Small-sized electric vehicle

Abstract

To provide a small-sized electric vehicle with improved convenience that also contributes to enhanced safety.SOLUTION: An electric vehicle V comprises a seat 41 configured to allow a user to sit while facing forward, a luggage hanging section 51, provided behind the seating surface of the seat 41, configured to secure luggage transported during travel of the electric vehicle V, a manual operation section (hook stop button 121) which is installed near the luggage hanging section 51 so that a user facing the luggage hanging section 51 can operate, and a vehicle stop control section (controller 101) which forcibly stops the electric vehicle or remains the same in a stopped state based on operation through the manual operation section 121.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a small electric vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] There exists a small electric vehicle equipped with a basket capable of accommodating luggage at the front part of the vehicle body.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, if the luggage storage part on the vehicle is only the basket in the front of the vehicle body, the amount and size of the luggage that can be stored are limited.

[0005] Therefore, it is conceivable to install another storage part for storing luggage that does not fit in the basket on the rear part of the vehicle body, that is, on the side opposite to the basket with the seat in between. At this time, the user performs the operation of storing luggage in a standing state facing the storage part at the rear of the vehicle body (hereinafter referred to as the "rear storage part").

[0006] Here, when storing luggage in the rear storage part, if the travel stop button of the vehicle is installed only considering the operation by the user sitting on the seat, it is feared that the button will not be within easy reach for the user during the luggage storage operation, causing inconvenience in operation. This problem can be a serious problem for users who have difficulty walking, such as the elderly and those who need care.

[0007] Furthermore, even if the user is able-bodied, there is a concern that when storing luggage in the rear storage section, the user may neglect to press the stop button to ensure the vehicle is stopped due to the inconvenience of having to move.

[0008] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a small electric vehicle that is more convenient and contributes to improving safety. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a small electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a seat that is installed so that a user can sit facing forward, a luggage hanging section that is provided behind the seat surface of the seat and configured to be able to hold luggage to be carried while the vehicle is moving, a manual operation section that is provided near the luggage hanging section and directly facing the luggage hanging section so that it can be operated by the user, and a stop control section that forcibly stops the vehicle or maintains it in a stopped state based on operation of the manual operation section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, by providing a luggage hook configured to hook luggage at the rear of the vehicle body, i.e., behind the seat surface, it is possible to accommodate the transportation of a wider variety of luggage, thereby improving the convenience of the small electric vehicle. Furthermore, by providing a manual operation unit near the luggage hook, a user facing the luggage hook can easily operate the manual operation unit when hanging luggage on the luggage hook or removing luggage from the luggage hook, and the vehicle can be forcibly stopped or maintained in a stopped state based on the operation of the manual operation unit, making it possible to safely load and unload luggage while the vehicle is reliably stopped. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] (Overall Configuration of Small Electric Vehicle) FIG. 1 is a side view showing a small electric vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as "electric vehicle") V according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the right side, and FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the electric vehicle V as viewed from the rear. In FIG. 1, the left and right arrows L with respect to the paper surface indicate the front-rear direction of the electric vehicle V, and the upper and lower arrows H indicate the up-down direction of the electric vehicle V. In FIG. 2, the left and right arrows W with respect to the paper surface indicate the left-right direction of the electric vehicle V. The left and right arrows L shown in FIG. 1, that is, the front-rear direction, coincides with the traveling direction when the electric vehicle V moves forward or backward.

[0014] With appropriate reference to FIG. 2, the configuration of the electric vehicle V will be mainly described based on FIG. 1.

[0015] In this embodiment, the electric vehicle V can be used as a means of transportation for the elderly, the injured, and other people with difficulty walking. The electric vehicle V is, for example, an electric wheelchair capable of traveling on a sidewalk or a so-called senior car. In other words, the electric vehicle V is equipped with an electric motor as a drive source and travels at a speed equal to or lower than the upper limit speed permitted by law for traveling on a sidewalk. The maximum moving speed during the travel of the electric vehicle V is set to, for example, 6 km / h. In addition to the above, the electric vehicle V can also be used for the movement of healthy people including children.

[0016] The electric vehicle V can be driven by manual operation of the user on the operation panel 313 described later, and can also be driven by autonomous driving. That is, the electric vehicle V is set with a manual driving mode and an autonomous driving mode as driving modes. The manual driving mode and the autonomous driving mode can be switched appropriately according to the user's selection. In the driving by the autonomous driving mode, the user can set the target position. The electric vehicle V automatically drives along the route from the current position to the target position without the user's operation. Instead of this, the electric vehicle V can also be set in advance with a departure point and an arrival point, stored in the control system, and automatically drive along a predetermined route from the departure point to the arrival point. The driving by the autonomous driving mode is not limited to the manned driving with the user sitting on the seat, that is, the passenger present, and there may also be a case of unmanned driving in which the electric vehicle V drives in a state where no passenger is present.

[0017] As the main components of the electric vehicle V according to the present embodiment, the electric vehicle V includes a chassis (not shown), wheels 11, a body cover 21, a handle unit 31, and a seat 41. In the present embodiment, the electric vehicle V is a four-wheeled vehicle and includes a pair of left and right front wheels 11f and a pair of left and right rear wheels 11r.

[0018] The chassis is the vehicle platform of the electric vehicle V, forms the skeletal structure of the electric vehicle V, and supports various components that make up the electric vehicle V. Specifically, the chassis supports drive system electrical components including the battery BAT and the drive actuator ACT1, steering system electrical components including the steering actuator ACT2, and also supports the body cover 21 described later. In the present embodiment, the battery BAT is a secondary battery that can be charged and discharged, and both the drive actuator ACT1 and the steering actuator ACT2 are electric motors. The battery BAT constitutes the power supply for the drive actuator ACT1 and the steering actuator ACT2. The drive actuator ACT1 and the steering actuator ACT2 are driven by receiving power supply from the battery BAT.

[0019] The front wheels 11f are provided on the left and right sides of the front portion of the electric vehicle V, and support the chassis via front suspension devices 12f against the road surface on which the electric vehicle V travels. In this embodiment, the front wheels 11f are steered wheels as well as driven wheels. The front wheels 11f are configured so that their rotation axes rotate about an axis perpendicular to the road surface and can be turned. The front wheels 11f are driven to rotate by power transmitted from an electric motor, which is the steering actuator ACT2, and change their direction. The electric vehicle V can change its traveling direction depending on the direction of the front wheels 11f.

