a left-side edge of the upper surface section 11A, respectively. A rear surface 11D and a front-side surface 11E of the housing 11 extend towards the underside of the vehicle, starting from a rear-side edge and a front-side edge of the upper surface section 11A, respectively.In the present embodiment, the right-hand surface section 11B is equivalent to "a side surface section of the drive motor unit in the vehicle width direction" of the present invention, and the left-hand surface section 11C is equivalent to the "other side surface section of the drive motor unit in the vehicle width direction" according to the invention.

[0016] The right-side surface section 11B of the housing 11 has a surface (right side surface) that essentially faces the right side of the vehicle; it has a projecting and recessed shape ( Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5) At a location near the rear, in an upper part of the right-side surface section 11B, there is a receptacle 12 in which a motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40 is located, as well as a bolt hole (not shown) for attaching the compressor bracket 50. The receptacle 12 projects from the right-side surface section 11B towards the right side of the vehicle and has a connection port facing the rear of the vehicle. The motor-side connector 41 at one end of the power cable 40 is detachably attached to the connecting part of the receptacle 12 and is inserted from the rear of the vehicle. In this embodiment, the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40 corresponds to a "connector" according to the invention.

[0017] The left-side surface section 11C of the housing 11 has a surface (left-side surface) with a protruding and recessed shape; it bulges outwards towards the left side of the vehicle ( Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. 3) The left-side surface section 11C has an essentially triangular shape, which spreads out towards the left side of the vehicle in the form of the left-side surface section 11C and approaches the front of the vehicle in a top view ( Fig. 2) The left-side surface section 11C has an essentially trapezoidal shape, the middle part of which projects in the vehicle height direction towards the left side of the vehicle in relation to an upper end part and a lower end part in the front view ( Fig. 3) The transaxle transmission is primarily housed in the left-hand surface section 11C. An axle coupling section 13 is located near the underside in a rear portion of the left-hand surface section 11C, to which the axle on which the front wheel side is located is coupled ( Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).

[0018] The rear surface 11D of the housing 11 has an inclined surface that is substantially opposite the diagonal rear right side of the vehicle ( Fig. 2, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) The rear surface 11D extends from a rear end portion 11B1 of the right-hand surface section 11B to a rear end portion 11C1 of the left-hand surface section 11C, inclined towards the rear of the vehicle, while the rear surface 11D approaches the inside in the direction of the vehicle width (the left side). The rear end portion 11C1 of the left-hand surface section 11C and the rear end portion 52B of an extension section 52 in the compressor carrier 50 (which is described below) project towards the rear of the vehicle with respect to the inclined surface of the rear surface 11D ( Fig. 2) With such a structure, a back space S (a zone that is in Fig. 2 (surrounded by a dashed line) with a concave shape and open towards the rear of the vehicle on the rear of the drive motor unit 10. The rear space S is defined by the rear end part 11C1 of the left-side surface section 11C and the rear surface 11D in the housing 11, as well as the rear end part 52B of the extension section 52 in the compressor carrier 50.

[0019] The front surface section 11E of the housing 11 has a projecting and recessed surface that is essentially opposite the front of the vehicle ( Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5) The front surface section 11E extends from a front end part of the right-side surface section 11B to a front end part of the left-side surface section 11C in the vehicle width direction. A continuous underside surface section 11F is formed on the lower end parts of the right-side surface section 11B, the left-side surface section 11C, the rear surface 11D, and the front surface section 11E of the housing 11, spreading out in the vehicle width and longitudinal directions.

[0020] The electricity supply unit (ESU) 20 is a unit in which an in-vehicle charger and a DC / DC converter are integrated; it includes a charging function and an electricity distribution function for the electric vehicle. The electricity supply unit 20 is electrically connected to a battery (not shown) that is housed in the electric vehicle. The electricity supply unit 20 is mounted on a subframe 21 (the dashed line in Fig. 4) on the upper surface of the vehicle, the drive motor unit 10 is attached. The subframe 21 is connected to the body frame in the front section of the vehicle. In other words, the power supply unit 20 is located on the upper surface of the vehicle relative to the surface section 11A of the housing of the drive motor unit 10. The power supply unit 20 has a socket (not shown) to which a power connector 42 of the power cable 40 is attached for connection to the drive motor unit 10.

