Electric work vehicle

Abstract

To provide an electric work vehicle such as an electric tractor.SOLUTION: An electric work vehicle includes a power distribution unit (PDU), a plurality of battery strings, and a battery housing storing the plurality of battery strings. Each of the plurality of battery strings has a plurality of battery modules connected in series, the power distribution unit has a first PDU housing storing a positive electrode rail, and a second PDU housing storing a negative electrode rail, the first PDU housing and the second PDU housing are separated from one another, and are arranged so as to be separated from the battery housing, the first PDU housing is arranged on a first side with respect to a central line of the electric work vehicle extending in the front and rear direction of the electric work vehicle, and the second PDU housing is arranged on a second side facing the first side with respect to the central line of the electric work vehicle extending in the front and rear directions of the electric work vehicle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 31

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric work vehicle such as an electric tractor. [Background technology]

[0002] Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more prevalent as the industry transitions from internal combustion engines to fully electric motors powered by battery systems. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an electric work vehicle, such as an electric tractor.

[0004] A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides an electric work vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An electric work vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a power distribution unit (PDU), a plurality of battery strings, and a battery housing that houses the plurality of battery strings, each of the plurality of battery strings having a plurality of battery modules connected in series, the power distribution unit having a first PDU housing that houses a positive rail and a second PDU housing that houses a negative rail, the first PDU housing and the second PDU housing being separated and disposed apart from the battery housing, and the first PDU housing being a front PDU housing extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the electric work vehicle. The positive rail includes a first contactor connected to the plurality of battery strings, the negative rail includes a plurality of second contactors connected to the plurality of battery strings, the plurality of first contactors includes a plurality of contactors equal to the number of the plurality of battery strings, and the plurality of second contactors includes a plurality of contactors equal to the number of the plurality of battery strings.

[0006] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first PDU housing is arranged on a first side relative to a steering column of the electric work vehicle in the left-right direction of the electric work vehicle, and the second PDU housing is arranged on a second side opposite the first side relative to the steering column of the electric work vehicle in the left-right direction of the electric work vehicle.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one first evaporator is disposed between the first PDU housing and the second PDU housing.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first end of the plurality of battery strings is connected to the positive rail and a second end of the plurality of battery strings is connected to the negative rail.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first PDU housing is disposed spaced apart from the second PDU housing in the left-right direction of the electric work vehicle.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of battery strings includes a first battery string and a second battery string, the first battery string including a first plurality of battery modules connected in series, and the second battery string including a second plurality of battery modules connected in series. a battery module, the first battery string connected to a first one of the first plurality of contactors in the positive rail, the second battery string connected to a second one of the first plurality of contactors in the positive rail, the first battery string connected to a first one of the second plurality of contactors in the negative rail, and the second battery string connected to a second one of the second plurality of contactors in the negative rail.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first battery string and the second battery string are stacked in layers relative to each other in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of battery strings includes a first battery string and a second battery string, the first battery string including a first plurality of battery modules connected in series, the second battery string including a second plurality of battery modules connected in series, a first end of the first battery string connected to the positive rail, a second end of the first battery string connected to the negative rail, a first end of the second battery string connected to the positive rail, and a second end of the second battery string connected to the negative rail.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first battery string and the second battery string are stacked in layers relative to each other in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first plurality of battery modules includes a first battery module group and a second battery module group arranged at a distance from the first battery module group, and the second plurality of battery modules includes a third battery module group and a fourth battery module group arranged at a distance from the third battery module group.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the battery housing includes a first battery accommodating section and a second battery accommodating section, the first battery module group and the third battery module group are accommodated in the first battery accommodating section, and the second battery module group and the fourth battery module group are accommodated in the second battery accommodating section.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first battery module group is arranged above the third battery module group in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle, and the second battery module group is arranged above the fourth battery module group in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first battery housing portion is disposed adjacent to the second battery housing portion in the left-right direction of the electric work vehicle.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multiple battery strings include a third battery string, the third battery string including a multiple number of third battery modules connected in series, a first end of the third battery string connected to the positive electrode rail and a second end of the third battery string connected to the negative electrode rail, and the first battery string, the second battery string, and the third battery string are layered relative to each other in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the plurality of battery strings includes a service plug, and the service plugs are disposed spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction of the electric work vehicle.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the first plurality of battery modules and at least a portion of the second plurality of battery modules include battery terminals, the battery terminals facing in the same direction as an opening of the service plug.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the service plug is disposed adjacent to one of the first PDU housing and the second PDU housing.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first PDU housing is positioned rearward of at least a portion of the battery housing in the fore-and-aft direction of the electric work vehicle, and the second PDU housing is positioned rearward of at least a portion of the battery housing in the fore-and-aft direction of the electric work vehicle.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first PDU housing is positioned above at least a portion of the battery housing in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle, and the second PDU housing is positioned above at least a portion of the battery housing in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an electric work vehicle.

[0025] The above and other features, elements, steps, configurations, characteristics, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1A] 1 is a perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the left front. [Figure 1B] 1 is a perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the right front. [Figure 1C]1 is a perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the left rear. [Figure 1D] 1 is a perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the right rear. [Figure 1E] 1 is a front view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 1F] 1 is a right side view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1G] 1 is a left side view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 1H] 1 is a plan view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 1I] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1J] 1 is a bottom view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with certain components removed for illustrative purposes; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the intermediate frame, battery housing, front frame, and rear frame of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] 1 is a rear perspective view of a battery housing and a front frame of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a battery housing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a left side view of a battery housing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5B] FIG. 2 is a right side view of a battery housing according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the flow of refrigerant through a portion of an air cooling system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 1 is a front perspective view of components included in an air cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 8] 1 is a left side view of components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 9] 1 is a right side view of components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 10] 1 is a front view of components included in an air cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is a front perspective view of components included in an air cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 12] 1 is a front perspective view of components included in an air cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 13] 1 is a rear perspective view of components included in an air cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 14] 1 is a rear perspective view of components included in an air cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 15] 1 is a left side view of components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 16] 1 is a right side view of components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view along plane P17 of FIG. 16, showing components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] 1 is a left side view of components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 19] 1 is a right side view of components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 20] 1 is a perspective view of components included in an air-cooling system included in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the right side. FIG. [Figure 21]FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane P21 of FIG. 16, showing components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 17 is a perspective cross-sectional view along plane P22 of FIG. 16, showing components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane P23 of FIG. 16, showing components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24A] 1 is a left side view of components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 24B] 1 is a right side view of components included in an air-cooling system provided in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 25] 1 is a bottom perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 26] 1 is a bottom perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 27] 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 28] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along plane P28 in FIG. 21. [Figure 29A] 1 is a schematic left side view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 29B] 1 is a schematic right side view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 30] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram including multiple battery strings housed in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 31] 1 is a perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the right rear. [Diagram 32] 1 is a perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the left rear. [Figure 33A]1 is a perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the left front. [Figure 33B] 1 is a view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the left side. [Figure 34A] 1 is a perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the right front. [Figure 34B] 1 is a view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention as seen from the right side. [Diagram 35] 1 is a circuit diagram including signal lines arranged in an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 36] 1 is a perspective view of an electric vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, seen from the left front. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The electric work vehicle according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention may be a tractor or other agricultural vehicle, although any suitable type of electric vehicle is applicable and may be used with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] 1A-1I show an electric vehicle 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of the vehicle 1 as seen from the front left and front right, respectively. FIG. 1C is an isometric view of the vehicle 1 as seen from the rear left. FIG. 1D is an isometric view of the vehicle 1 as seen from the rear right. FIG. 1E is a front view of the vehicle 1. FIGS. 1F and 1G are side views of the vehicle 1. FIGS. 1H and 1I are plan and bottom views of the vehicle 1, respectively.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in, for example, FIG. 1A-FIG. 1H, a vehicle 1 includes a left front wheel 2L, a right front wheel 2R, a left rear wheel 4L, and a right rear wheel 4R. However, a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is not particularly limited to four wheels, and may include any suitable number of wheels. For example, a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment may include only three wheels by removing one of the four wheels described above, include a fifth wheel (e.g., an additional wheel aligned with one of the four wheels, or a wheel provided at the front or rear of the vehicle), include a pair of central wheels, and thus include six wheels in total. In another preferred embodiment, tracks (endless tracks) may be used instead of the wheels.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle 1 includes an intermediate frame 6, a battery housing 8 attached to the front of the intermediate frame 6, a front frame 10 attached to the battery housing 8, and a rear frame 12 attached to the rear of the intermediate frame 6, as shown in Fig. 2 for example. In a preferred embodiment, a front axle 3 connected to a left front wheel 2L and a right front wheel 2R is connected to and supported by the front frame 10, and a rear axle 5 connected to a left rear wheel 4L and a right rear wheel 4R is connected to and supported by the rear frame 12, as shown in Fig. 1I for example.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front axle 3 includes a front axle housing 3L and a right axle housing 3R, as shown in, for example, Fig. 1I. The front axle housing 3L accommodates a first electric motor 14 (left front wheel electric motor) connected to a first gear train 15 to drive the left front wheel 2L, and the right axle housing 3R accommodates a second electric motor 16 (right front wheel electric motor) connected to a second gear train 17 to drive the right front wheel 2R. For example, in Fig. 1J, the first electric motor 14, the second electric motor 16, the first gear train 15, and the second gear train 17 are shown with the front axle housing 3L and the right axle housing 3R removed for the sake of explanation.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rear frame 12 includes a first motor housing 12-1 for housing a third electric motor 18 (left rear wheel electric motor) connected to a third gear set 19 to drive the left rear wheel 4L, and a second motor housing 12-2 for housing a fourth electric motor 20 (right rear wheel electric motor) connected to a fourth gear set 21 to drive the right rear wheel 4R. Preferably, the rear frame 12 also includes a third motor housing 12-3 for housing a fifth electric motor 22 connected to a fifth gear set 23 to drive a first electric vehicle component (e.g., a power take-off (PTO)), and a fourth motor housing 12-4 for housing a sixth electric motor 24 connected to a sixth gear set 25 to drive a second electric vehicle component (e.g., a hydraulic device), as shown in, for example, FIG. 1J and FIG. 2. For example, in FIG. 1J, the third electric motor 18, the fourth electric motor 20, the fifth electric motor 22, and the sixth electric motor 24 are shown, but for purposes of illustration, components including the rear frame 12 have been removed. In the bottom view of FIG. 1J, the sixth electric motor 24 is the third electric motor. It overlaps with data 18.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the battery housing 8 includes a first battery housing portion 26, a second battery housing portion 28, a third battery housing portion 30, a fourth battery housing portion 32, and a fifth battery housing portion 34, each of which is shown in dashed lines in Figure 3. In a preferred embodiment, the first battery housing portion 26 may correspond to the right rear battery housing portion, the second battery housing portion 28 may correspond to the left rear battery housing portion, the third battery housing portion 30 may correspond to the left front battery housing portion, the fourth battery housing portion 32 may correspond to the right front battery housing portion, and the fifth battery housing portion 34 may correspond to the bottom front battery housing portion.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the first battery accommodating section 26 and the second battery accommodating section 28 are adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction, and the third battery accommodating section 30 and the fourth battery accommodating section 32 are adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction. In a preferred embodiment, the widths of the first battery accommodating section 26, the second battery accommodating section 28, the third battery accommodating section 30, the fourth battery accommodating section 32 and the fifth battery accommodating section 34 in the vehicle width direction are equal or substantially equal. Figures 4, 5A, and 5B show the battery accommodating section 8 with the battery accommodating section cover removed for the purpose of illustration.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, the first battery accommodating section 26 and the second battery accommodating section 28 are included in the first battery accommodating section 8-1 (rear battery accommodating section), the third battery accommodating section 30 and the fourth battery accommodating section 32 are included in the second battery accommodating section 8-2 (front upper battery accommodating section), and the fifth battery accommodating section 34 is included in the third battery accommodating section 8-3 (front lower battery accommodating section). The first battery accommodating section 26 and the second battery accommodating section 28 of the first battery accommodating section 8-1 are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle, and the third battery accommodating section 30 and the fourth battery accommodating section 32 of the second battery accommodating section 8-2 are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the width of the first battery accommodating section 8-1 in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle is equal to or substantially equal to the width of the second battery accommodating section 8-2 in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle, and the width of the third battery accommodating section 8-3 is smaller than the width of the first battery accommodating section 8-1 and the width of the second battery accommodating section 8-2. Preferably, the rear surface of the third battery-housing section 8-3 is spaced apart from the front surface of the first battery-housing section 8-1. In a preferred embodiment, the rear surface of the second battery-housing section 8-2 intersects with a middle portion of the first battery-housing section 8-1 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, e.g., in plan and side views.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second battery accommodating section 8-2 includes a gap 90 disposed between the third battery accommodating section 30 and the fourth battery accommodating section 32 in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle, as shown in Fig. 17 for example. The gap 90 overlaps with the first battery accommodating section 8-1 and the third battery accommodating section 8-3 in a plan view, and is disposed along the center line CL of the electric vehicle that extends in the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle.

