Electrified vehicle

Abstract

To provide a technology that enables easy visual confirmation of a state of wiring or a pipeline connected to a drive device.SOLUTION: An electrified vehicle includes: a vehicle body; and a drive device mounted on the vehicle body. The drive device includes: an electric motor; a first casing that accommodates the electric motor; a power conversion device electrically connected to the electric motor; and a second casing which is located above the first casing, fixed to the first casing, and accommodates the power conversion device. A space which passes through, in a vehicle front-rear direction, a first region in which the first casing and the second casing face each other in a vertical direction is provided between the first casing and the second casing. Wiring or a pipeline is connected to the drive device, and the wiring or the pipeline is situated on one side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space, and also is routed so as to be visible via the space from the other side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to electric vehicles. In particular, it relates to electric vehicles equipped with a drive device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle including a drive motor and a storage battery electrically connected to the drive motor. The drive motor is arranged behind the vehicle with respect to the storage battery.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the vehicle of Patent Document 1, for example, the electrical wiring that electrically connects the drive motor and the storage battery is located between the two. For this reason, when trying to visually confirm the drive motor and the storage battery from the rear of the vehicle, the electrical wiring that electrically connects the two may be hidden by the drive motor located behind the electrical wiring. For this reason, conventionally, in order to visually confirm the connection state of the wiring that electrically connects the drive motor and the storage battery, for example, it was necessary to remove the drive motor and the storage battery from the vehicle body. In this specification, a technology is provided that can more easily visually confirm the piping or the state of the piping connected to the drive device compared to the prior art.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The electric vehicle disclosed in this specification includes a vehicle body, a drive device mounted on the vehicle body, a pair of left and right wheels that support the vehicle body and are driven by the drive device, and a battery that supplies power to the drive device. The drive device includes an electric motor, a first casing that houses the electric motor, a power conversion device electrically connected to the electric motor, and a second casing that is located above the first casing, fixed to the first casing, and houses the power conversion device. A space is provided between the first casing and the second casing that penetrates in the vehicle front-rear direction in a first region where the first casing and the second casing face each other in the vertical direction. Wiring or piping is connected to the drive device, and the wiring or piping is located on one side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space and is arranged so as to be visible through the space from the other side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space.

[0006] In the above-described electric vehicle, it is possible to visually check the wiring or piping located on one side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space that penetrates in the vehicle front-rear direction in the first region from the other side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space. Therefore, the state of the wiring or piping can be visually confirmed as compared with the prior art. Here, the "state of the wiring or piping" includes, for example, whether the wiring or piping is properly connected, whether it maintains a bend within an appropriate range, and whether foreign matter is attached.

[0007] Details and further improvements of the technology disclosed in this specification will be described in the following "Mode for Carrying Out the Invention".

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] In one embodiment of the present technology, the wiring or piping may include electrical wiring that electrically connects the battery and the power conversion device.

[0010] According to such a configuration, the state of the electrical wiring that electrically connects the battery and the power conversion device can be easily visually confirmed through the space.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present technology, the vehicle body may have a floor panel. In that case, the battery may be disposed below the floor panel on one side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the drive device.

[0012] According to such a configuration, the state of the electrical wiring extending upward from the battery located below the floor panel toward the power conversion device can be easily visually confirmed through the space.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present technology, at least a part of the electrical wiring may be located within a second region where the pair of wheels face each other in the vehicle left-right direction.

[0014] When at least a part of the electrical wiring is located within the second region, it is difficult to visually confirm the state of the electrical wiring from the vehicle left-right direction. According to the above-described electric vehicle, the state of the electrical wiring can be easily visually confirmed through the space.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present technology, the electrical wiring may have a connector. In that case, the connector may be connected to the second casing within the second region. However, in another embodiment, the connector may be connected to the second casing outside the region where the pair of left and right wheels face each other in the vehicle left-right direction.

[0016] In one embodiment of the present technology, the connector may be located on one side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space, and may be arranged so as to be visually recognizable through the space from the other side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space.

[0017] With such a configuration, the connector can be easily visually confirmed through the space from the other side.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present technology, the wiring or piping may include a refrigerant pipe for circulating refrigerant to the drive device.

[0019] With such a configuration, the state of the refrigerant pipe can be easily visually confirmed through the space.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present technology, the refrigerant pipe may connect between the battery and the drive device.

