Small electric vehicle

Abstract

This invention provides a small electric vehicle that can prevent water that seeps in through the gap between the main body cover and the fender from coming into contact with the electrical components. [Solution] A small electric vehicle comprising a main body cover that covers at least a part of the vehicle frame, and fenders positioned to the left and right of the main body cover, respectively, that cover at least a part of the wheels, wherein the main body cover and the fenders have overlapping regions that overlap each other vertically with a gap between them, and the overlapping regions are positioned to cover the electrical components from above.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a small electric vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a small electric vehicle having front wheels and rear wheels on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. This small electric vehicle includes a step floor provided at the central part of the vehicle body, a handle post provided at the front end of the step floor, and a room cover provided at the rear end of the step floor. The seat is provided above the room cover. Front fenders are formed on both the left and right sides of the handle post. Rear fenders are formed on both the left and right sides of the room cover. Hereinafter, members covering the vehicle body such as the handle post and the room cover are referred to as "main body covers". Also, the front wheels and rear wheels are collectively simply referred to as "wheels", and the front fenders and rear fenders are collectively simply referred to as "fenders".

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Generally, fenders are located on the outside of the vehicle body and are therefore prone to scratches and damage. If the fender is integrally formed with the main body cover, it is not economical to replace only the fender, but to replace the entire main body cover. Therefore, it is conceivable to separate the main body cover and the fender, making the fender an independent component. In that case, only the fender can be replaced, which is economical. However, in a structure where the fender is attached independently from the main body cover, there is a possibility that water such as rainwater may seep in through the gap between the main body cover and the fender. If electrical components are located below or near the gap, water coming into contact with the electrical components may cause them to malfunction.

[0005] One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a small electric vehicle that can prevent water that seeps in through the gap between the main body cover and the fender from coming into contact with electrical components. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A small electric vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a main body cover that covers at least a portion of the vehicle frame, and fenders positioned to the left and right of the main body cover, respectively, and covering at least a portion of the wheels. The main body cover and the fenders have overlapping regions that overlap each other vertically with a gap between them. The overlapping regions are positioned to cover the electrical components from above. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The overlapping area between the main body cover and the fender prevents water from entering through the gap between the main body cover and the fender, thus preventing water from reaching the electrical components located below and near the overlapping area. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a small electric vehicle according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a schematic rear view of the small electric vehicle shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the body frame of a small electric vehicle according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic side view showing the rear configuration of the vehicle frame shown in Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the rear section of the vehicle frame shown in Figure 3. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the left rear of the small electric vehicle shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a schematic rear view showing the left rear of the small electric vehicle shown in Figure 1. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a schematic plan view showing the left rear of the small electric vehicle shown in Figure 1. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view with the line IX-IX shown in Figure 1 as the cutting line. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] A specific example of a small electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals. The sizes of the components shown in each figure are represented for the purpose of clarifying the explanation and do not necessarily represent the actual dimensions. In the figures, "FR" indicates the front of the vehicle, "RR" indicates the rear of the vehicle, "LH" indicates the left side of the vehicle, "RH" indicates the right side of the vehicle, "UP" indicates the top of the vehicle, and "LWR" indicates the bottom of the vehicle. The direction of each component in the following description will be described with reference to the direction of the vehicle described above.

[0010] <Small electric vehicles> The small electric vehicle 1 of the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. The small electric vehicle 1 is a single-seater electric vehicle. The small electric vehicle 1 shown in Figure 1 is a handlebar-type electric wheelchair (mobility scooter). Handlebar-type electric wheelchairs are sometimes called senior scooters. Hereafter, "small electric vehicle" will be simply referred to as "vehicle".

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, Vehicle 1 comprises wheels 10, a steering wheel 15, and a seat 16. The wheels 10 include front wheels 10f and rear wheels 10r. Tires 13 are mounted on the outer circumference of the wheels 10. The occupant sits in the seat 16 and operates the steering wheel 15. Vehicle 1 is a four-wheeled vehicle having two front wheels 10f and two rear wheels 10r. In contrast to this example, it may also be a three-wheeled vehicle with one front wheel 10f or one rear wheel 10r.

[0012] Vehicle 1 is equipped with a motor 6 as shown in Figure 4, and drives the rear wheels 10r using the motor 6. Power is supplied to the motor 6 from a battery (not shown).

[0013] One of the features of vehicle 1 is the structure of cover 3, which will be described later. Specifically, as shown in Figure 9, the main body cover 30 and the fender 35 are independent components and have overlapping regions 7 that overlap each other vertically with a gap between them. In the following description, the basic structure of vehicle 1 will be described first, and then the main body cover 30 and fender 35 having the overlapping region 7 will be described in detail.