[0037] As shown in Figures 4, 5A and 5B, each of the first battery housing section 26, the second battery housing section 28, the third battery housing section 30, the fourth battery housing section 32 and the fifth battery housing section 34 includes a plurality of battery module housing compartments, each of which is capable of receiving and housing a battery module. In a preferred embodiment, each of the third battery housing section 30 and the fourth battery housing section 32 includes a greater number of battery module housing compartments than each of the first battery housing section 26 and the second battery housing section 28. Preferably, the fifth battery housing section 34 includes fewer battery module housing compartments than each of the first battery housing section 26 and the second battery housing section 28.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in, for example, Figures 29A and 29B, the electric work vehicle 1 includes a first battery accommodating section 26 accommodating a first plurality of battery modules 261, a second battery accommodating section 28 accommodating a second plurality of battery modules 281, a third battery accommodating section 30 accommodating a plurality of third battery modules 301, a fourth battery accommodating section 32 accommodating a plurality of fourth battery modules 321, and a fifth battery accommodating section 34 accommodating a plurality of fifth battery modules 341. In a preferred embodiment, the first battery housing 26, the second battery housing 28, the third battery housing 30, the fourth battery housing 32, and the fifth battery housing 34 may be supported by the front frame 10. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, certain structural features have been removed for illustrative purposes. In FIGS. 5A and 5B, in which certain structural features have been removed for illustrative purposes, the first battery housing 26 may include a plurality of openings 262 each connected to a plurality of battery module housing compartments that receive individual first battery modules of the first plurality of battery modules 261, and the second battery housing 28 may include a plurality of openings 282 each connected to a plurality of battery module housing compartments that receive individual second battery modules of the second plurality of battery modules 281. Also, in Figures 5A and 5B, the third battery accommodating section 30 may include a plurality of openings 302 each connected to a plurality of battery module accommodating compartments that receive individual third battery modules of the plurality of third battery modules 301, the fourth battery accommodating section 32 may include a plurality of openings 322 each connected to a plurality of battery module accommodating compartments that receive individual battery modules of the plurality of fourth battery modules 321, and the fifth battery accommodating section 34 may include a plurality of openings 342 each connected to a plurality of battery module accommodating compartments that receive individual battery modules of the plurality of fifth battery modules 341.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, each of the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341 may be arranged in rows and columns. As an example, the first battery module 261 may include three columns and four rows of first battery modules 261 such that twelve first battery modules 261 are accommodated in the first battery accommodating portion 26, and the second battery module 281 may include three columns and four rows of second battery modules 281 such that twelve second battery modules 281 are accommodated in the second battery accommodating portion 28. In a preferred embodiment, the third battery module 301 may include two third battery modules 301 in one row (e.g., the bottom row), six third battery modules 301 in two rows (e.g., two middle rows), and five third battery modules 301 in one row (e.g., the top row) so that nineteen third battery modules 301 are accommodated in the third battery accommodating section 30. Similarly, in a preferred embodiment, the fourth battery module 321 may include two fourth battery modules 321 in one row (e.g., the bottom row), six fourth battery modules 321 in two rows (e.g., two middle rows), and five fourth battery modules 321 in one row (e.g., the top row) so that nineteen fourth battery modules 321 are accommodated in the fourth battery accommodating section 32. In a preferred embodiment, the fifth battery module 341 may include three fifth battery modules 341 in one row (e.g., the bottom row) and four fifth battery modules 341 in one row (e.g., the top row) so that seven fifth battery modules 341 can be accommodated in the fifth battery accommodating section 34.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the plurality of openings 262 of the first battery housing section 26, the plurality of openings 282 of the second battery housing section 28, the plurality of openings 302 of the third battery housing section 30, the plurality of openings 322 of the fourth battery housing section 32, and the plurality of openings 342 of the fifth battery housing section 34 face in the width direction / side (left-right direction) of the electric vehicle 1. The first plurality of battery modules 261 are aligned or substantially aligned in rows and columns both in the vertical direction of the vehicle and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, thereby realizing compact storage of the first plurality of battery modules 261 and reducing the space required by the first battery housing section 26. Similarly, the second plurality of battery modules 281, the plurality of third battery modules 301, the plurality of fourth battery modules 321, and the plurality of fifth battery modules 341 are aligned or substantially aligned in rows and columns in both the vertical direction of the vehicle and the longitudinal direction of the vehicle to achieve compact storage of the battery modules and reduce the space required by each of the second battery housing section 28, the third battery housing section 30, the fourth battery housing section 32, and the fifth battery housing section 34. In a preferred embodiment, the first plurality of battery modules 261, the The terminal ends TE of each of the plurality of battery modules 281, the plurality of third battery modules 301, the plurality of fourth battery modules 321, and the plurality of fifth battery modules 341 can face in the width direction / side (left-right direction) of the vehicle 1 when accommodated in the first battery accommodating section 26, the second battery accommodating section 28, the third battery accommodating section 30, the fourth battery accommodating section 32, and the fifth battery accommodating section 34, respectively, as shown in Figures 17 and 23, for example.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the third battery accommodating section 8-3 is attached to the bottom surface of the second battery accommodating section 8-2, and the second battery accommodating section 8-2 and the third battery accommodating section 8-3 can be arranged in a "T" shape, for example, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In other words, the second battery accommodating section 8-2 has a width greater than the width of the third battery accommodating section 8-3 in the vehicle width / vehicle left-right direction, and the second battery accommodating section 8-2 extends beyond the third battery accommodating section 8-3 in the vehicle width / vehicle left-right direction. In addition, the structure in which the second battery accommodating section 8-2 protrudes / extends in the vehicle width direction beyond the third battery accommodating section 8-3 ensures space for the left front wheel 2L and the right front wheel 2R to operate and turn. Figs. 4, 5A, and 5B are perspective and side views of the battery housing 8 with the battery modules removed for ease of understanding.

[0042] 2 and 26, the battery housing 8 preferably includes a first side cover 8L (left side cover) covering a part of the first side of the battery housing 8, a second side cover 8R (right side cover) covering a part of the second side of the battery housing 8, a third side cover 8FL (left front side cover) covering the first side of the fifth battery accommodating section 34, a fourth side cover 8FR (right front side cover) covering the second side of the fifth battery accommodating section 34, a front top cover 8FU covering the front top of the battery housing 8, an upper rear cover 8RR covering the upper rear of the battery housing 8, and a rear top cover 8RU covering the rear top of the battery housing 8. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, each of the first battery accommodating section 26, the second battery accommodating section 28, the third battery accommodating section 30, the fourth battery accommodating section 32, and the fifth battery accommodating section 34 includes a partition wall 36 that defines a vertical row in which the battery modules are arranged, and an attachment bar 38 that supports the battery modules.

[0043] 2 and 4, the battery housing 8 includes a first front surface 9A and a second front surface 9B, and the second front surface 9B is positioned rearward and upwardly from the first front surface 9A to form a recess / step portion 9C between the first front surface 9A and the second front surface 9B. For example, the first front surface 9A covers a first front portion of the third battery accommodating portion 30 and a first front portion of the fourth battery accommodating portion 32, and the second front surface 9B covers a second front portion of the third battery accommodating portion 30 and a second front portion of the fourth battery accommodating portion 32.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, for example, the fifth battery accommodating section 34 includes a first rear surface 34A and a second rear surface 34B, and the second rear surface 34B is positioned forward and downwardly shifted from the first rear surface 34A to form a recess / step portion 34C between the first rear surface 34A and the second rear surface 34B.

[0045] In a preferred embodiment, the battery housing 8 also includes a third front surface 9D, which is offset rearward and downward from the first front surface 9A to form a recess / step 9E between the first front surface 9A and the third front surface 9C, as shown in, for example, Figures 4 and 25. For example, the third front surface 9D covers a third front portion of the third battery receiving portion 30 and a third front portion of the fourth battery receiving portion 32.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341 are lithium titanium oxide (LTO) battery modules. The battery modules including the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341 can be sealed in corresponding battery housings (the first battery housing section 26, the second battery housing section 28, the third battery housing section 30, the fourth battery housing section 32, and the fifth battery housing section 34), and each of the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341 can be removed and replaced in the event of a malfunction.

[0047] As another example, the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341 may be, for example, a lithium ferrous phosphate (LFP) battery module or a nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery module. The LFP battery module or the NMC battery module can be provided as a battery module that is smaller and lighter than, for example, an LTO battery module.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, communication between the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341 may be achieved by a battery management unit (BMU) 136 or the like via a controller area network (CAN) bus. One or more battery management units (BMUs) may be provided in one or more of the first battery housing 26, the second battery housing 28, the third battery housing 30, the fourth battery housing 32, and the fifth battery housing 34, or may be provided at another location on the electric vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 may also include a battery management system (BMS) that aggregates information from each battery housing. The battery management system (BMS) may be implemented by a supervisory control unit (SCU) that may be connected to a power distribution unit (PDU). The battery management system (BMS) can control charging and discharging of the battery modules, and preferably maintains each of the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341 at a charged state of, for example, about 20% to about 80%, thereby reducing deterioration of the battery modules. The charged state can be maintained at the cell level, the battery module level, and the battery housing section level within each battery module.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electric vehicle 1 includes an air-cooling system configured to cool the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the flow of refrigerant through a portion of the air-cooling system. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating the flow of refrigerant through the AC compressor 40, the condenser 42, the dryer 44, the first expansion valve 46, the first evaporator / coil 48, the second expansion valve 50, the second evaporator / coil 52, the third expansion valve 54, the third evaporator / coil 56, the fourth expansion valve 58, the fourth evaporator / coil 60, the fifth expansion valve 62, the fifth evaporator / coil 64, the sixth expansion valve 66, and the sixth evaporator / coil 68. In a preferred embodiment, the AC compressor 40 may include an integrated motor / compressor powered by one or more of the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341. The AC compressor 40 is operable to increase the pressure of the refrigerant R and send the high temperature, high pressure refrigerant R (gas) to the condenser 42. The condenser 42 lowers the temperature of the refrigerant R but maintains the refrigerant R at a high pressure. The reduced pressure, high temperature, high pressure refrigerant R (liquid) is sent from the condenser 42 to the dryer 44 where water / humidity is removed from the refrigerant R before the refrigerant R (liquid) is sent to the first expansion valve 46, the second expansion valve 50, the third expansion valve 54, the fourth expansion valve 58, the fifth expansion valve 62, and the sixth expansion valve 64, respectively. A first expansion valve 46, a second expansion valve 50, a third expansion valve 54, a fourth expansion valve 58, a fifth expansion valve 62 and a sixth expansion valve The valve 64 reduces the pressure of the refrigerant R, thereby reducing the temperature of the refrigerant R. The refrigerant R (liquid) from the first expansion valve 46 is sent to the first evaporator coil 48 to cool the first evaporator coil 48, the refrigerant R (liquid) from the second expansion valve 50 is sent to the second evaporator coil 52 to cool the second evaporator coil 52, the refrigerant R (liquid) from the third expansion valve 54 is sent to the third evaporator coil 56 to cool the third evaporator coil 56, the refrigerant R (liquid) from the fourth expansion valve 58 is sent to the fourth evaporator coil 60 to cool the fourth evaporator coil 60, the refrigerant R (liquid) from the fifth expansion valve 62 is sent to the fifth evaporator coil 64 to cool the fifth evaporator coil 64, and the refrigerant R (liquid) from the sixth expansion valve 66 is sent to the sixth evaporator coil 68 to cool the sixth evaporator coil 68. After the refrigerant R passes through the first evaporator coil 48, the second evaporator coil 52, the third evaporator coil 56, the fourth evaporator coil 60, the fifth evaporator coil 64, and the sixth evaporator coil 68, the low temperature, low pressure refrigerant R (gas) is sent back to the compressor 40.

[0050] For example, as shown in Figs. 7 to 10 with certain structural parts removed for illustration, in a preferred embodiment, the AC compressor 40 is disposed forward of the front axle 3 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle 1. The AC compressor 40 can be supported by the front axle 3 and / or the front frame 10 supported by the battery housing 8. For example, the AC compressor 40 can be attached to the front frame 10 and disposed between the side walls of the front frame 10 in the transverse direction of the electric vehicle, as shown in Fig. 11, for example. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the AC compressor 40 is disposed forward of the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the AC compressor 40 can be disposed on a first side (e.g., left side) with respect to a center line CL extending in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, as shown in Fig. 10, for example.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment, the condenser 42 can be attached to the first front surface 9A, as shown in, for example, FIG. 11. The condenser 42 can be disposed above the AC compressor 40 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle 1, and the fluid communication between the AC compressor 40 and the condenser 42 can extend in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle 1. In a preferred embodiment, a majority of the condenser 42 can be disposed on a first side (e.g., left side) with respect to a center line CL of the electric vehicle, as shown in, for example, FIG. 10. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion of the condenser 42 is disposed between the AC compressor 40 and the first evaporator 48 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, as shown in, for example, FIG. 7.

[0052] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dryer 44 can be disposed on a first side (e.g., right side) of the condenser 42 in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle 1, and the dryer 44 is in fluid communication with the condenser 42. In a preferred embodiment, the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 are disposed rearward of the dryer 44 in the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the dryer 44 is disposed on the opposite side (e.g., right side) of the center line CL from the side (e.g., left side) on which most of the condenser 42 is disposed, as shown in FIG. 10 for example.

[0053] For example, as shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the first evaporator coil 48 and the second evaporator coil 52 are disposed forward of the front axle 3 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle 1. In a preferred embodiment, the first evaporator coil 48 and the second evaporator coil 52 are disposed in the recessed / stepped portion 9C in front of the second front surface 9B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The third evaporator coil 56 and the fourth evaporator coil 60 are disposed between the front axle 3 and the rear axle 5 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle 1. The fifth evaporator coil 64 and the sixth evaporator coil 68 are disposed between the front axle 3 and the rear axle 5 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle 1, and forward of the third evaporator coil 56 and the fourth evaporator coil 60 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle 1.

[0054] For example, as shown in Figures 11-16, with certain structural components removed for illustrative purposes, In a preferred embodiment, the air cooling system includes a first duct 70 (e.g., front left duct), a second duct 72 (e.g., front right duct), a third duct 74 (e.g., rear left duct), a fourth duct 76 (e.g., rear right duct), a fifth duct 78 (e.g., left middle duct), a sixth duct 80 (e.g., right middle duct), a seventh duct 82 (e.g., front left duct), and an eighth duct 84 (e.g., front right duct).

[0055] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first duct 70 (e.g., front left duct) is connected to the front surface of the third battery accommodating section 30, the second duct 72 (e.g., front right duct) is connected to the front surface of the fourth battery accommodating section 32, the third duct 74 (e.g., rear left duct) is connected to the left side surface of the third battery accommodating section 30, and the fourth duct 76 (e.g., rear right duct) is connected to the right side surface of the fourth battery accommodating section 32. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fifth duct 78 (e.g., left middle duct) is connected to the bottom surface of the third battery accommodating section 30, the sixth duct 80 (e.g., right middle duct) is connected to the bottom surface of the fourth battery accommodating section 32, the seventh duct 82 (e.g., front left duct) is connected to the bottom surface and rear surface of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 on the left side of the electric vehicle, and the eighth duct 84 (e.g., front right duct) is connected to the bottom surface and rear surface of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 on the right side of the electric vehicle.