[0021] With such a configuration, the state of the refrigerant pipe extending from the battery located below the floor panel toward the power conversion device can be easily visually confirmed through the space.

[0022] In one embodiment of the present technology, the space may have a height within a range of 30 mm to 50 mm in the vehicle vertical direction.

[0023] With such a configuration, the wiring or piping can be surely visually confirmed through the space, and it is possible to suppress the size of the drive device from becoming larger than necessary in the vertical direction.

[0024] In one embodiment of the present technology, the first casing may include a housing extending cylindrically from a first end face to a second end face, a first cover attached to the first end face of the housing, and a second cover attached to the second end face of the housing. In that case, the second casing may be fixed to the first cover and the second cover, and the first region may be a region where the housing of the first casing and the second casing face each other in the vertical direction.

[0025] According to such a configuration, a relatively wide accommodation space can be provided between the cylindrically extending housing and the second casing. Thereby, the state of the wiring or piping can be visually confirmed more reliably.

[0026] In one embodiment of the present technology, one side in the vehicle longitudinal direction may be the front in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the other side in the vehicle longitudinal direction may be the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction. However, in another embodiment, one side in the vehicle longitudinal direction may be the rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and the other side in the vehicle longitudinal direction may be the front in the vehicle longitudinal direction.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present technology, the pair of left and right wheels may be a pair of left and right rear wheels. However, in another embodiment, the pair of left and right wheels may be a pair of left and right front wheels.

[0028] (Example) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the electric vehicle 10 of the first embodiment as viewed from above. In this specification, the front of the electric vehicle 10 (i.e., the upper side of the paper surface in FIG. 1) may be simply referred to as "front", and the opposite side may be simply referred to as "rear". Further, the left side of the electric vehicle 10 (i.e., the left side of the paper surface in FIG. 1) may be simply referred to as "left", and the opposite side may be simply referred to as "right". Also, the upper side of the electric vehicle 10 (i.e., the front direction of the paper surface in FIG. 1) may be simply referred to as "up", and the opposite side may be simply referred to as "down".

[0029] The electric vehicle 10 includes a vehicle body 2, a battery 3, a pair of left and right front wheels 4R and 4L, a pair of left and right rear wheels 5R and 5L, a radiator 6, a front shaft 14, a rear shaft 15, a front drive device 20F, and a rear drive device 20R. The electric vehicle 10 travels by driving the pair of left and right front wheels 4R and 4L using the front drive device 20F and driving the pair of left and right rear wheels 5R and 5L using the rear drive device 20R. The electric vehicle 10 is a so-called four-wheel drive vehicle. Note that the "electric vehicle" in this specification includes, for example, a rechargeable electric vehicle charged by an external power source, a fuel cell vehicle using a fuel cell as a power source, and a hybrid vehicle having an engine. Hereinafter, the description "a pair of left and right" may be simply described as "a pair".

[0030] The battery 3 is disposed below the floor panel 22 (see FIG. 2) of the vehicle body 2. The battery 3 incorporates, for example, a lithium ion battery cell. In a modified example, the battery 3 may incorporate another secondary battery cell (nickel hydrogen battery cell, all solid state battery cell).

[0031] The pair of front wheels 4R and 4L are respectively located at the left end and the right end of the front shaft 14. The pair of front wheels 4R and 4L support the vehicle body 2 of the electric vehicle 10 via the front shaft 14. The front shaft 14 extends linearly in the left-right direction. For this reason, the pair of front wheels 4R and 4L face each other in region A1.

[0032] Similarly, the pair of rear wheels 5R and 5L are respectively located at the left end and the right end of the rear shaft 15. The pair of rear wheels 5R and 5L support the vehicle body 2 of the electric vehicle 10 via the rear shaft 15. The rear shaft 15 extends linearly in the left-right direction. For this reason, the pair of rear wheels 5R and 5L face each other in region A2.

[0033] The front drive device 20F includes a motor unit 30, an inverter unit 40, and a transmission mechanism unit 50. The inverter unit 40 is located above the motor unit 30 (i.e., in the front direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1) and is electrically connected to the motor unit 30. The inverter unit 40 is electrically connected to the battery 3 by an electrical wiring 13 that extends rearward from the rear end of the inverter unit 40. DC power of the battery 3 is supplied to the inverter unit 40 via the electrical wiring 13. The transmission mechanism unit 50 includes a side portion that extends in the front-rear direction on the right side of the motor unit 30 and a rear portion that extends in the left-right direction behind the motor unit 30. Although details will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the transmission mechanism unit 50 is mechanically connected to the front shaft 14. The front drive device 20F drives a pair of front wheels 4R and 4L via the front shaft 14.

