Pickup truck

Abstract

To easily ensure a space for mounting a battery in a pickup truck configured as a plug-in hybrid vehicle. [Solution] In a pickup truck (10) configured as a plug-in hybrid vehicle having a cabin section (11) with a passenger compartment (14), 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 side (UP) of the vehicle, a main battery (40) is installed in the luggage section (13) below the vehicle DW below the floor panel (18A) of the cargo bed (18) and above the vehicle UP above the frame (30), and is provided as a power source for a motor (22).

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a hybrid vehicle having a longitudinally disposed engine and a battery disposed around a propeller shaft under the vehicle floor. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-085506 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Plug-in hybrid vehicles (hereinafter referred to as PHEVs) that can be charged externally are equipped with a large-capacity battery in addition to two drive sources, an engine and a motor. One type of vehicle is a pickup truck, which has a cargo bed that opens upward and is located behind the cabin. Most pickup trucks have a frame structure. Under the floor of the pickup truck's passenger compartment are numerous components, including the transmission, propeller shaft, exhaust pipe, and fuel tank. Therefore, when converting a pickup truck into a PHEV, it may not be possible to secure sufficient space under the passenger compartment to install a battery. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] a frame having left and right side members extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin section lower than the passenger compartment, wherein the engine compartment has an engine bay in which the engine is arranged longitudinally, and the luggage section has a loading platform that opens to the top of the vehicle, and the propeller shaft and the exhaust pipe extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin section lower than the passenger compartment, and the pickup truck is equipped with a main battery installed in the luggage section lower than the floor panel of the loading platform as a power source for the motor. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The pickup truck has the advantage of making it easy to secure a space for mounting the main battery. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of components of a pickup truck according to a first embodiment, as viewed from the side. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the drive train, frame, exhaust pipe, fuel tank, etc. of the pickup truck in FIG. 1 as seen from above. [Figure 3] 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the main battery and other components of the pickup truck of FIG. 1 as viewed from the side. FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the main battery and other components of the pickup truck of FIG. 1 as viewed from above. FIG. [Figure 5]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the main battery and other components of the pickup truck of the second embodiment, as viewed from the side. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the arrangement of the main battery and other components of the pickup truck of FIG. 5 as viewed from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (First embodiment) A first embodiment of a pickup truck will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 4. Of the arrows shown in Figures 1 to 6, "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. The pickup truck 10 of this embodiment is configured as a PHEV.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1 , a pickup truck 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 has a passenger compartment 14 where occupants board. The passenger compartment 14 is provided with a front row of seats 15 and a rear row of seats 16 located at the rear (RR) of the front row of seats 15. The engine compartment 12 has an engine bay 17 in which an engine 20 is longitudinally arranged. The pickup truck 10 of this embodiment is equipped with the engine 20 having a V-shaped cylinder arrangement. The luggage section 13 has a loading platform 18 that opens upward (UP) of the vehicle. In the figure, the boundary between the cabin section 11 and the engine compartment 12 is indicated by a dotted line L1. The boundary between the cabin section 11 and the luggage section 13 is indicated by a dotted line L2.

[0010] <Pickup truck drivetrain configuration> Next, the configuration of the drivetrain of the pickup truck 10 will be described with reference to Figure 2. The drivetrain of the pickup truck 10 includes an engine 20, a transmission 21, a motor 22, and a transfer 23. The motor 22 generates rotational power for propelling the pickup truck 10 in response to power supply, and also generates electricity by receiving rotation from the engine 20 or the wheels. The drivetrain of the pickup truck 10 also includes front and rear wheel propeller shafts 24, 25. The propeller shafts 24, 25 are connected to the engine 20 via the transfer 23, the motor 22, and the transmission 21, respectively. The front wheel propeller shaft 24 is connected to left and right front wheels 27 via a differential 26. The rear wheel propeller shaft 25 is connected to left and right rear wheels 29 via a differential 28. The rear wheel propeller shaft 25 is configured to direct the rotational power of the engine 20 and the motor 22 to the rear wheels 29.

[0011] <Configuration of the underfloor structure of a pickup truck> Next, the configuration of the underfloor structure of the pickup truck 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The underfloor of the pickup truck 10 refers to the portion of the vehicle DW below the floor panels 14A, 18A of the passenger compartment 14 and the bed 18 (see Fig. 6).