[0056] Next, the flow of air through the air-cooling system according to a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In a preferred embodiment, the side duct (horizontal duct) 86 and the side blower (horizontal blower) 88 are attached to each of the battery module housing compartments included in the first battery housing section 26, the second battery housing section 28, the third battery housing section 30, the fourth battery housing section 32, and the fifth battery housing section 34, as shown in, for example, Figs. 11 to 14. In a preferred embodiment, each of the side blowers 88 includes a blower motor and a fan. In a preferred embodiment, each of the side ducts 86 includes a first end 86-1 connected to the corresponding battery module housing compartment, and a second end 86-2 opposite to the first end 86-1 and connected to the side blower 88. Each of the side blowers 88 includes a first end 88-1 attached to the second end of the side duct 86 and a second end 88-2 opposite the first end 88-1, which is a free end from which air is directed out of the side blower 88. In other words, in a preferred embodiment, the side blowers 88 direct air in a direction from the first end 88-1 of the side blower 88 towards the second end 88-2 of the side blower 88.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the side ducts 86 may have a different size and / or shape from another one of the side ducts 86. For example, in the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 24A and Fig. 24B, a side duct 86A attached to a specific row (e.g., an upper row) of the battery module housing compartments of a specific battery housing part may be shorter (e.g., in length in the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle) than a side duct 86B attached to another row of the battery module housing compartments of the specific battery housing part. For example, as shown in Fig. 24A, a side duct 86A attached to the top row of the battery module housing compartments of the third battery housing part 30 may be shorter in length in the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle than a side duct 86B attached to another row (e.g., a lower row) of the battery module housing compartments of the third battery housing part 30. In other words, one of the multiple side ducts 86A attached to the first row of the battery module accommodating compartments may have a different size and / or shape from another one of the multiple ducts 86B attached to the second row of the battery module accommodating compartments arranged away from the first row of the battery module accommodating compartments in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the side duct 86A is made shorter in length than the side duct 86B attached to the other row, thereby creating a space in which electronic components such as a controller 89-3, which will be described in more detail below, can be arranged. For example, as shown in FIG. 24A, the controller 89-3 may be attached to the topmost stage of the battery module accommodating compartments of the third battery accommodating section 30 and disposed adjacent to the side duct 86A. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 24A, the side duct 86C attached to the topmost stage of the battery module accommodating compartments of the second battery accommodating section 28 may be attached to the other row (e.g., a lower row) of the battery module accommodating compartments of the second battery accommodating section 28. The side duct 86C may have a shorter length in the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle than the side duct 86D attached to the first row of the battery module accommodating compartments. In other words, one of the side ducts 86C attached to the first row of the battery module accommodating compartments may have a different size and / or shape from another one of the side ducts 86D attached to the second row of the battery module accommodating compartments spaced apart from the first row of the battery module accommodating compartments in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the side duct 86C may have a shorter length than the side duct 86D attached to the other row, thereby creating a space in which electronic components such as the controller 89-2, which will be described in more detail below, can be placed. For example, as shown in FIG. 24A, the controller 89-2 may be attached to the top row of the battery module accommodating compartments of the second battery accommodating section 28.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment, one or more of the side ducts 86 (e.g., a first portion of the side duct 86 attached to one of the battery housings) includes a second end 86-2 facing a first direction (e.g., a forward direction), and one or more of the side ducts 86 (e.g., a second portion of the side duct 86 attached to one of the battery housings) includes a second end 86-2 facing a second direction (e.g., a rearward direction). For example, as shown in FIG. 15, one or more of the side ducts 86F attached to the third battery housing 30 includes a second end 86-2 facing a first direction (foreward), and one or more of the side ducts 86R attached to the same third battery housing 30 includes a second end 86-2 facing a second direction (e.g., a rearward direction).

[0059] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the side ducts 86 attached to a specific row of battery module accommodating compartments of a specific battery accommodating section may include a second end 86-2 facing in the same direction. For example, as shown in FIG. 24A, each of the side ducts 86 attached to the front row C1 of the battery module accommodating compartments of the third battery accommodating section 30 (the front row of two battery module accommodating compartments extending in the vertical direction) may include a second end 86-2 facing in the same direction (forward direction). Similarly, each of the side ducts 86 attached to the second front row C2 of the battery module accommodating compartments of the third battery accommodating section 30 (the second front row of three battery module accommodating compartments extending in the vertical direction) may include a second end 86-2 facing in the same direction (forward direction). Each of the side ducts 86 attached to the third front row C3 (of the three battery module accommodating compartments extending in the vertical direction in the third front row) of the battery module accommodating compartments of the third battery accommodating section 30 includes a second end 86-2 facing in the same direction (rear direction). For example, as shown in FIG. 15 , each of the side ducts 86 may include a second end 86-2 facing the third battery accommodating section 30. Similarly, each of the side ducts 86 attached to the other rows (rows of battery module accommodating compartments extending in the vertical direction) of the battery module accommodating compartments of the third battery accommodating section 30 may include a second end 86-2 facing in the same direction (rear direction).

[0060] In a preferred embodiment, for each of the first battery accommodating section 26, the second battery accommodating section 28, the third battery accommodating section 30, the fourth battery accommodating section 32 and the fifth battery accommodating section 34, as shown in a combination of Figures 15 to 17 and 23, for example, the side duct 86 and the side blower 88 are attached on the same side as the terminal ends TE of the multiple battery modules accommodated in the multiple battery module accommodating compartments of each battery accommodating section.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the side duct 86 and the side fan 88 connected to the battery module accommodating compartments of the first battery accommodating section 26 and the fourth battery accommodating section 32 are covered by the second side cover 8R (located inside the second side cover 8R), and the side duct 86 and the side fan 88 connected to the battery module accommodating compartments of the second battery accommodating section 28 and the third battery accommodating section 30 are covered by the first side cover 8L (located inside the first side cover 8L). The side duct 86 and the side fan 88 connected to the battery module accommodating compartment of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 are covered by the fourth side cover 8FR (located inside the fourth side cover 8FR), for example, as shown in FIG.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the space between the battery module-receiving compartment of the first battery housing portion 26 and the second side cover 8R may define a first chamber, the space between the battery module-receiving compartment of the second battery housing portion 28 and the first side cover 8L may define a second chamber, the space between the battery module-receiving compartment of the third battery housing portion 30 and the first side cover 8L may define a third chamber, the space between the battery module-receiving compartment of the fourth battery housing portion 32 and the second side cover 8R may define a fourth chamber, and the space between the battery module-receiving compartment of the fifth battery housing portion 34 and the fourth side cover 8FR may define a fifth chamber. As described in more detail below, each of the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth chambers may include one or more outlet openings in fluid communication with one or more evaporators.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, side ducts 86 and side blowers 88 attached to each of the battery module housing compartments included in the first battery housing section 26, the second battery housing section 28, the third battery housing section 30, the fourth battery housing section 32, and the fifth battery housing section 34 control and guide the flow of air through the air cooling system. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the electric vehicle includes, as shown in, for example, Figures 24A and 24B, a controller 89-1 configured or programmed to control the side fan 88 attached to the battery module housing compartment included in the first battery housing section 26, a controller 89-2 configured or programmed to control the side fan 88 attached to the battery module housing compartment included in the second battery housing section 28, a controller 89-3 configured or programmed to control the side fan 88 attached to the battery module housing compartment included in the third battery housing section 30, a controller 89-4 configured or programmed to control the side fan 88 attached to the battery module housing compartment included in the fourth battery housing section 32, and a controller 89-5 configured or programmed to control the side fan 88 attached to the battery module housing compartment included in the fifth battery housing section 34. For example, the controllers 89-1 to 89-5 can be configured or programmed to control the timing of starting and stopping the rotation of the motor and fan of the side fan 88 attached to each battery housing section. In a preferred embodiment, controllers 89-1-89-5 may be configured or programmed to independently control a group of side blowers 88 attached to each of the respective battery housing sections (e.g., independently control a motor included in a group of side blowers 88 attached to each of the respective battery housing sections) and / or to independently control an individual one of the plurality of side blowers 88. In a preferred embodiment, controllers 89-1-89-5 may be configured or programmed to control side blowers 88 based on, for example, the temperature of one or more battery modules of the plurality of battery modules and / or whether one or more battery modules of the plurality of battery modules are being charged.The electric vehicle 1 may include a controller that is configurable or programmable to perform the functions of the controllers 89-1 to 89-5.

[0064] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the first evaporator coil 48, the second evaporator coil 52, the third evaporator coil 56, the fourth evaporator coil 60, the fifth evaporator coil 64, and the sixth evaporator coil 68 cools air circulating through the air cooling system. For example, as described in more detail below, each of the first evaporator coil 48, the second evaporator coil 52, the third evaporator coil 56, the fourth evaporator coil 60, the fifth evaporator coil 64, and the sixth evaporator coil 68 includes a first side where warmed air enters the evaporator coil and a second side where cooler air exits the evaporator coil after passing through the evaporator coil.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, the cool air exiting the second side 48-2 of the first evaporator coil 48 and the cool air exiting the second side 52-2 of the second evaporator coil 52 are drawn / flowed into a gap 90 located between the third battery housing section 30 and the fourth battery housing section 32. The cool air drawn / flowed into the gap 90 flows vertically in the forward direction of the electric vehicle through the gap 90 and is discharged from the third battery housing section 30 to the fourth battery housing section 32. The air flows horizontally (in the width direction of the electric vehicle) across the third battery module 301 accommodated in the battery module accommodation compartment of the fourth battery accommodation section 32 and the fourth battery module 321 accommodated in the battery module accommodation compartment of the fourth battery accommodation section 32. For example, Fig. 17 is a plan view showing an example of the air flow passing through the third battery accommodation section 30 and the fourth battery accommodation section 32, where the hatched arrows indicate the flow of cool air CA (cool air) and the solid arrows indicate the flow of warm air WA (warm air). Fig. 18 is a left side view showing an example of the air flow passing through the third battery accommodation section 30, and Fig. 19 is a right side view showing an example of the air flow passing through the fourth battery accommodation section 32.

[0066] In a preferred embodiment, the side duct 86 and side blower 88 attached to the third battery accommodating section 30 suck in, through the gap 90, some of the cool air passing across the third battery module 301 accommodated in the third battery accommodating section 30, and the side duct 86 and side blower 88 attached to the fourth battery accommodating section 32 suck in, through the gap 90, some of the cool air passing across the fourth battery module 321 accommodated in the fourth battery accommodating section 32.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 17 , a part of the cool air CA sucked in through the gap 90 flows in the first horizontal direction (leftward) across the third battery module 301 housed in the third battery housing section 30, and then reaches the side duct 86 and the side fan 88 attached to the third battery housing section 30 as warm air (air that has been used to cool the third battery module 301 housed in the third battery housing section 30 and has become warm). In a preferred embodiment, the cool air CA flowing in the first horizontal direction flows across the upper and / or lower surfaces of the third battery module 301 housed in the third battery housing section 30. The warm air that reaches the side duct 86 and the side fan 88 attached to the third battery housing section 30 is then guided in multiple directions by the side fan 88. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, one or more side ducts 86 and side blowers 88 attached to the front of the third battery housing section 30 guide the hot air WA1 forward and / or downward toward the first duct 70. The hot air guided toward the first duct 70 flows through one or more outlet holes 119 into the first duct 70 and returns to the first evaporator 48 (i.e., returns to the first side 48-1 of the first evaporator 48), as shown in FIG. 17, for example. The one or more outlet holes 119 shown in FIG. 4 may, for example, provide fluid communication between the third battery housing section 30 and the first duct 70, and may include a plurality of first holes 119A and a second hole 119B larger than the first holes 119A.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 17 , a part of the cool air CA sucked in through the gap 90 flows in the second horizontal direction (rightward) across the fourth battery module 321 housed in the fourth battery housing section 32, and then reaches the side duct 86 and the side fan 88 attached to the fourth battery housing section 32 as warm air (air that has been used to cool the fourth battery module 321 housed in the fourth battery housing section 32 and has become warm). In a preferred embodiment, the cool air CA flowing in the second horizontal direction flows across the upper and / or lower surfaces of the fourth battery module 321 housed in the fourth battery housing section 32. The warm air that reaches the side duct 86 and the side fan 88 attached to the fourth battery housing section 30 is then guided in multiple directions by the side fan 88. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, one or more side ducts 86 and side blowers 88 attached to the front of the fourth battery housing section 32 guide the hot air WA2 forward and / or downward toward the second duct 72. The hot air guided toward the second duct 72 flows into the second duct 72 through one or more outlet holes 120 and returns to the second evaporator 52 (i.e., returns to the first surface 52-1 of the second evaporator 52), as shown in FIG. 17, for example. The one or more outlet holes 120 shown in FIG. 4 may, for example, provide fluid communication between the fourth battery housing section 32 and the second duct 72, and may include a plurality of first holes 120A and a second hole 120B larger than the first holes 120A.

[0069] One or more side ducts 86 and side fans 88 attached to the rear of the third battery housing section 30 blow hot air WA3 backward and / or downward through the third duct 7 as shown in FIG. 19 , one or more side ducts 86 and side fans 88 attached to the rear of the fourth battery housing section 32 guide the hot air WA4 rearward and / or downward toward the fourth duct 76 and the sixth duct 80.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment, the warm air guided to the third duct 74 flows through the third duct 74 toward the first side 56-1 of the third evaporator 56, as shown in, for example, Figures 17 and 20. The warm air enters the first side 56-1 of the third evaporator 56 and exits from the second side of the third evaporator 56 as cold air. In a preferred embodiment, the cold air exiting from the second side 56-2 of the third evaporator 56 as cold air flows into the rear cold air reservoir 92, as shown in, for example, Figure 20. The rear cold air reservoir 92 is a space defined by the second side 56-2 of the third evaporator 56, the second side 60-2 of the fourth evaporator 60, the upper rear cover 8RR, the rear top cover 8RU, the ninth duct 94, and the tenth duct 96, as shown in, for example, Figures 13, 17, and 20. The ninth duct 94 and the tenth duct 96 are not shown in FIG. 20 to better illustrate the rear cold air store 92 .