[0020] The rear wheels 11r are provided on the left and right sides of the rear portion of the electric vehicle V, and support the chassis from the road surface via rear suspension devices 12r. In this embodiment, the rear wheels 11r are drive wheels, and their orientation is fixed. The left and right rear wheels 11r, 11r are connected via a wheel drive shaft 13 that extends in the left-right direction W with respect to the electric vehicle V. An electric motor, which is a drive actuator ACT1, is mounted on the wheel drive shaft 13, and the rear wheels 11r are rotationally driven by power transmitted from the drive actuator ACT1, enabling the electric vehicle V to propel.

[0021] Furthermore, a brake device BRK is provided to prevent the rotation of the rear wheel 11r. The brake device BRK, for example, prevents the rotation of the rear wheel 11r by frictional force, and can decelerate the electric vehicle V through the frictional force acting on the rear wheel 11r and maintain the electric vehicle V in a stopped state after deceleration.

[0022] The body cover 21 is attached to the chassis so as to cover the entire chassis, encloses various elements supported by the chassis, and forms the exterior of the electric vehicle V. The body cover 21 has a cover main body 211, a front fender 212, and a rear fender 213. The cover main body 211 is located near the center of the electric vehicle V in the fore-and-aft direction L and encloses the battery BAT. The front fender 212 is located in the front part of the electric vehicle V and encloses the front wheel 11f from above and behind. The rear fender 213 extends rearward from the cover main body 211 and encloses the rear wheel 11r from above and in front. The front fender 212 and rear fender 213 prevent the front and rear wheels 11f, 11r from coming into contact with the outside and also prevent a user seated on the seat 41 from getting mud splashed on them while traveling. The front fender 212 is provided with a night lighting device (hereinafter referred to as "headlight") 22 that can illuminate the area ahead of the electric vehicle V, and the rear fender 213 is provided with a direction indicator (hereinafter referred to as "winker") 23. In the vehicle body cover 21, a floor step 214 is formed between the cover main body 211 and the front fender 212. The floor step 214 is located at the feet of the user while traveling.

[0023] The handle unit 31 is attached to the upper end of a steering shaft (not shown) that extends vertically between the left and right front wheels 11f, 11f, and is supported by the steering shaft. The handle unit 31 basically includes a main body 311, a handlebar 312, an operation panel 313, and a rearview mirror 314.

[0024] The main body 311 constitutes the housing of the handle unit 31, and is located in front of the user who is seated on the seat 41 facing forward while traveling.

[0025] The handlebars 312 are provided on the left and right outer sides of the main body 311. That is, the handlebar 312 includes a right half extending to the right of the main body 311 and a left half extending to the left of the main body 311, and both the right and left halves form a horizontal U-shape. In both the manual driving mode and the automatic driving mode, the user can grasp the handlebars 312 to maintain and stabilize their posture while driving. In the manual driving mode, the user can steer the electric vehicle V by rotating the entire handle unit 31 left and right via the handlebars 312. At this time, the steering actuator ACT2 generates an output torque corresponding to the rotation angle of the handlebars 312 to assist the user's steering force.

[0026] An accelerator lever 114 (FIG. 6) is provided at a position where it can be operated by the four fingers, excluding the thumb, of a user gripping the handlebar 312. When driving in manual driving mode, the user can operate the accelerator bar 114 with the fingers of the hand gripping the handlebar 312. When the user pulls the accelerator bar 114 toward the handlebar 312, the electric vehicle V accelerates and drives due to the powering operation of the drive actuator ACT1. When the user releases the accelerator bar 114 and returns it to its original position, the electric vehicle V decelerates due to the regenerative operation of the drive actuator ACT1. After deceleration, the brake device BRK is activated, and the electric vehicle V remains stopped until the user operates the accelerator lever 114 again. The electric vehicle V can be decelerated not only by the regenerative operation of the drive actuator ACT1 but also by the brake device BRK. For example, a brake lever is provided on the handle unit 31, and the user can operate the brake device BRK via the brake lever.

[0027] The operation panel 313 is provided on the top surface of the main body 311 and includes various switches for the user to operate the electric vehicle V. The main switches on the operation panel 313 are a start switch 111 that turns the power to the electric vehicle V on and off, a forward / backward changeover switch 112 that switches the traveling direction of the electric vehicle V between forward and reverse, a speed adjustment dial 113 that changes the maximum forward traveling speed in stages within a range of 6 km / h or less while traveling, for example, a light switch that turns on and off the headlights 22, and a blinker switch that activates the left and right blinkers 23. A display is provided in front of the various switches on the operation panel 313, and this display can display the remaining charge of the battery BAT, the traveling distance of the electric vehicle V, and various warnings such as tilt warnings.

[0028] The rearview mirror 314 is attached to the handle unit 31 via a mirror arm 314a that stands up from the front edge of the upper surface of the main body 311. The rearview mirror 314 is positioned slightly lower than the eye height of a user sitting on the seat 41. While traveling, the user can view the rear of the electric vehicle V through the rearview mirror 314 while facing forward.

[0029] The seat 41 is located above the cover body 211 and is supported with respect to the chassis via a bracket (not shown). The seat 41 has a seating portion 411, a backrest 412, and armrests 413, and is configured such that when the user sits on the seating portion 411, it faces the forward direction of the electric vehicle V. The backrest 412 is in a state of standing up from the seating portion 411, and the armrests 413 are attached to the backrest 412 near the middle portion thereof and extend forward from the backrest 412. The armrests 413 can swing up and down around the connection portion with the backrest 412, and can be switched between a standby state when bounced up upward and a use state when tilted downward. In FIG. 1, the armrests 413 in the use state are shown by solid lines, and the armrests 413' in the standby state are shown by two-dot chain lines, respectively. The seat 41 constitutes the "seat" according to the present embodiment, and the backrest 412 constitutes the "backrest portion" of the seat 41 according to the present embodiment.

[0030] In addition to the above, in the present embodiment, as an element for accommodating or holding the luggage carried by the electric vehicle V, that is, as a luggage accommodation portion, a front basket 81 provided in the front portion of the electric vehicle V and a luggage hanging portion 51 provided in the rear portion are provided. The front basket 81 is disposed above the front fender 212 and is integrally formed with the vehicle body cover 21. The luggage hanging portion 51 is provided at a position out of the line of sight of the user facing forward during traveling, that is, behind the seating portion 411 of the seat 41, and in the present embodiment, is provided on the backrest 412.