[0021] The electric compressor 30 is a device for operating an air conditioning system in the electric vehicle. Although not shown here, the electric compressor 30 is a unit in which a compression mechanism, which compresses a refrigerant and the like of the air conditioning system, a motor, which drives the compression mechanism, and an inverter, which controls the power supply to the motor, are housed in a common casing. Electricity from the power supply unit 20 is supplied to the electric compressor 30 via a power cable (not shown), separate from the power cable 40, which is connected to the drive motor unit 10. The electric compressor 30 is fixed to the right-hand surface section 11B of the casing 11 in the drive motor unit 10 by means of the compressor bracket 50 and several bolts B1 ( Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. 4).

[0022] The compressor support 50 is fixed at an area near the right side in an upper part of the right-hand surface section 11B of the housing 11 in the drive motor unit 10 by means of several bolts B2 ( Fig. 5) The compressor support 50 is arranged such that it covers the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40 connected to the socket 12 of the drive motor unit 10 from the outside top view in the vehicle width direction ( Fig. 2 and Fig. 5).

[0023] The following is an example of a special structure of the compressor carrier 50, described in detail using the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 described.

[0024] Fig. Figure 6 is a perspective view of the compressor carrier 50 when viewed from the diagonally upper left side of the vehicle. Fig. Figure 7 is a perspective view of the compressor support as seen from the diagonally lower right side of the vehicle. The structure of the compressor support 50 in a state attached to the drive motor unit 10 is described below.

[0025] The compressor support 50 is a cast component that extends longitudinally along the right-hand surface section 11B of the housing 11 in the drive motor unit 10 and possesses high rigidity. The compressor support 50 has an arcuate section 51 that is convex towards the outside in the vehicle width direction (the right side of the vehicle), and an extension section 52 that extends towards the rear of the vehicle from a rear end portion of the arcuate section 51 in a top view ( Fig. 2).

[0026] The arc-shaped section 51 has a predetermined width (a height H in Fig. 6) in the vehicle's vertical direction. The arc-shaped section 51 curves towards the right side of the vehicle (outside in the vehicle's width direction) as it approaches the rear of the vehicle from the front end. Subsequently, the arc-shaped section 51 runs straight towards the rear of the vehicle and then curves further towards the left side of the vehicle (the inside in the vehicle's width direction) ( Fig. 6 and Fig. 7) Several extension sections 51A are formed on an upper part of the arc-shaped section 51, which run towards the right side of the vehicle and are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

[0027] The extension section 52 has a width (height H) measured in the vertical direction similar to the arc-shaped section 51 and runs from a left-hand part of the rear end of the arc-shaped section 51 to the rear side of the vehicle ( Fig. 6 and Fig. 7) A slanted section 52A is formed on the upper part of the extension section 52, spreading outwards towards the right side of the vehicle (outwards in the direction of the vehicle's width). A right-hand end (outer end in the direction of the vehicle's width) of the slanted section 52 runs diagonally towards the left side of the vehicle (inside in the direction of the vehicle's width), while the right-hand end approaches the right side of the vehicle. In other words, the slanted section 52A of the extension section 52 is essentially triangular in ground view, and its slanted side corresponds to a side edge on the right side of the vehicle of the slanted section 52A ( Fig. 7).

[0028] In a frontal part of both the arc-shaped section 51 and the extension section 52 there is a through hole 53 that runs in the direction of the vehicle width ( Fig. 6 and Fig. 7). The bolts B2 ( Fig. 5) Through holes 53 are provided for fixing the compressor support 50 to the drive motor unit 10. In each of an intermediate part and a rear part of the arc-shaped section 51 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle there is a bolt hole 54, which runs in the width direction of the vehicle ( Fig. 5, Fig. 6 to Fig. 7) The bolts B1 are in the bolt holes 54 ( Fig. 4) screwed in to fix two points of the electric compressor 30 to the compressor support 50, which is fixed to the drive motor unit 10. A part in a lower area of ​​the electric compressor 30 is fixed to a bolt hole 14, which is located in the right-hand surface section 11B of the housing 11 in the drive motor unit 10 by means of a bolt B1 ( Fig. 4 and Fig. 5).

