SADDLE-TYPE ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Abstract

An electric vehicle (1) of the saddle type, comprising a motor (50) that drives a drive wheel (3), a battery (100) that stores electrical energy for driving the motor (50), a vehicle body frame (5) that supports the battery (100), a swingarm (30) that supports a rear wheel (3) and is pivotally connected to the vehicle body frame (5), and a rear shock absorber (32) with a first end section connected to the vehicle body frame (5) and a second end section connected to the swingarm (30). The battery (100) extends longitudinally over and above the rear shock absorber (32). A rear damper support section (61) connected to the rear damper (32) and a battery mounting section (62) to which the battery (100) is attached are formed on a common support element (22a) which is positioned in front of a rear end of the battery (100) and is connected to the vehicle body frame (5).

Description

TECHNICAL AREA The present invention relates to an electric vehicle of the saddle type. STATE OF THE ART To achieve a low-carbon or decarbonized society, active efforts have been undertaken in recent years, including research and development work in the automotive sector on saddle-type electric vehicles to reduce CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency. One type of saddle-type electric vehicle comprises a motor for propulsion and a battery unit that supplies the motor with electricity (see, for example, patent document 1).Patent document 1 discloses a configuration in which a battery pack attached to a vehicle body has a housing and a battery contained in the housing, which serves as a power source for an electric motor and comprises a plurality of cells; a rearwardly projecting section, which projects rearward and is arranged above a motor housing, is provided in an upper section of the battery pack; and a downwardly projecting section, which projects downward and is arranged in front of the housing of the motor unit, is provided in a front section of the battery pack. Citation list patent specification Patent specification 1: Japanese patent publication no. 6002233 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Technical problem In the area of ​​saddle-type electric vehicles, there is a need to increase the battery size to boost its capacity and thus extend the vehicle's range. However, saddle-type electric vehicles contain components such as the rear suspension, motor, and inverter, which can be located close to the battery, making space for a larger battery preferable. Furthermore, increasing the battery size necessitates sufficient rigidity in the structure supporting the battery. The present invention provides a saddle-type electric vehicle that enables the carrying of a high-capacity battery with high rigidity. Furthermore, the present invention contributes to the development of a sustainable transport system. Solution to the problem (1) An electric vehicle of the saddle type according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a motor (50) which drives a drive wheel (3); a battery (100) which stores electrical energy for driving the motor (50); a vehicle body frame (5) which supports the battery (100); a swingarm (30) which supports a rear wheel (3) and is pivotably connected to the vehicle body frame (5);and a rear damper (32) with a first end section connected to the vehicle body frame (5) and a second end section connected to the swing arm (30), wherein the battery (100) extends transversely over and above the rear damper (32) in a front-to-rear direction, wherein a rear damper support section (61) connected to the rear damper (32) and a battery mounting section (62) to which the battery (100) is attached are formed on a common support element (22a) which is positioned in front of a rear end of the battery (100) and is connected to the vehicle body frame (5). The present invention makes it possible to utilize the space behind the rear damper support section, thereby allowing for a larger battery and increased battery capacity without affecting the rear wheel suspension structure. Furthermore, arranging the rear damper support section and the battery mounting section in a common section connected to the vehicle body frame provides sufficient structural rigidity to support the battery, compared to a configuration with only a bracket for attaching the battery to the vehicle body frame. (2) In the electric vehicle of the saddle type according to aspect (1), the battery (100) may have a main section (101) forming a front section of the battery (100) and a rearward-extending section (102) extending from the main section (101) to the rear and having a shorter length in the top-bottom direction than the main section (101), wherein the rear damper support section (61) may be located at a position behind the main section (101) and below the rearward-extending section (102). The above configuration makes it possible to utilize a space behind the main section of the battery and below the rearward-extending section of the battery, thus forming the rear damper support section and the battery mounting section in a compact size. (3) In the electric vehicle of the saddle type according to aspect (2) the battery (100) may have battery cells (109), wherein the rearward extending section (102) may have fewer battery cells (109) than the main section (101). The above configuration allows the rearward-extending section to be smaller than the main section, thus enabling the battery size to be easily increased from the main section towards the rear without affecting the rear shock absorber support section. This allows for an increase in battery capacity. (4) In the case of the electric vehicle of the saddle type according to aspect (3), the battery cells (109) contained in the rearward extending section (102) may be combined to form a battery module (108), wherein the battery module (108) of the rearward extending section (102) may be arranged such that a longitudinal direction of the battery module (108) is oriented in the front-to-back direction when viewed from the side. The above configuration allows for a reduction in the length of the rearward-extending section in the top-bottom direction compared to the configuration where the battery module is positioned within the rearward-extending section with its longitudinal orientation in the top-bottom direction. This provides ample space below the rearward-extending section, thereby increasing flexibility in the arrangement of components located below it. (5) The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to any of aspects (2) to (4) may further have a seat (9) arranged above the rearward extending section (102) on which a driver sits, the rearward extending section (102) having an upper end arranged at a position lower than an upper end of the main section (101). The above configuration allows the forward- and upward-extending seat to be positioned in an area extending from above the rearward-extending section to above the main section. This allows the space above the battery to be used effectively. (6) In the electric vehicle of the saddle type according to any of aspects (2) to (5), the vehicle body frame (5) may have a head tube (16) into which a steering shaft, which supports a front wheel (2) in a steerable manner, is rotatably inserted, a pair of main frames (17) whose front end is connected to the head tube (16), which branch out to the left and right from the front end and extend rearward in an external space in the vehicle width direction of the battery (100), and a pair of pivot frames (18) which are connected to the rear ends of the pair of main frames (17) and are provided with a pivot axis (33) which forms a bridge over the pivot frames (18) in order to pivot the pivot arm (30) in a pivotable manner; Connecting sections that are connected between the pair of main frames (17) and the pair of pivot frames (18) can be positioned behind the main section (101) and below the rearward-extending section (102);and the pair of pivot frames (18) can have a minimum width that is less than a maximum width of the pair of main frames (17). The above configuration allows for the use of space behind the main section