Electric vehicle

Abstract

To provide an electric vehicle whose vehicle height is suppressed low by devising a position where battery-related equipment is disposed.SOLUTION: In the electric vehicle 10, a first row seat 17 and a second row seat 18 located on the vehicle rear side of the first row seat 17 are disposed on a floor 16. In the electric vehicle 10, two seats 17A and 17B are arranged side by side in the vehicle left-right direction as the first row of seats 17. In the electric vehicle 10, a center tunnel 30 is disposed between a seat 17A and a seat 17B. The center tunnel 30 is disposed below the floor 16 and above the battery 15. The vehicle-mounted chargers 20, the battery ECU21, and the branch box 22, which are battery-related devices, are disposed inside the center tunnel 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an electric vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an electric vehicle in which a battery is disposed under the floor of the vehicle interior. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-158688 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The vehicle undercarriage structure in Patent Document 1 does not disclose any configuration related to battery charging or battery-related equipment that distributes power supplied from the battery. In an electric vehicle in which the battery is disposed under the floor, there is room for improvement in the location of the battery-related equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An electric vehicle that solves the above problems drives drive wheels with power stored in a battery. The electric vehicle includes a first motor and a second motor as motors that are power sources for driving the drive wheels. The electric vehicle includes a battery that stores power to be supplied to the first motor and the second motor. The electric vehicle includes a plurality of battery-related devices. The electric vehicle includes a first mechanical and electrical integrated unit consisting of the first motor and a first power control device that supplies power to the first motor, and a second mechanical and electrical integrated unit consisting of the second motor and a second power control device that supplies power to the second motor. The battery is disposed under the floor and between the front and rear wheels. The first mechanical and electrical integrated unit is disposed forward of the battery, and the second mechanical and electrical integrated unit is disposed rearward of the battery. The electric vehicle has a first row of seats and a second row of seats located rearward of the first row of seats arranged on the floor. The electric vehicle has two seats arranged side by side in the left-right direction of the vehicle as the first row of seats. The electric vehicle has a center tunnel disposed between the two seats. The center tunnel is disposed below the floor and above the battery. The center tunnel is disposed on the floor from the front to the rear of the vehicle. The battery-related devices are disposed inside the center tunnel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] Electric vehicles can be designed with a low vehicle height by carefully arranging the battery-related equipment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an electrical system and a drive system in an electric vehicle according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a shift lever constituting a manual gear shift simulator in an electric vehicle to which the electrical system and drive system configurations of FIG. 1 are applied. [Figure 3]FIG. 3 is a diagram showing torque characteristics for each gear position selected by a shift lever that constitutes the manual gear shift simulator of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of devices in an electric vehicle to which the electrical system and drive system configurations of FIG. 1 are applied. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the electric vehicle taken along line 5-5 in FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the electric vehicle taken along line 6-6 in FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the electric vehicle taken along line 7-7 in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An electric vehicle 10 according to one embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 7. In the following description, the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" refer to the front, rear, left, right, upper, and lower directions as seen by a passenger facing forward. The left-right direction coincides with the vehicle width direction.

[0009] <Devices equipped in the electric vehicle 10> As shown in FIG. 1 , an electric vehicle 10 includes front wheels 11, rear wheels 12, a first mechanical and electrical integrated unit 13, a second mechanical and electrical integrated unit 14, a battery 15, a first drive shaft 23, a second drive shaft 24, and a charging port 19. The first mechanical and electrical integrated unit 13 includes a first power control device 131, a first motor 132, and a power transmission mechanism (not shown). The second mechanical and electrical integrated unit 14 includes a second power control device 141, a second motor 142, and a power transmission mechanism (not shown). The electric vehicle 10 also includes, as battery-related devices, an on-board charger 20, a battery ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 21, and a branch box 22. The branch box 22 includes a cutoff relay 25. The ECU includes a CPU and a memory in which control programs and data are stored. The ECU performs various control-related processes by the CPU executing programs stored in the memory.

[0010] <About the electrical system of the electric vehicle 10> The dashed lines in Fig. 1 indicate wire harnesses. The charging port 19 and the on-board charger 20 are electrically connected by a wire harness 100. The branching box 22 and the battery 15 are electrically connected by a wire harness 110. The battery ECU 21 and the battery 15 are electrically connected by a wire harness 120. The branching box 22 and the first power control device 131 are electrically connected by a wire harness 130. The branching box 22 and the second power control device 141 are electrically connected by a wire harness 140. The branching box 22 and the on-board charger 20 are electrically connected by a wire harness 101. The branching box 22 and the battery ECU 21 are electrically connected by a wire harness 150.

[0011] The shift lever 26 and the shift ECU 27 are electrically connected by a wire harness 32. The shift ECU 27 and the first power control device 131 are electrically connected by a wire harness 160. The shift ECU 27 and the second power control device 141 are electrically connected by a wire harness 170. The handbrake lever 28 and the switch ECU 29 are electrically connected by a wire harness 33. The switch ECU 29 and the electric parking brake 31 are electrically connected by a wire harness 180.