[0029] In a state in which the compressor carrier 50 and the electric compressor 30 are attached to the drive motor unit 10, the extension section 52 of the compressor carrier 50 extends towards the rear of the vehicle relative to the rear end section 30A of the electric compressor 30 ( Fig. 2 and Fig. 4) The rear end section 52B of the extension section 52 is located on the rear of the vehicle relative to the rear end section 11B1 of the right-side surface section 11B in the drive motor unit 10 ( Fig. 5) In a state in which the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40 is attached to the socket 12 of the drive motor unit 10, the rear end part 52B of the extension part 52 of the compressor carrier 50 is located on the rear of the vehicle relative to a rear end section 41A of the motor-side connector 41 ( Fig. 5).

[0030] The extension section 52 of the compressor support 50 is arranged such that its height in the vehicle height direction overlaps with the steering shaft support 60, which is arranged on a dashboard 200 of the electric vehicle in the right side view ( Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) In the present embodiment, the rear end section 52B of the extension section 52 is located in the compressor carrier 50 on the upper side relative to the lower end section 60A of the steering shaft carrier 60 in the vehicle height direction. With respect to the position between the compressor carrier 50 and the steering shaft carrier 60 as described above, a rear end of the inclined section 52A of the extension section 52 of the compressor carrier 50 is located on the left side of the vehicle (inside in the vehicle width direction), relative to a front end section 60B of the steering shaft carrier 60 in a top view ( Fig. 2).

[0031] The dashboard 200 is a body component that forms a partition between the engine compartment 100 and a passenger compartment (not shown) of the electric vehicle, extending both vertically and horizontally. A lower end of the dashboard 200 is connected to a front end of a floor panel 210, which forms the floor of the passenger compartment. A through-hole (not shown), through which a steering shaft 71 is inserted, is formed in a portion of the dashboard 200 located in front of the driver's seat.

[0032] The steering shaft support 60 is connected to the periphery of the through-hole in the instrument panel 200 from the side of the engine compartment 100 by welding or the like. The steering shaft support 60 has a shape that bulges outwards from a front face of the instrument panel 200 towards the front of the vehicle in order to surround the steering shaft 71, which passes through the through-hole in the instrument panel 200. A distal end section (front end region 60B) of the bulged surface in the steering shaft support 60 is located on the right side of the vehicle (outer side in the direction of vehicle width) relative to the rear end of the angled section 52A in the compressor support 50. The steering shaft support 60 is a component that possesses high strength and supports a steering mechanism 70 including the steering shaft 71. Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 to Fig. 5).

[0033] The strength of the compressor support 50, as described above, is preferably equivalent to or greater than the strength of the steering shaft support 60. As a result, the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40 can be reliably protected by the compressor support 50 in the event of a frontal collision.

[0034] In the steering mechanism 70, the steering torque of a steering wheel (not shown), which is rotated by the driver of the electric vehicle, is transmitted via the steering shaft 71 to a gear (not shown). A portion of the steering shaft 71, located in the motor compartment 100, and the gear are housed within the steering shaft support 60 and a shaft cover 72. The rotary motion of the gear is converted into a linear motion of a rack (not shown) housed in a rack housing 73, and the steering angle of the left and right front wheels (not shown), which are connected to both ends of the rack via a connecting rod 74, is changed. The present embodiment illustrates an example for left-hand traffic, in which the driver's seat is located on the right side in the front of the passenger compartment.

[0035] The following describes the operating principles of the front structure 1 of this embodiment.

[0036] If the electric vehicle with the front structure 1 described above is involved in a frontal collision with an object located in front of the vehicle, the body frame forming the motor compartment 100 will be deformed by the impact such that it is compressed towards the rear of the vehicle. The drive motor unit 10, the subframe 21, and the like are connected to the body frame. Therefore, it is possible that the drive motor unit 10 and the power supply unit 20 will move towards the rear of the vehicle during a frontal collision. If the drive motor unit 10 moves backward, the electric compressor 30, which is connected to the right-side surface section 11B via the compressor support 50, and the power cable 60, which is connected to the socket 12 of the drive motor unit 10, will also move backward along with the drive motor unit 10.