[0031] The luggage hook 51 holds luggage to be carried on the vehicle while the vehicle is moving by hanging it thereon, and in this embodiment, it is formed by attaching a luggage hook (for convenience, indicated by the same reference numeral as the luggage hook) 51 to the backrest 412. Items to be carried by the luggage hook 51 include, for example, bags and backpacks with handles or straps, as well as long, thin luggage with handles, such as walking sticks or umbrellas. The luggage hook 51 holds bags on the vehicle by hanging them with the straps, backpacks by hanging them with the shoulder harness (shoulder straps), and long items by hanging them with the handles or grips. The luggage hook 51 constitutes the "luggage hook" according to this embodiment.

[0032] In this embodiment, the luggage hook 51 is disposed on the upper edge of the back of the backrest 412. As shown in Fig. 2, the luggage hook 51 has a shape that is long in the left-right direction and extends along the upper edge of the backrest 412. The specific configuration of the luggage hook 51 will be described in detail later.

[0033] (Control system configuration) FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a control system provided in the electric vehicle V.

[0034] The electric vehicle V is equipped with a control system that controls the traveling state. The control system of the electric vehicle V includes a controller 101, which is an electronic control unit, and the controller 101 constitutes the calculation section of the control system. In this embodiment, the controller 101 is configured by a microcomputer that includes a central processing unit (CPU), an input / output interface, and storage units such as ROM and RAM. The controller 101 and its peripheral electrical components are housed in an electrical box 215 provided behind the front basket 81.

[0035] The control system includes a start switch 111, a forward / reverse switch 112, a speed adjustment dial 113, an accelerator lever 114, a current position sensor 115, a traveling speed sensor 116, a steering angle sensor 117, a luggage sensor 118, a driving mode selector switch 119, a first stop button 120, and a second stop button 121. The start switch 111, the forward / reverse switch 112, the speed adjustment dial 113, the accelerator lever 114, the driving mode selector switch 119, and the first stop button 120 are arranged on the operation panel 313 or in its vicinity on the top surface of the handle unit 31. The current position sensor 115 detects the current position of the electric vehicle V. The traveling speed sensor 116 detects the traveling speed of the electric vehicle V, in other words, the rotational speed of the wheels 11 (for example, the front wheels 11f). The steering angle sensor 117 detects the steering angle of the electric vehicle V, in other words, the angle that the front wheels 11f make with respect to their position when traveling straight ahead. The controller 101 receives output signals from these various switches and sensors as inputs as signals related to the driving control of the electric vehicle V, and outputs output signals corresponding to the input signals to the battery BAT, the drive actuator ACT1, the steering actuator ACT2, the brake device BRK, and further to the indicator lamp 131.

[0036] The first parking button (hereinafter referred to as the "panel parking button") 120 is provided in front of the seat 41, and in this embodiment, it is provided together with the operation panel 313 on the upper surface of the main body 311 of the steering wheel unit 31. The user can operate the panel parking button 120 while sitting on the seat 41. In this embodiment, the panel parking button 120 is a push-button type, and after being pressed, it maintains the pressed position until the parking is released. By pressing the panel parking button 120, the user can forcibly stop the running electric vehicle V or keep the parked electric vehicle V in the parked state regardless of operations such as the accelerator lever 114. The controller 101 receives the output signal from the panel parking button 120 as an input, and outputs a command signal for the pressing of the panel parking button 120 to the battery BAT, the drive actuator ACT1, and the brake device BRK. The parking by the panel parking button 120 can be released by pressing the panel parking button 120 again or by pressing a separately provided parking release button.

[0037] The second parking button (hereinafter referred to as the "hook parking button") 121 is provided behind the seat 41, and in this embodiment, it is provided on the luggage hook 51. The hook parking button 121 is provided within the reach of the user who performs the operation of hanging or removing luggage from the luggage hook 51. The user can easily operate it while facing the back surface of the backrest 412. Similar to the panel parking button 120, the hook parking button 121 is also a push-button type, and after being pressed, it maintains the pressed position until the parking is released. After parking, the user can keep the electric vehicle V in the parked state by pressing the hook parking button 121. The hook parking button 121 can be operated not only by the user but also by a third party who exists around the electric vehicle V or passes around the electric vehicle V. As a third party existing around the electric vehicle V, the caregiver of an elderly person or the protector of a child is assumed when the elderly person or child rides on the electric vehicle V as a user. The third party can forcibly stop the electric vehicle V by pressing the hook parking button 121 in an emergency. The controller 101 receives the output signal from the hook parking button 121 as an input and outputs a command signal for the pressing of the hook parking button 121 to the battery BAT, the drive actuator ACT1, and the brake device BRK. The parking by the hook parking button 121 can be released by pressing the hook parking button 121 again or by pressing the parking release button. The hook parking button 121 constitutes the "manual operation unit" according to this embodiment.

[0038] The luggage sensor 118 detects the presence or absence of luggage hooked on the luggage hook 51. In this embodiment, the luggage sensor 118 is provided at the attachment portion of the luggage hook 51 to the backrest 412, senses the load of the luggage hooked on the luggage hook 51, and generates an output signal corresponding thereto. The controller 101 receives the output signal from the luggage sensor 118 as an input and outputs a command signal according to the presence or absence of luggage to the indicator lamp 131. The luggage sensor 118 constitutes the "luggage detection unit" according to this embodiment, and the controller 101 that outputs a command signal according to the presence or absence of luggage constitutes the "signal output unit" according to this embodiment.

[0039] The indicator lamp 131 provides a visual notification to the user when the luggage hooked on the luggage hook 51 is removed and the presence / absence of the luggage switches from "present" to "absent". In other words, when the state of the luggage hook 51 switches from the "present" state with the luggage hooked to the "absent" state without the luggage being hooked. For example, the indicator lamp 131 is provided together with a display on the operation panel 313 of the handle unit 31 and provides notification by lighting or flashing. Instead of or in addition to the indicator lamp 131, an alarm may be installed to provide an auditory notification to the user by sounding an alarm when the state of the luggage hook 51 switches.