[0071] In a preferred embodiment, the hot air guided towards the fourth duct 76 flows through the fourth duct 76 towards the first side 60-1 of the fourth evaporator 60, as shown in Figures 17 and 20 for example. The warm air enters the first side 60-1 of the fourth evaporator 60 and exits as cold air from the second side 60-2 of the fourth evaporator 60. In a preferred embodiment, the cold air exiting as cold air from the second side 60-2 of the fourth evaporator 60 flows into the rear cold air reservoir 92, as shown in Figure 20 for example.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cool air flowing into the rear cool air storage 92 from the second side 56-2 of the third evaporator 56 and the second side 60-2 of the fourth evaporator 60 flows from the rear cool air storage 92 into a gap 90 located between the third battery storage 30 and the fourth battery storage 32, and also flows into a gap 98 located between the first battery storage 26 and the second battery storage 28. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 20, for example, a part of the cool air from the rear cool air storage 92 flows into the gap 90 located between the third battery storage 30 and the fourth battery storage 32 through one or more holes 100 provided in the upper rear cover 8RR, and is sucked in. Also, a part of the cool air from the rear cool air storage 92 flows into the gap 98 located between the first battery storage 26 and the second battery storage 28 through one or more holes 102 provided in the rear top cover 8RU, and is sucked in.

[0073] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, the warm air directed towards the fifth duct 78 flows into the fifth duct 78 and is redirected by the fifth duct 78 to flow inwardly towards the warm air reservoir 104 (the left warm air reservoir) and the first side 64-1 of the fifth evaporator 64. The warm air flows into the warm air reservoir 104, enters the first side 64-1 of the fifth evaporator 64, and exits the second side 64-2 of the fifth evaporator 64 as cool air. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, the cool air exiting the second side 64-2 of the fifth evaporator flows into the intermediate cool air reservoir 110. The intermediate cool air reservoir 110 is a space defined between the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68, as shown in Figures 21 and 22.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment, as shown for example in Figures 21 and 22, the warm air directed towards the sixth duct 80 flows into the sixth duct 80 and is redirected by the sixth duct 80 to flow inwardly towards the warm air reservoir 106 (the right warm air reservoir) and the first side 68-1 of the sixth evaporator 68. The warm air flows into the warm air reservoir 106, enters the first side 68-1 of the sixth evaporator 68 and exits the second side 68-2 of the sixth evaporator 68 as cool air. In a preferred embodiment, the warm air flows into the warm air reservoir 106, enters the first side 68-1 of the sixth evaporator 68 and exits the second side 68-2 of the sixth evaporator 68 as cool air. The cold air leaving −2 flows into the intermediate cold air storage section 110, for example, as shown in FIG. 21 and FIG.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cold air that flows into the intermediate cold air storage section 110 from the second side 64-2 of the fifth evaporator 64 and the second side 68-2 of the sixth evaporator 68 flows rearward from the intermediate cold air storage section 110 into the gap 98 located between the first battery accommodating section 26 and the second battery accommodating section 28, flows upward from the intermediate cold air storage section 110 into the gap 90 located between the third battery accommodating section 30 and the fourth battery accommodating section 32, and further flows forward from the intermediate cold air storage section 110 into the cold air inflow passage 112 of the fifth battery accommodating section 34. More specifically, for example, as shown in Figures 21 and 22, a portion of the cold air from the intermediate cold air storage section 110 flows rearward into the gap 98 located between the first battery accommodating section 26 and the second battery accommodating section 28 and is sucked in, a portion of the cold air from the intermediate cold air storage section 110 flows upward into the gap 90 located between the third battery accommodating section 30 and the fourth battery accommodating section 32 and is sucked in, and a portion of the cold air from the intermediate cold air storage section 110 flows forward into the cold air input passage 112 of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 and is sucked in.

[0076] 21 is a plan view showing an example of the air flow passing through the first battery accommodating section 26 and the second battery accommodating section 28, where the hatched arrows indicate the flow of cool air CA and the solid arrows indicate the flow of warm air WA. In a preferred embodiment, the side duct 86 and the side blower 88 attached to the first battery accommodating section 26 suck in part of the cool air passing across the first battery module 261 accommodated in the first battery accommodating section 26 from the gap 98, and the side duct 86 and the side blower 88 attached to the second battery accommodating section 28 suck in part of the cool air passing across the second battery module 281 accommodated in the second battery accommodating section 28 from the gap 98.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 21 , a part of the cool air CA from the gap 98 flows in the first horizontal direction (leftward) across the second battery module 281 housed in the second battery housing section 28, and then reaches the side duct 86 and the side fan 88 attached to the second battery housing section 28 as warm air (air that has been used to cool the second battery module 281 housed in the second battery housing section 28 and has become warm). In a preferred embodiment, the cool air CA flowing in the first horizontal direction (leftward) flows across the upper and / or lower surface of the second battery module 281 housed in the second battery housing section 28. The warm air that reaches the side duct 86 and the side fan 88 attached to the second battery housing section 28 is then guided in one or more directions by the side fan 88. For example, as shown in FIG. 18, one or more side ducts 86 and side blowers 88 attached to the second battery housing 28 direct the hot air WA5 forward and / or downward and guide it to the hot air reservoir 104. The hot air reservoir 104 is in fluid communication with the interior of the second battery housing 28 through an opening on the front left side of the second battery housing 28. The hot air guided toward the hot air reservoir 104 flows into the hot air reservoir 104 from the opening on the front left side of the second battery housing 28, as shown in FIG. 21, for example.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 21 , a part of the cool air CA from the gap 98 flows in the second horizontal direction (rightward) across the first battery module 261 housed in the first battery housing section 26, and then reaches the side duct 86 and the side fan 88 attached to the first battery housing section 26 as warm air (air that has been used to cool the first battery module 261 housed in the first battery housing section 26 and has become warm). In a preferred embodiment, the cool air CA flowing in the second horizontal direction (rightward) flows across the upper and / or lower surfaces of the first battery module 261 housed in the first battery housing section 26. The warm air that reaches the side duct 86 and the side fan 88 attached to the first battery housing section 28 is then guided in one or more directions by the side fan 88. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, one or more side ducts 86 and side fans 88 attached to the first battery housing section 28 direct the hot air WA6 forward and / or downward, and guide it to the hot air storage section 104. The hot air storage section 104 has an opening on the front right side of the first battery housing section 26. The warm air guided toward the warm air storage section 104 flows into the warm air storage section 106 through an opening on the front right side of the first battery housing section 26, and then returns to the first side 68-1 of the sixth evaporator 68, as shown in FIG.

[0079] 22 , for example, part of the cold air from the intermediate cold air storage section 110 flows forward toward the cold air input passage 112 of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 and is sucked in. The cold air that flows toward the cold air inlet passage 112 of the fifth battery accommodating section flows through the cold air inlet passage 112 of the fifth battery accommodating section and into the seventh duct 82. The seventh duct 82 receives the flow of cold air from the lateral direction and guides the flow of cold air forward along the third side cover 8FL that covers the first side surface of the fifth battery accommodating section 34.

[0080] 22 and 23 show an example of the air flow passing through the fifth battery accommodating section 34, where the hatched arrows indicate the flow of cool air CA (cold air) and the solid arrows indicate the flow of warm air WA (hot air). In a preferred embodiment, the side duct 86 and the side blower 88 attached to the fifth battery accommodating section 34 suck in cool air from the first side (e.g., the left side) of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 across the fifth battery module 341 accommodated in the fifth battery accommodating section 34. As shown in FIG. 23, the cool air CA flows laterally (to the right) across the fifth battery module 341 accommodated in the fifth battery accommodating section 34, and then reaches the side duct 86 and the side blower 88 attached to the fifth battery accommodating section 34 as warm air (air that has been used to cool the fifth battery module 341 accommodated in the fifth battery accommodating section 34 and has become warm). In a preferred embodiment, the cold air CA flowing laterally flows across the upper and / or lower surfaces of the fifth battery module 341 housed in the fifth battery housing section 34. The hot air that reaches the side duct 86 and the side blower 88 attached to the fifth battery housing section 34 is then guided in one or more directions by the side blower 88. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the one or more side ducts 86 and the side blower 88 attached to the fifth battery housing section 34 guide the hot air WA7 rearward and / or downward toward the eighth duct 84. The eighth duct 84 is in fluid communication with the interior of the hot air outlet passage 114 of the fifth battery housing section. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, the hot air guided toward the eighth duct 84 flows through the eighth duct 84 and the hot air outlet passage 114 of the fifth battery housing section, and then flows into the hot air storage section 106 and returns to the first side 68-1 of the sixth evaporator 68.

[0081] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, the first battery accommodating section 26 (e.g., the first battery accommodating section) and the fourth battery accommodating section 32 (e.g., the second battery accommodating section) are arranged at positions offset from each other. For example, the first battery accommodating section 26 and the fourth battery accommodating section 32 are arranged at positions offset from each other in the front-rear direction, so that a part of the first battery accommodating section 26 is arranged rearward of a part of the fourth battery accommodating section 32, and the arrangement positions are offset from each other in the up-down direction, so that a part of the first battery accommodating section 26 is arranged lower than a part of the fourth battery accommodating section 32. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 19, the first battery accommodating section 26 and the fourth battery accommodating section 32 are arranged on the same side of the center line CL of the electric vehicle in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle.

[0082] In a preferred embodiment, the warm air storage section 106 (e.g., an air chamber) receives the warm air WA6 (e.g., first air) exhausted from the first battery accommodating section 26 and the warm air WA4 (e.g., second air) exhausted from the fourth battery accommodating section 32. As described above, as shown in FIG. 21 for example, the warm air storage section 106 receives the warm air WA6 directly from the first battery accommodating section 26, and also receives the warm air WA4 exhausted from the fourth battery accommodating section 32 via the sixth duct 80 connected between the fourth battery accommodating section 32 and the warm air storage section 106, as shown in FIG. 19 for example.

[0083] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown for example in Figures 11 and 12, plate 104L defines the walls of warm air reservoir 104 and plate 106R defines the walls of warm air reservoir 106. The plate 104L and the plate 106R are angled with respect to the center line CL of the electric vehicle, for example, as shown in FIG. 21. In a preferred embodiment, the plate 104L guides the hot air WA5 toward the center line CL of the electric vehicle, and the plate 106R guides the hot air WA6 toward the center line CL of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the plate 104L and the plate 106R are each removable. When the plate 104L is removed, the fifth evaporator 64 is exposed, as shown in FIG. 24A. For example, when the plate 104L is removed, the fifth evaporator 64 can be seen from the left side of the electric vehicle. When the plate 106R is removed, the sixth evaporator 68 is exposed, as shown in FIG. 24B. For example, when the plate 106R is removed, the sixth evaporator 68 can be seen from the right side of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the plate 104L and the plate 104R are included in the front frame 10. Thus, the front frame 10 accommodates the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68 .

[0084] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the warm air storage section 106 receives warm air WA7 (e.g., fifth air) discharged from the fifth battery accommodating section 34 (e.g., third battery accommodating section). As described above, for example as shown in FIG. 22, the warm air storage section 106 can receive the warm air WA7 discharged from the fifth battery accommodating section 34 via the warm air outlet passage 114. The warm air storage section 104 can receive (accept) the warm air WA5 (e.g., third air) from the second battery accommodating section 28 and the warm air WA3 (e.g., fourth air) from the third battery accommodating section 30.

[0085] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, as shown in, for example, Figures 17, 21 and 23, in a plan view, at least a portion of each of the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 (e.g., the first evaporator) is located forward of at least a portion of each of the third evaporator 56, the fourth evaporator 60, the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68 (e.g., the second evaporator) in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle. In a plan view, at least a portion of each of the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68 (e.g., the first evaporator) is located forward of at least a portion of each of the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 (e.g., the second evaporator) in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in, for example, Figures 8 and 9, when viewed from the side, at least a portion of each of the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 (e.g., the first evaporator) is positioned at a higher position in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle than at least a portion of each of the third evaporator 56, the fourth evaporator 60, the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68.

[0087] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in, for example, Figures 8 and 9, when viewed from the side, at least a portion of each of the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68 (e.g., the first evaporator) is positioned at a lower position than at least a portion of each of the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle.

[0088] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in plan view, the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 are disposed forward of the front axle 3 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle 1. Alternatively, the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 can be disposed rearward of the front axle 3 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle 1. In a preferred embodiment, in plan view, each of the third evaporator 56, the fourth evaporator 60, the fifth evaporator 64, and the sixth evaporator 68 (e.g., the second evaporator) is disposed rearward of the front axle 3 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle 1.

[0089] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, a pair of side ducts and side fans are attached to each of the battery module housing compartments. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, a pair of side ducts 86 and fans 88 are attached to each of the battery module housing compartments housed in the fourth battery housing section 32. In this case, the first number of pairs of the side ducts 86 and the blowers 88 that guide air to the second evaporator 52 (e.g., the first evaporator) via the second duct 72 (e.g., the front right duct) is less than the second number of pairs of the side ducts 86 and the blowers 88 that guide air to the fourth evaporator 60 (e.g., the second evaporator) via the fourth duct 76. For example, as shown in Figs. 16 and 19, the first number of pairs of the ducts and the blowers that guide air forward and / or downward to the second evaporator 52 via the second duct 72 (e.g., the front right duct) is 5 pairs, and the second number of pairs of the ducts and the blowers that guide air backward and / or downward to the fourth evaporator 60 via the fourth duct 76 is 14 pairs. In a preferred embodiment, the second evaporator 52 is smaller than the fourth evaporator 60 and has fewer sets of side ducts 86 and blowers 88 that direct air towards the second evaporator 52 .

[0090] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, the fifth evaporator 64 (e.g., the first evaporator) and the third evaporator 56 (e.g., the second evaporator) receive the hot air WA3 from the third chamber defined by the space between the battery module housing section of the third battery housing section 30 and the first side cover 8L. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in, for example, FIG. 18 and FIG. 25, the first portion WA3-1 of the hot air WA3 flows through the first outlet hole 116L and the fifth duct 78 of the third chamber to the fifth evaporator 64, and the second portion WA3-2 of the hot air WA3 flows through the second outlet hole 118L and the third duct 74 of the third chamber to the third evaporator 56. FIG. 25 shows the first outlet hole 116L and the second outlet hole 118L with the fifth duct 78 and the third duct 74 removed for the purpose of explanation. By arranging the first outlet hole 116L on the bottom surface of the third battery accommodating section 30, the first portion WA3-1 of the hot air WA3 flows downward from the third battery accommodating section 30 through the first outlet hole 116L and flows into the fifth duct 78, thereby guiding the hot air downward. By arranging the second outlet hole 118L on the lateral side surface of the third battery accommodating section 30, the second portion WA3-2 of the hot air WA3 flows laterally (e.g., leftward) from the third battery accommodating section 30 through the second outlet hole 118L and flows into the third duct 74, thereby guiding the hot air backward. In a preferred embodiment, the first outlet hole 116L of the third chamber is smaller than the second outlet hole 118L of the third chamber, and the fifth evaporator 64 is smaller than the third evaporator 56. In this manner, since the second outlet hole 118L of the third chamber is larger than the first outlet hole 116L of the third chamber, the third evaporator 56, which is larger than the fifth evaporator 64, can receive more hot air than the fifth evaporator 64.