[0012] <Battery-related devices included in the electric vehicle 10> The on-board charger 20, which is a battery-related device, charges the battery 15 with power from an external charging device located outside the vehicle. AC power is input to the on-board charger 20 via a wire harness 100 from an AC power source connected to a charging port 19. A charging plug of the external charging device is inserted into the charging port 19. The charging port 19 and the on-board charger 20 are used for normal charging using an AC power source of 100 V or 200 V, for example. The on-board charger 20 converts the input AC power into DC power. The on-board charger 20 inputs the converted DC power to the battery 15 via a wire harness 101, a branch box 22, and a wire harness 110. In this way, the battery 15 is charged by the external charging device.

[0013] The battery ECU 21, which is a battery-related device, is a device that controls charging and discharging of the battery 15. The battery ECU 21 acquires information such as the input current, output current, voltage, and temperature of the battery 15 via a wire harness 120 that connects the battery ECU 21 and the battery 15. Based on the acquired information, the battery ECU 21 estimates the capacity CH of the battery 15, the full charge capacity CHmax of the battery 15, the state of charge (SOC) of the battery 15, and the state of health (SOH) of the battery 15. The capacity CH of the battery 15 is the amount of power stored in the battery 15 at the time when the battery ECU 21 acquires the information. The full charge capacity CHmax of the battery 15 is the maximum amount of power that the battery 15 can store at the time when the battery ECU 21 acquires the information. The state of charge SOC of the battery 15 is the value obtained by dividing the full charge capacity CHmax by the capacity CH. The state of health SOH of the battery 15 is an index that indicates how much the full charge capacity CHmax of the battery 15 at the time when the battery ECU 21 acquires the information has decreased compared to the full charge capacity CHmax of the battery 15 at the time of shipment from the factory. The battery ECU 21 controls charging and discharging of the battery 15 based on the capacity CH, full charge capacity CHmax, charging rate SOC, and state of health SOH of the battery 15.

[0014] The branch box 22, which is a battery-related device, is a device that branches DC power supplied from the battery 15 to multiple devices. The branch box 22 supplies the high-voltage DC power output from the battery 15 to a first power control device 131 via a wire harness 130. The branch box 22 supplies the high-voltage DC power output from the battery 15 to a second power control device 141 via a wire harness 140. The branch box 22 is equipped with a DC-DC converter that reduces the voltage of the DC power supplied from the battery 15 via the wire harness 110. The branch box 22 supplies the DC power reduced by the DC-DC converter to the battery ECU 21 via a wire harness 150.

[0015] The branch box 22 may be configured to supply the DC power stepped down by the DC-DC converter to devices other than the battery ECU 21. For example, the branch box 22 may be configured to supply the DC power stepped down by the DC-DC converter to auxiliary devices such as an electric power steering system or an electric oil pump. The electric power steering system is a mechanism that assists the driver in steering the vehicle. The electric oil pump is a mechanism that sucks in lubricating oil and uses it to cool and lubricate the motor.

[0016] The branch box 22 includes a cutoff relay 25. The cutoff relay 25 is a relay circuit that switches between a connected state that allows the power supplied from the battery 15 via the wire harness 110 to flow, and a cutoff state that prevents the power from flowing. When the cutoff relay 25 is in the cutoff state, the battery 15 and the branch box 22 are electrically cut off. As a result, devices connected to the branch box 22 via the wire harness are also electrically cut off from the battery 15.

[0017] <Regarding the drive system of the electric vehicle 10> The first motor 132 and the second motor 142 are motors that are power sources that drive the drive wheels. The battery 15 stores electric power to be supplied to the first motor 132 and the second motor 142. That is, the electric vehicle 10 drives the drive wheels using the electric power stored in the battery 15. The first motor 132 drives the front wheels 11 via the first drive shaft 23. That is, the front wheels 11 are drive wheels. The second motor 142 drives the rear wheels 12 via the second drive shaft 24. That is, the rear wheels 12 are drive wheels.

[0018] The first power control device 131 is a power control device that supplies power to the first motor 132. The first power control device 131 includes an inverter that converts DC power supplied from the battery 15 via the branch box 22 into AC power and supplies it to the first motor 132. The second power control device 141 is a power control device that supplies power to the second motor 142. The second power control device 141 includes an inverter that converts DC power supplied from the battery 15 via the branch box 22 into AC power and supplies it to the second motor 142.

[0019] The electromechanical integrated unit may include a device other than an inverter as a power control device. For example, the electromechanical integrated unit may include, in addition to the inverter, a DC-DC converter that boosts the DC power supplied from the battery 15 via the branch box 22. In this case, the inverter provided as a power control device converts the DC power supplied from the DC-DC converter into AC power and supplies it to the motor. The electromechanical integrated unit may also include, as a power control device, an ECU that controls the power supplied to the motor.

