Electric vehicle

Abstract

To provide an electric vehicle capable of reducing a load acting on a battery pack when a front wheel or a rear wheel abuts on the battery pack.SOLUTION: The electric vehicle 100 includes a battery pack 10, a front wheel 41, and a rear wheel 42. The battery pack 10 includes two first inclined portions 15 and 16 that are inclined so as to be located outward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear in the vehicle length direction. The battery pack 10 includes two second inclined portions 17 and 18 that are inclined so as to be positioned on the outer side in the vehicle width direction toward the front in the vehicle length direction. The first inclined portions 15 and 16 are provided at positions where they abut against the first inclined portions 15 and 16 when the front wheel 41 moves rearward in the vehicle length direction. The second inclined portions 17 and 18 are provided at positions where the rear wheel 42 comes into contact with the second inclined portions 17 and 18 when the rear wheel 42 moves forward in the vehicle length direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

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 between a pair of left and right frames that form the framework of the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-002363 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the event of a front collision, the front wheels may move backward due to the collision and hit the battery pack. When the front wheels hit the battery pack, it is desirable to reduce the load acting on the battery pack. Similarly, in the event of a rear collision, it is desirable to reduce the load acting on the battery pack when the rear wheels hit the battery pack. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An electric vehicle that solves the above problems is an electric vehicle in which drive wheels are driven by electric power stored in battery cells inside a battery pack. The electric vehicle includes the battery pack under a floor. The electric vehicle includes front wheels forward of the battery pack and rear wheels rearward of the battery pack. In a top view of the vehicle, the battery pack includes a first tapered portion whose length in the vehicle width direction increases from the front of the vehicle length direction toward the center of the vehicle, and a second tapered portion whose length in the vehicle width direction increases from the rear of the vehicle length direction toward the center of the vehicle. The first tapered portion includes a first central portion that is the front end of the battery pack in the vehicle length direction and extends in the vehicle width direction, and two first inclined portions that are inclined from the first central portion toward the rear of the vehicle length direction and are connected to side surfaces of the battery pack so as to be positioned outward in the vehicle width direction. The second tapered portion includes a second central portion that is the rear end of the battery pack in the vehicle length direction and extends in the vehicle width direction, and two second inclined portions that are inclined toward the outside in the vehicle width direction as they move forward in the vehicle length direction from the second central portion and connect to side surfaces of the battery pack. The first inclined portions are provided at a position where they will abut against the first inclined portions when the front wheels move rearward in the vehicle length direction. The second inclined portions are provided at a position where they will abut against the second inclined portions when the rear wheels move forward in the vehicle length direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The electric vehicle described above can reduce the load acting on the battery pack when the front wheels move rearward in the vehicle length direction. The electric vehicle described above can reduce the load acting on the battery pack when the rear wheels move forward in the vehicle length direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an electric vehicle according to one embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an electrical system and a drive system in the electric vehicle shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the electric vehicle taken along line 3-3 shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An electric vehicle 100 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. In the following description, "front," "rear," "right," "left," "upper," and "lower" refer to the "front," "rear," "right," "left," "upper," and "lower" directions as seen by a passenger facing forward of the vehicle. The left-right direction coincides with the vehicle width direction.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the electric vehicle 100 includes a battery pack 10. The electric vehicle 100 includes front wheels 41, rear wheels 42, a first drive shaft 51, a second drive shaft 52, a first mechanical and electrical integrated unit 20A, a second mechanical and electrical integrated unit 20B, a first suspension member 30A, and a second suspension member 30B. The first mechanical and electrical integrated unit 20A and the second mechanical and electrical integrated unit 20B are disposed on the outer side of the vehicle relative to the outer end of the battery pack 10 in the vehicle length direction. The battery pack 10 and the first mechanical and electrical integrated unit 20A are disposed apart from each other in the vehicle length direction. The battery pack 10 and the second mechanical and electrical integrated unit 20B are disposed apart from each other in the vehicle length direction. A plurality of battery cells 14 are housed inside the battery pack 10. 1, 2, and 3, the plurality of battery cells 14 arranged in the battery pack 10 are shown collectively surrounded by dashed lines.