[0091] Similarly, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, the sixth evaporator 68 and the fourth evaporator 60 receive the hot air WA4 from a chamber defined by a space between the battery module housing section of the fourth battery housing section 32 and the second side cover 8R. In the preferred embodiment, as shown in, for example, FIG. 19 and FIG. 26, a first portion WA4-1 of the hot air WA4 flows to the sixth evaporator 68 through the first outlet hole 116R of the chamber and the sixth duct 80, and a second portion WA4-2 of the hot air WA4 flows to the fourth evaporator 60 through the second outlet hole 118R of the chamber and the fourth duct 76. FIG. 26 shows the first outlet hole 116R and the second outlet hole 118R with the sixth duct 80 and the fourth duct 76 removed for illustrative purposes. By arranging the first outlet hole 116R on the bottom surface of the fourth battery accommodating section 32, the first portion WA4-1 of the hot air WA4 flows downward from the fourth battery accommodating section 32 through the first outlet hole 116R and enters the sixth duct 80, thereby directing the hot air downward. By arranging the second outlet hole 118R on the lateral side surface of the fourth battery accommodating section 32, the second portion WA4-2 of the hot air WA4 flows laterally (e.g., to the right) from the fourth battery accommodating section 32 through the second outlet hole 118R and enters the fourth duct 76, thereby directing the hot air backward. In a preferred embodiment, the first outlet hole 116R of the chamber is smaller than the second outlet hole 118R of the chamber, and the sixth evaporator 68 is smaller than the fourth evaporator 60. In this manner, the fourth evaporator 60, which is larger than the sixth evaporator 68, can receive more hot air than the sixth evaporator 68 because the second chamber outlet holes 118R are larger than the first chamber outlet holes 116R.

[0092] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sixth evaporator 68 and the fourth evaporator 60 are disposed on the same first side (e.g., the right side) with respect to a center line extending in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle 1, and the fifth evaporator 64 and the third evaporator 56 are disposed on the same second side (e.g., the left side) with respect to the center line of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7 for example, a first distance D1 between the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68 in the lateral direction of the electric vehicle is smaller than a second distance D2 between the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 in the lateral direction of the electric vehicle. In a side view, at least a part of the fifth evaporator 64 and at least a part of the sixth evaporator 68 are located lower than at least a part of the third evaporator 56 and at least a part of the fourth evaporator 60 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle.

[0093] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, the gap 90 (e.g., a gap) is located between the third battery housing section 30 and the fourth battery housing section 32. The gap 90 is fluidly connected to each of the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 so as to receive cool air from each of the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52. The first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 are disposed forward of at least a portion of the third battery housing section 30 and the fourth battery housing section 32 in the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle, and the gap 90 is fluidly connected to each of the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 so that the cool air from each of the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 flows rearward into the gap 90, as shown in FIG. 17 for example. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, for example, the first evaporator 48 is disposed on a first side (e.g., left side) of a center line CL extending in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, and the second evaporator 52 is disposed on a second side (e.g., right side) opposite the first side of the center line CL.

[0094] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 are disposed above the third battery housing section 30 and the fourth battery housing section 32 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. For example, the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 may be disposed at a position higher than the midpoint of the third battery housing section 30 and the fourth battery housing section 32 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. The gap 90 is fluidly connected to each of the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52, so that cool air from each of the first evaporator 48 and the second evaporator 52 flows downward into the gap 90.

[0095] In a preferred embodiment, the gap 90 is also fluidly connected to each of the fifth evaporator 64 (e.g., the first evaporator) and the sixth evaporator 68 (e.g., the second evaporator) and receives cool air from each of the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68. For example, as shown in FIG. 24A and FIG. 24B, the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68 are disposed below (e.g., generally below) the third battery housing portion 30 and the fourth battery housing portion 32 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. Since the gap 90 is fluidly connected to each of the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68, the cool air from each of the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68 flows upward into the gap 90. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21, for example, the fifth evaporator 64 is disposed on a first side (e.g., the left side) of a center line CL extending in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, and the sixth evaporator 68 is disposed on a second side (e.g., the right side) opposite the first side of the center line CL.

[0096] In a preferred embodiment, the gap 90 is also in fluid communication with the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60, respectively, to receive cool air from the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60. The third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 are disposed rearward (e.g., generally rearward) from the third battery housing portion 30 and the fourth battery housing portion 62 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle. Since the gap 90 is in fluid communication with the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60, the cool air from each of the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 flows forward into the gap 90. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17, for example, the third evaporator 56 is disposed on a first side (e.g., left side) with respect to a center line CL extending in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, and the fourth evaporator 6 0 is located on a second side (eg, the right side) opposite the first side with respect to the center line CL.

[0097] In a preferred embodiment, the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 are disposed below the third battery housing section 30 and the fourth battery housing section 62 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. For example, as shown in Fig. 20, the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 are disposed below the midpoint between the third battery housing section 30 and the fourth battery housing section 62 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. Since the gap 90 is in fluid communication with each of the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60, the cool air from each of the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 flows upward into the gap 90.

[0098] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, as shown in FIG. 21 for example, the gap 98 (e.g., a gap) is located between the first battery housing portion 26 and the second battery housing portion 28. The gap 98 is in fluid communication with the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60, thereby receiving cool air from each of the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60. In the preferred embodiment, the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 are disposed above (e.g., generally above) the first battery housing portion 26 and the second battery housing portion 28 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. The gap 98 is in fluid communication with the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60, for example, as shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 for example, thereby allowing the cool air from each of the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 to flow rearward and / or downward. In a preferred embodiment, the third evaporator 56 is disposed on a first side (e.g., the left side) of a center line CL extending in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, as shown in FIG. 17, for example, and the fourth evaporator 60 is disposed on a second side (e.g., the right side) opposite the first side of the center line CL.

[0099] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gap 98 also receives cool air from the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68 by being fluidly connected to each of the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68. In a preferred embodiment, the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68 are disposed forward (e.g., generally forward) of the first battery housing portion 26 and the second battery housing portion 28 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle. As shown in FIG. 21 for example, the gap 98 is fluidly connected to the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68, so that cool air from the fifth evaporator 64 and the sixth evaporator 68 flows rearward into the gap 98. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21 for example, the fifth evaporator 64 is disposed on a first side (e.g., left side) of a center line CL extending in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, and the sixth evaporator 68 is disposed on a second side (e.g., right side) opposite the first side of the center line CL.

[0100] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, the first hot air path including the second duct 72 fluidly connects the fourth battery housing section 32 to the second evaporator 52, thereby discharging (first) hot air from the fourth battery housing section 32 to the second evaporator 52. In the preferred embodiment, the second hot air path including the fourth duct 76 or the sixth duct 80 fluidly connects the fourth battery housing section 32 to another evaporator (e.g., one of the fourth evaporator 60 or the sixth evaporator 68), thereby discharging (second) hot air from the fourth battery housing section 32 to another evaporator. In the preferred embodiment, the second evaporator 52 is disposed forward of the fourth evaporator 60 and the sixth evaporator 68 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, and the second evaporator 52, the fourth evaporator 60, and the sixth evaporator 68 are disposed on the same side (e.g., right side) of the center line CL extending in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle.

[0101] In a preferred embodiment, the third hot air path fluidly connects the fourth battery housing 32 to an additional evaporator (e.g., the other of the fourth evaporator 60 or the sixth evaporator 68) to exhaust the third hot air from the fourth battery housing 32 to the additional evaporator. In a preferred embodiment, the sixth evaporator 68 is disposed between the second evaporator 52 and the fourth evaporator 60 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle.

[0102] 21 , a fourth hot air path including a warm air reservoir 106 fluidly connects the first battery housing 26 to the sixth evaporator 68 to exhaust hot air from the first battery housing 26 to the sixth evaporator 68. In a preferred embodiment, a fifth hot air path including an eighth duct 84 fluidly connects the fifth battery housing 34 to the sixth evaporator 68 to exhaust hot air from the fifth battery housing 34 to the sixth evaporator 68.

[0103] In a preferred embodiment, the fourth battery housing 32 includes a first opening (e.g., the first hole 120A and / or the second hole 120B). The first opening fluidly connects the fourth battery housing 32 to the second evaporator 52, thereby discharging hot air from the fourth battery housing 32 to the second evaporator 52. The fourth battery housing 32 may include a second opening (e.g., the second outlet hole 118R). The second opening fluidly connects the fourth battery housing 32 to another evaporator (e.g., the fourth evaporator 60), thereby discharging hot air from the fourth battery housing 32 to another evaporator. In a preferred embodiment, the first opening is smaller than the second opening.

[0104] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, the fourth battery housing 32 includes a plurality of battery module housing compartments. In the preferred embodiment, the first hot air path fluidly connects the fourth battery housing 32 to the sixth evaporator 68 to exhaust hot air from the fourth battery housing 32 to the sixth evaporator 68, and the second hot air path fluidly connects the fourth battery housing 32 to the fourth evaporator 60 to exhaust hot air from the fourth battery housing 32 to the fourth evaporator 60.

[0105] In a preferred embodiment, the fourth battery housing portion 32 includes a first outlet hole 116R (e.g., a first opening), which can connect the fourth battery housing portion 32 to a first hot air path. In a preferred embodiment, the fourth battery housing portion 32 includes a second outlet hole 118R (e.g., a second opening), which can connect the fourth battery housing portion 32 to a second hot air path. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in, for example, FIG. 16 and FIG. 19, the first outlet hole 116R and the second outlet hole 118R are in fluid communication with the same battery module housing compartment 122, which is shown surrounded by a dashed frame in this figure. In other words, each of the first outlet hole 116R and the second outlet hole 118R is directly connected to and in direct fluid communication with the same battery housing module housing portion 122. In a preferred embodiment, the first outlet holes 116R are smaller than the second outlet holes 118R, and the sixth evaporator 68 is smaller than the fourth evaporator 60.

[0106] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 16, for example, one of the side ducts 86 is attached to the same battery module receiving compartment 122 with which the first outlet hole 116R and the second outlet hole 118R are in fluid communication. The side duct 86 includes a first end 86-1 attached to the same battery module receiving compartment 122 and a second end 86-2 opposite the first end 86-1. In a preferred embodiment, the second end 86-2 of the side duct faces rearward and / or downward. As shown in FIG. 16, a side blower 88 can be attached to the second end 86-2 of the side duct 86.

[0107] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention described above, the fourth battery accommodating section 32 includes a recess / step 9C (e.g., a second step), and the recess / step 9C is located forward of the front axle 3, between a first front part of the fourth battery accommodating section 32 covered by the first front face 9A and a second front part of the fourth battery accommodating section 32 covered by the second front face 9B. The fourth battery accommodating section 32 also includes a recess / step 9E (e.g., a first step) located between the first front face of the fourth battery accommodating section 32 covered by the first front face 9A and the third front face of the fourth battery accommodating section 32 covered by the third front face 9D. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, for example, at least a part of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 is located within the recess / step 9E. In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the hot air path including the second duct 72 for exhausting hot air from the fourth battery accommodating section 32 is located within the recess / step 9E. In a preferred embodiment, the recess / step 9C is located higher than the recess / step 9E in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle.

[0108] In a preferred embodiment, the fifth battery accommodating section 34 is located below the fourth battery accommodating section 32 in the up-down direction of the electric vehicle. In addition, as shown in Fig. 4 for example, a front surface of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 is disposed at the same or substantially the same position as a front surface of the fourth battery accommodating section 32 in the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle, and a portion of the fourth battery accommodating section 32 is located rearward of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 in the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle, as shown in Fig. 12 for example.

[0109] In a preferred embodiment, the fifth battery accommodating section 34 includes a recess / step 34C (e.g., a third step) located between the first rear surface 34A and the second rear surface 34B, as shown in FIG. 5A for example. In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of a hot air passage including an eighth duct 84 for exhausting hot air from the fifth battery accommodating section 34 is disposed in the recess / step 34C. In a preferred embodiment, the recess / step 34C is located lower than the recess / step 9E in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle, and is located rearward of the front axle 3 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle. In addition, the recess / step 34C is located lower than the recess / step 9C in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle, and is located rearward of the recess / step 9C in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle.

[0110] In a preferred embodiment, the front frame 10 is attached between the fifth battery accommodating section 34 and the front axle 3 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the hot air path including the eighth duct 84 for discharging hot air from the fifth battery accommodating section 34 is disposed between an outer surface 34-1 in the vehicle width direction of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 and an outer surface 10-1 in the vehicle width direction of the front frame 10, as shown in, for example, Figs. 12 and 21. In a preferred embodiment, the front frame 10 extends rearward from the fifth battery accommodating section 34 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, and the rearmost end of the front frame 10 is located forward from the rear surface of the fourth battery accommodating section 32 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, as shown in, for example, Figs. 4, 5A, and 5B.

[0111] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in, for example, FIG. 27, the fourth battery accommodating portion 32 may include an inner wall 32I located between the battery module accommodating compartment and a gap 90, and the gap 90 is located between the fourth battery accommodating portion 32 and the third battery accommodating portion 30. FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional side view taken along a center line CL of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the inner wall 32I includes a first opening 32I-1 connected to one of the battery module accommodating compartments arranged in a specific row (e.g., the top row) of the fourth battery accommodating portion 32, and the first opening 32I-1 is smaller than a second opening 32I-2 connected to one of the battery module accommodating compartments arranged in another row (e.g., a lower row) of the fourth battery accommodating portion 32. For example, as shown in Fig. 27, a first opening 32I-1 communicating with one of a plurality of battery module housing compartments arranged in an upper row of the fourth battery housing section 32 is smaller than a second opening 32I-2 communicating with one of a plurality of battery module housing compartments arranged in a lower row (a lower row located lower than the upper row in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle) of the fourth battery housing section 32. In a preferred embodiment, the first opening 32I-1 may include a plurality of openings, and the second opening 32I-2 may include a single opening. In a preferred embodiment, the first opening 32I-1 may have a circular shape, and the second opening 32I-2 may have an elongated slit shape.