and below the rearward-extending part to form the pair of pivot frames positioned in a lower part of the vehicle, which are narrower than the pair of main frames. This allows the maximum tilt angle of the saddle-type electric vehicle to easily achieve a large value. (7) In the electric vehicle of the saddle type according to any of aspects (1) to (6) the battery (100) may have a downwardly extending section (103) extending downwards from the main section (101) and having a shorter length in the front-to-back direction than the main section (101). The above configuration allows for a larger battery by utilizing the space below the main unit. This increases the battery capacity. (8) In the electric vehicle of the saddle type according to aspect (7) the battery (100) may have battery cells (109), wherein the downwardly extending section (103) may have fewer battery cells (109) than the main section (101). The above configuration allows the downward-extending section to be smaller than the main section, thus utilizing the limited space below the main section to increase the battery size. This allows the battery capacity to be increased. (9) In the electric vehicle of the saddle type according to aspect (7) or (8), the battery cells (109) contained in the downward extending section (103) may be combined to form a battery module (108), wherein the battery module (108) of the downward extending section (103) may be arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the battery module (108) is oriented in a side view in the top-bottom direction. The above configuration allows for a reduction in the length of the downward-extending section in the front-to-back direction compared to the configuration where the battery module is positioned within the downward-extending section with its longitudinal orientation in the front-to-back direction. This provides ample space behind the downward-extending section, thereby increasing flexibility in the arrangement of components located behind it. (10) In the saddle-type electric vehicle according to any of aspects (7) to (9), the vehicle body frame (5) may have a head tube (16) into which a steering shaft carrying a steerable front wheel (2) is rotatably inserted, and in a space in front of the battery (100) a lower frame (19) extending rearward and downward from the head tube (16); wherein a front end of the downwardly extending section (103) may be positioned behind a front end of the main section (101). The above configuration makes it less likely that the battery will collide with the lower frame when moved upwards and removed from the vehicle's body frame. A similar effect is achieved when the battery is moved downwards and attached to the vehicle's body frame. This improves the feasibility of installing and removing the battery. (11) In the semi-trailer electric vehicle according to any one of aspects (2) to (10), the motor (50) may be arranged below the battery (100), wherein the vehicle body frame (5) may have a transverse frame (22) connecting the pair of main frames (17) or the pair of pivot frames (18) and located behind the main section (101) and below the rearward extending part (102), which may have a support element (22a) extending and projecting from the transverse frame (22) and on which the rear damper support section (61) and the battery mounting section (62) are formed, and may have a second extension element (22b) extending and projecting in a direction different from that of the support element (22a) in the width direction of the vehicle from a region of the transverse frame (22) to which the support element (22a) is connected, wherein a motor mounting section (63) to which the motor (50) is to be attached,is formed on the second extension element (22b). The above configuration makes it possible to form the battery mounting section and the motor mounting section in a common area in the vehicle width direction in the transverse frame, thereby improving the support stiffness of the battery and motor. Advantageous effects of the invention The saddle-type electric vehicle described above makes it possible to support a large-capacity battery with high rigidity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [Fig. 1] A left side view of an electric motorcycle (saddle-type electric vehicle) according to one embodiment. [Fig. 2] A left side view of a main part of the electric motorcycle. [Fig. 3] A top view of the main section of the electric motorcycle. [Fig. 4] A bottom view of a frame body of the electric motorcycle. [Fig. 5] A rear view and view around a transverse element in the frame body. [Fig. 6] A left side view of the transverse element and its surroundings. [Fig. 7] A perspective view of a battery unit of the electric motorcycle. [Fig. 8] A perspective exploded view of the battery unit. [Fig. 9] A left side view showing the interior of the battery unit. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION FORM An embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that in the following description, directions such as forward, backward, upward, downward, left, and right are the same as the directions described below with respect to a vehicle. That is, the upward-downward directions (up and down) correspond to the vertical directions, while the left-right directions (to the left and right) correspond to vehicle width directions. Of the vehicle width directions, a direction pointing away from the center of the vehicle width is designated as outward in the vehicle width direction, while a direction pointing toward the center of the vehicle width is designated as inward in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, in the drawings used in the following description, an arrow UP means "up," an arrow FR means "forward," and an arrow LH means "left."A line CL in the drawings denotes a center line in the vehicle width direction (vehicle width center). Fig. 1 is a left side view of an electric motorcycle (saddle-type electric vehicle) 1 according to one embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, in one embodiment the electric motorcycle 1 is a saddle-type off-road electric vehicle. The electric motorcycle 1 has a large vertical wheel travel, high ground clearance of the vehicle body, and a smaller size and lower weight of the vehicle body in order to concentrate the mass of the vehicle body. The electric motorcycle 1 comprises a front wheel 2, a rear wheel 3, a front suspension system 4, a vehicle body frame 5, a vehicle body cover 6, a rear suspension system 7, a drive unit 8 and a battery unit 100. The front suspension system 4 comprises a pair of left and right front forks 10, which pivotably mount the front wheel 2 at their lower end sections; an upper bridge 11 and a lower bridge 12, which are provided above the upper sections of the pair of front forks 10; and a stem tube (not shown) that is provided between the upper bridge 11 and the lower bridge 12 and is inserted into a head tube 16. The front wheel 2 is steerably mounted on the head tube 16 of the vehicle body frame 5 via the front suspension system 4. A steering handle 13 is mounted on the upper bridge 11. In this embodiment, the telescopic front forks 10 are shown as an exemplary front suspension of the electric motorcycle 1, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The front suspension can, for example, also be any other type, such as a compound suspension with a swingarm. Fig. 2 is a left side view of a main section of the electric motorcycle 1. Fig. 3 is a top view of the main section of the electric motorcycle 1. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 to 3, the vehicle body frame 5 comprises the head tube 16, a pair of left and right main frames 17, a pair of left and right pivot frames 18, a lower frame 19 as a single part, a pair of left and right subframes 20, a pair of left and right reinforcing struts 21, a cross member 22, and a lower cross member 23. These components are integrally joined together by welding or similar processes. An assembly comprising these inseparably joined frame elements is hereinafter referred to as the “frame body”. The head tube 16 is positioned in the center of the vehicle width CL and is individually mounted at a front end of the vehicle body frame 5. The head tube 16 is rotatably mounted via a steering tube (steering shaft). The pair of main frames 17 branch out to the left and right from an upper section of the head tube 16 and extend rearward and downward. In the present embodiment, the main frames 17 have a hollow tubular form. However, the main frames can also be solid. The pair of main frames 17 are connected to each other at their respective front end sections. Viewed from above, the front sections of the pair of main frames 17 extend in a curved manner to project outward behind the head tube 16 in the direction of the vehicle's width. Viewed from above, the rear sections of the pair of main frames 17 extend linearly along the front-to-rear direction. The pair of pivot frames 18 is connected to the rear end sections of the main frames 17, which are provided on the respective left and right sides. In the present embodiment, the pivot frames 18 are hollow, tubular elements that are separate from the main frames 17 and connected to the rear end sections of the main frames 17, thus becoming inseparably integrated into the main frames 17. However, the pivot frames can also be solid. The pair of pivot frames 18 extends rearward and downward from the rear end sections of the main frames 17. Behind the connecting sections that join the main frames 17 and the pivot frames 18, the pivot frames 18 extend, viewed from the side, at a steeper angle to the rear and downward than the main frames 17. The pair of pivot frames 18 is curved and extends in such a way that, in side view, it forms a rearward-curving arc.A pivot shaft 33, extending in the vehicle width direction, is bridged by intermediate sections at positions that are closer in the top-bottom direction to the respective lower ends of the pair of pivot frames 18. It should be noted that the term "intermediate section" used in the embodiment refers not only to the midpoint between the two ends of a given element, but also to an inner area between the two ends of the given element. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the frame body. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the pair of pivot frames 18 has a convex shape, curved outwards in the vehicle width direction to have a maximum width in the vehicle width direction at each of the intermediate sections in the top-bottom direction. The pair of pivot frames 18 has a minimum width near its lower ends. The minimum width of the pair of pivot frames 18 is less than the maximum width of the pair of main frames 17. As shown in Figures 1, 2 to 3, the lower frame 19 extends rearward and downward from a lower section of the head tube 16. In side view, the lower frame 19 extends more steeply rearward and downward than the main frames 17. A cooler 91 for cooling the drive unit 8 is attached to at least one of the left and right side sections (in this embodiment, the left side section) of the lower frame 19. The lower frame 19 is provided with a first bracket 45. The first bracket 45 is connected to a central section of the lower frame 19 in the top-bottom direction. The first bracket 45 projects rearward from the lower frame 19. The pair of lower frames 20 branches off to the left and right from a lower end section of the lower frame 19 and extends rearward. The rear end sections of the pair of lower frames 20 are each connected to the lower end sections of the pivot frames 18 provided on the corresponding left and right sides. The lower frames 20 are each provided with a second bracket 47. The second bracket 47 is provided at a front end section of each of the left and right lower frames 20. The second bracket 47 extends and projects upward from each of the lower frames 20. The second bracket 47 is integrally formed with the lower frames 20. The pair of reinforcing struts 21 connects the main frames 17 and the lower frame 19, respectively, on the corresponding left and right sides. The pair of reinforcing struts 21 branches out to the left and right from an intermediate section located closer to an upper section of the lower frame 19 in the top-bottom direction, extending rearward. The rear end sections of the pair of reinforcing struts 21 are each connected to intermediate sections in the front-back direction of the main frames 17, which are located on the corresponding left and right sides. The transverse element 22 extends in the direction of the vehicle width and connects the rear parts of the pair of main frames 17 (or the upper parts of the pair of pivot frames 18) together. The lower transverse element 23 extends in the direction of the vehicle width and connects the lower parts of the pair of pivot frames 18 at positions below the pivot axis 33. A rearwardly extending and projecting connecting support bracket 23a is attached to the lower transverse element 23. A front end portion of a connecting arm 34 is connected to the connecting support bracket 23a. Fig. 5 is a top view of and around the transverse element 22 in the frame body. Fig. 6 is a left side view of and around the transverse element 22 in the frame body. As shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6, the vehicle body frame 5 comprises first extension elements 22a (support elements) and a second extension element 22b. The first extension elements 22a are provided in a central section of the transverse element 22 in the vehicle width direction. The first extension elements 22a are provided as a left and a right pair, such that the distance between them overlaps the vehicle width center CL. The pair of first extension elements 22a extends and projects rearward and upward from the transverse element 22. A rear damper support section 61, to which an upper end section of a rear damper 32 is to be connected, and a battery mounting section 62, to which the battery unit 100 is attached, are formed on each of the two first extension elements 22a. The battery mounting section 62 is provided on a distal end section of each of the first extension elements 22a and is connected to the battery unit 100 via a shaft element extending in the vehicle width direction.The rear damper support section 61 is provided between the battery mounting section 62 and the transverse element 22 and is connected to an upper end section of the rear damper 32 (see Fig. 2) via a shaft element extending in the vehicle width direction. The second extension element 22b extends and projects in a direction different from that of the first extension elements 22a, specifically from a region of the transverse element 22 to which the first extension elements 22a are connected along the vehicle width direction. The second extension element 22b is located at the vehicle width center CL. Both end sections of the second extension element 22b in the vehicle width direction are positioned between the two end sections of the pair of first extension elements 22a in the vehicle width direction. The second extension element 22b projects downwards. A motor mounting section 63, to which the drive unit 8 is to be attached, is formed on the second extension element 22b. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the vehicle body frame 5 further comprises a pair of left and right seat rails 24 and a pair of left and right support rails 25. Each front end section of the left and right seat rails 24 is connected to the upper end sections of the pivot frames 18 provided on the corresponding left and right sides. Each of the left and right seat rails 24 extends rearward and upward from its front end section. A seat 9 is arranged above the left and right seat rails 24. Intermediate sections in the front-to-rear direction of the left and right seat rails 24 are connected to each other by means of a seat mounting bracket 28 that bears the load of the seat 9. The left and right support rails 25 are positioned below the left and right seat rails 24. The front end sections of the left and right support rails 25 are each connected in an up-down direction to the middle sections of the pivot frames 18 provided on the corresponding left and right sides. Each of the left and right support rails 25 extends rearward and upward from its front end section. The rear end sections of the left and right support rails 25 are each connected from below to the rear sections of the seat rails 24 provided on the corresponding left and right sides. The rear sections of the left and right seat rails 24 are connected to each other by a transverse rail 26 extending in the direction of the vehicle width. The pair of left and right seat rails 24, the pair of left and right support rails 25, and the transverse rail 26 are integrally connected to each other by welding or the like. An assembly comprising these inseparably connected frame elements is hereinafter referred to as a subframe detachably attached to the frame body. The subframe corresponds to a seat frame that supports the seat 9 from below. The vehicle body frame 5 is of the semi-double-loop type. Within the vehicle body frame 5, the drive unit 8, equipped with a motor 50, is mounted below the rear sections of the left and right main frames 17, which are located behind the head tube 16 and in front of the left and right pivot frames 18. The vehicle body frame 5 surrounds the drive unit 8 with the lower frame 19 as a single unit and the left and right lower frames 20 from the front and below. Inside the vehicle body frame 5, the drive unit 8 for propelling the vehicle is mounted, along with the battery unit 100, which stores electrical energy that is supplied to the drive unit 8. The vehicle body frame 5 is configured so that the battery unit 100 can be inserted and removed from above through an opening between the left and right main frames 17. The front sections of the left and right main frames 17 and the left and right reinforcing struts 21 each have a large outward curvature in the direction of the vehicle's width to ensure clearance from the front section of the battery unit 100. The vehicle body cover 6 covers the vehicle body frame 5 and the like. The vehicle body cover 6 includes a pair of left and right front fairings 41 and a pair of left and right rear fairings 42. The pair of front panels 41 are arranged from lower positions on the left and right sides of the front section of the seat 9 to positions which, viewed in a side view from the vehicle width direction, overlap an upper section of the lower frame 19. Each of the front panels 41 extends forward from a section below the front section of the seat 9. The front panels 41 extend longitudinally over portions outside the vehicle width of the main frames 17 provided on the corresponding left and right sides. At least one of the front panels 41 acts as an air deflector (radiator shroud) for the radiator 91 (see Fig. 3), which is mounted on a side portion of the lower frame 19. The pair of rear panels 42 are each arranged in positions below the seat 9 on the left and right sides in a rear portion of the seat 9 in a side view. The rear panels 42 are each arranged to cover the seat rails 24 and the support rails 25, which are provided on the respective left and right sides, extending from the outside in the direction of the vehicle width. A rear fender 43r extends rearward along the back of the seat 9. The rear fender 43r is positioned above the rear wheel 3 to provide clearance from it. Reference numeral 43f in the corresponding drawing denotes a front fender positioned above the front wheel 2 to provide clearance from it, and which is supported by the lower bridge 12. An upper cover 44 is arranged in front of the seat 9. The upper cover 44 is positioned between the upper end sections of the intermediate sections in the front-to-rear direction of the pair of front panels 41. The upper cover 44 covers from above a second housing section 113 (see Fig. 7) of a main section 101 of the battery unit 100. The rear suspension system 7 comprises a swing arm 30 which pivotably mounts the rear wheel 3 in a rear end section; a connecting mechanism 31 which connects a front section of the swing arm 30 and the lower transverse element 23; and the rear damper 32 which extends between the connecting mechanism 31 and the transverse element 22. The swing arm 30 is arranged below a rear section of the vehicle body and extends longitudinally. A front end section of the swing arm 30 is mounted on the pair of pivot frames 18 to be pivotable in an up-down direction about the pivot axis 33. The connecting mechanism 31 comprises a pair of left and right connecting arms 34 and a connecting element 35. In a side view, the pair of connecting arms 34 is arranged below a front section of the pivot arm 30 and extends longitudinally. A front end section of the connecting arm 34 is rotatably connected to the connecting support bracket 23a of the lower transverse element 23 via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction. The rear end section of the connecting arm 34 is rotatably connected to the connecting element 35 via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction. The connecting element 35 is generally triangular in side view. An upper vertex section of the connecting element 35 is rotatably connected via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction to a connecting coupling section in an intermediate section in the longitudinal direction of the pivot arm 30. A lower vertex section of the connecting element 35 is rotatably connected via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction to the rear end sections of the connecting arms 34. A front vertex section of the connecting element 35 is rotatably connected via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction to a lower end section of the rear damper 32. The rear damper 32 is located in the rear part of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction (for example, at the vehicle width center CL). The rear damper 32 is cylindrical in shape, with a compression spring coil arranged on the outer circumference of a damper cylinder and positioned such that its axial direction is inclined forward with respect to the vertical direction. An upper end section (first end section) of the rear damper 32 is rotatably connected to the first extension elements 22a of the transverse element 22 via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction. The rear damper 32 has a lower end section (second end section) which is rotatably connected to the front apex section of the connecting element 35 via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction. The drive unit 8 comprises the motor 50 for propelling the vehicle; a speed reducer (not shown) that reduces the power of the motor 50; an output shaft 70 that delivers the dynamic power of the motor 50 reduced by the speed reducer; a power control unit (PCU) 130 for controlling the motor 50; and a housing 80 that accommodates drive components of the motor 50, the speed reducer and the like, as well as the PCU 130. The drive unit 8 is configured as an integrated unit comprising the motor 50, the speed reducer, the output shaft 70, the PCU 130, and the housing 80. The PCU 130 is located below the motor 50. The housing 80 forms the outer casing of the drive unit 8. The drive unit 8 can be cooled by a water cooling system that includes the radiator 91. The motor 50 is arranged such that its axis of rotation runs in the direction of the vehicle's width. The drive unit of the motor 50 is housed in a motor casing 54, which is formed in the upper part of the housing 80. The motor casing 54 forms an outer shell for the motor 50. The motor casing 54 has a rear upper part that is attached to a motor mounting part 63 (see Fig. 6) of the vehicle body frame 5. The gear-type speed reducer is located on one of the left and right sides of the motor 50. The output shaft 70 is located in a rear lower part of the engine housing 54. The output shaft 70 extends in the direction of the vehicle's width and has a left end section that projects outwards from the housing 80. The left end section of the output shaft 70 and the rear wheel 3 are connected to each other via a chain-like transmission mechanism 77. This allows the power of the engine 50 to be transmitted to the rear wheel 3. The PCU 130 is a control device comprising a power drive unit (PDU) as a motor driver, an electrical control unit (ECU) controlling the PDU, and the like. The PDU includes an inverter. The PDU converts the current supplied by the battery unit 100 from direct current to alternating