[0020] <Configuration of the manual transmission simulator> As shown in FIG. 1, the electric vehicle 10 is equipped with a manual transmission simulator that includes a shift lever 26 and a shift ECU 27. The manual transmission simulator is a device that simulates the operating feel of a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission. The shift lever 26 is a lever that the driver operates to select a gear position. The shift ECU 27 stores a plurality of torque characteristics. The shift ECU 27 controls the first motor 132 and the second motor 142 in accordance with the torque characteristics that correspond to the gear position selected by the driver using the shift lever 26. The torque characteristics will be described later.

[0021] 2, the shift lever 26, like a shift lever in a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission, is configured to be movable between a select path 261 that runs along the left-right direction of the electric vehicle 10 and multiple shift paths that are perpendicular to the select path 261. Shift paths 262, 263, and 264 are arranged along the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Shift path 265 is arranged from the select path 261 toward the front of the vehicle.

[0022] The shift lever 26 is configured so that the driver can manually select a plurality of gear positions that simulate the gear positions of a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission. By moving the shift lever 26 to the end of each shift path, the driver can select the gear position assigned to that end.

[0023] The driver can select gear position "1" by moving the shift lever 26 to the end of the shift path 262 in the forward direction of the vehicle. The driver can select gear position "2" by moving the shift lever 26 to the end of the shift path 262 in the rearward direction of the vehicle. The driver can select gear position "3" by moving the shift lever 26 to the end of the shift path 263 in the forward direction of the vehicle. The driver can select gear position "4" by moving the shift lever 26 to the end of the shift path 263 in the rearward direction of the vehicle. The driver can select gear position "5" by moving the shift lever 26 to the end of the shift path 264 in the forward direction of the vehicle. The driver can select gear position "6" by moving the shift lever 26 to the end of the shift path 264 in the rearward direction of the vehicle. The driver can select gear position "R" by moving the shift lever 26 to the end of the shift path 265 in the forward direction of the vehicle. The driver can select the neutral state of a manually shifted vehicle as the gear position by moving the shift lever 26 to the select path 261. When the driver selects the gear position "R," the electric vehicle 10 moves backward in response to the driver's accelerator operation.

[0024] <Regarding control of the first motor 132 and the second motor 142 by the manual transmission simulator> 3 is a diagram showing torque characteristics stored in the shift ECU 27. The torque characteristics are the relationship between the torque output by the motor and the rotation speed of the motor. The shift ECU 27 stores a plurality of torque characteristics that have gradually different relationships between the rotation speed and torque of the motor. The torque characteristics stored in the shift ECU 27 simulate the driving force characteristics of a manually shifted vehicle.

[0025] Each of the multiple torque characteristics stored in the shift ECU 27 corresponds to each of the multiple gear positions selected by the shift lever 26. The shift ECU 27 controls the first motor 132 according to the torque characteristic corresponding to the gear position selected by the driver. That is, the shift ECU 27 determines the torque to be output by the first motor 132 based on the torque characteristic corresponding to the gear position selected by the driver and the rotation speed of the first motor 132. The shift ECU 27 then controls the first motor 132 via the first power control device 131 so that the first motor 132 outputs the torque. The shift ECU 27 controls the second motor 142 according to the torque characteristic corresponding to the gear position selected by the driver. That is, the shift ECU 27 determines the torque to be output by the second motor 142 based on the torque characteristic corresponding to the gear position selected by the driver and the rotation speed of the second motor 142. Then, the shift ECU 27 controls the second motor 142 via the second power control device 141 so that the second motor 142 outputs the torque.

[0026] When the driver selects gear position "1" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls first motor 132 via first power control device 131 so that the rotation speed and torque output by first motor 132 follow torque characteristic "1." When the driver selects gear position "1" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls second motor 142 via second power control device 141 so that the rotation speed and torque output by second motor 142 follow torque characteristic "1."

[0027] When the driver selects gear position "2" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls first motor 132 via first power control device 131 so that the rotation speed and torque output by first motor 132 follow torque characteristic "2." When the driver selects gear position "2" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls second motor 142 via second power control device 141 so that the rotation speed and torque output by second motor 142 follow torque characteristic "2."

[0028] When the driver selects gear position "3" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls first motor 132 via first power control device 131 so that the rotation speed and torque output by first motor 132 follow torque characteristic "3." When the driver selects gear position "3" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls second motor 142 via second power control device 141 so that the rotation speed and torque output by second motor 142 follow torque characteristic "3."

[0029] When the driver selects gear position "4" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls first motor 132 via first power control device 131 so that the rotation speed and torque output by first motor 132 follow torque characteristics "4." When the driver selects gear position "4" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls second motor 142 via second power control device 141 so that the rotation speed and torque output by second motor 142 follow torque characteristics "4."