[0040] Furthermore, the controller 101 is configured to be communicable with the portable terminal 201. When traveling in the automatic driving mode, the user can set the destination position of the electric vehicle V or set the traveling route of the electric vehicle V from the departure point to the arrival point not only via the operation panel 313 but also via the portable terminal 201. For example, the user downloads an application program related to travel control from a remote server via the Internet and sets the destination position or traveling route of the electric vehicle V according to the instructions displayed on the screen of the portable terminal 201 by the application program. The setting of the destination position and the traveling route can be performed not only by the user but also by a third party via the portable terminal 201. After the setting, the user can instruct the controller 101 to start traveling in the automatic driving mode by operating the travel start button displayed on the portable terminal 201. After the instruction, the electric vehicle V automatically travels toward the set destination position or along the set traveling route. As the portable terminal 201, a smartphone or a tablet terminal can be applied.

[0041] (Configuration of the luggage hanging part) Here, the configuration of the luggage hook 51 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. FIG. 3 is a front view of the luggage hook 51, FIG. 4 is a top view of the luggage hook 51, and FIG. 5 is a side view and a cross-sectional view of the luggage hook 51. The cutting line of the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 5(b) is indicated by the line X-X in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows the state of the luggage hook 51 attached to the backrest 412 as viewed from the rear of the electric vehicle V, FIG. 4 shows the state of the luggage hook 51 attached to the backrest 412 as viewed from above, and FIG. 5 shows the state of the luggage hook 51 attached to the backrest 412 as viewed from the right.

[0042] In the present embodiment, the luggage hook 51 has a main body portion 511, a right protruding portion 512, a left protruding portion 513, and a central protruding portion 514. The main body portion 511, the right protruding portion 512, the left protruding portion 513, and the central protruding portion 514 respectively correspond to the "main body portion", the "first hanging portion", the "second hanging portion", and the "third hanging portion" according to the present embodiment.

[0043] The main body portion 511 is a fixing portion of the luggage hook 51 with respect to the backrest 412 of the seat 41. In other words, the main body portion 511 is attached to the backrest 412 by a fastening tool such as a screw (not shown), and imparts the fixing strength of the entire luggage hook 51 with respect to the backrest 412. When a luggage is hooked on each of the right protruding portion 512, the left protruding portion 513, and the central protruding portion 514, the main body portion 511 firmly supports these hanging portions 512, 513, 514, and has strength and rigidity capable of suppressing the dropping of the luggage due to the deformation or displacement of the hanging portions.

[0044] The right protruding portion 512 extends in a cantilever state from the main body portion 511 to the right for a length De1. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, while the back surface of the main body portion 511 is close to or in close contact with the back surface of the backrest 412 with almost no gap, the right protruding portion 512 is smaller in thickness or front-rear dimension than the main body portion 511, and forms a gap S with the backrest 412. This gap S becomes a space where handles or straps of luggage such as bags are arranged when the luggage is hooked.

[0045] The left overhanging portion 513 extends in a cantilevered state from the main body portion 511 to the side opposite to the right overhanging portion 512, that is, to the left for a length of De2. In the present embodiment, the luggage hook 51 has a bilaterally symmetric shape, and the length De2 of the left overhanging portion 513 is equal to the length De1 of the right overhanging portion 512. And, similar to the right overhanging portion 512, the left overhanging portion 513 has a smaller thickness than the main body portion 511, and forms a space S between the left overhanging portion 513 and the backrest 412 where a luggage handle or a strap is disposed.

[0046] The central protrusion 514 protrudes from the main body portion 511 in a direction perpendicular to the extending directions of the right overhanging portion 512 and the left overhanging portion 513, that is, upward for a height of De3. As shown in FIG. 5, the height De3 of the central protrusion 514 is the vertical dimension from the upper surface 511a of the main body portion 511 to the upper surface 514a of the central protrusion 514. In the present embodiment, the height De3 of the central protrusion 514 is smaller than either of the lengths De1, De2 of the right overhanging portion 512 and the left overhanging portion 513, and the width of the central protrusion 514, that is, the lateral dimension, is larger than either of the widths of the right overhanging portion 512 and the left overhanging portion 513, that is, the vertical dimension. Further, the thickness of the central protrusion 514, that is, the front-rear dimension, is larger than either of the thicknesses of the right overhanging portion 512 and the left overhanging portion 513. Thus, the central protrusion 514 forms a stronger hanging portion that suppresses deformation due to the load when a luggage is hooked as compared with the right overhanging portion 512 and the left overhanging portion 513. In other words, the central protrusion 514 is suitable for supporting or receiving a larger load than the right overhanging portion 512 and the left overhanging portion 513.

[0047] In this embodiment, upper convex portions 512a, 513a are provided at the respective tip ends of the right overhang portion 512 and the left overhang portion 513, i.e., at the outer ends distal to the main body portion 511, and a forward convex portion 514b is provided at the upper end of the central protrusion 514. The upper convex portion 512a of the right overhang portion 512 has a shape that is convex upward from the outer end of the right overhang portion 512 and has a slope that faces diagonally forward to the right, as shown in FIG. 4. The upper convex portion 513a of the left overhang portion 513 has a shape that is convex upward from the outer end of the left overhang portion 513 and has a slope that faces diagonally forward to the left, symmetrically to the right overhang portion 512. The forward convex portion 514b of the central protrusion 514 has a shape that protrudes forward from the upper end of the central protrusion 514. The left and right upper convex portions 512a, 513a and the central front convex portion 514b prevent luggage hooked on the luggage hook 51 from falling off the respective hook portions 512, 513, 514.

[0048] As shown in Figure 3, the length De1 of the right protrusion 512 is defined as the left-right dimension from the right edge of the main body 511 to the protruding end of the upper convex portion 512a, and the length De2 of the left protrusion 513 is defined as the left-right dimension from the left edge of the main body 511 to the protruding end of the upper convex portion 513a.

[0049] Here, the length of the luggage hook 51, that is, the lateral dimension Dw1, is defined as the lateral dimension from the protruding end of the upper convex portion 512a to the protruding end of the upper convex portion 513a, and as shown in FIG. 2, it is smaller than the overall width Dw3 of the electric vehicle V. In the present embodiment, the overall width Dw3 of the electric vehicle V is defined as the dimension between the outer surfaces of the left and right rear wheels 11r, 11r. Further, the lateral dimension Dw1 of the luggage hook 51 is smaller than the dimension Dw4 between the outer surfaces 413a, 413a of the left and right armrests 413, 413 provided on the seat 41, and is further smaller than the width of the backrest 412, that is, the lateral dimension Dw2 of the backrest 412. Since the armrests 413 are attached to the left and right side portions of the backrest 412, the lateral dimension Dw2 of the backrest 412 is smaller than the dimension Dw4 between the outer surfaces 413a, 413a of the left and right armrests 413, 413, and is approximately equal to the dimension between the inner surfaces of the left and right armrests 413, 413.