[0010] <Electrical system and drive system of electric vehicle 100> As shown in Fig. 2, the first mechanical and electrical integrated unit 20A is composed of a first motor 21A and a first power control device 22A. The second mechanical and electrical integrated unit 20B is composed of a second motor 21B and a second power control device 22B. The battery pack 10 and the first power control device 22A are electrically connected by a wire harness 60A shown by a broken line. The first power control device 22A and the first motor 21A are electrically connected by a wire harness shown by a broken line. The battery pack 10 and the second power control device 22B are electrically connected by a wire harness 60B shown by a broken line. The second power control device 22B and the second motor 21B are electrically connected by a wire harness shown by a broken line.

[0011] 1, a wire harness 60A that supplies power from the battery pack 10 to the first mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20A is not arranged in the space between a first central portion 11A, which is the front end of the battery pack 10 in the vehicle length direction, and the first mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20A. A wire harness 60B that supplies power from the battery pack 10 to the second mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20B is not arranged in the space between a second central portion 11B, which is the rear end of the battery pack 10 in the vehicle length direction, and the second mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20B.

[0012] The first motor 21A and the second motor 21B shown in FIG. 2 are power sources that drive the drive wheels. A plurality of battery cells 14 inside the battery pack 10 stores electric power to be supplied to the first motor 21A and the second motor 21B. The electric vehicle 100 drives the drive wheels using the electric power stored in the plurality of battery cells 14. The first motor 21A drives the front wheels 41 via a first drive shaft 51. In other words, the front wheels 41 are drive wheels. The second motor 21B drives the rear wheels 42 via a second drive shaft 52. In other words, the rear wheels 42 are drive wheels.

[0013] The first power control device 22A is a power control device that supplies power to the first motor 21A. The first power control device 22A includes an inverter that converts DC power from the multiple battery cells 14 into AC power and supplies it to the first motor 21A. The second power control device 22B is a power control device that supplies power to the second motor 21B. The second power control device 22B includes an inverter that converts DC power from the multiple battery cells 14 into AC power and supplies it to the second motor 21B.

[0014] <Regarding fastening between the battery pack 10 and the first suspension member 30A> As shown in FIG. 1 , the battery pack 10 includes a first tapered portion 19A whose length in the vehicle width direction increases from the front of the vehicle length direction toward the center of the vehicle in a top view of the vehicle. The first tapered portion 19A includes a first central portion 11A extending in the vehicle width direction. The first central portion 11A is the front end of the battery pack 10 in the vehicle length direction. The first tapered portion 19A includes a first inclined portion 15 and a first inclined portion 16 that are inclined toward the outside in the vehicle width direction as they extend from the first central portion 11A toward the rear of the vehicle length direction. The first inclined portion 15 and the first inclined portion 16 are connected to the side surfaces of the battery pack 10. The first inclined portion 15 is located to the right of the first central portion 11A in the vehicle width direction. The first inclined portion 16 is located to the left of the first central portion 11A in the vehicle width direction. Multiple battery cells 14 are also housed in the first tapered portion 19A of the battery pack 10.

[0015] Similar to the first tapered portion 19A, the length of the first suspension member 30A in the vehicle width direction increases from the front in the vehicle length direction toward the center of the vehicle. The first suspension member 30A is composed of a side member 30AR and a side member 30AL. The side member 30AR is fastened to the first mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20A. The side member 30AL is fastened to the first mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20A. The first mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20A is disposed between the side member 30AR and the side member 30AL in the vehicle width direction.

[0016] Side member 30AR is fastened to battery pack 10 at first inclined portion 15. Side member 30AL is fastened to battery pack 10 at first inclined portion 16. That is, first suspension member 30A is fastened to battery pack 10 at first inclined portion 15 and first inclined portion 16. First central portion 11A is located between side member 30AR and side member 30AL in the vehicle width direction.