[0030] When the driver selects gear position "5" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls first motor 132 via first power control device 131 so that the rotation speed and torque output by first motor 132 follow torque characteristics "5." When the driver selects gear position "5" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls second motor 142 via second power control device 141 so that the rotation speed and torque output by second motor 142 follow torque characteristics "5."

[0031] When the driver selects gear position "6" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls first motor 132 via first power control device 131 so that the rotation speed and torque output by first motor 132 follow torque characteristics "6." When the driver selects gear position "6" using shift lever 26, shift ECU 27 controls second motor 142 via second power control device 141 so that the rotation speed and torque output by second motor 142 follow torque characteristics "6."

[0032] <About the parking brake system> As shown in FIG. 1 , the electric vehicle 10 is equipped with a parking brake system consisting of an electric parking brake 31, a handbrake lever 28, and a switch ECU 29. The electric parking brake 31 brakes the rear wheels 12 when activated. The handbrake lever 28 is a switch operated by the driver. The switch ECU 29 controls the electric parking brake 31 according to the position of the handbrake lever 28. When the handbrake lever 28 is pulled up, the switch ECU 29 activates the electric parking brake 31. As a result, the rear wheels 12 are braked by the electric parking brake 31. When the handbrake lever 28 is lowered, the switch ECU 29 does not activate the electric parking brake 31.

[0033] <Regarding the internal structure of the electric vehicle 10> FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the arrangement of devices in a top view of the electric vehicle 10, looking down on the vehicle. The battery 15, indicated by a dashed line, is disposed below a floor 16. In the electric vehicle 10, a first mechanical and electrical integrated unit 13 is disposed in front of the battery 15. In the electric vehicle 10, a second mechanical and electrical integrated unit 14 is disposed behind the battery 15. In the electric vehicle 10, the battery 15 is disposed between the first mechanical and electrical integrated unit 13 and the second mechanical and electrical integrated unit 14. In the electric vehicle 10, the battery 15 is disposed between the front wheels 11 and the rear wheels 12.

[0034] In the electric vehicle 10, first-row seats 17 and second-row seats 18 are arranged above a floor 16. In the electric vehicle 10, second-row seats 18 are arranged rearward of the first-row seats 17. The electric vehicle 10 has two seats as the first-row seats 17: seat 17A arranged on the right side of the vehicle and seat 17B arranged on the left side of the vehicle. Seats 17A and 17B are arranged side by side in the left-right direction of the vehicle. A center tunnel 30, which will be described later, is located between seats 17A and 17B. Seat 17A is a driver's seat in which a driver sits. In the electric vehicle 10, seat 17B may also be the driver's seat. A charging port 19 is arranged on the left side of the vehicle rearward of the battery 15.

[0035] The battery-related devices shown by dashed lines, namely, the on-board charger 20, the battery ECU 21, and the branch box 22, are disposed above the battery 15 and inside the center tunnel 30. The on-board charger 20 is disposed rearward of the center of the center tunnel 30 in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction. The branch box 22 is equipped with a cut-off relay 25.

[0036] The shift ECU 27 and switch ECU 29, indicated by dashed lines, are disposed above the battery 15 and inside the center tunnel 30. The on-board charger 20, battery ECU 21, branch box 22, shift ECU 27, and switch ECU 29 are disposed in this order from the front of the vehicle: shift ECU 27, switch ECU 29, branch box 22, battery ECU 21, on-board charger 20.

[0037] The shift lever 26 and the handbrake lever 28 are disposed above the center tunnel 30. The handbrake lever 28 is disposed further rearward in the vehicle than the shift lever 26. The shift lever 26 and the handbrake lever 28 are disposed between the first-row seats 17, seats 17A and 17B.

[0038] <Regarding the internal structure around seat 17 in the first row> FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric vehicle 10 in FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4. The positional relationship between the first-row seats 17, the center tunnel 30, the handbrake lever 28, and the switch ECU 29 will be described using FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the floor 16 is curved convexly upward in the vehicle. As a result, the center tunnel 30 of the electric vehicle 10 is formed below the floor 16 and above the battery 15. The first-row seats 17 are composed of a seat 17A located to the right of the center tunnel 30 and a seat 17B located to the left of the center tunnel 30. The seats 17A and 17B are independent seats. The seat surface 171A is the seat surface of the seat 17A. The seat surface 171B is the seat surface of the seat 17B.

[0039] A handbrake lever 28 is disposed above the center tunnel 30 between the seats 17A and 17B. A switch ECU 29 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30 between the seats 17A and 17B. The switch ECU 29 is disposed above and overlaps the battery 15. No battery-related devices are disposed below the seat surfaces 171A and 171B.