[0112] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 28, for example, the third battery accommodating section 30 may include an inner wall 30I located between the battery module accommodating compartment and a gap 90, and the gap 90 is located between the fourth battery accommodating section 32 and the third battery accommodating section 30. In a preferred embodiment, the inner wall 30I includes a first opening 30I-1 connected to one of the battery module accommodating compartments arranged in a specific row (e.g., the top row) of the third battery accommodating section 30, and the first opening 30I-1 is connected to one of the battery module accommodating compartments arranged in another row (e.g., a lower row) of the third battery accommodating section 30. The first opening 30I-1 is smaller than the second opening 30I-2 connected to one of the battery module housing compartments arranged in the upper stage of the third battery housing section 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 28, the first opening 30I-1 communicating with one of the battery module housing compartments arranged in the lower stage of the third battery housing section 30 (the lower stage located lower than the upper stage in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle) is smaller than the second opening 30I-2 communicating with one of the battery module housing compartments arranged in the lower stage of the third battery housing section 30. In a preferred embodiment, the first opening 30I-1 may include multiple openings, and the second opening 30I-2 may include a single opening. The first opening 30I-1 may have a circular shape, and the second opening 302I-2 may have an elongated slit shape.

[0113] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 27, for example, the first battery accommodating section 26 may include an inner wall 26I located between the battery module accommodating section and a gap 98, and the gap 98 is located between the first battery accommodating section 26 and the second battery accommodating section 28. In a preferred embodiment, the inner wall 26I includes a first opening 26I-2 connected to one of the battery module accommodating sections included in a specific row (e.g., the top row) of the first battery accommodating section 26, and the first opening 26I-2 is smaller than a second opening 26I-2 connected to one of the battery module accommodating sections included in another row (e.g., a lower row) of the first battery accommodating section 26. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, the first opening 26I-1 communicating with one of the battery module accommodating sections arranged in the upper row of the first battery accommodating section 26 is smaller than the second opening 26I-2 communicating with one of the battery module accommodating sections arranged in the lower row of the first battery accommodating section 26 (the lower row located lower than the upper row in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle). In a preferred embodiment, the first opening 26I-1 may include multiple openings and the second opening 26I-2 may include a single opening. The first opening 26I-1 may have a circular shape and the second opening 26I-2 may have an elongated slit shape.

[0114] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 28, for example, the second battery accommodating section 28 may include an inner wall 28I located between the battery module accommodating compartment and a gap 98, and the gap 98 is located between the first battery accommodating section 26 and the second battery accommodating section 28. In a preferred embodiment, the inner wall 28I includes a first opening 28I-1 connected to one of the battery module accommodating compartments included in a specific row (e.g., the top row) of the second battery accommodating section 28, and the first opening 28I-1 is smaller than a second opening 28I-2 connected to one of the battery module accommodating compartments included in another row (e.g., a lower row) of the second battery accommodating section 28. For example, as shown in FIG. 28, the first opening 28I-1 communicating with one of the battery module accommodating compartments arranged in the upper row of the second battery accommodating section 28 is smaller than the second opening 28I-2 communicating with one of the battery module accommodating compartments arranged in the lower row of the second battery accommodating section 28 (the lower row located lower than the upper row in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle). In a preferred embodiment, the first opening 28I-1 may include multiple openings and the second opening 28I-2 may include a single opening. The first opening 28I-1 may have a circular shape and the second opening 28I-2 may have an elongated slit shape.

[0115] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 28, for example, the fifth battery accommodating section 34 may include a wall 34I located between the battery module accommodating compartment and a third side cover 8FL covering a first side of the fifth battery accommodating section 34. FIG. 22 also shows a schematic arrangement of the wall 34I. In a preferred embodiment, the wall 34I includes a first opening 34I-1 connected to one of the battery module accommodating compartments included in a specific row (e.g., the top row) of the fifth battery accommodating section 34, and the first opening 34I-1 is smaller than a second opening 34I-2 connected to one of the battery module accommodating compartments included in another row (e.g., a lower row) of the fifth battery accommodating section 34. For example, as shown in FIG. 28, the first opening 34I-1 communicating with one of the battery module accommodating compartments arranged in the upper row of the fifth battery accommodating section 34 may be smaller than a second opening 34I-2 communicating with one of the battery module accommodating compartments arranged in the lower row (the lower row located lower than the upper row in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle) of the fifth battery accommodating section 34. The first opening 34I-1 is smaller than the second opening 34I-2 that is provided in the wall portion 34I of the fifth battery housing portion 34. In a preferred embodiment, the first opening 34I-1 may include a plurality of openings, and the second opening 34I-2 may include a single opening. The first opening 34I-1 may have a circular shape, and the second opening 34I-2 may have an elongated slit shape. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first opening 34I-1 of the wall portion 34I of the fifth battery housing portion 34 is located lower than the first opening 30I-1, the second opening 30I-2, the first opening 32I-1, and the second opening 32I-2 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle.

[0116] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341 can be configured as a plurality of battery strings. A battery string may, for example, include a plurality of battery modules / battery cells connected and wired in series to create a battery / battery string having a desired available voltage / potential. For example, Figures 29A, 29B, and 30 show an example in which the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341 are configured as a plurality of battery strings (e.g., a plurality of parallel battery strings) each including a plurality of battery modules connected in series. More specifically, Figures 29A, 29B and 30 show an example in which a first battery module 261, a second battery module 281, a third battery module 301, a fourth battery module 321 and a fifth battery module 341 are configured as a first battery string 124, a second battery string 126 and a third battery string 128. In the example shown in Figures 29A, 29B and 30, each of the first battery string 124, the second battery string 126 and the third battery string 128 includes 23 battery modules, as described in further detail below.

[0117] In a preferred embodiment, the first battery string 124 includes battery modules A1 to A23 connected in series from A1 to A23 in ascending order. The battery modules A1 to A4 (e.g., a first portion of the first battery string 124) correspond to the first battery module 261 accommodated in the first battery accommodating section 26, the battery modules A5 to A8 (e.g., a second portion of the first battery string 124) correspond to the second battery module 281 accommodated in the second battery accommodating section 28, the battery modules A9 to A14 (e.g., a third portion of the first battery string 124) correspond to the third battery module 301 accommodated in the third battery accommodating section 30, and the battery modules A15 to A23 (e.g., a fourth portion of the first battery string 124) correspond to the fourth battery module 321 accommodated in the fourth battery accommodating section 32. The first, second, third, and fourth portions of the first battery string 124 are arranged at intervals from each other.

[0118] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in, for example, Figures 29A and 29B, the battery modules A1-A4 are connected in series rearward, the battery modules A5-A8 are connected in series forward, the battery modules A9-A14 are connected in series upward and forward, and the battery modules A15-A23 are connected in series upward and rearward. A first electrical connection between the battery modules A1-A4 (e.g., a first portion of the first battery string 124) and the battery modules A5-A8 (e.g., a second portion of the first battery string 124) extends in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle between the battery module A4 and the battery module A5, and the first electrical connection crosses the center line CL of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the first electrical connection includes a connection harness 124H-1 including one or more electrical cables, as shown in, for example, Figure 31. The second electrical connection between the battery modules A5 to A8 (e.g., the second part of the first battery string 124) and the battery modules A9 to A14 (e.g., the third part of the first battery string 124) extends in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle between the battery module A8 and the battery module A9. In a preferred embodiment, the second electrical connection is made by a connection harness 1 including one or more electrical cables, as shown in, for example, FIG. 32. 24H-2. A third electrical connection between battery modules A9-A14 (e.g., a third portion of the first battery string 124) and battery modules A15-A23 (e.g., a fourth portion of the first battery string 124) extends in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle between battery module A14 and battery module A15, and the third electrical connection crosses a center line CL of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the third electrical connection includes a connection harness 124H-3 including one or more electrical cables, as shown in, for example, Figures 33A and 34A.

[0119] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connection harness 124H-3 included in the third electrical connection portion connects the battery module A14 and the battery module A15. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in, for example, Fig. 33A and Fig. 34A, the terminal (terminal end) of the battery module A14 faces a first vehicle exterior direction (e.g., leftward) of the electric vehicle, and the terminal (terminal end) of the battery module A15 faces a second vehicle exterior direction (e.g., rightward) opposite to the first vehicle exterior direction. The connection harness 124H-3 included in the third electrical connection portion connecting the battery module A14 and the battery module A15 extends from the battery modules A9-A14 to the battery modules A15-A23, and connects the terminal of the battery module A14 to the terminal of the battery module A15.

[0120] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 33B, for example, at least a portion 124H-3A of the connection harness 124H-3 connecting the battery module A14 and the battery module A15 can be attached to the top of the battery module accommodating compartment of the third battery accommodating section 30. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion 124H-3A of the connection harness connecting the battery module A14 and the battery module A15 can be attached to the top of the battery module accommodating compartment of the third battery accommodating section 30, can be disposed between two adjacent battery module accommodating compartments (e.g., battery module accommodating compartments to which the side ducts 86F and 86R are attached) included in the first row of the battery module accommodating compartments, and can be disposed adjacent to the side duct 86A attached to the top of the battery module accommodating compartment of the third battery accommodating section 30. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion 124H-3A of the connection harness connecting the battery module A14 and the battery module A15 can be attached to the topmost stage of the battery module accommodating compartment of the third battery accommodating section 30, as shown in FIG. 15, for example, and disposed between the side ducts 86F and 86R facing in opposite directions.

[0121] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the controller 89-3 can be attached to the top of the battery module accommodating compartment of the third battery accommodating section 30 and disposed adjacent to the side duct 86R, as shown in, for example, Fig. 24A. In a preferred embodiment, the second end 86-2 of the side duct 86R faces the controller 89-3, and the controller 89-3 can be disposed adjacent to the side duct 86R on the side of the second end 86-2, as shown in, for example, Figs. 15 and 24A.

[0122] In a preferred embodiment, in the first, second, third, and fourth portions of the first battery string 124, each battery module is adjacent (e.g., directly adjacent) to at least one other battery module in each portion. For example, in the fourth portion of the first battery string 124, each battery module A15-A23 is adjacent to another one of the battery modules A15-A23. More specifically, each of the battery modules A15-A23 is adjacent to another one of the battery modules A15-A23 (e.g., directly above or below, directly to the left or right, or directly diagonally adjacent to the battery modules A15-A23).

[0123] In a preferred embodiment, the third portion of the first battery string 124 may include at least one battery module that is located higher than another battery module included in the third portion of the first battery string 124 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. The third portion of the first battery string 124 may include a battery module A10 located higher than the battery module A9 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle, with the battery module A9 connected directly in series to the battery module A10. Similarly, the fourth portion of the first battery string 124 may include at least one battery module located higher than another battery module included in the fourth portion of the first battery string 124 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. For example, the fourth portion of the first battery string 124 may include a battery module A20 located higher than the battery module A19 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle, with the battery module A20 connected directly in series to the battery module A19.

[0124] In a preferred embodiment, the second battery string 126 includes battery modules B1 to B23 connected in series in ascending order from B1 to B23. The battery modules B1 to B4 (e.g., a first portion of the second battery string 126) correspond to the first battery module 261 accommodated in the first battery accommodating section 26, the battery modules B5 to B8 (e.g., a second portion of the second battery string 126) correspond to the second battery module 281 accommodated in the second battery accommodating section 28, the battery modules B9 to B15 (e.g., a third portion of the second battery string 126) correspond to the third battery module 301 accommodated in the third battery accommodating section 30, and the battery modules B16 to B23 (e.g., a fourth portion of the second battery string 126) correspond to the fourth battery module 321 accommodated in the fourth battery accommodating section 32. The first, second, third, and fourth portions of the second battery string 126 are arranged at intervals from each other.

[0125] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in, for example, Figures 29A and 29B, the battery modules B1-B4 are connected in series rearward, the battery modules B5-B8 are connected in series forward, the battery modules B9-B15 are connected in series upward and forward, and the battery modules B16-B23 are connected in series upward and rearward. A first electrical connection between the battery modules B1-B4 (e.g., a first portion of the second battery string 126) and the battery modules B5-B8 (e.g., a second portion of the second battery string 126) extends in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle between the battery module B4 and the battery module B5, and the first electrical connection may cross the center line CL of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the first electrical connection may include a connection harness 126H-1 including one or more electrical cables, as shown in, for example, Figure 31. The second electrical connection between the battery modules B5-B8 (e.g., the second part of the second battery string 126) and the battery modules B9-B15 (e.g., the third part of the second battery string 126) extends in the up-down direction of the electric vehicle between the battery modules B8 and B9. In a preferred embodiment, the second electrical connection may include, for example, a connection harness 126H-2 including one or more electrical cables, as shown in FIG. 32. The third electrical connection between the battery modules B9-B15 (e.g., the third part of the second battery string 126) and the battery modules B16-B23 (e.g., the fourth part of the second battery string 126) extends in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle between the battery modules B15 and B16, and the third electrical connection may cross the center line CL of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the third electrical connection may include, for example, a connection harness 126H-3 including one or more electrical cables.

[0126] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connection harness 126H-3 included in the third electrical connection portion connects the battery module B15 and the battery module B16. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in, for example, FIG. 33A and FIG. 34A, the terminal (terminal end) of the battery module B15 faces a first outer direction (e.g., leftward) of the electric vehicle, and the terminal (terminal end) of the battery module B16 faces a second outer direction (e.g., rightward) of the electric vehicle opposite to the first outer direction. The connection harness 126H-3 included in the third electrical connection portion connecting the battery module B15 and the battery module B16 extends from the battery modules B9 to B15 to the battery modules B16 to B23, and connects the terminal of the battery module B15 to the terminal of the battery module B16.