[0017] <Regarding fastening between the battery pack 10 and the second suspension member 30B> The battery pack 10 includes a second tapered portion 19B whose length in the vehicle width direction increases from the rear of the vehicle length direction toward the center of the vehicle in a top view of the vehicle. The second tapered portion 19B includes a second central portion 11B extending in the vehicle width direction. The second central portion 11B is the rear end of the battery pack 10 in the vehicle length direction. The second tapered portion 19B includes a second inclined portion 17 and a second inclined portion 18 that are inclined toward the outside in the vehicle width direction as they extend from the second central portion 11B toward the front of the vehicle length direction. The second inclined portion 17 and the second inclined portion 18 are connected to the side surfaces of the battery pack 10. The second inclined portion 17 is located to the right of the second central portion 11B in the vehicle width direction. The second inclined portion 18 is located to the left of the second central portion 11B in the vehicle width direction. Multiple battery cells 14 are also housed in the second tapered portion 19B of the battery pack 10.

[0018] Similar to the second tapered portion 19B, the second suspension member 30B has a length in the vehicle width direction that increases from the rear in the vehicle length direction toward the center of the vehicle. The second suspension member 30B is composed of a side member 30BR and a side member 30BL. The side member 30BR is fastened to the second mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20B. The side member 30BL is fastened to the second mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20B. The second mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20B is disposed between the side member 30BR and the side member 30BL in the vehicle width direction.

[0019] Side member 30BR is fastened to battery pack 10 at second inclined portion 17. Side member 30BL is fastened to battery pack 10 at second inclined portion 18. That is, second suspension member 30B is fastened to battery pack 10 at second inclined portion 17 and second inclined portion 18. Second central portion 11B is located between side member 30BR and side member 30BL in the vehicle width direction.

[0020] <Regarding the positional relationship between the battery pack 10 and the front and rear wheels 41 and 42> Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the electric vehicle 100 in Fig. 1 taken along line 3-3 in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3, the electric vehicle 100 has a battery pack 10 under a floor 12. The electric vehicle 100 has front wheels 41 located in front of the battery pack 10. The electric vehicle 100 has rear wheels 42 located behind the battery pack 10.

[0021] The first inclined portion 16 of the battery pack 10 is positioned so that it will come into contact with the left front wheel 41 of the vehicle when the left front wheel 41 moves rearward in the vehicle length direction. Similarly, the first inclined portion 15 (not shown) is positioned so that it will come into contact with the right front wheel 41 when the right front wheel 41 moves rearward in the vehicle length direction. No connectors are provided on the first inclined portion 15 and the first inclined portion 16 that come into contact with the front wheel 41. For example, no connectors are provided on the first inclined portion 15 and the first inclined portion 16 that connect the wire harness 60A and the battery pack 10.

[0022] The second inclined portion 18 of the battery pack 10 is positioned so that it abuts against the second inclined portion 18 when the rear wheel 42 on the left side of the vehicle moves forward in the vehicle length direction. Similarly, the second inclined portion 17 (not shown) is positioned so that it abuts against the second inclined portion 17 when the rear wheel 42 on the right side of the vehicle moves forward in the vehicle length direction. No connectors are provided on the second inclined portion 17 and the second inclined portion 18 that abut against the rear wheel 42. For example, no connectors are provided on the second inclined portion 17 and the second inclined portion 18 that connect the wire harness 60B and the battery pack 10.

[0023] <Operation of the First Embodiment> The front wheel 41, which has moved rearward in the vehicle length direction, comes into contact with the first inclined portions 15, 16. The front wheel 41, which has come into contact with the first inclined portions 15, 16, moves outward in the vehicle width direction along the first inclined portions 15, 16. The rear wheel 42, which has moved forward in the vehicle length direction, comes into contact with the second inclined portions 17, 18. The rear wheel 42, which has come into contact with the second inclined portions 17, 18, moves outward in the vehicle width direction along the second inclined portions 17, 18.

[0024] <Effects of the first embodiment> (1) In the electric vehicle 100, when the front wheels 41 move rearward in the vehicle length direction during a front collision, the front wheels 41 are more likely to move toward the outside of the vehicle than in an electric vehicle in which the battery pack 10 does not include the first inclined portion 15 and the first inclined portion 16. As a result, in the electric vehicle 100, when the front wheels 41 move rearward in the vehicle length direction, the load acting on the battery pack 10 can be reduced. In the electric vehicle 100, when the rear wheels 42 move forward in the vehicle length direction during a rear collision, the rear wheels 42 are more likely to move toward the outside of the vehicle than in an electric vehicle in which the battery pack 10 does not include the second inclined portion 17 and the second inclined portion 18. As a result, in the electric vehicle 100, when the rear wheels 42 move forward in the vehicle length direction, the load acting on the battery pack 10 can be reduced.