[0040] <Regarding the internal structure around seat 18 in the second row> FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric vehicle 10 in FIG. 4 taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 4. The positional relationship between the second-row seats 18, the center tunnel 30, and the battery ECU 21 will be described using FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the floor 16 is curved convexly upward in the vehicle. As a result, the center tunnel 30 of the electric vehicle 10 is formed below the floor 16 and above the battery 15. The seating surface 181 of the second-row seat 18 is curved convexly upward in the vehicle in accordance with the curvature of the floor 16. The seating surface 181 is composed of a seating surface 181R located to the right of the center tunnel 30, a seating surface 181C located above the center tunnel 30, and a seating surface 181L located to the left of the center tunnel 30. The seating surfaces 181R, 181C, and 181L form a continuous seating surface 181. The seat surface 181R is the seat surface 181 of the right seat in the second row of seats 18. The seat surface 181L is the seat surface 181 of the left seat in the second row of seats 18. The seat surfaces 181R and 181L are disposed at a lower position than the seat surface 181C.

[0041] A battery ECU 21 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30 below the second-row seats 18 and above the battery 15. The battery ECU 21 is disposed above and overlapping the battery 15. The battery ECU 21 is disposed below the seat surface 181C. No battery-related devices are disposed below the seat surfaces 181R and 181L.

[0042] <Regarding the internal structure of the electric vehicle 10 in a side view from the left side> Figure 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric vehicle 10 in Figure 4 taken along line 7-7 in Figure 4. Figure 7 shows a schematic view of the internal structure of the electric vehicle 10 in a side view from the left side. As shown in Figure 7, the center tunnel 30 extends in the front-to-rear direction of the electric vehicle 10.

[0043] The battery-related devices, an on-board charger 20, a battery ECU 21, and a branch box 22, are disposed above the battery 15 and inside the center tunnel 30. The on-board charger 20 is disposed rearward of the center of the center tunnel 30 in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction. The branch box 22 is equipped with a cutoff relay 25. The shift ECU 27 and a switch ECU 29 are disposed above the battery 15 and inside the center tunnel 30. The on-board charger 20, the battery ECU 21, the branch box 22, the shift ECU 27, and the switch ECU 29 are disposed in this order from the front of the vehicle: shift ECU 27, switch ECU 29, branch box 22, battery ECU 21, on-board charger 20.

[0044] The shift lever 26 and the handbrake lever 28 are disposed on the center tunnel 30. The handbrake lever 28 is disposed further rearward than the shift lever 26 in the vehicle.

[0045] <Operation of this embodiment> In electric vehicle 10, battery-related devices, such as on-board charger 20, battery ECU 21, and branch box 22, are disposed inside center tunnel 30. As a result, compared to a vehicle that does not have center tunnel 30 and in which battery-related devices are disposed below seat surface 171A of seat 17A, seat surface 171B of seat 17B, and left and right seat surfaces 181L and 181R of second-row seats 18, electric vehicle 10 can keep seat surfaces 171A, 171B, and 181 lower. Specifically, electric vehicle 10 can lower the positions of seat surfaces 171A, 171B, and seat surfaces 181R and 181L of second-row seats 18 on which occupants sit. As a result, the seating position of occupants can be kept low, and therefore electric vehicle 10 can keep its vehicle height low.

[0046] <Effects of this embodiment> (1) The electric vehicle 10 can be designed with a low vehicle height. (2) The electric vehicle 10 includes, as battery-related equipment, a battery ECU 21 that controls charging and discharging of the battery 15. The battery ECU 21 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30. That is, the battery ECU 21 is disposed below the floor 16 and above the battery 15. In the electric vehicle 10, the distance between the battery ECU 21 and the battery 15 is shorter than in a vehicle in which the battery ECU 21 is disposed outside the center tunnel 30. Therefore, in the electric vehicle 10, the wire harness 120 connecting the battery 15 and the battery ECU 21 can be short. If the wire harness 120 is short, the weight of the wire harness 120 is reduced. That is, the weight of the vehicle is reduced. In addition, if the wire harness 120 is short, power loss in the wire harness 120 is also reduced. The weight of the electric vehicle 10 can be reduced. Furthermore, the electric vehicle 10 can reduce power loss in the wire harness 120 that connects the battery 15 and the battery ECU 21.

[0047] (3) The electric vehicle 10 includes, as battery-related equipment, a branch box 22 that branches off the electric power supplied from the battery 15. The branch box 22 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30. That is, the branch box 22 is disposed below the floor 16 and above the battery 15. In the electric vehicle 10, the distance between the branch box 22 and the battery 15 is shorter than when the branch box 22 is disposed outside the center tunnel 30. Therefore, in the electric vehicle 10, the wire harness 110 connecting the battery 15 and the branch box 22 can be shorter. A shorter wire harness 110 reduces the weight of the wire harness 110. That is, the weight of the vehicle is reduced. In addition, a shorter wire harness 110 reduces power loss in the wire harness 110. The electric vehicle 10 can reduce the weight of the vehicle. Furthermore, the electric vehicle 10 can reduce power loss in the wire harness 110 connecting the battery 15 and the branch box 22.

