Plug-in hybrid vehicle

Abstract

To easily ensure mounting space for a high-voltage electrical unit in a pickup truck-type plug-in hybrid vehicle. [Solution] In a pickup truck-type PHEV 10 having a cabin section 11 with a passenger compartment 14 in which front and rear seats 15 and 16 are installed, an engine compartment section 12 with an engine compartment 17 in which an engine 20 is arranged longitudinally, and a luggage section 13 with a cargo bed 18 that opens to the upper UP of the vehicle, a power control unit 41 that controls the power of a motor 22 and an on-board charging unit 42 that converts power supplied from outside the vehicle and supplies it to a battery 40 are distributed and arranged in the area below the vehicle DW of the cargo bed 18 in the luggage section 13 and the area below the vehicle DW of the rear seats 16 in the cabin section 11.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a pickup truck-type plug-in hybrid vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a plug-in hybrid vehicle (hereinafter referred to as PHEV) having a monocoque body structure. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4873016 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A PHEV is equipped with a large-capacity battery in addition to two drive sources, an engine and a motor. The PHEV also has a high-voltage electrical unit electrically connected to the battery. Examples of high-voltage electrical units include a motor power control unit and an on-board charging unit. In the case of the PHEV described in Patent Document 1, the battery is installed under the rear seat.

[0005] On the other hand, there is a type of vehicle called a pickup truck, which has a cargo bed that opens upward and is located behind the cabin. Most pickup trucks have a frame-type body. Numerous components, such as a transmission, propeller shaft, exhaust pipe, and fuel tank, are located under the floor of the pickup truck. Therefore, when converting a pickup truck into a PHEV, it may be necessary to raise the floor level in order to secure space under the floor for installing a battery and a high-voltage electrical unit. However, users demand a cabin and cargo bed that can accommodate large amounts of cargo for pickup truck-type vehicles. Raising the vehicle floor level to install a battery and a high-voltage electrical unit under the floor reduces the volume of the cabin and cargo bed, failing to meet user demands. The present invention secures space for installing a high-voltage electrical unit in a pickup truck-type PHEV. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] a power control unit that controls the power of the motor; a cabin section having a passenger compartment in which seats are installed; an engine compartment located in front of the cabin section and having an engine compartment in which the engine is installed; a luggage section located behind the cabin section and having a loading platform that is open to the top of the vehicle; and a frame having left and right side members that extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the passenger compartment in the cabin section below the vehicle and a portion of the loading platform in the luggage section below the vehicle, and the on-board charging unit and the power control unit are distributed across two of the three sections: a section below the seats in the cabin section, a section below the loading platform in the luggage section, and a section adjacent to the motor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The plug-in hybrid vehicle has the advantage of making it easy to secure a mounting space for a high-voltage electric unit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of components of a plug-in hybrid vehicle according to an embodiment, as viewed from the side. [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing the layout of the drive system and underfloor structure of the plug-in hybrid vehicle of the embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a battery and a high-voltage electric unit as viewed from above in the plug-in hybrid vehicle of the embodiment; FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a battery and a high-voltage electric unit in a modified example of a plug-in hybrid vehicle. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a battery and a high-voltage electric unit in a modified example of a plug-in hybrid vehicle. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a battery and a high-voltage electric unit in a modified example of a plug-in hybrid vehicle. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a battery and a high-voltage electric unit in a modified example of a plug-in hybrid vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An embodiment of a plug-in hybrid vehicle will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Among the arrows shown in each figure used in the following description, "FR" indicates the front of the vehicle, "RR" indicates the rear of the vehicle, "UP" indicates the top of the vehicle, "DW" indicates the bottom of the vehicle, "LF" indicates the left side of the vehicle, and "RF" indicates the right side of the vehicle.

[0010] The PHEV 10 includes a battery 40 that can be charged with electric power supplied from outside the vehicle. The PHEV 10 also includes an engine 20 and a motor 22 as drive sources that generate rotational power transmitted to four wheels: left and right front wheels 27 and left and right rear wheels 29. The engine 20 generates rotational power by burning fuel. The motor 22 generates rotational power using electric power supplied from the battery 40.