[0034] The rear drive device 20R basically has the same configuration as the front drive device 20F. Therefore, the rear drive device 20R also includes a motor unit 30, an inverter unit 40, and a transmission mechanism unit 50. In the rear drive device 20R, the inverter unit 40 is electrically connected to the battery 3 by an electrical wiring 18 that extends forward from the front end of the inverter unit 40. As a result, DC power of the battery 3 is supplied to the inverter unit 40 via the electrical wiring 18. In the rear drive device 20R, the transmission mechanism unit 50 is mechanically connected to the rear shaft 15. The rear drive device 20R drives a pair of rear wheels 5R and 5L via the rear shaft 15.

[0035] The radiator 6 is disposed at the front end of the electric vehicle 10. The radiator 6 is a device that performs heat exchange between a refrigerant and outside air. The refrigerant is a liquid such as antifreeze or water, for example. The radiator 6 cools the refrigerant by the wind generated by a cooling fan (not shown), for example. The radiator 6 is connected to the inverter unit 40 of the front drive device 20F by a first refrigerant pipe 7 and a second refrigerant pipe 8. The inverter unit 40 is connected to the battery 3 by a third refrigerant pipe 11 and a fourth refrigerant pipe 12. The battery 3 is connected to the inverter unit 40 of the drive device 20R by a fifth refrigerant pipe 16 and a sixth refrigerant pipe 17. The refrigerant flows in the order of the first refrigerant pipe 7, the inverter unit 40 of the front drive device 20F, the third refrigerant pipe 11, the battery 3, the fifth refrigerant pipe 16, the inverter unit 40 of the rear drive device 20R, the sixth refrigerant pipe 17, the battery 3, the fourth refrigerant pipe 12, the inverter unit 40, and the second refrigerant pipe 8 by a radiator pump (not shown), and returns to the radiator 6 again. Thus, the refrigerant circulates through the inverter unit 40 of the front drive device 20F, the battery 3, and the inverter unit 40 of the rear drive device 20R to cool them. In a modified example, the refrigerant may circulate through the motor unit 30 of the front drive device 20F before or after the inverter unit 40 of the front drive device 20F and be supplied to the battery 3, or may be directly supplied to the rear drive device 20R bypassing the battery 3.

[0036] Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the detailed structure of the front drive device 20F will be described. FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view around the front drive device 20F along line II-II of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the front drive device 20F in the direction of arrow III in FIG. 2.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the front drive device 20F is mounted in the front compartment F1 of the electric vehicle 10. FIG. 3 shows the front drive device 20F when the front compartment F1 is viewed from the front with the front hood (not shown) of the electric vehicle 10 opened.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, the front drive device 20F is fixed to the floor panel 22 of the vehicle body 2 by a pair of brackets 9R and 9L. The motor unit 30 of the front drive device 20F includes an electric motor 31 and a first casing 34. The electric motor 31 includes a rotor 32R having a cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction, a stator 32S facing the outer peripheral surface of the rotor 32R from the radially outer side, and a motor shaft 35 extending in the left-right direction through the rotor 32R. The rotor 32R includes permanent magnets. The electric motor 31 is a radial type motor. In a modified example, the electric motor 31 may be an axial type motor.

[0039] The first casing 34 includes a housing 34H, a first cover 36R, and a second cover 36L. The housing 34H faces the outer peripheral surface of the stator 32S of the electric motor 31 from the radially outer side. A first end face 34R located at the right end of the housing 34H and a second end face 34L located at the left end define openings at the left and right ends of the housing 34H. The housing 34H extends in a cylindrical shape in the left-right direction from the first end face 34R to the second end face 34L.

[0040] The first cover 36R is attached to the first end face 34R of the housing 34H from the right. The first cover 36R has a flat plate shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the motor shaft 35 of the electric motor 31, and covers the opening of the first end face 34R of the housing 34H from the right. The first cover 36R includes a first bearing 33R. The first bearing 33R rotatably holds the motor shaft 35.

[0041] Similarly, the second cover 36L is attached to the second end face 34L of the housing 34H from the left. The second cover 36L has a flat plate shape extending in a direction orthogonal to the motor shaft 35 of the electric motor 31, and covers the opening of the second end face 34L of the housing 34H from the right. The second cover 36L includes a second bearing 33L. The second bearing 33L rotatably holds the motor shaft 35.