[0014] ≪Vehicle Frame≫ Vehicle 1 comprises a body frame 2 shown in Figure 3 and a cover 3 shown in Figure 1. The body frame 2 forms the skeleton of vehicle 1. The body frame 2 includes a steering column 21, a main frame 22, a seat post 23, and a cross member 25.

[0015] [Mainframe] As shown in FIG. 3, the main frames 22 are configured as a pair on the left and right. The pair of main frames 22 are arranged side by side from the front to the rear of the vehicle 1. The pair of main frames 22 generally extend in the front-rear direction and are arranged in parallel. The right main frame 22 and the left main frame 22 are symmetrical about the left-right axis. The main frame 22 in this example is made of a round pipe material. The front end portion 22a of the main frame 22 is connected to the steering column 21. In this example, the front end portion 22a of the main frame 22 is welded to the steering column 21. In this example, the front end portions 22a of the pair of main frames 22 are inclined obliquely upward toward the front. The pair of main frames 22 extend substantially horizontally from the front to the rear, except for the front end portions 22a.

[0016] The main frame 22 in this example has a bent portion 22c in the middle. The bent portion 22c is formed between the front portion 22f and the rear portion 22r of the main frame 22. The bent portions 22c of the pair of main frames 22 are formed symmetrically about the left-right axis. In this example, the distance between the main frames 22 becomes narrower from the front to the rear across the bent portion 22c. The portion located in front of the bent portion 22c has a wide distance and is arranged substantially in parallel. The portion located behind the bent portion 22c has a narrow distance and is arranged substantially in parallel.

[0017] The front portion 22f is the portion located in front of the bent portion 22c. The front end portion 22a is included in the front portion 22f. The front portion 22f extends substantially horizontally except for the front end portion 22a. In this example, the front portion 22f is located in front of the seat post 23 and is a horizontal portion where the floor cover 32 (FIG. 1) described later is arranged. The rear portion 22r is the portion located behind the bent portion 22c. The rear wheel 10r shown in FIG. 1 is arranged on the rear portion 22r.

[0018] [Steering Column] The steering column 21 is located at the front of the vehicle 1. The steering column 21 supports a steering wheel 15 that steers the front wheels 10f shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 3, the steering column 21 extends roughly vertically so as to intersect with the main frame 22. The steering column 21 is inclined such that its lower end is located forward of its upper end. A steering shaft (not shown) is rotatably inserted through the steering column 21. The steering wheel 15 is attached to the upper end of the steering shaft. The steering shaft transmits the rotational operation of the steering wheel 15 to the front wheels 10f.

[0019] [Seatpost] The seatpost 23 is located at the rear of the vehicle 1. The seatpost 23 supports the seat 16 shown in Figure 1. The seatpost 23 extends upward from the main frame 22, as shown in Figure 3. In this example, the seatpost 23 is inclined such that its lower end is located forward of its upper end. The seat 16 is attached to the upper end of the seatpost 23. In this example, the seatpost 23 is fixed on top of the cross member 25.

[0020] [Cross components] As shown in Figure 3, the cross member 25 connects a pair of main frames 22. The cross member 25 is provided on the bent portion 22c and connects the bent portions 22c. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cross member 25 is positioned to straddle the front and back of the bent portion 22c. Specifically, the cross member 25 is fixed to the front and back straight portions of the bent portion 22c. The cross member 25 is positioned on the bent portion 22c. In this example, the cross member 25 is a U-shaped plate material having a front piece 25f, a side piece 25u, and a rear piece 25r. The side piece 25u extends horizontally. The front piece 25f extends vertically from the front end of the side piece 25u. The rear piece 25r extends vertically from the rear end of the side piece 25u. Notches corresponding to the outer shape of the main frame 22 are formed in each of the front piece 25f and the rear piece 25r. The notches in this example are semicircular. The front piece 25f and the rear piece 25r each have notches that fit into the main frame 22, fixing the cross member 25 to the main frame 22. The front piece 25f of the cross member 25 is fixed to the straight section of the front part 22f, which is located in front of the bent section 22c. The rear piece 25r of the cross member 25 is fixed to the straight section of the rear part 22r, which is located behind the bent section 22c. In this example, the cross member 25 is welded to the straight sections in front of and behind the bent section 22c. The seat post 23 is fixed to the upper surface of the lateral piece 25u.