[0037] The steering shaft support 60, which is arranged on the instrument panel 200, is located on the rear of the vehicle at the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40, the electric compressor 30, and the compressor support 50. Therefore, as the reversing movement of the drive motor unit 10 progresses, the extension section 52 of the compressor support 50, which extends towards the rear of the vehicle relative to the rear end region 30A of the electric compressor 30, abuts the steering shaft support 60.

[0038] The rear end of the inclined section 52A of the extension section 52 of the compressor carrier 50 is now located at a point that deviates towards the left side of the vehicle (towards the inside in the direction of the vehicle width) relative to the front end section 60B of the steering shaft carrier 60. Therefore, a right-hand edge of the inclined section 52A of the extension section 52 of the compressor carrier 50 comes into contact with the convex surface of the steering shaft carrier 60 on its left side. As a result of the compressor carrier 50 retracting together with the drive motor unit 10, the steering shaft carrier 60 is guided towards the right side of the vehicle (towards the outside in the direction of the vehicle width) relative to the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40, passing along the right edge of the inclined section 52A.

[0039] In a state where the retraction of the drive motor unit 10 continues and the rear end 11C1 of the left-side surface section 11C in the drive motor unit 10 approaches the instrument panel 200, the rear space S between the rear surface 11D of the drive motor unit 10 and the instrument panel 200 is protected by the rear end 11C1 of the left-side surface section 11C of the drive motor unit 10 and the rear end 52B of the extension section 52 of the compressor support 50. The power cable 40 is routed on the inside of the protected rear space S.

[0040] The following describes the operating principles of the front structure 1 of this embodiment.

[0041] As explained above, in the front structure 1 of this embodiment, the compressor support 50 is located such that it covers the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40, which is located between the drive motor unit 10 and the electric compressor 30, when viewed from the right side of the vehicle (the outside in the vehicle width direction) in a top view. This structure protects the periphery of the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40 with the compressor support 50, which has high strength and is able to hold the electric compressor 30 against the right-side surface section 11B of the drive motor unit 10.As a result, a special component for protecting the connector is no longer necessary, as is the case with the conventional structure described above, and consequently it becomes possible to protect the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40 in the event of a frontal collision by a structure that saves space, is lightweight and inexpensive.

[0042] In the front structure 1 of this embodiment, the compressor support 50 has the extension section 52, which extends towards the rear of the vehicle relative to the rear end section 30A of the electric compressor 30, with the rear end section 52B of the extension section 52 being located at the rear of the vehicle relative to the rear end section 41A of the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40. Due to this structure, when the drive motor 1 retracts during a frontal collision, the extension section 52 of the compressor support 50 presses against a part located on the dashboard 200. As a result, it becomes possible to protect both the electric compressor 30 and the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40 from this part.

[0043] In the front structure of this embodiment, the extension section 52 of the compressor carrier 50 has the angled section 52A, which extends inwards in the direction of the vehicle's width as it approaches the rear of the vehicle, the rear end of the angled section 52A being located on the inside in the direction of the vehicle's width relative to the front end section 60B of the steering shaft carrier 60, which is located on the instrument panel 200 when viewed from above. In such a structure, if the drive motor unit 10 moves backwards in a frontal collision, the steering shaft carrier 60 can be guided toward the rear of the vehicle (outwards in the direction of the vehicle's width) relative to the motor-side connector 41 of the power cable 40 through the angled section 52A of the compressor carrier 50.As a result, it becomes possible to reliably prevent a collision between the steering shaft carrier 60 and the engine-side connector 41.

[0044] In the front structure 1 of this embodiment, the rear space S is formed by the rear end part 11C1 of the left-side surface section 11C and the right-side surface section 11D in the drive motor unit 10, and the rear end part 52B of the extension section 52 of the compressor carrier 50. In this structure, if the drive motor unit 10 moves further back in a frontal collision, it becomes possible to prevent the power cable 40 from becoming detached and damaged, because the power cable 40 can be guided on the inside of the rear space S, which is formed between the rear surface D of the drive motor unit 10 and the dashboard 200.