[0042] The first cover 36R includes a first stay 38R that extends upward from the upper end of the first cover 36R toward the inverter unit 40. Similarly, the second cover 36L includes a second stay 38L that extends upward from the upper end of the second cover 36L toward the inverter unit 40.

[0043] The inverter unit 40 includes an inverter 42 and a second casing 44. The inverter 42 is a power conversion device that changes the DC power of the battery 3 into AC power suitable for the electric motor 31. Further, the inverter 42 may include, for example, a converter function for boosting the DC power of the battery 3. The second casing 44 houses the inverter 42.

[0044] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inverter 42 is electrically connected to the battery 3 disposed below the floor panel 22 via the electrical wiring 13. The electrical wiring 13 extends upward from the front end of the battery 3, passes through the floor panel 22, and reaches the second casing 44. For this reason, the electrical wiring 13 extends to the second casing 44 beyond the upper end of the housing 34H behind the motor unit 30. A connector 13C is disposed at the upper end of the electrical wiring 13. The connector 13C is connected to a connection portion 46 located on the lower surface of the rear portion of the second casing 44. Further, the connector 13C is located between the pair of front wheels 4R, 4L. That is, the connector 13C is connected to the connection portion 46 of the second casing 44 within the region A1 (see FIG. 2).

[0045] Similarly, the inverter 42 is connected to the battery 3 via the third refrigerant pipe 11 and the fourth refrigerant pipe 12. The third refrigerant pipe 11 and the fourth refrigerant pipe 12 each extend upward from the front end of the battery 3, penetrate the floor panel 22, and reach the second casing 44. For this reason, the third refrigerant pipe 11 and the fourth refrigerant pipe 12 extend rearward of the motor unit 30 beyond the upper end of the housing 34H to the second casing 44. Connection pipes 11C, 12C that bend downward from the rear end face are arranged on the rear end face of the second casing 44. The upper end of the third refrigerant pipe 11 is connected to the connection pipe 11C, and the upper end of the fourth refrigerant pipe 12 is connected to the connection pipe 12C. The upper ends of the third refrigerant pipe 11 and the fourth refrigerant pipe 12 are both located between the pair of front wheels 4R, 4L. That is, the upper ends of the third refrigerant pipe 11 and the fourth refrigerant pipe 12 are respectively connected to the connection pipes 11C, 12C of the second casing 44 within the region A1.

[0046] Also, as shown in FIG. 3, the side portion of the transmission mechanism unit 50 is attached to the first cover 36R. The transmission mechanism unit 50 includes a plurality of gears 52 (see FIG. 2), 56 and a third casing 54 that houses them. The motor shaft 35 of the electric motor 31 penetrates the first cover 36R and further extends to the right (i.e., the left side of the paper surface in FIG. 3) and is rotatably held by the third bearing 53 of the third casing 54. The motor shaft 35 rotates the gear 56 within the third casing 54. The gear 56 is engaged with the gear 52 shown in FIG. 2 via a plurality of gears (not shown). The gear 52 is fixed to the front shaft 14. When the gear 56 is rotated by the motor shaft 35, the gear 52 rotates, and the pair of front wheels 4R, 4L are driven via the front shaft 14 (see FIG. 1).

[0047] The first stay 38R and the second stay 38L of the motor unit 30 extend upward toward the second casing 44 of the inverter unit 40. The right end of the second casing 44 of the inverter unit 40 is fixed to the first stay 38R of the motor unit 30 via a bolt B1. Similarly, the left end of the second casing 44 is fixed to the second stay 38L via a bolt B1. Thereby, the second casing 44 of the inverter unit 40 is held above the first casing 34 of the motor unit 30. As a result, a space SP1 is provided between the housing 34H of the first casing 34 and the second casing 44. As shown in FIG. 2, the space SP1 penetrates through a region A3 provided between the housing 34H of the first casing 34 and the second casing 44. Here, the region A3 is a region where the housing 34H of the first casing 34 and the second casing 44 face each other in the vertical direction.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, the electrical wiring 13 is connected to the connection portion 46 of the second casing 44 behind the space SP1. Therefore, the electrical wiring 13 is located behind the space SP1. Similarly, the third refrigerant pipe 11 and the fourth refrigerant pipe 12 are also connected to the connection pipes 11C and 12C of the second casing 44 behind the space SP1. Therefore, the third refrigerant pipe 11 and the fourth refrigerant pipe 12 are also located behind the space SP1.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, in the region A3, there is no member that blocks the view in front of the electrical wiring 13 and the third refrigerant pipe 11. In other words, the front and the back of the space SP1 are open to the outside of the front drive device 20F. That is, a space SP1 that penetrates the region A3 in the front-rear direction is provided between the housing 34H of the first casing 34 and the second casing 44.