[0021] The cross member 25 connects the pair of main frames 22 and is fixed so as to straddle the front and back of the bent portion 22c. This structure effectively increases the rigidity of the bent portion 22c of the main frame 22. Therefore, the main frame 22 is less likely to deform starting from the bent portion 22c. Because the main frame 22 is less likely to deform, the handling stability of the vehicle 1 is improved. In this example, the cross member 25 also functions as a member that supports the seat post 23. Since one cross member 25 can achieve both improved rigidity of the main frame 22 and support for the seat post 23, it is advantageous in terms of cost, weight, and assembly productivity.

[0022] Unlike this example, the cross member 25 may be fixed not only to the straight sections before and after the bent portion 22c, but also to the bent portion 22c itself. In that case, the cross member 25 may be an E-shaped member having an intermediate piece between the front piece 25f and the rear piece 25r, in addition to the front piece 25f, the side piece 25u, and the rear piece 25r. This configuration can further increase the rigidity of the bent portion 22c.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, the vehicle frame 2 in this example includes a front cross member 26 and a rear cross member 27. The front cross member 26 is provided on the front end 22a of the main frame 22 and connects the front ends 22a of a pair of main frames 22. The front cross member 26 in this example is made of round pipe material. The front cross member 26 is welded to the front end 22a. The rear cross member 27 is provided on the rear end 22r of the main frame 22 and connects the rear ends 22r of a pair of main frames 22. The rear cross member 27 is positioned on the rear end 22r. Specifically, the rear cross member 27 is positioned in the part of the rear end 22r where the distance between the main frames 22 is narrow and they are aligned parallel to each other. The rear cross member 27 in this example includes a front plate portion 27f and a rear plate portion 27r arranged front and rear, and an upper plate portion 27u that connects the upper ends of the front plate portion 27f and the rear plate portion 27r. The front plate section 27f and the rear plate section 27r are C-shaped plates that open downwards. The upper plate section 27u is a rectangular plate that is long in the front-to-back direction. The front plate section 27f and the rear plate section 27r are welded to the rear section 22r.

[0024] In this example, the vehicle frame 2 is equipped with a rear cross member 27, which increases the rigidity of the rear portion 22r of the main frame 22. Unlike this example, the rear ends of a pair of main frames 22 may be connected to form a loop shape for the main frame 22. The rigidity of the rear portion 22r can be increased by providing a rear cross member 27 on the rear portion 22r of the main frame 22 or by forming the rear end of the main frame 22 in a loop shape. By increasing the rigidity of the rear portion 22r, it becomes easier to place heavy objects in the rear portion 22r. As will be described later, the suspension device 5 and motor 6 shown in Figures 4 and 5 are placed in the rear portion 22r.

[0025] [Upper frame] The vehicle frame 2 in this example further includes an upper frame 4 as shown in Figure 3. The upper frame 4 is located above the rear portion 22r of the main frame 22. In this example, the upper frame 4 is positioned on top of the rear cross member 27. The upper frame 4 connects the seat post 23 and the rear cross member 27. The upper frame 4 extends rearward from the middle portion of the seat post 23. As shown in Figure 4, the shape of the upper frame 4 as viewed from the side of the vehicle 1 is generally triangular, tapering towards the rear. The upper surface of the upper frame 4 is inclined diagonally downward toward the rear. The front end of the upper frame 4 is fixed to the rear surface of the seat post 23. The rear part of the upper frame 4 is fixed to the upper surface of the upper plate portion 27u of the rear cross member 27. Even if a rearward stress acts on the seat post 23, the seat post 23 is supported by the upper frame 4 fixed to the rear cross member 27.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the upper frame 4 is provided with a base portion 41. The base portion 41 is positioned on top of the upper frame 4. The base portion 41 is a gate-shaped member having a left wall portion 411, a right wall portion 412, and an upper wall portion 413. The upper frame 4 is sandwiched between the left wall portion 411 and the right wall portion 412. The left wall portion 411 is fixed to the left side of the upper frame 4. The right wall portion 412 is fixed to the right side of the upper frame 4.

[0027] A shock absorber mounting bracket 42 is fixed to the base portion 41. Hereinafter, the "shock absorber mounting bracket" will be referred to as the "SA bracket". The SA bracket 42 has a mounting portion 42f to which the shock absorber 55 shown in Figures 4 and 5 is attached. The SA bracket 42 is made of plate material. The mounting portion 42f is provided so as to protrude from both the left and right sides of the base portion 41 in the left-right direction and rearward. The mounting portion 42f is inclined diagonally upward as it moves away from the base portion 41. The upper end 55u of the shock absorber 55 is fixed to the mounting portion 42f.