[0045] One embodiment of the invention has been described above; however, the invention is not limited to that embodiment, but various modifications and alterations based on the technical concept of the invention are possible.

[0046] For example, the above embodiment, in which the electric compressor 30 is attached to the right-hand surface section 11B of the drive motor unit 10 via the compressor support 50, is explained in more detail. However, the structure according to the invention is also effective if an internal vehicle unit, different from the electric compressor 30, is attached to a surface area on one side in the vehicle width direction (to the right-hand surface section 11B or the left-hand surface section 11C) of the drive motor unit 10 by means of a support.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the steering shaft support 60 is arranged on the dashboard 200 on the rear side of the electric compressor 30 and the compressor support 50. However, it is also possible to achieve similar effects in embodiments in which a part is arranged differently from the steering shaft support 60 on the dashboard 200 and this part is located on the rear side of the vehicle, on the side of the electric compressor 30 and the compressor support 50.

[0048] In the embodiment described above, the power supply unit 20 is located above the drive motor unit 10 in the engine compartment 100. However, the arrangement of the power supply unit 20 is not limited to this example; it can also be located outside the engine compartment 100 in order to be connected to the drive motor unit 10 via the power cable 40. [List of reference symbols] 1 Front structure 10 Drive motor unit 11 cases 11B Right-hand surface section (one side surface section in the direction of vehicle width) 11C left-side surface section (the other side surface section in the direction of vehicle width) 11D back surface 12 sockets 13 Axis coupling section 20 power supply units 21 Sub-room 30 electric compressor (in-vehicle unit) 30A rear end section 40 power cables 41 motor-side connector (connector) 41A rear end section 42 Power supply side connector 50 compressor carriers (carriers) 51 arc-shaped section 51A Extension section 52 Extension section 52A inclined section 52B rear end section 53 Through hole 54 bolt holes 60 Steering shaft carriers 60A lower end section 60B front end section 70 Steering shaft mechanism 71 Steering shaft 72 wave cover 73 Rack housings 74 Connecting rod 100 Engine compartment 200 dashboard 210 Base plate S backcourt QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2021 - 115 892 A

[0004]

Claims

[1] Front structure (1) for an electric vehicle, comprising: a drive motor unit (10) mounted in a front area of ​​the electric vehicle; a power cable (40) connecting a power supply unit (20) housed in the electric vehicle to the drive motor unit (10); and a carrier (50) for fixing a vehicle-internal unit (30), which is different from the drive motor unit (10), with the power supply unit (20) on a side surface section of the drive motor unit (10) in the vehicle width direction of the drive motor unit (10), characterized by , that the power cable (40) has a connector (41) wired to a side surface section of the drive motor unit (10); the connector (41) is located between the drive motor unit (10) and the vehicle-internal unit (30) in a top view; and the support (50) is arranged such that it covers the connector (41) from a top view from the outside in the direction of the vehicle width. [2] Front structure (1) for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: the carrier (50) has an extension section (52) which extends towards the rear of the vehicle relative to an end section of the vehicle's internal unit (30); and a rear end part of the extension section (52) is located on the rear of the vehicle relative to the rear end part of the connector (41). [3] Front structure (1) for an electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein: the extension section (52) has a sloping section (52A) which extends towards an inward side in the direction of vehicle width as it approaches the rear of the vehicle; and a rear end of the inclined section (52A) is located on the vehicle width-direction inside side in relation to a front end section of a steering shaft carrier (60) which is located on a dashboard (200) of the electric vehicle in top view. [4] Front structure (1) for an electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein: a rear end section of another side surface section of the drive motor unit (10) in the vehicle width direction of the drive motor unit (10) and a rear end section of the extension section (52) in which the carrier (50) projects towards the rear of the vehicle in relation to a rear side surface section of the drive motor unit (10); a rear space (S) with a concave shape open towards the rear of the vehicle, defined by the rear end section of the other side surface section and the rear side surface section in the drive motor unit (10), and the rear end section of the extension section (52) in the carrier (50); and the power cable (40) is configured to be routed to an inside of the rear space (S) in a top view. [5] Front structure for an electric vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vehicle-internal unit is an electric compressor for an air conditioning system installed in the electric vehicle.

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