[0050] That is, as shown in FIG. 3, in the front compartment F1, the electrical wiring 13, the third refrigerant pipe 11, and the fourth refrigerant pipe 12 located on the rear side with respect to the space SP1 are arranged so as to be visible from the front side with respect to the space SP1. Further, the space SP1 has a vertical height H1. The height H1 is, for example, 30 mm. Thereby, while ensuring the visibility of the electrical wiring 13, the third refrigerant pipe 11, and the fourth refrigerant pipe 12 from the front of the space SP1, it is possible to prevent the vertical size of the front drive device 20F from increasing. For this reason, the accommodation space of the front compartment F1 can be increased. In a modification, the height H1 of the space SP1 may be, for example, 40 mm or 50 mm.

[0051] Subsequently, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the detailed structure of the rear drive device 20R will be described. FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view around the rear drive device 20R taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows a front view of the rear drive device 20R in the direction of arrow V in FIG. 4.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 4, the rear drive device 20R is arranged in the tunnel T1. The tunnel T1 is a space located below the rear part of the vehicle body 2. FIG. 5 shows, for example, the rear drive device 20R when an operator located below the electric vehicle 10 views the electric vehicle 10 from the rear.

[0053] As shown in FIG. 5, the rear drive device 20R is mounted on the lower surface of the vehicle body 2 by a pair of brackets 19R and 19L. As described above, the rear drive device 20R basically has the same configuration as the above-described front drive device 20F. For this reason, a space SP2 having a height H2 is provided between the housing 34H of the first casing 34 and the second casing 44 of the rear drive device 20R. As shown in FIG. 4, the space SP2 penetrates through a region A4 provided between the housing 34H of the first casing 34 and the second casing 44 of the rear drive device 20R. Here, the region A4 is a region where the housing 34H of the first casing 34 and the second casing 44 face each other in the vertical direction. Similar to the above-described space SP1, the height H2 of the space SP2 is, for example, 30 mm. Thereby, while ensuring the visibility of the electrical wiring 18, the fifth refrigerant pipe 16, and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17 behind the space SP2, it is possible to prevent the vertical size of the rear drive device 20R from increasing. For this reason, the accommodation space of the tunnel T1 can be increased. In a modified example, the height H1 of the space SP2 may be, for example, 40 mm or 50 mm.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, in the rear drive device 20R, the inverter 42 is electrically connected to the battery 3 disposed below the floor panel 22 via the electrical wiring 18. The electrical wiring 18 extends upward from the rear end of the battery 3 to the second casing 44 of the rear drive device 20R. For this reason, the electrical wiring 18 extends to the second casing 44 beyond the upper end of the housing 34H behind the motor unit 30. A connector 18C is disposed at the upper end of the electrical wiring 18. The connector 18C is connected to a connection portion 46 disposed on the lower surface of the front portion of the second casing 44. The connector 18C is located between the pair of rear wheels 5R and 5L. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the connector 13C is connected to the connection portion 46 of the second casing 44 within the region A2.

[0055] Similarly, the inverter 42 is connected to the battery 3 via the fifth refrigerant pipe 16 and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17. The fifth refrigerant pipe 16 and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17 each extend upward from the rear end of the battery 3 to the second casing 44. Therefore, the fifth refrigerant pipe 16 and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17 extend beyond the upper end of the housing 34H behind the motor unit 30 to the second casing 44. Connection pipes 16C and 17C that bend downward from the front end face are arranged on the front end face of the second casing 44. The upper end of the fifth refrigerant pipe 16 is connected to the connection pipe 16C, and the upper end of the sixth refrigerant pipe 17 is connected to the connection pipe 17C. The upper ends of the fifth refrigerant pipe 16 and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17 are both located between the pair of rear wheels 5R and 5L. The fifth refrigerant pipe 16 and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17 are each connected to the connection pipes 16C and 17C of the second casing 44 within the region A2.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 4, the electrical wiring 18 is connected to the connection portion 46 of the second casing 44 in front of the space SP2. Therefore, the electrical wiring 18 is located on the front side with respect to the space SP1. Similarly, the fifth refrigerant pipe 16 and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17 are also connected to the connection pipes 16C and 17C of the second casing 44 in front of the space SP2. Therefore, the fifth refrigerant pipe 16 and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17 are also located on the front side with respect to the space SP2.