[0012] A frame 30 is provided under the floor of the passenger compartment 14 and the bed 18 of the pickup truck 10. The frame 30 of the pickup truck 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 below the passenger compartment 14 on the DW side of the vehicle. As shown in FIG. 3 , 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 below the passenger compartment 14 on the DW side of the vehicle.

[0013] An exhaust pipe 33 that guides exhaust from the engine 20 to the rear RR of the vehicle is also disposed under the floor of the pickup truck 10. The exhaust pipe 33 extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, passing through a portion of the cabin 11 that is lower DW 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 DW than the passenger compartment 14. Furthermore, a fuel tank 35 that stores fuel for the engine 20 is disposed under the floor of the pickup truck 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.

[0014] 4, floor panel 18A of cargo bed 18 has a wave-shaped surface. Left and right wheel houses 18B, 18C for accommodating left and right rear wheels 29, respectively, are provided on the left and right sides of cargo bed 18.

[0015] <Arrangement of the main battery 40> The pickup truck 10 is equipped with a main battery 40 used as a power source for the motor 22. Next, the arrangement of the main battery 40 of the pickup truck 10 will be described with reference to Figures 3 and 4. In the present embodiment, the main battery 40 is the only battery used as a power source for the motor 22. The pickup truck 10 may also be equipped with an auxiliary battery, for example, inside the engine compartment 17, that supplies power with a lower voltage than the main battery 40 to on-board electrical devices other than the motor 22.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 3, the main battery 40 is installed in the luggage area 13 below the floor panel 18A of the bed 18 on the vehicle DW side and above the frame 30 on the vehicle UP side. The main battery 40 has a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. As shown in FIG. 4, the length W1 of the main battery 40 in the vehicle width direction is approximately equal to the distance W0 between the left and right wheel houses 18B. In this embodiment, the main battery 40 is fixed to the frame 30.

[0017] The main battery 40 is provided with three modules 41 to 43 arranged side by side in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a high-voltage electric unit 44, which are integrated together. Each of the modules 41 to 43 is an assembled battery composed of a plurality of cells (single cells). In this embodiment, the plurality of cells constituting each of the modules 41 to 43 are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. The high-voltage electric unit 44 is an on-board electric device that converts or distributes electric power. Examples of the high-voltage electric unit 44 include a power control unit, a charge control unit, a step-down unit, and a junction box. The power control unit is an electric unit that controls the power of the motor 22. The charge control unit is an electric unit that controls the charging of the main battery 40. The step-down unit is an electric unit that converts high-voltage electric power output by the main battery 40 into low-voltage electric power to be supplied to on-board electric devices other than the motor 22. The junction box is an electric unit that functions as a distribution board. The high-voltage electric unit 44 may be configured to combine the functions of multiple electric units. In this embodiment, the high voltage electric unit 44 is disposed in a portion of the main battery 40 that is closer to the front FR of the vehicle than the modules 41 to 43.

[0018] A charging port 45 for external charging of the main battery 40 is provided in the luggage area 13 at the rear RR of the vehicle. A connector for connecting a charging cable from a charging station or the like is housed in the charging port 45. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the charging port 45 is located at the rear RR of the wheel house 18B on the left LF of the vehicle of the luggage area 13.

[0019] <Operation of the First Embodiment> In addition to the frame 30, the propeller shaft 25, the exhaust pipe 33, the fuel tank 35, etc. are installed under the floor of the pickup truck 10 configured as a PHEV. Therefore, it is difficult to secure sufficient space under the floor of the pickup truck 10 to install the main battery 40, which is the power source for the motor 22.

[0020] In the case of the pickup truck 10 of this embodiment, the main battery 40 is installed in the luggage area 13 below the floor panel 18A of the bed 18 on the DW side of the vehicle and above the frame 30 on the UP side of the vehicle. The installation space for the main battery 40 can be easily secured by simply changing the design, such as by raising the position of the floor panel 18A of the bed 18.

[0021] <Effects of the first embodiment> The pickup truck 10 of this embodiment configured as above has the following advantages.

[0022] (1) The pickup truck 10 of this embodiment includes a main battery 40 installed in the luggage compartment 13 in a portion of the vehicle DW below the floor panel 18A of the bed 18 as a power source for the motor 22. Therefore, even in the pickup truck 10 configured as a PHEV, it is easy to ensure space for installing a large-capacity main battery 40.