[0011] The PHEV 10 of this embodiment is configured as a pickup truck. This pickup truck-type PHEV 10 has three sections: a cabin section 11, an engine compartment 12 located at the front (FR) of the cabin section 11, and a luggage section 13 located at the rear (RR) of the cabin section 11. The cabin section 11 is provided with a passenger compartment 14 where passengers board. The engine compartment 12 has an engine compartment 17 in which an engine 20 is arranged longitudinally. The PHEV 10 of this embodiment is equipped with the engine 20 having a V-type cylinder arrangement. The luggage section 13 has a cargo bed 18 that opens upward toward the vehicle (UP).

[0012] In the drawing, the portion of the PHEV 10 that is rearward (RR) of the vehicle from dotted line L1 and forward (FR) of dotted line L2 is a cabin section 11. Furthermore, the portion of the PHEV 10 that is forward (FR) of dotted line L1 is an engine compartment 12. Furthermore, the portion of the PHEV 10 that is rearward (RR) of dotted line L2 is a luggage section 13. A passenger compartment 14 of the PHEV 10 is provided with a front row seat 15 and a rear row seat 16 that is located rearward (RR) of the front row seat 15 as seats for occupants. Furthermore, front and rear doors 11A, 11B are provided on the left and right sides of the cabin section 11 of the PHEV 10, respectively. In the PHEV 10 of this embodiment, the portions of the side surfaces of the cabin section 11 where the doors 11A, 11B are provided are passenger boarding gates.

[0013] The PHEV 10 is also provided with a charging inlet 44 for connecting a charging plug of an external charging device. The charging inlet 44 is installed on the side of the PHEV 10 at a position RR rearward of the door 11B. In the case of FIG. 1 , the charging inlet 44 is installed on the side surface of the luggage area 13 on the left side LF of the vehicle.

[0014] <Drive system configuration> Next, we will explain the configuration of the drive system of the PHEV 10. The drive system of the PHEV 10 includes an engine 20, a transmission 21, a motor 22, and a transfer 23. The drive system of the PHEV 10 also includes propeller shafts 24 and 25 for the front and rear wheels. The propeller shafts 24 and 25 are each connected to the engine 20 via the transfer 23, the motor 22, and the transmission 21. The front-wheel propeller shaft 24 is connected to left and right front wheels 27 via a differential 26, and the rear-wheel propeller shaft 25 is connected to left and right rear wheels 29 via a differential 28.

[0015] <Underfloor structure configuration> Next, the configuration of the underfloor structure of the PHEV 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The underfloor of the PHEV 10 refers to the portion of the vehicle DW below the floor panels of the passenger compartment 14 and the cargo bed 18.

[0016] A frame 30 is provided under the floor of the passenger compartment 14 and the cargo bed 18 of the PHEV 10. The frame 30 of the PHEV 10 of this embodiment is a ladder-type frame having left and right side members 31 and a plurality of cross members 32 connecting the side members 31. The left and right side members 31 are each arranged to extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin 11 that is lower on the DW side of the vehicle than the passenger compartment 14. As shown in FIG. 2 , the propeller shaft 25 for the rear wheels extends in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin 11 that is lower on the DW side of the vehicle than the passenger compartment 14.

[0017] An exhaust pipe 33 that guides exhaust from the engine 20 to the rear of the vehicle RR is also disposed under the floor of the PHEV 10. The exhaust pipe 33 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, passing through a portion of the cabin 11 that is lower on the DW side of the vehicle than the passenger compartment 14. A muffler 34 is disposed midway along the exhaust pipe 33. The muffler 34 is disposed in a portion of the cabin 11 that is lower on the DW side of the vehicle than the passenger compartment 14. Furthermore, a fuel tank 35 that stores fuel for the engine 20 is disposed under the floor of the PHEV 10. A propeller shaft 25 for the rear wheels is disposed in a portion between the exhaust pipe 33 and the fuel tank 35 in the vehicle width direction.