[0127] 33B, for example, at least a portion 126H-3A of the connection harness 126H-3 connecting the battery module B15 and the battery module B16 may be attached to the uppermost stage of the battery module accommodating compartment of the third battery accommodating section 30. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion 126H-3A of the connection harness connecting the battery module B15 and the battery module B16 may be attached to the uppermost stage of the battery module accommodating compartment of the third battery accommodating section 30, and may be disposed between two adjacent battery module accommodating compartments included in the first row of the battery module accommodating compartments (for example, between the battery module accommodating compartments to which the side ducts 86F and 86R are attached), and may be disposed adjacent to the side duct 86A attached to the uppermost stage of the battery module accommodating compartment of the third battery accommodating section 30. In a preferred embodiment, at least a portion 126H-3A of the connection harness connecting the battery module B15 and the battery module B16 may be attached to the topmost stage of the battery module accommodating compartment of the third battery accommodating section 30, for example as shown in FIG. 15, and disposed between the side ducts 86F and 86R facing in opposite directions.

[0128] In a preferred embodiment, in the first, second, third, and fourth portions of the second battery string 126, each battery module is adjacent (e.g., directly adjacent) to at least one other battery module in each portion. For example, in the third portion of the second battery string 126, each battery module B9-B15 is adjacent to another one of the battery modules B9-B15. More specifically, each of the battery modules B9-B15 is adjacent to another one of the battery modules B9-B15 (e.g., directly above or below, directly to the left or right, or directly diagonally adjacent to the battery modules B9-B15).

[0129] In a preferred embodiment, the third portion of the second battery string 126 may include at least one battery module provided at a higher position than another battery module included in the third portion of the second battery string 126 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. For example, the third portion of the second battery string 126 may include a battery module B11 provided at a higher position than the battery module B10 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle, and the battery module B10 is directly connected in series to the battery module B11. Similarly, the fourth portion of the second battery string 126 may include at least one battery module provided at a higher position than another battery module included in the fourth portion of the second battery string 126 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. For example, the fourth portion of the second battery string 126 may include a battery module B22 provided at a higher position than the battery module B21 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle, and the battery module B21 is directly connected in series to the battery module B22.

[0130] In a preferred embodiment, the third battery string 128 includes battery modules C1 to C23 connected in series in ascending order from C1 to C23. The battery modules C1 to C4 (e.g., a first portion of the third battery string 128) correspond to the first battery module 261 accommodated in the first battery accommodating section 26, the battery modules C5 to C8 (e.g., a second portion of the third battery string 128) correspond to the second battery module 281 accommodated in the second battery accommodating section 28, the battery modules C9 to C14 (e.g., a third portion of the third battery string 128) correspond to the third battery module 301 accommodated in the third battery accommodating section 30, the battery modules C15 to C21 (e.g., a fourth portion of the third battery string 128) correspond to the fifth battery module 341 accommodated in the fifth battery accommodating section 34, and the battery modules C22 and C23 (e.g., a fifth portion of the third battery string 128) correspond to the fourth battery module 321 accommodated in the fourth battery accommodating section 32. The first, second, third, fourth and fifth portions of the third battery string 128 are spaced apart from one another.

[0131] In a preferred embodiment, as shown in, for example, FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B, a battery module C The battery modules C1 to C4 are connected in series rearward, the battery modules C5 to C8 are connected in series forward, the battery modules C9 to C14 are connected in series upward and forward, the battery modules C15 to C21 are connected in series upward and rearward, and the battery modules C22 and C23 are connected in series rearward. A first electrical connection between the battery modules C1 to C4 (e.g., a first portion of the third battery string 128) and the battery modules C5 to C8 (e.g., a second portion of the third battery string 128) extends in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle between the battery module C4 and the battery module C5, and the first electrical connection may cross the center line CL of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the first electrical connection may include a connection harness 128H-1 including one or more electrical cables, as shown in, for example, FIG. 31. The second electrical connection between the battery modules C5-C8 (e.g., the second part of the third battery string 128) and the battery modules C9-C14 (e.g., the third part of the third battery string 128) extends in the up-down direction of the electric vehicle between the battery modules C8 and C9. In a preferred embodiment, the second electrical connection may include a connection harness 128H-2 including one or more electrical cables, as shown in FIG. 32, for example. The third electrical connection between the battery modules C9-C14 (e.g., the third part of the third battery string 128) and the battery modules C15-C21 (e.g., the fourth part of the third battery string 128) extends in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle between the battery modules C14 and C15, and the third electrical connection may cross the center line CL of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, the third electrical connection may include a connection harness 128H-3 including one or more electrical cables, as shown in FIG. 33A, for example. A fourth electrical connection between battery modules C15-C21 (e.g., a fourth portion of the third battery string 128) and battery modules C22 and C23 (e.g., a fourth portion of the third battery string 128) extends to the rear of the electric vehicle between battery module C21 and battery module C22. In a preferred embodiment, the fourth electrical connection may include, for example, a connection harness 128H-4 including one or more electrical cables.

[0132] In a preferred embodiment, in the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth portions of the third battery string 128, each battery module is adjacent (e.g., directly adjacent) to at least one other battery module in each portion. For example, in the first portion of the third battery string 128, each battery module C1-C4 is adjacent to another one of the battery modules C1-C4. More specifically, each of the battery modules C1-C4 is adjacent to another one of the battery modules C1-C4 (e.g., directly above or below, directly to the left or right, or directly diagonally adjacent to the battery modules C1-C4).

[0133] In a preferred embodiment, the third portion of the third battery string 128 may include at least one battery module that is disposed higher in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle than another battery module included in the third portion of the third battery string 128. For example, the third portion of the third battery string 128 may include a battery module C11 that is higher in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle than battery module C10, with battery module C10 being directly connected in series to battery module C11.

[0134] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first battery string 124, the second battery string 126, and the third battery string 128 may be stacked in layers in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. For example, in the first battery housing section 26, the battery modules A1 to A4 are arranged at a higher position than the battery modules B1 to B4 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle, and the battery modules B1 to B4 are arranged at a higher position than the battery modules C1 to C4 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. In the second battery housing section 28, the battery modules A5 to A8 are arranged at a higher position than the battery modules B5 to B8 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle, and the battery modules B5 to B8 are arranged at a higher position than the battery modules C5 to C8 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle.

[0135] In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the first portion (e.g., A1-A4) of the first battery string 124, the second portion (A5-A8) of the first battery string 124, the third portion (A9-A14) of the first battery string 124, and the fourth portion (A15-23) of the first battery string 124 includes the same number of battery modules as any of the first portion (B1-B4) of the second battery string 126, the second portion (B5-B8) of the second battery string 126, the third portion (B9-B15) of the second battery string 126, and the fourth portion (B16-B23) of the second battery string 126. For example, the first portion of the first battery string 124 may include the same number of battery modules as the first portion of the second battery string 126, and the second portion of the first battery string 124 may include the same number of battery modules as the second portion of the second battery string 126. The third portion of the first battery string 124 may include a different number of battery modules than the third portion of the second battery string 126, and the fourth portion of the first battery string 124 may include a different number of battery modules than the fourth portion of the second battery string 126.

[0136] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first battery string 124, the second battery string 126, and the third battery string 128 may each include a service plug. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 29A, FIG. 29B, and FIG. 32, the first battery string 124 may include a first service plug SP1, the second battery string 126 may include a second service plug SP2, and the third battery string 128 may include a third service plug SP3. The first service plug SP1 is used to cut off the current flowing through the first battery string 124 and may be disposed in series between the battery module A8 and the battery module A9. The second service plug SP2 is used to cut off the current flowing through the second battery string 126 and may be disposed in series between the battery module B8 and the battery module B9. The third service plug SP3 is used to cut off the current flowing through the third battery string 128 and may be disposed in series between the battery module C8 and the battery module C9.

[0137] In a preferred embodiment, the first service plug SP1, the second service plug SP2, and the third service plug SP3 are disposed spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction of the electric vehicle, as shown in Fig. 32 for example. In a preferred embodiment, the first service plug SP1, the second service plug SP2, and the third service plug SP3 include openings facing in the width / left-right direction of the electric vehicle, which is the same direction as the direction in which the terminal ends TE of each of the second plurality of battery modules 281 and the plurality of third battery modules 301 face.

[0138] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first battery string 124, the second battery string 126, and the third battery string 128 are each connected to a power distribution unit (PDU) 130, as shown in, for example, Fig. 30. In a preferred embodiment, the power distribution unit (PDU) 130 is a high-voltage power distribution unit (PDU) that is connected to the battery strings (e.g., battery modules connected in series), an external charging port, and one or more electrical components, such as one or more inverters connected to electric motors, DC-DC converters, and cooling water pumps.

[0139] In a preferred embodiment, the PDU 130 includes a power distribution unit (PDU) negative portion (e.g., PDU negative rail) 130-1 and a positive portion (e.g., PDU positive rail) 130-2, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 30-32. For example, as shown in FIGS. 31-34B, the PDU negative portion 130-1 and the PDU positive portion 130-2 may include separate housings spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction of the electric vehicle. For example, the housing of the PDU negative portion 130-1 may be located on a first side (e.g., left side) relative to a centerline CL of the electric vehicle, and the housing of the PDU positive portion 130-2 may be located on a second side (e.g., right side) relative to the centerline CL of the electric vehicle. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1C and 31-34B, the housing of the PDU negative portion 130-1 may be located on a first side relative to a steering column 129 of the electric vehicle. (e.g., left side) and the housing of the PDU positive portion 130-2 can be disposed on a second side (e.g., right side) relative to the steering column 129 of the electric vehicle. In a preferred embodiment, at least one evaporator is disposed between the housing of the PDU negative portion 130-1 and the housing of the PDU positive portion 130-2. For example, as shown in FIG. 32, the third evaporator 56 and the fourth evaporator 60 can be disposed between the housing of the PDU negative portion 130-1 and the housing of the PDU positive portion 130-2. In a preferred embodiment, each of the housings of the PDU negative portion 130-1 and the PDU positive portion 130-2 is separated from and spaced apart from the battery housing 8, as shown in FIG. 31, for example. In a preferred embodiment, the first service plug SP1, the second service plug SP2, and the third service plug SP3 are disposed adjacent to the housing of the PDU negative portion 130-1, as shown in FIG. 32, for example.

[0140] In a preferred embodiment, the PDU negative portion 130-1 may include a plurality of contactors 132 including a first contactor 132-1, a second contactor 132-2, and a third contactor 132-3. In a preferred embodiment, the first battery string 124 may be connected to the first contactor 132-1 of the PDU negative portion 130-1. For example, the battery module A23 of the first battery string 124 may be connected to the first contactor 132-1 of the PDU negative portion 130-1. In a preferred embodiment, the second battery string 126 may be connected to the second contactor 132-2 of the PDU negative portion 130-1. For example, the battery module B23 of the second battery string 126 may be connected to the second contactor 132-2 of the PDU negative portion 130-1. In a preferred embodiment, the third battery string 128 is connected to the third contactor 132-3 of the PDU negative portion 130-1. For example, the battery module C23 of the third battery string 128 may be connected to the third contactor 132-3 of the PDU negative portion 130-1. In a preferred embodiment, the PDU negative portion 130-1 includes the same number of contactors 132 as the number of battery strings contained in the electric vehicle. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 30, the PDU negative portion 130-1 includes three contactors 132, and the electric vehicle includes three battery strings (the first battery string 124, the second battery string 126, and the third battery string 128).

[0141] In a preferred embodiment, the PDU positive portion 130-2 may include a plurality of contactors 134, including a first contactor 134-1, a second contactor 134-2, and a third contactor 134-3. In a preferred embodiment, the first battery string 124 is connected to the first contactor 134-1 of the PDU positive portion 130-2. For example, the battery module A1 of the first battery string 124 may be connected to the first contactor 134-1 of the PDU positive portion 130-2. In a preferred embodiment, the second battery string 126 is connected to the second contactor 134-2 of the PDU positive portion 130-2. For example, the battery module B1 of the second battery string 126 may be connected to the second contactor 134-2 of the PDU positive portion 130-2. In a preferred embodiment, the third battery string 128 is connected to the third contactor 134-3 of the PDU positive portion 130-2. For example, battery module C1 of the third battery string 128 may be connected to the third contactor 134-3 of the PDU positive portion 130-2. In a preferred embodiment, the PDU positive portion 130-2 includes the same number of contactors 134 as there are battery strings included in the electric vehicle. For example, in the example shown in FIG 30, the PDU positive portion 130-2 includes three contactors 134, and the electric vehicle includes three battery strings (the first battery string 124, the second battery string 126, and the third battery string 128).

[0142] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing of the PDU negative electrode part 130-1 may be disposed rearward of at least a portion of the battery housing 8 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle. For example, as shown in FIG. 32, the housing of the PDU negative electrode part 130-1 may be disposed rearward of the third battery housing 30 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle. In this way, the housing of the PDU negative electrode part 130-1 and the multiple contactors 132 accommodated therein may be electrically The housing of the PDU positive portion 130-2 can be protected from the front side of the vehicle. Similarly, the housing of the PDU positive portion 130-2 can be disposed behind at least a part of the battery housing in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle. For example, the housing of the PDU positive portion 130-2 can be disposed behind the fourth battery housing 32 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, as shown in FIG. 31 for example. In this way, the housing of the PDU positive portion 130-2 and the multiple contactors 134 accommodated therein can be protected from the front side of the electric vehicle.

[0143] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing of the PDU negative part 130-1 can be disposed above at least a part of the battery housing 8 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. For example, as shown in FIG. 32, the housing of the PDU negative part 130-1 can be disposed above the second battery housing 28 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. In this way, the housing of the PDU negative part 130-1 and the multiple contactors 132 accommodated therein can be protected from the bottom side of the electric vehicle. Similarly, the housing of the PDU positive part 130-2 can be disposed above at least a part of the battery housing in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. For example, as shown in FIG. 31, the housing of the PDU positive part 130-2 can be disposed above the first battery housing 26 in the vertical direction of the electric vehicle. In this way, the housing of the PDU positive part 130-2 and the multiple contactors 134 accommodated therein can be protected from the bottom side of the electric vehicle.

[0144] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341 are connected to a battery management unit (BMU) 136. The battery management unit 136 can be attached to the battery housing 8. For example, as shown in FIG. 36, the battery management unit 136 can be attached to the front top cover 8FU.