[0023] (2) The width W1 of the main battery 40 in the vehicle width direction is equal to or less than the width W1 of the floor panel 18A and is equal to the distance W0 between the left and right wheel housings 18B. Therefore, there is no need to give the main battery 40 a complex shape to avoid interference with the rear wheels 29, etc.

[0024] (3) Because the main battery 40 is fixed to the highly rigid frame 30, even if an external impact is applied to the pickup truck 10, the impact is less likely to be applied to the main battery 40. (4) The charging port 45 is located in the rear RR portion of the luggage compartment 13. The short distance between the charging port 45 and the main battery 40 facilitates routing between the charging port 45 and the main battery 40. Furthermore, because the charging port 45 is located in the rear RR portion of the pickup truck 10, charging at a charging station or the like is easy even if the charging cable is short.

[0025] (5) Because the propeller shaft 25, exhaust pipe 33, fuel tank 35, etc. are installed in the area between the left and right side members 31 of the luggage area 13, it is difficult to secure installation space for the main battery 40. In the case of the pickup truck 10 of this embodiment, the main battery 40 is installed in the luggage area 13 below the vehicle DW of the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18 and above the vehicle UP of the frame 30. Therefore, a large-capacity main battery 40 can be installed in the area below the vehicle DW of the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18.

[0026] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of a pickup truck will be described in detail with reference to Figures 5 and 6. In this embodiment, components common to the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration and arrangement of the main batteries. The pickup truck 110 of this embodiment has a first main battery 50 and a second main battery 60 as main batteries used as power sources for the motor 22.

[0027] Similar to the main battery 40 of the first embodiment, the first main battery 50 is installed in the luggage area 13 below the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18 (DW) and above the frame 30 (UP). The first main battery 50 is composed of four modules 51-54 arranged side by side in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. As shown in FIG. 5, left and right suspension struts 55 that suspend the left and right rear wheels 29, respectively, are arranged under the floor of the luggage area 13. The length W3 of the first main battery 50 in the vehicle width direction is shorter than the distance W4 between the struts 55. The first main battery 50 is fixed to the frame 30.

[0028] Meanwhile, the second main battery 60, which is another main battery used as a power source for the motor 22, is installed in the cabin 11 below the rear seat 16 (DW) and above the frame 30 (UP). In this embodiment, the second main battery 60 is located outside the passenger compartment 14, i.e., in the cabin 11 below the floor panel 14A of the passenger compartment 14 (DW). The front end (FR) of the second main battery 60 is located behind the front end (FR) of the rear seat 16 (FR). The second main battery 60 is composed of two modules 61, 62 arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and a high-voltage electrical unit 63 arranged above the modules 61, 62 (UP). The width W5 of the second main battery 60 is greater than the width W3 of the first main battery 50, around which the struts 55 are located. The second main battery 60 is positioned so that its heightwise position is the same as that of the first main battery 50.

[0029] <Effects of the second embodiment> The pickup truck 110 of this embodiment configured as above has the following advantages.

[0030] (1) The main battery used as the power source for the motor 22 is divided and arranged in the following two sections. One of the two sections is a section in the luggage section 13 that is below the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18 on the DW side of the vehicle. The other section is a section in the cabin section 11 that is below the rear row seats 16 on the DW side of the vehicle and above the frame 30 on the UP side of the vehicle. Therefore, the individual sizes of the first main battery 50 and the second main battery 60 arranged in each section are smaller than the size of a single battery having the combined capacity of these batteries. Therefore, the pickup truck 110 of this embodiment facilitates the installation of a large-capacity main battery used as the power source for the motor 22.

[0031] (2) The first main battery 50 is installed in the luggage section 13 in a portion of the vehicle DW below the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18. Therefore, the first main battery 50 can be installed in the luggage section 13 while minimizing a reduction in the load capacity of the cargo bed 18.

[0032] (3) The length W3 of the first main battery 50 in the vehicle width direction is equal to or less than the distance W4 between the struts 55. Therefore, the first main battery 50 does not need to have a complex shape to avoid interference with the struts 55.

[0033] (4) Because the first main battery 50 is fixed to the highly rigid frame 30, even when an external impact is applied to the pickup truck 10, the first main battery 50 is less likely to receive the impact.

[0034] (5) The second main battery 60 is installed in the cabin portion 11 below the rear row seats 16 and above the frame 30. Therefore, the second main battery 60 can be installed in the cabin portion 11 while minimizing a reduction in the passenger space in the passenger compartment 14.