[0057] Within the region A4, there is no member that blocks the view behind the electrical wiring 18, the fifth refrigerant pipe 16, and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17. In other words, the front and rear of the space SP2 are open to the outside of the rear drive device 20R. That is, in the rear drive device 20R, a space SP2 that penetrates the region A4 in the front-rear direction is provided between the housing 34H of the first casing 34 and the second casing 44.

[0058] That is, as shown in FIG. 5, within the tunnel T1, the electrical wiring 18, the fifth refrigerant pipe 16, and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17 located on the front side with respect to the space SP2 are arranged so as to be visible from the rear side with respect to the space SP2.

[0059] (Effect of this embodiment) In the front drive device 20F, the electrical wiring 13, the third refrigerant pipe 11, and the fourth refrigerant pipe 12 located on the rear side with respect to the space SP1 can be visually confirmed from the front side with respect to the space SP1. Similarly, in the rear drive device 20R, the electrical wiring 18, the fifth refrigerant pipe 16, and the sixth refrigerant pipe 17 located on the front side with respect to the space SP2 can be visually confirmed from the rear side with respect to the space SP2. Thus, according to the electric vehicle 10 of this embodiment, for example, compared with the prior art in which each drive device 20F, 20R, and the battery 3 are removed from the vehicle body 2 in order to visually confirm the states of the electrical wirings 13, 18 and the refrigerant pipes 11, 12, 16, 17, the states of the electrical wirings 13, 18 and the refrigerant pipes 11, 12, 16, 17 can be easily visually confirmed. For example, it can be easily visually confirmed whether the electrical wiring 13 maintains a proper range of curvature.

[0060] Also, according to the electric vehicle 10, since the connector 13C of the electrical wiring 13 is located behind the space SP1, the connection state with the connection portion 46 of the inverter unit 40 can be easily visually confirmed from the front through the space SP1. Further, since the upper end of the third refrigerant pipe 11 connected to the connection pipe 11C is located behind the space SP1, the connection state between the connection pipe 11C and the third refrigerant pipe 11 can be easily visually confirmed from the front through the space SP1.

[0061] Also, as described above, for example, the connector 13C and the connection part 46 are connected within the region A1. Therefore, for example, when visually checking the state of the connector 13C from the right side, it is necessary to remove the front wheel 4R. In the electric vehicle 10, the state of the connector 13C can be easily visually checked from the front through the space SP1 without removing the front wheel 4R. Similarly, the connection pipe 11C and the upper end of the third refrigerant pipe 11 are connected within the region A1. Therefore, in the electric vehicle 10, the state of the third refrigerant pipe 11 can be easily visually checked from the front through the space SP1 without removing the front wheel 4R. Similarly, since the connector 18C and the connection part 46 are connected within the region A2, the state of the connector 18C can be easily visually checked from the rear through the space SP2 without removing the rear wheel 5R.

[0062] (Corresponding relationship) The front drive device 20F and the rear drive device 20R are each an example of a "drive device". The front wheels 4R and 4L and the rear wheels 5R and 5L are each an example of a "wheel". The inverter 42 is an example of a "power conversion device". The regions A1 and A2 are each an example of a "first region". The regions A3 and A4 are each an example of a "second region".

[0063] As described above, specific examples of the technology disclosed in this specification have been described in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. Modifications of the above embodiments are listed below.

[0064] (Modification 1) The electric vehicle 10 may be provided with only the front drive device 20F or only the rear drive device 20R.

[0065] (Modification 2) The front drive device 20F may be located on the rear side of the space SP1 and may be provided with wiring for electrically connecting the electric motor 31 and the inverter 42. In that case, the electrical wiring 13 does not have to be located on the rear side with respect to the space SP1.

[0066] (Modification Example 3) The connector 13C does not have to be located within the region A1. Further, in a further modification example, the connector 13C may be connected to a connection portion 46 provided on the rear end surface of the second casing 44. In this modification example, the connector 13C does not have to be located behind the space SP1.