current and then supplies the resulting alternating current to the motor 50. The PCU 130 is housed in a PCU enclosure 81 of the enclosure 80. In addition to the motor housing 54, the housing 80 includes the PCU housing 81, which contains the PCU 130. The PCU housing 81 is located below the motor housing 54. The PCU 130 is housed within the PCU housing 81. A front portion of the PCU housing 81 projects forward relative to a front end section of the motor housing 54. The drive unit 8 (housing 80) is mounted to the vehicle body frame 5 via several mounting sections (including rubber mounts). The drive unit 8 is located in front of (on an inner circumferential side) the pivot frames 18, which, viewed from the side, are each curved in a rearwardly arched shape. The drive unit 8 is positioned above the lower frame 20. In the side view, the drive unit 8 is located below the rear lower end sections of the main frames 17. Within the drive unit 8, an upper section (the motor housing 54) is positioned behind the lower frame 19 to maintain a distance from it, with a lower section (the PCU housing 81) extending to a position near a lower end section of the lower frame 19.A front end section of the PCU housing 81 is supported by the second brackets 47 on the front end sections of the left and right lower frames 20. The PCU housing 81 is covered at the bottom by a bottom cover 27, which is attached to the lower frames 20. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the battery unit 100. As shown in Figs. 2 and 7, the battery unit 100 is L-shaped with a rear lower section cut out in the side view. The battery unit 100 overlaps the motor 50 (motor housing 54) in the front-to-back and top-to-bottom directions. The battery unit 100 is located in a space extending from the front of the drive unit 8 to beyond the drive unit 8. The battery unit 100 has a constant width in the left-to-right direction and is positioned such that, in plan view, it is accommodated between the inner surfaces of the left and right main frames 17 in the vehicle width direction.The battery unit 100 comprises a main section 101, which is arranged in a position that overlaps the main frames 17, a rearward-extending section 102, which extends rearward from a rear end of the main section 101, and a downward-extending section 103, which extends downward from a lower end of the main section 101. The main section 101 forms a front part of the battery unit 100. The main section 101 comprises a section of the battery unit 100 that is closest to the head tube 16. The main section 101 has an upper end that coincides with the upper end of the battery unit 100. The main section 101 has a front end that coincides with the front end of the battery unit 100. The main section 101 is positioned between the lower frame 19 and the transverse element 22. The main section 101 is positioned in front of the transverse element 22 to overlap the transverse element 22 in the front-to-back direction. The main section 101 is positioned in front of the first extension elements 22a to overlap the first extension elements 22a in the front-to-back direction. The main section 101 is positioned in the side view in front of the connecting sections that connect the main frames 17 and the pivot frames 18.The main section 101 is arranged such that, in side view, its rear upper section projects beyond the main frames 17 and its front lower section projects below the main frames 17. A portion of the main section 101 that projects beyond the main frames 17 is covered externally in the vehicle width direction by the rear portions of the front fairings 41 (see Fig. 1). The main frames 17 are arranged outside the main section 101 in the vehicle width direction to pass through the main section 101 when viewed from the side. At least part of the main section 101 is arranged above the drive unit 8, so that it is directly opposite the drive unit 8. In the present embodiment, the front part of the main section 101 is positioned in front of the drive unit 8, with the rear part of the main section 101 arranged on top of the drive unit 8. A first mounting section 101a is provided on a front face of the main section 101 and projects from it (see Fig. 9). The first mounting section 101a is supported on the intermediate section by the first bracket 45 in the top-bottom direction of the lower frame 19. The main section 101 comprises a first housing part 112, which in side view has a generally square shape, and the second housing part 113, which projects upward from the first housing part 112 and includes an electrical component such as a contactor. The first housing part 112 comprises a rear end and a lower end of the main section 101 and is placed on top of the drive unit 8. The second housing part 113 comprises an upper end of the main section 101. In side view, the second housing part 113 projects upward beyond the main frames 17 and is covered from above by the upper cover 44 (see Fig. 1). The second housing section 113 has a rear section that is positioned below a front section of the seat 9, where a seat surface (its upper surface) extends forward and upward.A rear surface of the second housing section 113 is shaped such that, in side view, it has an inclined form extending forward and upward in accordance with the inclination of the front section of the seat 9. An outer surface of the second housing section 113, in the vehicle width direction, is shaped such that it has an inclined form extending outward in the vehicle width direction toward the underside of the second housing section 113. This allows the second housing section 113 to be less bulky and the upper cover 44 to have a round and compact shape. The rearward-extending section 102 extends in a top-bottom direction between an upper end section of the rear damper 32 and an underside of the seat 9. The rearward-extending section 102 extends rearward to a position that overlaps the intermediate sections in the front-back direction of the seat rails 24 in the side view. The seat mounting bracket 28 is U-shaped to extend laterally over the rearward-extending section 102. The rearward-extending section 102 is positioned above the transverse element 22 to overlap the transverse element 22 in a top-bottom direction. The rearward-extending section 102 is positioned above the first extension elements 22a to overlap the first extension elements 22a in a top-bottom direction.The rearward-extending section 102 extends longitudinally over and above the first extension elements 22a when viewed from the side. In the side view, the rearward-extending section 102 is arranged above the connecting sections that join the main frames 17 and the pivot frames 18. The rearward-extending section 102 is shaped like a rectangular parallelepiped. The rearward-extending section 102 has a pair of side surfaces oriented in the vehicle width direction, an upward-facing top surface and a downward-facing bottom surface. Each of the side surfaces of the rearward-extending section 102 is designed to be flush with a side surface of the first housing section 112 of the main section 101 that is oriented in the vehicle width direction. The rearward-extending section 102 is designed such that its longitudinal direction, viewed from the side, is oriented in the front-to-rear direction. More precisely, the rearward-extending section 102 is designed such that its longitudinal length is greater than its length in the vehicle width direction and greater than its top-to-bottom length.The rearward-extending section 102 has a total top-bottom length that is less than the top-bottom length of the main section 101. An upper end of the rearward-extending section 102 is located at a position lower than the upper end of the main section 101. Furthermore, the upper end of the rearward-extending section 102 is located at a position lower than the upper end of the first housing section 112 of the main section 101. The lower end of the rearward-extending section 102 is located at a position higher than the lower end of the main section 101. A second fastening section 102a is provided on the underside of the rearward-extending section 102 and projects from it. The second fastening section 102a is supported by the battery