[0050] In addition to the above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the hook parking button 121 is provided on the luggage hook 51, specifically, on the main body portion 511 of the luggage hook 51. The hook parking button 121 may be provided at an appropriate position of the luggage hook 51, but in the present embodiment, it is provided around the joint portion of the central protrusion 514, which is formed relatively thick in the luggage hook 51, with respect to the main body portion 511 in order to secure the wall thickness or the installation space. The main body portion 511 and the central protrusion 514 are recessed in a concave shape around these joint portions, and the hook parking button 121 is arranged in this concave portion R. Thereby, the hook parking button 121 does not protrude from the concave portion R, and the entire surface up to its pressing surface is accommodated in the concave portion R. As shown in FIG. 5, the main body portion 511 and the central protrusion 514 are formed such that the outer surfaces around the concave portion R are flush.

[0051] The luggage hook 51 can be used by hanging the luggage on only one of the right protruding part 512, the left protruding part 513, and the central protruding part 514. Not limited to this, as described above, the luggage hook 51 can also be used for transporting a plurality of luggage by hanging the luggage on each of these hanging parts 512, 513, 514, or by hooking the handle or strap provided on one piece of luggage on each of these hanging parts 512, 513, 514 to disperse the load of one piece of luggage to different hanging parts.

[0052] Here, the situation of transporting luggage by the luggage hook 51 will be described.

[0053] FIG. 12 shows a case where a plurality of pieces of luggage 1001a to 1001c each having a strap are transported by the luggage hook 51. FIG. 13 shows a case where one piece of luggage 1002 having a plurality of straps or handles is transported by the luggage hook 51. FIG. 14 shows a case where a long and thin piece of luggage 1003 with a handle is transported by the luggage hook 51. The pieces of luggage 1001a to 1001c shown in FIG. 12 are bags, the piece of luggage 1002 shown in FIG. 13 is a backpack, and the piece of luggage 1003 shown in FIG. 14 is a walking stick.

[0054] In the situation shown in FIG. 12, each of the three bags 1001a to 1001c is hooked to the luggage hook 51 by hooking the handle or strap 1011a to 1011c to the respective hanging parts 512, 513, 514. Specifically, one of the three bags (1001a) is hooked to the central protruding part 514, another bag 1001b is hooked to the right protruding part 512, and yet another bag 1001c is hooked to the left protruding part 513.

[0055] In the situation shown in FIG. 13, the backpack 1002 is hooked to the luggage hook 51 by hooking the left and right shoulder harnesses (shoulder straps) 1021 and 1022 to the right overhang portion 512 and the left overhang portion 513 respectively, and hooking the central grab loop (handle for hand carrying) 1023 to the central protrusion 514. In this way, the form of dispersing and supporting the load of one piece of luggage 1002 to each of the three hanging portions 512, 513, and 514 is called support or transportation by "three-point fixing". As shown in FIG. 13, when the backpack 1002 is supported by the luggage hook 51 by three-point fixing, the load of the backpack 1002 is dispersed and supported to each of the three hanging portions 512, 513, and 514 via the shoulder harnesses 1021, 1022 and the grab loop 1023.

[0056] In the situation shown in FIG. 14, the walking stick 1003 is hooked to the luggage hook 51 by hooking the handle portion 1031 with a handle to any one of the hanging portions (for example, the right overhang portion 512).

[0057] (Contents of driving control) The contents of the driving control implemented by the control system will be described below.

[0058] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the basic flow of the driving mode setting control according to the present embodiment, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the contents of the driving control in the manual driving mode, and FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the contents of the driving control in the automatic driving mode. The control shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 7 to 9 is repeatedly executed by the controller 101 at predetermined time intervals after the power is turned on by the start switch 111.

[0059] In the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, in S101, an output signal from the driving mode changeover switch 119 is read.

[0060] In S102, it is determined whether the driving mode selected by the driving mode selector switch 119 is the manual driving mode or the automatic driving mode. If it is the manual driving mode, the process proceeds to S103, and if it is the automatic driving mode, the process proceeds to S104.

[0061] In S103, driving control in the manual driving mode is carried out according to the procedure shown in FIG.

[0062] In S104, driving control in the automatic driving mode is carried out according to the procedure shown in FIG.

[0063] In the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, in S201, various control information used for driving control in manual driving mode, such as output signals from the forward / reverse switch 112, speed adjustment dial 113, accelerator lever 114 and luggage sensor 118, is read.

[0064] In S202, the drive current (that is, the motor drive current) for the drive actuator ACT1 is set. The motor drive current for the drive actuator ACT1 can be set as a current value according to the setting range of the speed adjustment dial 113.

[0065] In S203, it is determined whether or not neither the panel stop button 120 nor the hook stop button 121 is pressed and is in the OFF state. If both the panel stop button 120 and the hook stop button 121 are in the OFF state, the process proceeds to S204, and if either one is in the ON state, the process proceeds to S207.

[0066] In S204, it is determined whether the accelerator lever 114 is in the ON state, in other words, whether the user has requested the electric vehicle V to start or run. If the accelerator lever 114 is in the ON state, the process proceeds to S205, and if it is not in the ON state, the process returns to S203 and waits while monitoring the states of the stop buttons 120 and 121 until the accelerator lever 114 is in the ON state.

[0067] In S205, based on the output signal from the luggage sensor 118, it is determined whether or not the luggage hooked on the luggage hook 51 has fallen off the luggage hook 51. If it is detected that the luggage has fallen off, the process proceeds to S206; if not, the process proceeds to S208.

[0068] In S206, the indicator lamp 131 is activated to prompt the user to recognize the luggage drop-off.

[0069] In S207, when the electric vehicle V is in motion, the electric vehicle V is forcibly decelerated and, after stopping, maintained in the stopped state. When the electric vehicle V has already stopped, regardless of the operation of the operation panel 313 (for example, the accelerator lever 114), the electric vehicle V is continuously maintained in the stopped state. The maintenance of the stopped state continues until the panel stop button 120 or the hook stop button 121 is pressed again, or until the stop is released by pressing the stop release button. For example, in the case of stopping by pressing the hook stop button 121, the user can release the stop by pressing the hook stop button 121 again. On the other hand, in the case of stopping due to the luggage falling off, the user can release the stop by pressing the stop release button after hanging the luggage on the luggage hook 51 again. The electric vehicle V resumes running when the user sitting on the seat 41 grasps the accelerator lever 114 again. The forced deceleration of the electric vehicle V can be implemented by the drive actuator ACT1 that performs the regenerative operation, and the stop maintenance can be implemented by the brake device BRK. When decelerating, the brake device BRK may be operated instead of or in addition to the drive actuator ACT1.