[0145] In a preferred embodiment, the battery management unit 136 may include one or more controllers configured or programmed to manage the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341. The battery management unit 136 may transmit and receive information to individual battery modules included in the first battery module 261, the second battery module 281, the third battery module 301, the fourth battery module 321, and the fifth battery module 341. In a preferred embodiment, the battery management unit 136 includes multiple input ports 138. For example, the battery management unit 136 may include separate input ports 138 corresponding to each battery housing. For example, as shown in FIG. 35, the battery management unit 136 may include a first input port 138-1 corresponding to the first battery accommodating section 26, a second input port 138-2 corresponding to the second battery accommodating section 28, a third input port 138-3 corresponding to the third battery accommodating section 30, a fourth input port 138-4 corresponding to the fourth battery accommodating section 32, and a fifth input port 138-5 corresponding to the fifth battery accommodating section 34.

[0146] In a preferred embodiment, the first input port 138-1 corresponding to the first battery accommodating section 26 receives one or more signal lines (e.g., signal cables) from the battery modules A1-A4, battery modules B1-B4, and battery modules C1-C4 accommodated in the first battery accommodating section 26. In the example shown in Fig. 35, one or more signal lines between the battery modules A1-A4 and the first input port 138-1 are indicated by solid lines, one or more signal lines between the battery modules B1-B4 and the first input port 138-1 are indicated by dotted lines, and one or more signal lines between the battery modules C1-C4 and the first input port 138-1 are indicated by dashed and dotted lines.

[0147] In a preferred embodiment, the second input port 138-2 corresponding to the second battery accommodating section 28 receives one or more signal lines (e.g., signal cables) from the battery modules A5 to A8, the battery modules B5 to B8, and the battery modules C5 to C8 accommodated in the second battery accommodating section 28. 35, one or more signal lines between battery modules A5 to A8 and the second input port 138-2 are indicated by solid lines, one or more signal lines between battery modules B5 to B8 and the second input port 138-2 are indicated by dotted lines, and one or more signal lines between battery modules C5 to C8 and the second input port 138-2 are indicated by dashed and dotted lines.

[0148] In a preferred embodiment, the third input port 138-3 corresponding to the third battery accommodating section 30 receives one or more signal lines (e.g., signal cables) from the battery modules A9 to A14, battery modules B9 to B15, and battery modules C9 to C14 accommodated in the third battery accommodating section 30. In the example shown in Fig. 35, one or more signal lines between the battery modules A9 to A14 and the third input port 138-3 are indicated by solid lines, one or more signal lines between the battery modules B9 to B15 and the third input port 138-3 are indicated by dotted lines, and one or more signal lines between the battery modules C9 to C14 and the third input port 138-3 are indicated by dashed lines.

[0149] In a preferred embodiment, the fourth input port 138-4 corresponding to the fourth battery accommodating section 32 receives one or more signal lines (e.g., signal cables) from the battery modules A15-A23, battery modules B16-B23, and battery modules C22, C23 accommodated in the fourth battery accommodating section 32. In the example shown in Fig. 35, one or more signal lines between the battery modules A15-A23 and the fourth input port 138-4 are indicated by solid lines, one or more signal lines between the battery modules B16-B23 and the fourth input port 138-4 are indicated by dotted lines, and one or more signal lines between the battery modules C22, C23 and the fourth input port 138-4 are indicated by dashed and dotted lines.

[0150] In a preferred embodiment, the fifth input port 138-5 corresponding to the fifth battery accommodating section 34 receives one or more signal lines (e.g., signal cables) from the battery modules C15-C21 accommodated in the fifth battery accommodating section 34. In the example shown in Fig. 35, one or more signal lines between the battery modules C15-C21 and the fifth input port 138-5 are indicated by dashed lines.

[0151] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the battery management unit 136 may include multiple battery management unit portions 140 (e.g., multiple controllers). For example, the battery management unit 136 may include a separate battery management unit portion 140 for each battery string contained in the electric vehicle. For example, the battery management unit 136 may include a first battery management unit portion 140-1 corresponding to the first battery string 124, a second battery management unit portion 140-2 corresponding to the second battery string 126, and a third battery management unit portion 140-3 corresponding to the third battery string 128, as shown in FIG. 35. Each of the battery management unit portions 140 may include a controller configured or programmed to manage each battery string.

[0152] In a preferred embodiment, the first battery management unit section 140-1 is connected to the input port 138 to receive information on the battery modules A1 to A23 included in the first battery string 124 from the input port 138. For example, the first battery management unit section 140-1 is connected to the first input port 138-1 to receive information on the battery modules A1 to A4, connected to the second input port 138-2 to receive information on the battery modules A5 to A8, connected to the third input port 138-3 to receive information on the battery modules A9 to A14, and connected to the fourth input port 138-4 to receive information on the battery modules A15 to A23. The connections (e.g., signal lines) between the first battery management unit section 140-1 and the input port 138 are shown by solid lines in FIG.

[0153] In a preferred embodiment, the second battery management unit 140-2 is connected to the input port 138 and receives information about the battery modules B1 to B23 included in the second battery string 126 from the input port 138. For example, the second battery management unit 140-2 35. The second battery management unit 140-2 is connected to the input port 138-1 to receive information relating to battery modules B1 to B4, the second input port 138-2 to receive information relating to battery modules B5 to B8, the third input port 138-3 to receive information relating to battery modules B9 to B15, and the fourth input port 138-4 to receive information relating to battery modules B16 to B23. The connections (e.g., signal lines) between the second battery management unit 140-2 and the input ports 138 are indicated by dotted lines in FIG.

[0154] In a preferred embodiment, the third battery management unit section 140-3 is connected to the input port 138 and receives information about the battery modules C1 to C23 included in the third battery string 128 from the input port 138. For example, the first battery management unit section 140-3 is connected to the first input port 138-1 to receive information about the battery modules C1 to C4, connected to the second input port 138-2 to receive information about the battery modules C5 to C8, connected to the third input port 138-3 to receive information about the battery modules C9 to C14, connected to the fourth input port 138-4 to receive information about the battery modules C22 and C23, and connected to the fifth input port 138-5 to receive information about the battery modules C15 to C21. The connections (e.g., signal lines) between the third battery management unit section 140-4 and the input port 138 are indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 35.

[0155] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as described above, the battery modules are connected to the input port 138 based on which battery housing each battery module is housed in, and the battery modules are connected (via the input port 138) to the battery management unit section 140 based on which battery string each battery module is included in.

[0156] As described herein with respect to various preferred embodiments of the present invention, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, each of the controllers 89-1 to 89-5 and one or more controllers included in the plurality of battery management unit sections 140 may be implemented in part or in whole in one or more circuits or circuit devices, such as an integrated circuit(s) or an LSI (large scale integration). Furthermore, the method of forming the circuit or circuit device constituting each controller is not limited to LSI, and the integrated circuit may be implemented by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor or controller specially programmed to form a general-purpose processor or controller. Also, if a technology for forming an integrated circuit to replace LSI is established due to advances in semiconductor technology, an integrated circuit formed by that technology may be utilized.

[0157] Furthermore, the program operating in each of the controller and / or other elements according to various preferred embodiments of the present invention is a program that controls the controller (a program that causes a computer to execute one or more functions) to realize the functions of various preferred embodiments according to the present invention, and includes various circuits or circuit devices described in this specification. Therefore, information processed by the controller is temporarily stored in RAM during processing. It is then stored in various circuit devices such as ROM and HDD, and is read out by a circuit in the controller or built into the controller as necessary, and is modified or written. As a recording medium for storing the program, any of semiconductor media (e.g., ROM, non-volatile memory card, etc.), optical recording media (e.g., DVD, MO, MD, CD, BD, etc.), and magnetic recording media (e.g., magnetic tape, flexible disk, etc.) may be used. Furthermore, the functions of each preferred embodiment of the present invention may not only be realized by executing the loaded program, but may also be realized by processing the loaded program in combination with an operating system or other application programs based on the instructions of the program.

[0158] In addition, when distributing it on the market, it may be distributed by storing it on a portable recording medium. Alternatively, the content may be transferred to a server computer connected via a network such as the Internet for distribution. In this case, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the content also includes the storage device of the server computer.

[0159] Furthermore, the method for fabricating an integrated circuit of the present invention is not limited to LSI, but may be realized by a single-purpose circuit or a general-purpose processor that can be programmed to execute the above-mentioned functions, and may also be used to construct a special-purpose computer. In addition, if a technology for fabricating integrated circuits that replaces LSIs is developed due to the progress of semiconductor technology, it may be possible to use an integrated circuit that corresponds to that technology.

[0160] Finally, it should be noted that the descriptions and statements in the claims of this patent application that refer to a "controller," "circuit," or "circuit device" are in no way limited to hardware-only implementations, and that a person of ordinary skill in the relevant art would know and understand that such descriptions and statements regarding a "controller," "circuit," or "circuit device" include implementations combining hardware and software that are operable to cause the controller, circuit device, or circuit to perform functions and operations based on any form of machine-readable program, software, or other instructions available for operating the controller, circuit device, or circuit.

[0161] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that modifications and variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be determined solely by the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0162] 1 Electric vehicles 2 Front wheels 3 Front Axle 4 Rear Wheel 5 Rear Axle 6 Intermediate Frame 8 Battery Housing 10 Front Frame 12 Rear frame 14,16,18,20,22,24 Electric motor 15,17,19,21,23 Gearing 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, Battery compartment 38 Mounting bar 40 AC Compressor 42 Condenser 44 Dryer 46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66 Expansion valve 48,52,56,60,64,68 Evaporator / Evaporator Coil 70,72,74,76,78,80,82,84 Duct 86 Side duct (horizontal duct) 88 Side blower (horizontal blower) 89 Controller 90,98 Gap 104 Warm air storage section 110 Intermediate cold air storage section

Claims

1. An electric work vehicle, a power distribution unit (PDU); A plurality of battery strings; a battery housing that houses the plurality of battery strings; Each of the plurality of battery strings includes a plurality of battery modules connected in series; The power distribution unit has a first PDU housing that houses a positive rail and a second PDU housing that houses a negative rail; the first PDU housing and the second PDU housing are separated and positioned apart from the battery housing; The first PDU housing is disposed on a first side with respect to a center line of the electric work vehicle extending in a front-rear direction of the electric work vehicle, the second PDU housing is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side with respect to the center line of the electric work vehicle extending in a front-rear direction of the electric work vehicle; the positive rail includes a plurality of first contactors connected to the plurality of battery strings; the negative rail includes a plurality of second contactors connected to the plurality of battery strings; the plurality of first contactors includes a plurality of contactors equal to a number of the plurality of battery strings; The electric work vehicle, wherein the plurality of second contactors includes a plurality of contactors equal in number to the plurality of battery strings.

2. the first PDU housing is disposed on a first side with respect to a steering column of the electric work vehicle in a left-right direction of the electric work vehicle, The electric work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second PDU housing is disposed on a second side of the steering column of the electric work vehicle that faces the first side in a left-right direction of the electric work vehicle.

3. The electric work vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least one first evaporator is disposed between the first PDU housing and the second PDU housing.

4. a first end of the plurality of battery strings connected to the positive rail; The electric work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein second ends of the plurality of battery strings are connected to the negative rail.

5. The electric work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the first PDU housing is disposed spaced apart from the second PDU housing in the left-right direction of the electric work vehicle.

6. the plurality of battery strings includes a first battery string and a second battery string; the first battery string includes a first plurality of battery modules connected in series; the second battery string includes a second plurality of battery modules connected in series; the first battery string is connected to a first one of the first contactors included in the positive rail; the second battery string is connected to a second one of the first contactors included in the positive rail; the first battery string is connected to a first of the second plurality of contactors included in the negative rail; The electric work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second battery string is connected to a second one of the plurality of second contactors included in the negative rail.

7. The electric work vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the first battery string and the second battery string are stacked in layers relative to each other in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

8. the plurality of battery strings includes a first battery string and a second battery string; the first battery string includes a first plurality of battery modules connected in series; the second battery string includes a second plurality of battery modules connected in series; a first end of the first battery string connected to the positive rail; a second end of the first battery string connected to the negative rail; a first end of the second battery string connected to the positive rail; The electric work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a second end of the second battery string is connected to the negative rail.

9. The electric work vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the first battery string and the second battery string are stacked in layers relative to each other in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

10. the first plurality of battery modules includes a first battery module group and a second battery module group disposed apart from the first battery module group; The electric work vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the second plurality of battery modules includes a third battery module group and a fourth battery module group arranged apart from the third battery module group.

11. the battery housing includes a first battery receiving portion and a second battery receiving portion; the first battery module group and the third battery module group are accommodated in the first battery accommodating portion, The electric work vehicle according to claim 10 , wherein the second battery module group and the fourth battery module group are housed in the second battery housing portion.

12. the first battery module group is disposed above the third battery module group in a vertical direction of the electric work vehicle; The electric work vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the second battery module group is disposed above the fourth battery module group in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

13. The electric work vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the first battery housing portion is disposed adjacent to the second battery housing portion in the left-right direction of the electric work vehicle.

14. the plurality of battery strings includes a third battery string, the third battery string includes a plurality of third battery modules connected in series; a first end of the third battery string connected to the positive rail; a second end of the third battery string connected to the negative rail; The electric work vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the first battery string, the second battery string, and the third battery string are stacked in layers relative to one another in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

15. Each of the plurality of battery strings includes a service plug; The electric work vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the service plugs are disposed spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

16. At least a portion of the first plurality of battery modules and the second plurality of battery modules At least a portion of the battery terminals include The electric work vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the battery terminal faces in the same direction as the opening of the service plug faces.

17. The electric work vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the service plug is disposed adjacent to one of the first PDU housing and the second PDU housing.

18. the first PDU housing is disposed rearward of at least a portion of the battery housing in a front-rear direction of the electric work vehicle, The electric work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second PDU housing is disposed rearward of at least a portion of the battery housing in the front-rear direction of the electric work vehicle.

19. the first PDU housing is disposed above at least a portion of the battery housing in a vertical direction of the electric work vehicle, The electric work vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the second PDU housing is disposed above at least a portion of the battery housing in the vertical direction of the electric work vehicle.

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