fastening sections 62 (see Fig. 6) of the pair of first extension elements 22a. Furthermore, a 12-volt battery 29 for an auxiliary machine is arranged behind the rearward-extending section 102. The 12-volt battery 29 is supported against a rear section of the seat frame. Reference numeral 43i in the corresponding drawing denotes a rear inner fender, which is supported against the support rails 25 to reduce spray caused by the rear wheel 3. The downward-extending section 103 extends longitudinally downwards between a lower section of the lower frame 19 and the motor housing 54 of the drive unit 8. The downward-extending section 103 extends to a position near the top of the PCU housing 81. The downward-extending section 103 is formed in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The downward-extending section 103 has a pair of side surfaces oriented in the vehicle width direction: a forward-facing front surface and a rear-facing rear surface. Each of the side surfaces of the downward-extending section 103 is configured to be flush with a side surface of the first housing section 112 of the main section 101 that is oriented in the vehicle width direction. The downward-extending section 103 is configured such that its longitudinal direction in the side view is aligned with the top-bottom direction. More precisely, the downward-extending section 103 is configured such that its top-bottom length is greater than its length in the vehicle width direction and greater than its longitudinal length.The downward-extending section 103 has a total longitudinal length that is less than the longitudinal length of the main section 101. A rear end of the downward-extending section 103 is positioned in front of a rear end of the main section 101. A front end of the downward-extending section 103 is positioned behind the front end of the main section 101. A lower end section of the downward-extending section 103 is positioned above the front end section, which is supported on the second brackets 47 of the drive unit 8. A third fastening section 103a is provided on and projects from the lower end section of the downward-extending section 103. The third fastening section 103a is held by the second brackets 47 on the front end sections of the left and right lower frame 20. Fig. 8 is a perspective exploded view of battery unit 100. As shown in Fig. 8, the battery unit 100 comprises a center plate 105 positioned at the vehicle's center of width CL, a pair of left and right battery assemblies 106 arranged to the left and right of the center plate 105, respectively, and a pair of left and right battery covers 107 covering the left and right battery assemblies 106. The battery covers 107 are each box-shaped and open inwards in the direction of the vehicle's width. The pair of battery covers 107 has opening edges that are connected to one another, with an outer circumferential edge of the center plate 105 positioned between them. A space in which one of the battery assemblies 106 is arranged is formed between a corresponding battery cover 107 and the center plate 105. The battery unit 100 is designed to be symmetrical overall in the left-right direction, with the vehicle's center of width CL serving as the axis of symmetry.The symmetrical arrangement of the heavy battery unit 100 in the left-right direction reduces the influence of the vehicle weight on the balance in the left-right direction. Fig. 9 is a left side view showing the interior of battery unit 100. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, each of the battery assemblies 106 consists of a combination of several battery modules 108. Each of the battery modules 108 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape extending in one direction and arranged such that its longitudinal direction is oriented in the front-back or top-bottom direction. Each of the battery modules 108 consists of a plurality of battery cells 109 arranged in the top-bottom and front-back directions. In each of the battery assemblies 106, the battery cells 109 are arranged oriented in the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, all battery modules 108 in each of the battery assemblies 106 have the same configuration. Each of the battery modules 108 has a slender, unidirectional shape and can therefore be easily arranged even in small spaces. The battery unit 100 can be easily configured to fit into a space within the vehicle body by rearranging the multiple battery modules 108 to modify the overall shape. By increasing the flexibility in the shape of the battery unit 100 as a heavy object, and thus increasing the flexibility in its arrangement within an empty space in the vehicle body, the impact on the vehicle's center of gravity can be reduced. The first housing section 112 of the main section 101 comprises six of the battery modules 108 in the first housing section 112. The six battery modules 108 contained in the main section 101 are arranged such that three of the battery modules 108 are located on each side of the central plate 105. The three battery modules 108 are arranged longitudinally such that they overlap longitudinally. Each of the battery modules 108 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is aligned in the top-bottom direction. The rearward-extending section 102 comprises two of the battery modules 108. Consequently, the rearward-extending section 102 contains fewer battery cells 109 than the main section 101. The rearward-extending section 102 has a lower battery capacity than the main section 101. The two battery modules 108 contained in the rear section 102 are arranged such that one battery module 108 is located on each side of the central plate 105. One of the battery modules 108 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is aligned in the front-to-back direction. The downward-extending section 103 comprises two of the battery modules 108. Consequently, the downward-extending section 103 contains fewer battery cells 109 than the main section 101. The downward-extending section 103 has a lower battery capacity than the main section 101. The two battery modules 108 contained in the downward-extending section 103 are arranged such that one of the battery modules 108 is located on each side of the central plate 105. One of the battery modules 108 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is aligned in the top-bottom direction. The central plate 105 includes a plate extension 111 in the second housing part 113, which extends upwards from the first housing part 112 of the main part 101. Electrical components such as contactors are provided on both the left and right sides of the plate extension 111. A front end section of the battery unit 100 is provided with a cable connection section 114, which projects forward from an upper section of the first housing section 112 and from the second housing section 113 in the main section 101. The cable connection section 114 is connected to one end of a high-voltage cable (a positive and a negative cable) extending from the PCU 130 and to one end of a low-voltage cable extending from the 12 V battery 29. A drive current is supplied from the battery unit 100 to the PCU 130 via the high-voltage cable, and a drive current is also supplied from the 12 V battery 29 to an electrical component, such as a contactor, via the low-voltage cable. As described above, the electric motorcycle 1, according to the embodiment, comprises the battery unit 100, which extends longitudinally over and above the rear shock absorber 32. The rear shock absorber support section 61, connected to the rear shock absorber 32, and the battery mounting section 62, to which the battery unit 100 is attached, are formed on each of the first extension elements 22a, which are positioned in front of a rear end of the battery unit 100 and connected to the vehicle body frame 5. This configuration makes it possible to utilize space behind the rear shock absorber support section 61, thus increasing the dimensions of the battery unit 100 and the battery capacity without affecting the rear wheel 3 suspension structure.Furthermore, the arrangement of the rear damper support section 61 and the battery mounting section 62 in a common section connected