[0070] In S208, the drive actuator ACT1 is energized with the motor drive current.

[0071] In the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, in S301, the travel route of the electric vehicle V in the automatic driving mode is set.

[0072] In S302, various control information used for travel control in the automatic driving mode, such as output signals from the current position sensor 115, the traveling speed sensor 116, the steering angle sensor 117, and the luggage sensor 118, is read.

[0073] In S303, the motor drive current for the drive actuator ACT1 is set. The motor drive current for the drive actuator ACT1 can be set as a current value corresponding to a speed range preset for traveling in the automatic driving mode. In this embodiment, as a speed range below the upper limit speed legally allowed for traveling on a sidewalk, the motor drive current of the drive actuator ACT1 for driving the electric vehicle V at a speed of 6 km / h is set. The moving speed during traveling in the automatic driving mode can be set not only uniformly but also variably according to the state of the road surface, for example, the road maintenance condition, the slope, etc.

[0074] In S304, the target steering angle of the electric vehicle V is set. The target steering angle can be set based on the output information of the current position sensor 115 and the steering angle sensor 117 in addition to the route information of the traveling route as the steering angle necessary for traveling the electric vehicle V along the set route.

[0075] In S305, it is determined whether either the panel stop button 120 or the hook stop button 121 is not pressed and is in the off state. If either the panel stop button 120 or the hook stop button 121 is in the off state, the process proceeds to S306. If either is in the on state, the process proceeds to S309.

[0076] In S306, it is determined whether the travel start button is in the on state, in other words, whether the user requests the start or travel of the electric vehicle V. If the travel start button is in the on state, the process proceeds to S307. If it is not in the on state, the process returns to S305, and it waits while monitoring the states of the stop buttons 120 and 121 until the travel start button becomes in the on state. The travel start button can be realized by installing a dedicated button on the operation panel 131 or its vicinity, and can also be realized by a button displayed on the screen of the portable terminal 201. Furthermore, the travel start button can be realized or substituted by the accelerator lever 114. After setting the travel route, the user can start traveling in the automatic driving mode by gripping the accelerator lever 114 once.

[0077] In S307, based on the output signal from the luggage sensor 118, it is determined whether the luggage hooked on the luggage hook 51 has been detected to have fallen off the luggage hook 51. If the luggage has been detected to have fallen off, the process proceeds to S308. If not detected, the process proceeds to S310.

[0078] In S308, the indicator light 131 is activated to prompt the user's recognition of the luggage falling off, the automatic driving mode is canceled, and the driving mode is switched to the manual driving mode. A light-emitting part may be formed at an appropriate position of the luggage hook 51, or the hook stop button 121 itself may be configured to be able to emit light. When the luggage falling off is detected, the light-emitting part or the hook stop button 121 may be made to emit light together with the indicator light 131 to prompt the attention of a third party around (for example, a guardian accompanying a child who is the user).

[0079] In S309, if the electric vehicle V is traveling, the electric vehicle V is forcibly decelerated, and after stopping, the electric vehicle V is maintained in a stopped state. If the electric vehicle V is already stopped, the electric vehicle V continues to be maintained in a stopped state regardless of the operation of the operation panel 313 (e.g., the accelerator lever 114). As in the manual driving mode, the electric vehicle V continues to be maintained in a stopped state until the panel stop button 120 or the hook stop button 121 is pressed again, or the stop release button is pressed and the stop is released. The forcible deceleration and stop maintenance of the electric vehicle V can also be performed by the brake device BRK.

[0080] Here, the "stopping control unit" according to this embodiment is realized by the controller 101 that performs the processing of S207 and S309 after a negative determination in S203 and S305, and that performs the processing of S308 and S309 after a positive determination in S307.

[0081] In S310, a motor drive current is applied to the drive actuator ACT1.

[0082] In S311, the steering actuator ACT2 is actuated to control the steering wheels (that is, the front wheels 11f) to the target steering angle.

[0083] The small electric vehicle V according to this embodiment has the above-described configuration. The effects obtained by this embodiment will be described below.

[0084] First, by providing a luggage hanging section 51 configured to be able to hold luggage behind the seating section 411 of the seat 41, it becomes possible to transport a wider variety of luggage, thereby improving the convenience of the electric vehicle V.

[0085] Here, by providing a luggage hanging section 51 at the rear of the vehicle in addition to the front basket 81 provided at the front of the vehicle body, this luggage hanging section 51 can be used to transport luggage that does not fit in the front basket 81.

[0086] Furthermore, the luggage hanging section 51 can also be conveniently used to carry luggage such as walking sticks and umbrellas that are not suitable for storage in the front basket 81 because they have a long, narrow shape or there is a risk that sand, mud, or raindrops will adhere to them and dirty or wet other luggage.

[0087] Furthermore, a hook stop button 121 is provided near the luggage hanging section 51, and the electric vehicle V can be forcibly stopped or maintained in a stopped state based on the user's operation of the hook stop button 121. This makes it possible to safely hang luggage on the luggage hanging section 51 or remove luggage from the luggage hanging section 51 while the electric vehicle V is securely stopped.

[0088] Furthermore, if the user performing the work is elderly or a person requiring care, the electric vehicle V can be stopped by operating the hook stop button 121 near the luggage hanging section 51, rather than by operating the panel stop button 120 provided at the front of the vehicle, i.e., on the handle unit 31. Therefore, there is no need to approach the handle unit 31 to operate the panel stop button 120 when loading or unloading luggage, which makes it possible to reduce the physical burden on users who have difficulty walking.

[0089] The hook stop button 121, which can be operated while the user is facing the luggage hook 51 behind the seating portion 411 of the seat 41, can be safely operated by the user or a third party from outside or around the electric vehicle V, while avoiding contact with the electric vehicle V while it is in motion. This effect is more pronounced when the luggage hook 51 is located on the upper edge of the back of the backrest 412, because the hook stop button 121 can be easily operated from behind the electric vehicle V.

[0090] Secondly, by attaching the luggage hanging portion 51 to the backrest 412 of the seat 41, it is possible to prevent interference between the luggage being transported and the wheels 11 (specifically, the rear wheels 11r) and the drive actuator ACT1, etc., of the drive system components of the electric vehicle V, and it is also possible to make it easier for the user to hang the luggage on the luggage hanging portion 51.