[0035] (6) The front end (FR) of the second main battery 60 is located further rearward (RR) than the front end (FR) of the rear seat 16. Therefore, the installation of the second main battery 60 prevents a reduction in the legroom of an occupant seated in the rear seat 16.

[0036] (7) The position of the second main battery 60 in the vehicle height direction is the same as the position of the first main battery 50 in the vehicle height direction. This makes it easy to arrange harnesses, bus bars, and the like for electrically connecting the first main battery 50 and the second main battery 60.

[0037] (8) The second main battery 60 is installed outside the vehicle interior 14. This provides a higher degree of isolation between the occupants and the second main battery 60 than when the second main battery 60 is installed inside the vehicle interior 14.

[0038] (9) The first main battery 50 is installed in the luggage compartment 13 below the vehicle DW of the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18 and above the vehicle UP of the frame 30. Therefore, the first main battery 50 with a large capacity can be installed below the vehicle DW of the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18. (Other embodiments) The above embodiment can be modified as follows: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0039] The position of the charging port 45 in the pickup truck 10 of the first embodiment may be changed. In the pickup truck 10 of the first embodiment, the length W1 of the main battery 40 in the vehicle width direction is equal to the distance W0 between the left and right wheel houses 18C. The length W1 of the main battery 40 in the vehicle width direction may be changed as needed as long as interference with other components is avoided. To avoid interference with the rear wheels 29, it is desirable that the length W1 of the main battery 40 in the vehicle width direction be equal to or less than the distance W0 between the wheel houses 18C.

[0040] In the pickup truck 110 of the second embodiment, the high-voltage electric unit 63 may be provided in the first main battery 50. The high-voltage electric unit 44 may be separate from the main battery 40. Similarly, the high-voltage electric unit 63 may be separate from both the first main battery 50 and the second main battery 60.

[0041] The main battery 40 and the first main battery 50 may be fixed to a member other than the frame 30, for example, to the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18. In the above embodiment, the main battery 40 and the first main battery 50 are installed in the luggage area 13 below the floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18 and above the frame 30. The main battery 40 and the first main battery 50 may be installed in a lower DW position, for example, between the left and right side members 31.

[0042] The floor panel 18A of the cargo bed 18 does not have to have a wave-shaped surface. The width W1 of the main battery 40 in the vehicle width direction may be greater than the distance W0 between the left and right wheel housings 18B. Even in this case, interference between the wheel housings 18B and the main battery 40 can be avoided by configuring the main battery 40 so that the width of only the portions around the left and right wheel housings 18B is shorter than the distance W0.

[0043] The width W3 of the first main battery 50 in the vehicle width direction may be greater than the distance W4 between the struts 55. Even in this case, interference between the struts 55 and the first main battery 50 can be avoided by configuring the first main battery 50 so that the width of the first main battery 50 is reduced only around the struts 55.

[0044] The engine 20 may have a cylinder arrangement other than a V-type. The engine 20 may also be arranged transversely in the engine compartment 17. The arrangement of the propeller shaft 25, exhaust pipe 33, muffler 34, fuel tank 35, etc. under the floor of the pickup truck 10, 110 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the pickup truck 10, 110 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.

[0045] The configuration of the drive train of the pickup truck 10, 110 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the drive train may be configured so that the front wheels 27 and the rear wheels 29 are driven by independent drive trains, or the drive train may be configured so that the pickup truck is a front-wheel drive vehicle.

[0046] (Additional notes) [Appendix 1] A pickup truck configured as a plug-in hybrid vehicle, comprising: a fuel tank, an engine, a motor, a transmission, a propeller shaft connected to the engine via the motor and the transmission and transmitting rotational power of the engine and the motor to rear wheels; an exhaust pipe directing exhaust from the engine to the rear of the vehicle; a cabin section provided with a passenger compartment; an engine compartment section located in front of the cabin section; a luggage section located behind the cabin section; and a frame having left and right side members extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin section lower than the passenger compartment, wherein the engine compartment section has an engine compartment in which the engine is arranged longitudinally, and the luggage section has a loading platform that opens upward toward the vehicle, and the propeller shaft and the exhaust pipe extend in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin section lower than the passenger compartment, and the pickup truck comprises a main battery installed in the luggage section lower than a floor panel of the loading platform as a power source for the motor.