[0048] (4) The electric vehicle 10 is equipped with a charging port 19 into which a charging plug is inserted from outside the vehicle. The charging port 19 is connected to an on-board charger 20 by a wire harness 100. The charging port 19 is located rearward of the battery 15 and on the left side of the vehicle. The on-board charger 20 is located inside the center tunnel 30 and rearward of the center of the center tunnel 30 in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle. The distance between the on-board charger 20 and the charging port 19 is shorter in the electric vehicle 10 than in a vehicle in which the charging port 19 is located further forward of the battery 15. Therefore, the electric vehicle 10 requires a shorter wire harness 100 connecting the on-board charger 20 and the charging port 19. A shorter wire harness 100 reduces the weight of the wire harness 100. A shorter wire harness 100 also reduces power loss in the wire harness 100. The electric vehicle 10 can reduce the weight of the vehicle. Furthermore, electric vehicle 10 can reduce power loss in wire harness 100 connecting on-board charger 20 and charging port 19.

[0049] (5) The branch box 22 is provided with a cutoff relay 25 that cuts off the power supplied from the battery 15. A high voltage may be applied to the wire harness 110 that connects the branch box 22 and the battery 15. The branch box 22 is disposed below the floor 16 and above the battery 15. Therefore, in the electric vehicle 10, the cutoff relay 25 can cut off the high-voltage power supplied from the battery 15 at a position closer to the battery 15 than in a vehicle in which the cutoff relay 25 is disposed outside the center tunnel 30. This allows the electric vehicle 10 to ensure higher safety.

[0050] (6) The electric vehicle 10 is equipped with a manual transmission simulator including a shift lever 26 and a shift ECU 27. The manual transmission simulator simulates the operating feel of a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission. The shift lever 26 is a device operated by the driver to select a gear position. The shift ECU 27 controls the first motor 132 and the second motor 142 with torque characteristics corresponding to the gear position selected by the shift lever 26. In the electric vehicle 10, the shift ECU 27 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30. This allows the seat surface 171A to be kept lower in the electric vehicle 10 compared to, for example, a vehicle in which the shift ECU 27 is disposed below the seat surface 171A of the seat 17A. This allows the seating position of the occupant to be kept lower, thereby allowing the vehicle height of the electric vehicle 10 to be kept low. Furthermore, the electric vehicle 10 is equipped with a manual transmission simulator. This allows the driver of the electric vehicle 10 to operate the electric vehicle 10 with torque characteristics that correspond to the gear position selected by the driver himself / herself. Therefore, the electric vehicle 10 can provide the driver of the electric vehicle 10 with the enjoyment of operating a manual transmission. The electric vehicle 10 can achieve a design that keeps the vehicle height low, and can provide the driver of the electric vehicle 10 with the enjoyment of operating a manual transmission.

[0051] (7) The electric vehicle 10 is equipped with a parking brake system consisting of an electric parking brake 31, a hand brake lever 28, and a switch ECU 29. The electric parking brake 31 brakes the rear wheels 12 when activated. The hand brake lever 28 is a switch operated by the driver. The switch ECU 29 controls the electric parking brake 31 according to the position of the hand brake lever 28. The hand brake lever 28 is disposed between seats 17A and 17B, which are the first-row seats 17, and above the center tunnel 30. The switch ECU 29 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30. In the electric vehicle 10, the switch ECU 29 of the parking brake system is disposed inside the center tunnel 30. As a result, the seat surface 171B can be kept lower in the electric vehicle 10 compared to, for example, a vehicle in which the switch ECU 29 is disposed below the seat surface 171B of seat 17B. This allows the seating position of the occupants to be kept low, thereby enabling the vehicle height of the electric vehicle 10 to be kept low. The electric vehicle 10 is equipped with a parking brake system and can be designed with a low vehicle height.

[0052] (8) The electric vehicle 10 is equipped with a handbrake lever 28 as a switch that sends a signal to the switch ECU 29. The electric vehicle 10 is equipped with a center tunnel 30. The electric vehicle 10 is equipped with a shift lever 26 and a handbrake lever 28 above the center tunnel 30 and between seats 17A and 17B, which are the first row seats 17. The handbrake lever 28 is disposed rearward of the vehicle relative to the shift lever 26. Seat 17A, which is the first row seat 17, is the driver's seat. As a result, the electric vehicle 10, despite being an electric vehicle, can achieve a driver's seat layout that is similar to that of a conventional sports car, including the center tunnel 30, shift lever 26, and handbrake lever 28. As a result, the electric vehicle 10 can provide the driver of the electric vehicle 10 with the feeling of riding in a conventional sports car.

[0053] <Example of change> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0054] If the on-board charger 20 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30 and rearward of the center of the center tunnel 30 in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction, the charging port 19 may be disposed on the right side of the vehicle, rearward of the battery 15. Even in this case, the distance between the on-board charger 20 and the charging port 19 is short. Therefore, the electric vehicle 10 can require a short wire harness 100 connecting the on-board charger 20 and the charging port 19.