[0067] (Modification Example 4) The height H1 of the space SP1 may be less than 30 mm or may be greater than 50 mm.

[0068] (Modification Example 5) In the above-described embodiment, the second casing 44 of the inverter unit 40 is fixed to the respective covers 36R and 36L of the motor unit 30. In this modification example, the second casing 44 may be fixed to a bracket provided on the upper surface of the first casing 34 of the motor unit 30, for example.

[0069] (Modification Example 6) Each of the drive devices 20F and 20R does not have to include the transmission mechanism unit 50. In that case, the transmission mechanism unit 50 may be arranged separately from each of the drive devices 20F and 20R. In another modification example, the third casing 54 of the transmission mechanism unit 50 may be adjacent to the first casing 34 of the motor unit 30 from the rear or may be adjacent from the left-right direction.

[0070] The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Further, the technology illustrated in this specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of purposes simultaneously, and achieving one of those purposes itself has technical utility.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0071] 2: Vehicle body, 3: Battery, 4L, 4R: Front wheels, 5L, 5R: Rear wheels, 6: Radiator, 7: First refrigerant pipe, 8: Second refrigerant pipe, 9L, 9R, 19L, 19R: Brackets, 10: Electric vehicle, 11: Third refrigerant pipe, 11C, 12C, 16C, 17C: Connection pipes, 12: Fourth refrigerant pipe, 13, 18: Electrical wiring, 13C, 18C: Connectors, 14: Front shaft, 15: Rear shaft, 16: Fifth refrigerant pipe, 17: Sixth refrigerant pipe, 20F: Front drive device, 20R: Rear drive device, 22: Floor panel, 30: Motor unit, 31: Electric motor, 32R: Rotor, 32S: Stator, 33L: Second bearing, 33R: First bearing, 34: First casing, 34H: Housing, 34L: Second end face, 34R: First end face, 35: Motor shaft, 36L: Second cover, 36R: First cover, 38L: Second stay, 38R: First stay, 40: Inverter unit, 42: Inverter, 44: Second casing, 46: Connection part, 50: Transmission mechanism unit, 52: Gear, 53: Third bearing, 54: Third casing, 56: Gear, A1, A2, A3, A4: Areas, B1: Bolt, F1: Front compartment, H1: Height, SP1, SP2: Spaces, T1: Tunnel

Claims

1. An electric vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body; a drive device mounted on the vehicle body; a pair of left and right wheels that support the vehicle body and are driven by the drive device; a battery that supplies power to the drive device; wherein the drive device comprises: an electric motor; a first casing that houses the electric motor; a power conversion device electrically connected to the electric motor; a second casing that is located above the first casing, fixed to the first casing, and houses the power conversion device; wherein a space is provided between the first casing and the second casing, the space penetrating in the vehicle front-rear direction through a first region where the first casing and the second casing face each other in the vertical direction; wherein wiring or piping is connected to the drive device; wherein the wiring or piping is located on one side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space and is arranged so as to be visible through the space from the other side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the wiring or piping includes electrical wiring that electrically connects the battery and the power conversion device. The electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle body has a floor panel, and the battery is disposed below the floor panel on the one side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the drive device. The electric vehicle according to claim 3, wherein at least a part of the electrical wiring is located within a second region where the pair of left and right wheels face each other in the vehicle left-right direction. The electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the electrical wiring has a connector, and the connector is connected to the second casing within the second region. The electric vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the connector is located on one side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space and is arranged so as to be visible through the space from the other side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the space.

7. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the wiring or piping includes refrigerant piping for circulating refrigerant to the drive device.

8. The electric vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the refrigerant piping connects between the battery and the drive device.

9. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the space has a height within a range of 30 mm to 50 mm in the vehicle vertical direction.

10. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The first casing includes a housing extending cylindrically from a first end face to a second end face, a first cover attached to the first end face of the housing, and a second cover attached to the second end face of the housing. The second casing is fixed to the first cover and the second cover. The first region is a region where the housing of the first casing and the second casing face each other in the vertical direction. The electric vehicle according to claim 1.

11. One side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The other side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The electric vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

12. The pair of left and right wheels are a pair of rear wheels. The electric vehicle according to claim 10.

13. One side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is the rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The other side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle is the front in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The electric vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

14. The pair of left and right wheels are a pair of front wheels. The electric vehicle according to claim 12.

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