[0018] <Power supply system configuration> Next, the configuration of the power supply system of the PHEV 10 will be described with reference to FIG. The PHEV 10 is equipped with a battery 40 that can be charged outside the vehicle. The battery 40 is composed of a plurality of cells, a case that houses the cells, and the like. The PHEV 10 also has a power control unit 41 and an on-board charging unit 42 as high-voltage electrical units directly and electrically connected to the battery 40. The battery 40 is connected to the motor 22 via the power control unit 41. The motor 22 generates rotational power that is transmitted to the front wheels 27 and the rear wheels 29 using power supplied from the battery 40. The power control unit 41 is a unit that controls the power of the motor 22 and includes an inverter, etc. The battery 40 is also connected to a charging inlet 44 via the on-board charging unit 42. The on-board charging unit 42 functions as an on-board charger that charges the battery 40 by converting power supplied from outside the vehicle through the charging inlet 44 and supplying the converted power to the battery 40. The on-board charging unit 42 may also have a power conversion function of stepping down the high-voltage power stored in the battery 40 and supplying it to low-voltage electrical devices of the PHEV 10.

[0019] In the PHEV 10 of this embodiment, the battery 40 is disposed in a portion of the luggage compartment 13 under the vehicle DW of the cargo bed 18. A portion of the floor panel of the cargo bed 18 at the front FR of the vehicle is formed in a shape that bulges upward UP of the vehicle. The battery 40 is disposed under the vehicle DW of the bulging portion of the floor panel. Note that the battery 40 may be mounted on a floor panel that is formed entirely flat, and a cover may be provided to cover the periphery of the battery 40. In this case, the outer surface of the cover essentially forms the floor surface of the cargo bed 18 in the portion where the battery 40 is mounted.

[0020] On the other hand, the on-board charging unit 42 is disposed in a portion of the luggage compartment 13 below the vehicle DW of the loading platform 18, further below the battery 40. The power control unit 41 is disposed in the cabin 11 below the vehicle DW of the rear row seats 16. The power control unit 41 and the on-board charging unit 42 are disposed so as to be located above the side members 31, the propeller shaft 25, the exhaust pipe 33, and the fuel tank 35.

[0021] <Actions and Effects of the Embodiment> In the PHEV 10 of this embodiment, left and right side members 31, a propeller shaft 25, an exhaust pipe 33, a fuel tank 35, and the like are arranged in the vehicle underside DW portions of the passenger compartment 14 and the cargo bed 18. Therefore, it is difficult to secure sufficient installation space under the floor of the passenger compartment 14 and the cargo bed 18 to accommodate the battery 40, the power control unit 41, and the on-board charging unit 42 all together. In contrast, in the PHEV 10 of this embodiment, the power control unit 41 is arranged in the cabin portion 11 in a portion of the vehicle underside DW of the rear row of seats 16. Furthermore, the on-board charging unit 42 is arranged in the luggage portion 13 in a portion of the vehicle underside DW of the cargo bed 18. Because these components are arranged in a dispersed manner in this manner, it is possible to secure installation space for the high-voltage electrical unit even in a PHEV 10 in which the propeller shaft 25, etc. are arranged under the floor.

[0022] The PHEV 10 of this embodiment described above has the following advantages. (1) The power control unit 41 and the on-board charging unit 42 are disposed separately in a portion of the cabin 11 below the rear row of seats 16 on the DW side of the vehicle and in a portion of the luggage compartment 13 below the DW side of the cargo area 18. This makes it easy to secure installation space for the high-voltage electrical unit even in a PHEV 10 in which the propeller shaft 25 and the like are disposed under the floor.

[0023] (2) The reduction in the living space of the vehicle interior 14 is suppressed compared to when the power control unit 41 and the in-vehicle charging unit 42 are installed together in the cabin section 11. (3) The reduction in the loading space of the cargo area 18 is suppressed compared to when the power control unit 41 and the on-board charging unit 42 are installed together in the luggage compartment 13.