[0091] Furthermore, by arranging the luggage hanging part 51 at the upper edge of the back surface of the backrest 412, the height of the luggage hanging part 51 from the ground is ensured, and it is possible to preferably avoid a situation where long and slender luggage such as a cane or an umbrella contacts the ground during transportation.

[0092] Thirdly, the luggage hanging part 51 is configured to include a main body part 411 attached to the backrest 412 of the seat 41 and locking parts 512, 513, 514 to which luggage is hooked. By providing the hook parking button 121 integrally with the main body part 511, when the user hangs luggage on the luggage hanging part 51 or removes the luggage from the luggage hanging part 51, the user can easily operate the hook parking button 121 and can surely stop the electric vehicle V.

[0093] Fourthly, by providing a concave part R in the main body part 511 of the luggage hanging part 51 and arranging the hook parking button 121 in this concave part R, it is possible to avoid a situation where the luggage locked to the luggage hanging part 51 contacts the hook parking button 121 and causes an incorrect operation or determination of the controller 101 (for example, incorrect forced stop of the electric vehicle V).

[0094] Fifthly, by providing a plurality of hanging parts on the luggage hanging part 51, specifically, a right projecting part 512, a left projecting part 513, and a central projecting part 514, it is possible to transport a plurality of pieces of luggage by the luggage hanging part 51 or to transport luggage in a form carried on the back such as a backpack while suppressing deformation. For example, the luggage hanging part 51 can hook luggage (for example, bags 1001a, 1001b, 1001c) on each of these hanging parts 512, 513, 514, and can hook the left and right shoulder harnesses 1021, 1022 of the backpack 1002 on the right projecting part 512 and the left projecting part 513 respectively, and can hook the central grab loop 1023 on the central projecting part 514.

[0095] Sixth, by adopting an electric vehicle V that can be driven not only in manual driving mode but also in automatic driving mode, when a user wishes to get on or off the vehicle while the vehicle is driving in automatic driving mode, for example, while the vehicle is being picked up or dropped off from a designated departure point to an arrival point or while driving to a designated point related to a call, the user can safely load or unload luggage with the electric vehicle V securely stopped, thereby making it possible to further improve convenience.

[0096] Furthermore, since the electric vehicle V is capable of running on the sidewalk, specifically, the speed at which it moves is set to be equal to or lower than the maximum speed at which it can run on the sidewalk, it is possible to reliably stop the electric vehicle V when loading or unloading luggage on the sidewalk, thereby ensuring the safety of third parties or passersby around the electric vehicle V.

[0097] Seventh, by configuring the device to be able to detect the presence of luggage hooked on luggage hanging section 51 and output a signal according to the detection result, it is possible to easily confirm the presence of luggage hooked on luggage hanging section 51, for example, that luggage is hooked on luggage hanging section 51, even while the vehicle is in motion, that is, even when the user is sitting in seat 41 and facing forward.

[0098] If luggage falls off the luggage hanger 51 while traveling, this is detected based on the output signal from the luggage sensor 118, and the automatic driving mode is cancelled or the electric vehicle V is forcibly stopped, thereby encouraging the user to quickly become aware of the fallen luggage and ensuring traffic safety. For example, if a user notices that luggage has fallen off while traveling in the automatic driving mode and hurriedly gets off the electric vehicle V without stopping it, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the electric vehicle V continues traveling unmanned.

[0099] Modifications of the luggage hook 51 according to this embodiment will be described below.

[0100] FIG. 10 is a partial enlarged view of a first modified example of the luggage hook 51. As shown in FIG.

[0101] In the first modification example, the luggage hook 51 is provided with a lid portion 515 that surrounds or exposes the hook parking button 121. The lid portion 515 is rotatable by a hinge structure formed between the lid portion 515 and the main body portion 511, and is displaceable between an open position and a closed position. FIG. 10(a) shows a state where the lid portion 515 is in the closed position, and FIG. 10(b) shows a state where the lid portion 515 is in the open position. In the closed position, the lid portion 515 surrounds the hook parking button 121 and inhibits external contact with the hook parking button 121. On the other hand, in the open position, the lid portion 515 exposes the hook parking button 121 and allows external contact with the hook parking button 121. When removing the luggage from the luggage hook 51, the user can open the hook parking button 121 by displacing the lid portion 515 to the open position and press it. On the contrary, during traveling, by displacing the lid portion 515 to the closed position and hiding the hook parking button 121, it is possible to suppress a situation where the hook parking button 121 is accidentally operated due to contact with the luggage or the like. The lid portion 515 constitutes the "lid portion" according to the present embodiment.

[0102] FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged view of a second modification example of the luggage hook 51.

[0103] In the second modification example, the luggage hook 51 is provided with a personal authentication unit 121' that permits the operation of the hook parking button only for a predetermined registered user. In the present embodiment, the personal authentication unit 121' determines whether the user is the registered user himself / herself based on the fingerprint of the finger of the user touching the personal authentication unit 121'. Then, when the user is the registered user himself / herself, the personal authentication unit 121' accepts the operation of the user on the hook parking button, while when not, it prohibits the operation by that user. For example, when the finger touching the personal authentication unit 121' belongs to the registered user himself / herself, the electric vehicle V is stopped by the authentication of that fingerprint by the personal authentication unit 121'. Thereby, it becomes possible to avoid a situation where the luggage locked to the luggage hanging portion 51 touches the hook parking button and causes an incorrect operation such as stopping the electric vehicle V. Further, it becomes possible to avoid a situation where an incorrect operation is caused by a prank or the like of a third party other than the registered user. As the registered user, in the case of personal use of the electric vehicle V, the user himself / herself and close relatives such as his / her family are assumed. Further, in the case of use for the purpose of a business such as sharing, in addition to the user, employees of the service provider, maintenance and management staff, etc. are assumed. The personal authentication unit 121' is not limited to the method of collating fingerprints, and may determine and authenticate whether the user is the registered user himself / herself by other methods based on the physical characteristics of the registered user. The personal authentication unit 121' corresponds to the "personal authentication unit" according to the present embodiment.

[0104] In the above description, the luggage hook 51 is fixed to the upper edge portion of the back surface of the backrest 412 and its position is configured to be unchanged. However, the luggage hook 51 is not limited to this, and its position can also be configured to be variable.