to the vehicle body frame 5 allows the structure for holding the battery unit 100 to have sufficient rigidity compared to a configuration in which only a bracket is provided for attaching the battery unit to the vehicle body frame 5. As a result, according to the electric motorcycle 1 of the embodiment, the battery can be held with high rigidity even if the battery has a large capacity. The battery unit 100 comprises the main section 101, which forms a front section of the battery unit 100, and the rearward-extending section 102, which extends rearward from the main section 101 and has a shorter length in the top-bottom direction than the main section 101. The rear damper support section 61 is located behind the main section 101 and below the rearward-extending section 102. This configuration allows the space behind the main section 101 of the battery unit 100 and below the rearward-extending section 102 of the battery unit 100 to be used to form the rear damper support section 61 and the battery mounting section 62 in a compact manner. The battery unit comprises battery cells 109. The rearward-extending section 102 contains fewer battery cells 109 than the main section 101. This configuration allows the rearward-extending section 102 to be smaller than the main section 101, thus enabling the battery unit 100 to be easily enlarged rearward from the main section 101 without affecting the rear damper support section 61. This allows the battery capacity to be increased. The battery cells 109 contained in the rearward-extending section 102 are grouped together to form one of the battery modules 108. The battery modules 108 contained in the rearward-extending section 102 are each arranged such that their longitudinal direction is oriented in the front-to-back direction. This configuration allows for a reduction in the length of the rearward-extending section 102 in the top-to-bottom direction compared to the configuration in which the battery modules 108 are each arranged in the rearward-extending section such that their longitudinal direction is oriented in the top-to-bottom direction. This allows for a larger space to be provided below the rearward-extending section 102, thereby increasing flexibility in the arrangement of components located below the rearward-extending section 102. The electric motorcycle 1 further comprises the seat 9, which is positioned above the rearward-extending section 102 and on which a rider sits. The rearward-extending section 102 has an upper end that is positioned lower than the upper end of the main section 101. This configuration allows the seat 9, which extends forward and upward, to be positioned over a range from above the rearward-extending section 102 to above the main section 101. This allows the space above the battery unit 100 to be used effectively. The connecting sections between the main frames 17 and the pivot frames 18 are positioned behind the main section 101 and below the rearward-extending section 102. The minimum width of the pair of pivot frames 18 is less than the maximum width of the pair of main frames 17. This configuration allows the space behind the main section 101 and below the rearward-extending section 102 to be used, thus making the pair of pivot frames 18, which are positioned in a lower part of the vehicle, narrower than the pair of main frames 17. This allows the maximum tilt angle of the electric motorcycle 1 to be easily set to a large value. The battery unit 100 comprises the downward-extending section 103, which extends downwards from the main section 101 and is shorter in length than the main section 101. This configuration allows the battery unit 100 to be enlarged by utilizing the space below the main section 101. This increases the battery's capacity. The downward-extending section 103 contains fewer battery cells 109 than the main section 101. This configuration allows the downward-extending section 103 to be smaller than the main section 101, thus utilizing the limited space below the main section 101 to increase the size of the battery unit 100. This allows the battery capacity to be increased. The battery modules 108 of the downward-extending section 103 are each arranged such that their longitudinal direction, viewed from the side, is aligned in the top-bottom direction. This configuration allows for a reduction in the length of the downward-extending section 103 in the front-back direction compared to the configuration in which the battery modules 108 are each arranged so that their longitudinal direction in the downward-extending section is aligned in the front-back direction. This allows for a larger space behind the downward-extending section 103, thereby increasing the flexibility in the arrangement of components located behind the downward-extending section 103. The vehicle body frame 5 encompasses, in a space in front of the battery unit 100, the lower frame 19, which extends rearward and downward from the head tube 16. The front end of the downward-extending section 103 is positioned behind the front end of the main section 101. This configuration makes it less likely that the battery unit 100 will collide with the lower frame 19 when moved upward and removed from the vehicle body frame 5. A similar effect is achieved when the battery unit 100 is moved downward and attached to the vehicle body frame 5. This improves the feasibility of attaching and removing the battery unit 100. The vehicle body frame 5 comprises the transverse element 22, which is provided behind the main section 101 and below the rearwardly extending part 102; the first extension elements 22a, which each extend and project from the transverse element 22, and on which the rear damper support section 61 and the battery mounting section 62 are formed; and the second extension element 22b, which extends and projects in a direction different from the direction of the first extension elements 22a from a region of the transverse element 22, to which the first extension elements 22a are connected, along the width of the vehicle and is provided with the engine mounting section 63 formed thereon, to which the engine housing 54 is to be attached.This configuration makes it possible to form the battery mounting section 62 and the motor mounting section 63 in a common area in the vehicle width direction in the transverse element 22, thereby enabling improved support stiffness of the battery unit 100 and the motor 50. The vehicle body frame 5 includes the second brackets 47, which support a front end section of the drive unit 8 and the third mounting section 103a of the battery unit 100. This configuration simplifies the structure for supporting the battery unit 100 and the drive unit 8 and improves the stiffness near the second brackets 47 in the vehicle body frame 5. The battery unit 100 overlaps the drive unit 8 longitudinally and vertically. This configuration allows the battery unit 100 to be enlarged by utilizing the space around the drive unit 8. This increases the battery capacity. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above with reference to the drawings, so that various modifications within the technical scope are conceivable. For example, the configuration of the present embodiment can be applied to a saddle-type electric vehicle that is not a two-wheeler. A saddle-type electric vehicle includes all types of vehicles on which a rider sits astride the vehicle body to drive the vehicle, and includes not only motorcycles (including motorized bicycles and scooters) but also three-wheeled vehicles (including a vehicle with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as a vehicle with two front wheels and one rear wheel) or four-wheeled vehicles (such as four-wheeled buggies). In the foregoing embodiment, a configuration has been illustrated in which the rear damper 32 is provided as a non-paired component on the inside in the vehicle width direction, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, another configuration can also be used, such as a configuration in which a pair of left and right rear dampers 32 are provided between a rear section of the pivot arm 30 and the seat frame. In the embodiment above, the first extension elements 22a are arranged such that they overlap the main section 101 of the battery unit 100 in the longitudinal direction, although the present invention is not limited to this configuration. It is important for the first extension elements that they are arranged behind the main section 101, which is why the first extension elements can therefore be offset relative to the main section 101 in the vehicle width direction. In the embodiment above, the first extension elements 22a are arranged such that they overlap the rearward-extending section 102 of the battery unit 100 in the top-bottom direction, although the present invention is not limited to this configuration.The first extension elements must be arranged below the rear extension section 102, so that the first extension elements can be offset in the vehicle width direction relative to the rear extension section 102. In the embodiment above, the battery unit 100 comprises the main section 101, the rearward-extending section 102, and the downward-extending section 103, although the shape of the battery unit is not particularly restricted. It is necessary for the battery unit to extend longitudinally over the rear damper, which is why, for example, the downward-extending section 103 may not be provided, or the main section may extend longitudinally over the rear damper. In the embodiment described above, all battery modules 108 contained in the battery unit 100 have the same configuration, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. That is to say, the battery unit can have several types of battery modules with different configurations. Furthermore, a component of the embodiment described above can be replaced by a known component without deviating from the essence of the present invention. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The saddle-type electric vehicle described above makes it possible to carry a large-capacity battery with high rigidity. REFERENCE MARK LIST 2 Front wheel 3 Rear wheel (drive wheel) 5 Vehicle body frame 9 Seat 16 Head tube 17 Main frame 18 Swivel frame 19 Lower frame 22 Transverse frame (cross member) 22a First extension element (support element) 22b Second extension element 30 Swing arm 32 Rear shock absorber 33 Swivel shaft 50 Engine 61 Rear shock absorber support section 62 Battery mounting section 63 Engine mounting section 100 Battery unit (battery) 101 Main section 102 Rearward extending section 103 Downward extending section 108 Battery module 109 Battery cell QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION 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 JP 6002233

[0003]

Claims

An electric vehicle of the saddle type, comprising: a motor (50) that drives a drive wheel (3); a battery (100) that stores electrical energy for driving the motor (50); a vehicle body frame (5) that supports the battery (100); a pivoting arm (30) that supports a rear wheel (3) and is pivotably connected to the vehicle body frame (5);and a rear damper (32) with a first end section connected to the vehicle body frame (5) and a second end section connected to the swing arm (30), wherein the battery (100) extends longitudinally over and above the rear damper (32), and a rear damper support section (61) and a battery mounting section (62) are formed on a common support element (22a), wherein the rear damper support section (61) is connected to the rear damper (32), the battery (100) is attached to the battery mounting section (62), and the common support element (22a) is positioned in front of a rear end of the battery (100) and is connected to the vehicle body frame (5). The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to claim 1, wherein the battery (100) comprises: a main section (101) forming a front part of the battery (100), and a rearward extending section (102) extending from the main section (101) to the rear and having a shorter length in the top-bottom direction than the main section (101), and the rear damper support section (61) being arranged at a position behind the main section (101) and below the rearward extending section (102). The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to claim 2, wherein the battery (100) comprises battery cells (109), and the rearward extending section (102) has fewer battery cells (109) than the main section (101). The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to claim 3, wherein the battery cells (109) contained in the rearward extending section (102) are combined to form a battery module (108), and the battery module (108) of the rearward extending section (102) is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the battery module (108) is aligned in a side view in the front-back direction. The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising: a seat (9) arranged above the rearward extending section (102) on which a driver sits, wherein the rearward extending section (102) has an upper end arranged at a position lower than an upper end of the main section (101). The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the vehicle body frame (5) comprises: a head tube (16) into which a steering shaft, which steers and supports a front wheel (2), is rotatably inserted; a pair of main frames (17) whose front end is connected to the head tube (16), which branch out to the left and right from the front end and extend rearward in an external space in the vehicle width direction of the battery (100); and a pair of pivot frames (18) which are connected to the rear ends of the pair of main frames (17) and are provided with a pivot shaft (33), wherein the pivot shaft (33) forms a bridge over the pivot frames (18) to pivotally mount the pivot arm (30); connecting sections connecting the pair of main frames (17) and the pair of pivot frames (18) are positioned behind the main section (101) and below the rearward-extending section (102). are,and the pair of pivot frames (18) has a minimum width that is smaller than the maximum width of the pair of main frames (17). The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the battery (100) has a downwardly extending section (103) which extends downwards from the main section (101) and has a shorter length in the longitudinal direction from front to rear than the main section (101). The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to claim 7, wherein the battery (100) comprises battery cells (109), and the downwardly extending section (103) has fewer battery cells (109) than the main section (101). The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the battery cells (109) contained in the downwardly extending section (103) are combined to form a battery module (108), and the battery module (108) of the downwardly extending section (103) is arranged such that the longitudinal direction of the battery module (108) is aligned in a side view in the top-bottom direction. The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the vehicle body frame (5) comprises: a head tube (16) into which a steering shaft which steers and carries a front wheel (2) is rotatably inserted, and a lower frame (19) which extends from the head tube (16) rearward and downward in a space in front of the battery (100), and a front end of the downwardly extending section (103) is positioned behind a front end of the main section (101). The electric vehicle of the saddle type according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the motor (50) is arranged below the battery (100), and the vehicle body frame (5) comprises: a transverse frame (22) connecting the pair of main frames (17) or the pair of pivot frames (18) and provided behind the main section (101) and below the rearwardly extending section (102); the support element (22a) extending and projecting from the transverse frame (22) and on which the rear damper support section (61) and the battery mounting section (62) are formed; and a second extension element (22b) extending and projecting in a direction different from the direction of the support element (22a) from a region of the transverse frame (22) to which the support element (22a) is connected, in the vehicle width direction, wherein a motor mounting section (63) is formed on the second extension element (22b).to which the motor (50) is to be attached.

Images