[0025] (2) In the electric vehicle 100, a plurality of battery cells 14 are housed in the first tapered portion 19A and the second tapered portion 19B of the battery pack 10. By housing a plurality of battery cells 14 in the first tapered portion 19A and the second tapered portion 19B, the electric vehicle 100 can increase the battery capacity compared to an electric vehicle in which the battery cells 14 are not housed in the first tapered portion 19A and the second tapered portion 19B.

[0026] (3) In the electric vehicle 100, the first mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20A and the first central portion 11A are located between the side members 30AR and 30AL in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, in the electric vehicle 100, the distance between the battery pack 10 and the first mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20A is shorter than in an electric vehicle in which the front end of the battery pack 10 in the vehicle length direction is not located between the side members 30AR and 30AL in the vehicle width direction. This increases the likelihood that the first central portion 11A and the first mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20A will come into contact with each other in the event of a frontal collision. Therefore, in the electric vehicle 100, the likelihood that the first mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20A will move toward the center of the vehicle relative to the first central portion 11A in the event of a frontal collision can be reduced. In the electric vehicle 100, the second mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20B and the second central portion 11B are located between the side members 30BR and 30BL in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, in the electric vehicle 100, the distance between the battery pack 10 and the second mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20B is shorter than in an electric vehicle in which the rear end of the battery pack 10 in the vehicle length direction is not located between the side members 30BR and 30BL in the vehicle width direction. This increases the likelihood that the second central portion 11B and the second mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20B will come into contact with each other in the event of a rear-end collision. Therefore, in the electric vehicle 100, the likelihood that the second mechanically and electrically integrated unit 20B will move toward the center of the vehicle relative to the second central portion 11B in the event of a rear-end collision can be reduced.

[0027] (4) In the electric vehicle 100, the first inclined portion 15 and the first inclined portion 16 that come into contact with the front wheel 41 are not provided with connectors. This reduces the possibility that an impact will be applied to the connector provided in the battery pack 10 when the front wheel 41 moves toward the rear of the vehicle. In the electric vehicle 100, the second inclined portion 17 and the second inclined portion 18 that come into contact with the rear wheel 42 are not provided with connectors. This reduces the possibility that an impact will be applied to the connector provided in the battery pack 10 when the rear wheel 42 moves toward the front of the vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 10...battery pack, 11A...first central portion, 11B...second central portion, 12...floor, 14...battery cell, 15...first inclined portion, 16...first inclined portion, 17...second inclined portion, 18...second inclined portion, 19A...first tapered portion, 19B...second tapered portion, 41...front wheel, 42...rear wheel, 100...electric vehicle

Claims

[Claim 1] An electric vehicle in which drive wheels are driven by electric power stored in battery cells inside a battery pack, the electric vehicle includes the battery pack under a floor, front wheels located forward of the battery pack, and rear wheels located rearward of the battery pack; When viewed from above the vehicle, the battery pack includes a first tapered portion whose length in a vehicle width direction increases from the front in the vehicle length direction toward the center of the vehicle, and a second tapered portion whose length in the vehicle width direction increases from the rear in the vehicle length direction toward the center of the vehicle, the first tapered portion includes a first central portion that is a front end of the battery pack in the vehicle length direction and extends in the vehicle width direction, and two first inclined portions that are inclined from the first central portion toward the rear in the vehicle length direction so as to be positioned outward in the vehicle width direction and are connected to side surfaces of the battery pack; the second tapered portion includes a second central portion that is a rear end of the battery pack in the vehicle length direction and extends in the vehicle width direction, and two second inclined portions that are inclined from the second central portion toward the front in the vehicle length direction so as to be positioned outward in the vehicle width direction and are connected to side surfaces of the battery pack, The first inclined portion is provided at a position where it comes into contact with the first inclined portion when the front wheel moves rearward in the vehicle length direction, and the second inclined portion is provided at a position where it comes into contact with the second inclined portion when the rear wheel moves forward in the vehicle length direction. Electric vehicle.

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