[0055] If the battery ECU 21 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30, the battery 15 and the battery ECU 21 may be connected by something other than the wire harness 120. For example, the battery 15 and the battery ECU 21 may be connected by a bus bar. If the branch box 22 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30, the battery 15 and the branch box 22 may be connected by something other than the wire harness 110. For example, the battery 15 and the branch box 22 may be connected by a bus bar.

[0056] In the electrically powered vehicle 10, the branch box 22 does not necessarily have to be equipped with the cutoff relay 25. For example, the battery 15 may be equipped with the cutoff relay 25. Even in this case, the electrically powered vehicle 10 can cut off the high voltage power supplied from the battery 15 at a location close to the battery 15 by the cutoff relay 25.

[0057] In the electrically powered vehicle 10, as long as the shift ECU 27 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30, the shift ECU 27 may be disposed rearward of the battery-related devices. In the electrically powered vehicle 10, as long as the switch ECU 29 is disposed inside the center tunnel 30, the switch ECU 29 may be disposed further rearward of the vehicle than the battery-related devices.

[0058] In electric vehicle 10, if the battery-related equipment is disposed inside center tunnel 30, charging port 19 may be disposed forward of battery 15. Even in this case, electric vehicle 10 can keep seats 171A, 171B, and 181 lower than a vehicle that does not have center tunnel 30 and in which battery-related equipment is disposed below seat surface 171A of seat 17A, seat surface 171B of seat 17B, and left and right seat surfaces 181L and 181R of second-row seats 18. Specifically, electric vehicle 10 can lower the positions of seat surface 171A, seat surface 171B, and seat surfaces 181R and 181L of second-row seats 18 on which occupants sit. This allows the seating position of occupants to be kept low, thereby enabling electric vehicle 10 to keep its vehicle height low.

[0059] Electrically powered vehicle 10 may be configured to use a DC power supply as an external charging device to charge battery 15. For example, charging port 19 may be configured to be used for rapid charging using a DC high-voltage power supply of 50 kW or the like. In this case, charging port 19 is electrically connected to branch box 22 in addition to on-board charger 20. For example, charging port 19 and branch box 22 may be electrically connected by a wire harness. As a result, DC power input from the DC power supply connected to charging port 19 is supplied to battery 15 via branch box 22.

[0060] In the electric vehicle 10, the handbrake lever 28 may be disposed further forward than the shift lever 26. In the electric vehicle 10, the handbrake lever 28 may be disposed to the right or left of the shift lever 26. In the electric vehicle 10, the shift lever 26 and the handbrake lever 28 may be disposed in accordance with the positions of the shift lever and the handbrake lever in the driver's seat of a conventional sports car that is being reproduced.

[0061] The switch that constitutes the parking brake system of the electric vehicle 10 is not limited to the handbrake lever 28. For example, the electric vehicle 10 may be provided with a button-type switch as the switch that constitutes the parking brake system.

[0062] If the battery-related equipment is disposed inside the center tunnel 30, the electric vehicle 10 does not need to be equipped with a parking brake system consisting of the electric parking brake 31, the handbrake lever 28 which is a switch, and the switch ECU 29.

[0063] If the battery-related devices are disposed inside the center tunnel 30, the electric vehicle 10 does not need to include a manual gear shift simulator consisting of the shift lever 26 and the shift ECU 27.

[0064] <Additional Notes> The technical ideas that can be understood from the above-described embodiment and modified examples will be described. [Appendix 1] An electric vehicle in which drive wheels are driven by power stored in a battery, the vehicle comprising a first motor and a second motor as motors that are power sources for driving the drive wheels, the battery storing power to be supplied to the first motor and the second motor, and a plurality of battery-related devices, a first mechanical and electrical integrated unit comprising a first power control device that supplies power to the first motor and the first motor, and a second mechanical and electrical integrated unit comprising a second power control device that supplies power to the second motor and the second motor, the battery being disposed under the floor and between the front wheels and the rear wheels, and the first mechanical and electrical integrated unit storing power to the battery an electric vehicle in which the first row of seats and a second row of seats located further rearward of the vehicle than the first row of seats are arranged on the floor, the first row of seats being two seats arranged side by side in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and a center tunnel is arranged between the two seats, the center tunnel being arranged below the floor and above the battery, the center tunnel being arranged on the floor from the front to the rear of the vehicle, and the battery-related equipment being arranged inside the center tunnel.

[0065] [Appendix 2] The electric vehicle according to [Appendix 1], further comprising, as the battery-related equipment, an on-board charger for charging the battery with external power. [Appendix 3] An electric vehicle as described in [Appendix 2], which is provided with a charging port into which a charging plug is inserted from outside the vehicle, the charging port being connected to the on-board charger by a wire harness, the charging port being arranged rearward of the battery and on a side of the vehicle, and the on-board charger being arranged inside the center tunnel and rearward of the center of the center tunnel in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0066] [Supplementary Note 4] The electric vehicle according to any one of [Supplementary Note 1] to [Supplementary Note 3], further comprising, as the battery-related device, a branch box that branches off the power supplied from the battery. [Appendix 5] The electric vehicle described in [Appendix 4], wherein the branch box is provided with a cut-off relay that cuts off the power supplied from the battery.