[0105] FIG. 15 is a rear view of a small electric vehicle V in which the position of the luggage hook 51 is configured to be variable in the vertical direction H as another embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] In this embodiment, the electric vehicle V is attached to the backrest 412 and includes a hook support slider 52 that extends in the vertical direction H on the back surface of the backrest 412. The luggage hook 51 is attached to the hook support slider 52 so as to be movable up and down along the hook support slider 52, and its position can be adjusted stepwise or steplessly. FIG. 15 shows a state in which the luggage hook 51 is lowered to a position lower than the upper edge of the back surface of the backrest 412 and is disposed between the upper edge of the back surface of the backrest 412 and the armrest 413 attached to the middle portion. Thus, the luggage hook 51 or the luggage hanging portion can be disposed not only at the upper edge of the back surface of the backrest 412 but also at a position lower than the upper edge of the back surface or at an appropriate position of the backrest 412. By disposing the luggage hook 51 at a low position, even a user who has difficulty in loading and unloading work at a high position, such as an elderly person or a child, can easily hang and remove luggage, and further, the hook parking button 121 can be easily operated during the work.

[0107] Furthermore, in the above description, a plurality of hanging portions are formed on the luggage hook 51, specifically, a right overhanging portion 512, a left overhanging portion 513, and a central protrusion 514, and a plurality of luggage can be hooked or the load of one piece of luggage can be dispersed (for example, by three-point fixing) by these three hanging portions 512, 513, 514. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the luggage hook may have only a single hanging portion.

[0108] FIG. 16 is a rear view of a small electric vehicle V provided with a luggage hook 61 having a single hanging portion 612 as still another embodiment of the present invention.

[0109] In this embodiment, the luggage hook 61 is attached to the upper edge of the back surface of the backrest 412, as in the previous embodiment, and constitutes a "luggage hanging part". The luggage hook 61 is attached to the backrest 412 and includes a main body part 611 that imparts the fixing strength of the luggage hook 61 to the backrest 412. As a hanging part, it includes a central extending part 612 extending from the approximate center of the back surface of the main body part 611. A hook parking button 121 is installed on the main body part 611. The hook parking button 121 constitutes a "manual operation part" according to this embodiment. When loading and unloading luggage, the user can surely stop the electric vehicle V by pressing the hook parking button 121. The central extending part 612 has a shape curved like a J or a fishhook. The user can hang a bag or other luggage handle or strap on the central extending part 612 to hang it on the luggage hook 61.

[0110] The electric vehicle V is not limited to an electric wheelchair or a senior car, and may be a so-called personal mobility.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0111] V... Electric vehicle, 11... Wheel, 11f... Front wheel, 11r... Rear wheel, 12f... Front suspension device, 12r... Rear suspension device, 21... Body cover, 211... Cover body, 212... Front fender, 213... Rear fender, 214... Floor step, 215... Electrical box, 31... Operation panel, 311... Main body part, 312... Handlebar, 313... Operation panel, 314... Rearview mirror, 41... Seat, 411... Seating part, 412... Backrest (backrest part), 413... Armrest, 51... Luggage hook (luggage hanging part), 511... Main body part, 512... Right protruding part (first hanging part), 512a... Upper convex part, 513... Left protruding part (second hanging part), 513a... Upper convex part, 514... Central protrusion (third hanging part), 515... Cover part, 101... Controller, 118... Luggage sensor, 120... Panel parking button, 121... Hook parking button (manual operation part), 121’... Personal authentication part, 131... Indicator light, BAT... Battery, ACT1... Driving actuator (electric motor), ACT2... Steering actuator (electric motor), BRK... Brake device, R... Concave part, 201... Portable terminal.

Claims

1. A seat installed so that a user can sit facing forward, a luggage hanging portion provided behind the seating surface of the seat and configured to be able to lock luggage carried during the running of the vehicle, a manual operation portion provided near the luggage hanging portion and operable by the user facing the luggage hanging portion, a small electric vehicle comprising a parking control portion that forcibly stops the vehicle or maintains it in a stopped state based on an operation of the manual operation portion.

2. The small electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the luggage hanging portion is attached to the backrest portion of the seat.

3. The small electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the luggage hanging portion is disposed at the upper edge of the back surface of the backrest portion.

4. The luggage hanging portion is attached to the backrest portion of the seat and includes a main body portion that fixes the luggage hanging portion to the backrest portion, and a locking portion that extends from the main body portion and to which the luggage is hooked. The small electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the manual operation portion is provided integrally with the main body portion.

5. The luggage hanging portion has a concave portion that is recessed with respect to the main surface defining the outer shape of the main body portion, and the manual operation portion is disposed in the concave portion and is entirely housed inside the main body portion with respect to the main surface. The small electric vehicle according to claim 4.

6. The luggage hanging portion includes a lid portion configured to be displaceable between an open position and a closed position with respect to the main body portion, and the lid portion opens the manual operation portion so that it can be contacted from the outside in the open position and surrounds the manual operation portion in the closed position to inhibit contact with the manual operation portion. The small electric vehicle according to claim 4.

7. The manual operation portion includes a person authentication portion that determines whether the user is a predetermined registered person, and the person authentication portion permits an operation of the manual operation portion by the user who is the registered person, while prohibiting an operation of the manual operation portion by a user other than the registered person. The small electric vehicle according to claim 4.

8. The luggage hanging portion is a main body portion attached to the backrest portion of the seat, a first hanging portion that extends from the main body portion in a cantilever state to one of the left and right, a second hanging portion that extends from the main body portion in a cantilever state to the other of the left and right, and a third hanging portion that extends upward from the main body portion. The small electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein a load can be locked to each of the first, second, and third hanging portions, or the first, second, and third hanging portions can receive the load of the load.

9. The small electric vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is configured to be able to set an automatic driving mode for traveling along a predetermined route.

10. The small electric vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the moving speed during traveling is set to be equal to or lower than the upper limit speed at which it is possible to travel on a sidewalk.

11. A load detection unit configured to be able to detect the presence of a load locked to the load hanging portion; The small electric vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising: a signal output unit configured to be able to output a signal according to a detection result by the load detection unit.

12. During traveling in the automatic driving mode, when the load hanging portion switches from a state where a load is locked to a state where it is not locked, the parking control unit, based on the signal output by the signal output unit, further performs control to cancel the automatic driving mode, or forcibly decelerate or stop the vehicle. The small electric vehicle according to claim 10.

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