[0047] [Appendix 2] A pickup truck according to Appendix 1, wherein the length of the main battery in the vehicle width direction is shorter than the length of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction. [Appendix 3] A pickup truck as described in Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, wherein the cabin section is provided with left and right wheel houses that accommodate the rear wheels, and the length of the main battery in the vehicle width direction is shorter than the distance between the left and right wheel houses.

[0048] [Appendix 4] A pickup truck according to any one of Appendices 1 to 3, wherein the length of the main battery in the vehicle width direction is the same as or smaller than the distance between the struts of the left and right suspensions that suspend the left and right rear wheels, respectively.

[0049] [Supplementary Note 5] The pickup truck according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 4, wherein the main battery is fixed to the frame. [Supplementary Note 6] The pickup truck according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 5, wherein the floor panel has a wave-shaped surface.

[0050] [Appendix 7] The pickup truck according to any one of Appendices 1 to 6, wherein a charging port for charging the main battery outside the vehicle is provided in a rear portion of the luggage compartment. [Appendix 8] A pickup truck as described in any one of Appendices 1 to 7, wherein the passenger compartment is equipped with a front row of seats and a rear row of seats located rearward of the front row of seats, and another main battery used as a power source for the motor is installed in the cabin below the rear row of seats.

[0051] [Supplementary Note 9] A pickup truck according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 7, wherein the main battery in the pickup truck is the only battery used as a power source for the motor.

[0052] [Supplementary Note 10] The pickup truck according to any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 9, wherein the main battery is installed in a portion of the luggage area above the frame. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10,110 pickup trucks 11 Cabin section 12 Engine compartment 13 Luggage section 14 Cabin 14A, 18A floor panel 15 Front row seats 16 rear row seats 17 Engine Room 18 Cargo bed 20 Engine 21 Transmission 22 Motor 23 Transfer 24, 25 Propeller shaft 28 front wheel 29 rear wheel 30 frames 31 Side member 33 Exhaust pipe 40 Main Battery 44,63 High-voltage electrical unit 45 Charging port 50 No. 1 Main Battery 60 Second Main Battery

Claims

1. A pickup truck configured as a plug-in hybrid vehicle, the vehicle comprises a fuel tank, an engine, a motor, a transmission, a propeller shaft connected to the engine via the motor and the transmission and transmitting rotational power of the engine and the motor to rear wheels, an exhaust pipe directing exhaust from the engine to the rear of the vehicle, a cabin section provided with a passenger compartment, an engine compartment section located in front of the cabin section, a luggage section located behind the cabin section, and a frame having left and right side members extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin section below the passenger compartment, the engine compartment has an engine compartment in which the engine is disposed longitudinally, The luggage section has a loading platform that opens upward toward the vehicle, the propeller shaft and the exhaust pipe extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle through a portion of the cabin section that is lower than the vehicle interior, The pickup truck includes a main battery installed in the luggage compartment below the floor panel of the loading platform as a power source for the motor. Pickup truck.

2. 2. The pickup truck according to claim 1, wherein the length of the main battery in the vehicle width direction is smaller than the length of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction.

3. The cabin portion is provided with left and right wheel houses that accommodate the left and right rear wheels, respectively, The length of the main battery in the vehicle width direction is equal to or less than the distance between the left and right wheel houses. The pickup truck of claim 1 .

4. 2. The pickup truck according to claim 1, wherein the length of the main battery in the vehicle width direction is equal to or less than the distance between struts of left and right suspensions that suspend the left and right rear wheels, respectively.

5. 2. The pickup truck of claim 1, wherein the main battery is fixed to the frame.

6. The pickup truck according to claim 1 , wherein the floor panel has a wave-shaped surface.

7. 2. The pickup truck according to claim 1, wherein a charging port for charging the main battery outside the vehicle is provided in a rear portion of the luggage compartment.

8. The vehicle compartment is provided with a front row seat and a rear row seat arranged rearward of the front row seat, In addition to the main battery, another main battery used as a power source for the motor is installed in the cabin below the rear row seats. The pickup truck of claim 1 .

9. 10. The pickup truck of claim 1, wherein the main battery is the only battery used to power the motor in the pickup truck.

10. 2. The pickup truck according to claim 1, wherein the main battery is installed in a portion of the luggage compartment above the frame.

Images