[0024] (4) In the PHEV 10 of this embodiment, the power control unit 41 is disposed in the cabin section 11 in a position on the vehicle underside DW of the rear row seats 16, and the on-board charging unit 42 is disposed in the luggage section 13 in a position on the vehicle underside DW of the loading platform 18. In this case, the distance between the motor 22 and the power control unit 41 is shorter than when the power control unit 41 is disposed in the luggage section 13. This makes it easier to arrange the wiring and the like that connects the power control unit 41 and the motor 22.

[0025] (5) In the PHEV 10 of this embodiment, the charging inlet 44 is installed in a region toward the rear (RR) of the vehicle from the doors 11A, 11B, which serve as passenger boarding gates. The on-board charging unit 42 is also located in a region below the vehicle DW of the loading platform 18 in the luggage compartment 13. In this case, the distance between the charging inlet 44 and the on-board charging unit 42 is shorter than when the on-board charging unit 42 is located below the vehicle DW of the rear row seats 16. This makes it easier to arrange the wiring and the like that connects the charging inlet 44 and the on-board charging unit 42.

[0026] (Other embodiments) This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0027] <Battery and high-voltage electrical unit placement> The arrangement of the battery 40, the power control unit 41, and the on-board charging unit 42 can be changed as follows. In any case, by distributing the power control unit 41 and the on-board charging unit 42, it is possible to easily secure the installation space for them.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, an on-board charging unit 42 may be disposed above the battery 40 in the luggage compartment 13 in a portion of the loading platform 18 below the vehicle DW. As shown in Fig. 5, the on-board charging unit 42 may be disposed in a portion of the cabin 11 below the rear row of seats 16 on the vehicle DW side, and the power control unit 41 may be disposed in a portion of the luggage compartment 13 below the rear row of seats 16 on the vehicle DW side. In the case of Fig. 5, the battery 40 is disposed in the cabin 11 below the rear row of seats 16 on the vehicle DW side. In Fig. 5, the location of the battery 40 can also be changed so that it is located in the luggage compartment 13 below the rear row of seats 16 on the vehicle DW side.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 6, the on-board charging unit 42 may be disposed in a portion of the cabin 11 below the rear row of seats 16 on the vehicle DW side, while the power control unit 41 may be disposed adjacent to the motor 22. In Fig. 6, the power control unit 41 is installed integrally with the motor 22 on the portion of the motor 22 above the vehicle UP. In Fig. 7, the battery 40 is disposed together with the on-board charging unit 42 below the rear row of seats 16 on the vehicle DW side in the cabin 11. In Fig. 6, the location of the battery 40 can also be changed so that it is disposed below the vehicle DW side of the cargo bed 18 in the luggage section 13.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 7, the on-board charging unit 42 may be disposed in a portion of the luggage compartment 13 below the vehicle DW of the loading platform 18, while the power control unit 41 may be disposed adjacent to the motor 22. In Fig. 7, the power control unit 41 is installed integrally with the motor 22 at a portion of the motor 22 above the vehicle UP. Also, in Fig. 7, the battery 40 is disposed together with the on-board charging unit 42 below the vehicle DW of the loading platform 18 in the luggage compartment 13. In Fig. 7, the location of the battery 40 can also be changed so that it is disposed below the vehicle DW of the rear row seats 16 in the cabin 11.

[0031] The power control unit 41 may be disposed in a location different from that shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, provided that it is adjacent to the motor 22. For example, the power control unit 41 may be disposed to the side or below the motor 22. The power control unit 41 may also be disposed inside the case of the motor 22.

[0032] The on-board charging unit 42 may be disposed adjacent to the motor 22, and the power control unit 41 may be disposed in a position on the vehicle underside DW of the rear row seats 16 in the cabin section 11. Alternatively, the on-board charging unit 42 may be disposed adjacent to the motor 22, and the power control unit 41 may be disposed in a position on the vehicle underside DW of the loading platform 18 in the luggage section 13.