[0067] [Supplementary Note 6] The electric vehicle according to any one of [Supplementary Note 1] to [Supplementary Note 5], further comprising, as the battery-related device, a battery ECU that controls charging and discharging of the battery. [Appendix 7] An electric vehicle as described in any one of [Appendix 1] to [Appendix 6], comprising a shift lever operated by a driver to select a gear, and a shift ECU that controls the motor with torque characteristics according to the gear selected by the shift lever, and comprising a manual transmission simulator that simulates the operating feel of a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission, wherein the shift lever is disposed between the two seats and above the center tunnel, and the shift ECU is disposed inside the center tunnel.

[0068] [Appendix 8] An electric vehicle as described in any one of [Appendix 1] to [Appendix 7], comprising a parking brake system consisting of an electric parking brake that brakes the rear wheels when activated, a switch operated by the driver, and a switch ECU that controls the electric parking brake depending on the position of the switch, wherein the switch is disposed between the two seats and above the center tunnel, and the switch ECU is disposed inside the center tunnel.

[0069] [Appendix 9] The electric vehicle described in [Appendix 8], wherein the switch is a handbrake lever, and the handbrake lever is disposed rearward of the vehicle relative to a shift lever disposed between the two seats and above the center tunnel. [Explanation of symbols]

[0070] 10...Electric vehicles 11...Front wheel 12...Rear wheel 13...First mechanical and electrical integrated unit 14...Second mechanical and electrical integrated unit 15...Battery 16...Floor 17...1st row seats 17A...Seat 17B...seat 18...Second row seats 19…Charging port 20…In-vehicle charger 21...Battery ECU 22...Branch box 25...Shut-off relay 26...Shift lever 27...Shift ECU 28...Handbrake lever 29...Switch ECU 30...Center tunnel 31...Electric parking brake 131...First power control device 132...First motor 141...Second power control device 142...Second motor

Claims

1. An electric vehicle whose drive wheels are driven by electricity stored in a battery. The vehicle includes a first motor and a second motor as power sources for driving the drive wheels, the battery storing the power to be supplied to the first motor and the second motor; and a plurality of battery-related devices; a first mechanical and electrical integrated unit including a first power control device that supplies power to the first motor and the first motor, and a second mechanical and electrical integrated unit including a second power control device that supplies power to the second motor and the second motor, the battery is disposed under a floor and between front and rear wheels, the first mechanical and electrical integrated unit is disposed forward of the battery, and the second mechanical and electrical integrated unit is disposed rearward of the battery, a first row of seats and a second row of seats located rearward of the first row of seats in the vehicle are arranged on the floor; As the first row of seats, two seats are arranged side by side in the left-right direction of the vehicle, A center tunnel is disposed between the two seats, the center tunnel is disposed below the floor and above the battery, and the center tunnel is disposed on the floor from a front side of the vehicle to a rear side of the vehicle, The battery-related equipment is disposed inside the center tunnel. Electric vehicle.

2. The battery-related equipment includes: An on-board charger is provided to charge the battery with external power. The electric vehicle according to claim 1 .

3. The battery-related equipment includes: A battery ECU is provided to control the charging and discharging of the battery. The electric vehicle according to claim 1 .

4. The battery-related equipment includes: A branch box is provided to branch off the power supplied from the battery. The electric vehicle according to claim 1 .

5. Equipped with a charging port into which a charging plug can be inserted from outside the vehicle, The charging port is connected to the on-board charger by a wire harness, The charging port is disposed rearward of the battery and on a side of the vehicle, The on-board charger is disposed inside the center tunnel and rearward of the center of the center tunnel in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The electric vehicle according to claim 2 .

6. The branch box includes a cutoff relay that cuts off the power supplied from the battery. The electric vehicle according to claim 4.

7. a manual transmission simulator including a shift lever operated by a driver to select a gear position, and a shift ECU that controls the motor with torque characteristics corresponding to the gear position selected by the shift lever, and that simulates the operating feel of a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission; the shift lever is disposed between the two seats and above the center tunnel, The shift ECU is disposed inside the center tunnel. The electric vehicle according to claim 1 .

8. a parking brake system including an electric parking brake that brakes the rear wheels when activated, a switch operated by a driver, and a switch ECU that controls the electric parking brake in accordance with the position of the switch; the switch is disposed between the two seats and above the center tunnel; The switch ECU is disposed inside the center tunnel. The electric vehicle according to claim 7.

9. the switch is a handbrake lever, The handbrake lever is disposed rearward of the vehicle relative to the shift lever. The electric vehicle according to claim 8.

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