[0033] The battery 40 may be disposed in a location other than the vehicle lower DW portion of the rear row seats 16 in the cabin section 11 and the vehicle lower DW portion of the cargo bed 18 in the luggage section 13. For example, if sufficient installation space can be secured between the left and right side members 31 of the frame 30, the battery 40 may be disposed between the left and right side members 31.

[0034] <Other> If it is possible to arrange the wiring for connection to the in-vehicle charging unit 42, the charging inlet 44 may be installed in a location different from that in the above embodiment.

[0035] The engine 20 may have a cylinder arrangement other than a V-type. The engine 20 may also be arranged horizontally in the engine compartment 17. In the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the battery 40, the power control unit 41, and the on-board charging unit 42, which are arranged in the vehicle underside DW of the rear row seat 16 in the cabin portion 11, may be arranged in the vehicle underside DW of the front row seat 15.

[0036] Although the passenger compartment 14 of the PHEV 10, 100 has two rows of seats, one in front and one in back, the seat layout can be changed. In this case, the battery 40, the power control unit 41, and the on-board charging unit 42, which are arranged in the vehicle underside DW of the rear row seat 16 in the above embodiment and modified example, may be arranged in the vehicle underside DW of any seat.

[0037] The arrangement of the propeller shaft 25, exhaust pipe 33, muffler 34, fuel tank 35, etc. under the floor of the PHEV 10 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the PHEV 10 may be configured so that the propeller shaft 25 is located between the exhaust pipe 33 and the fuel tank 35 in the vehicle width direction.

[0038] The configuration of the drive train of the PHEV 10 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the drive train of the PHEV 10 may be configured so that the front wheels 27 and the rear wheels 29 are driven by independent drive trains, or the drive train of the PHEV 10 may be configured so that the PHEV 10 is a front-wheel drive vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 10 PHEV 11 Cabin section 12 Engine compartment 13 Luggage section 14 Cabin 15 Front row seats 16 rear row seats 17 Engine Room 18 Cargo bed 20 Engine 21 Transmission 22 Motor 23 Transfer 24 Propeller shaft for front wheel 25 Rear wheel propeller shaft 26, 28 differential 27 Front wheel 29 rear wheel 30 frames 31 Side member 32 Cross member 33 Exhaust pipe 34 Muffler 35 Fuel Tank 40 Battery 41 Power Control Unit 42 In-vehicle charging unit 44 Charging inlet

Claims

1. A pickup truck-type plug-in hybrid vehicle, the vehicle comprises an engine that generates rotational power by burning fuel and that is transmitted to wheels; a battery that can be charged with electricity supplied from outside the vehicle; a motor that generates the rotational power using the electricity supplied from the battery; an on-board charging unit that converts the electricity supplied from outside the vehicle and supplies it to the battery; a power control unit that controls the power of the motor; a cabin section having a passenger compartment in which seats for occupants are installed; an engine compartment section that is located in front of the cabin section and has an engine compartment in which the engine is installed; a luggage section that is located behind the cabin section and has a luggage bed that is open above the vehicle; and a frame having left and right side members that extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the passenger compartment in the cabin section below the vehicle and a portion of the luggage bed in the luggage section below the vehicle, The on-board charging unit and the power control unit are disposed in two of three locations: a location below the seat in the cabin section, a location below the loading platform in the luggage section, and a location adjacent to the motor. Plug-in hybrid vehicle.

2. 2. The plug-in hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the power control unit is disposed in a portion of the cabin section below the seat, and the on-board charging unit is disposed in a portion of the luggage section below the loading platform.

3. 3. The plug-in hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein a charging inlet that receives electric power from outside the vehicle is provided in a portion of the plug-in hybrid vehicle rearward of a passenger boarding gate provided in the cabin portion of the plug-in hybrid vehicle.

4. The plug-in hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the battery is disposed in a portion of the luggage compartment below the vehicle body of the loading platform.

5. 2. The plug-in hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the on-board charging unit is disposed in a portion of the cabin section below the seat, and the power control unit is disposed in a portion of the luggage section below the loading platform.

6. The plug-in hybrid vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein the battery is disposed in a portion of the cabin below the seat.

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