[0028] ≪Suspension≫ Vehicle 1 is equipped with a suspension system 5, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The suspension system 5 supports the rear wheels 10r shown in Figure 1. The rear wheels 10r are located on the rear 22r of the main frame 22. As shown in Figure 5, one suspension system 5 is provided on each side of the rear 22r of the main frame 22. The left and right suspension systems 5 are independent of each other. The left and right suspension systems 5 support the left and right rear wheels 10r, respectively. Each suspension system 5 comprises an arm 50, a coil spring 53, and a shock absorber 55. In Figures 4 and 5, the coil spring 53 is shown in a simplified form.

[0029] The arm 50 is a member that supports the rear wheel 10r so that it can swing up and down. The arm 50 extends in the left-right direction. In this example, the arm 50 is a box-shaped body having a front part 50f, a rear part 50b, an upper part 50u, and a side part 50s, with an open lower part. When viewed from the rear of the vehicle 1, the shape of the arm 50 is an inverted trapezoid shape. The inner end of the arm 50 is supported by the rear cross member 27 by a pivot shaft 51. The inner end is the end closest to the rear part 22r. The pivot shaft 51 extends in the front-rear direction. The pivot shaft 51 is inserted so as to pass through the front part 50f and the rear part 50b. Both ends of the pivot shaft 51 are fixed to the front plate part 27f and the rear plate part 27r of the rear cross member 27, respectively. The outer end of the arm 50 can swing up and down around the pivot shaft 51. The outer end is the end furthest from the rear 22r, in other words, the end closest to the rear wheel 10r. The upper part 50u connects the upper ends of the front part 50f and the rear part 50b. A notch 50n is formed in the upper part 50u. The side part 50s connects the outer ends of the front part 50f and the rear part 50b. A through hole 50h is formed in the side part 50s.

[0030] The coil spring 53 is a component that absorbs vibrations and shocks from the road surface. Known configurations can be used for the coil spring 53. In this example, the coil spring 53 is attached to the outer circumference of the shock absorber 55. That is, the shock absorber 55 is located inside the coil spring 53. Unlike this example, the coil spring 53 may be located at a position away from the shock absorber 55.

[0031] The shock absorber 55 is a component that dampens the expansion and contraction of the coil spring 53. Known configurations can be used for the shock absorber 55. The lower end 55d of the shock absorber 55 is fixed to the upper part 50u of the arm 50. The upper end 55u of the shock absorber 55 is fixed to the mounting portion 42f of the SA bracket 42.

[0032] The SA bracket 42, to which the upper end 55u of the shock absorber 55 is fixed, is located above the upper frame 4. Therefore, the vehicle 1 can employ a shock absorber 55 with a long stroke length. A shock absorber 55 with a long stroke length can quickly dampen the expansion and contraction of the coil spring 53.

[0033] As shown in Figure 5, a fender mounting bracket 56 is fixed to the arm 50. Hereinafter, the "fender mounting bracket" will be referred to as the "FE bracket". Note that in Figure 4, the illustration of the FE bracket 56 is omitted for the sake of explanation. The FE bracket 56 is provided at the outer ends of each of the left and right arms 50. The FE bracket 56 is positioned on the upper part 50u. The FE bracket 56 in this example has a mounting portion 56a to which the rear fender 35r shown in Figures 1 and 2 is attached, and a fixing portion 56b positioned on the upper surface of the upper part 50u. The mounting portion 56a extends vertically from the outer end of the fixing portion 56b. The FE bracket 56 is formed from a plate material. The FE bracket 56 in this example is formed from a stepped metal plate. The fixing portion 56b is attached to the upper part 50u, for example, by bolts. A through hole 56h is formed in the mounting portion 56a. A fastener (not shown) for attaching the rear fender 35r to the FE bracket 56 is inserted into this through-hole 56h. The fastener is, for example, a screw or a pin.

[0034] Motor Vehicle 1 is equipped with a motor 6, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The motor 6 drives the rear wheels 10r shown in Figure 1. In this example, one motor 6 is provided for each of the left and right rear wheels 10r, and the left and right rear wheels 10r are driven independently. In this example, the motor 6 is located inside the arm 50 and fixed to the arm 50. The motor 6 has a rotating shaft 60 to which the rear wheels 10r are attached. The rotating shaft 60 passes through a through hole 50h formed in the side portion 50s. The tip of the rotating shaft 60 is fixed to the center of the rear wheel 10r. The motor 6 has a connector 61 to which a wire harness 62 is connected. In this example, the connector 61 is routed out from a notch 50n formed in the upper portion 50u. The wire harness 62 includes a power cable that supplies power to the motor 6 and a communication cable that supplies control signals to the motor 6. In Figure 5, the connector 61 and wire harness 62 are shown in a simplified manner. Furthermore, Figure 5 shows only the terminals of the wire harness 62, omitting the illustration of the rest. Note that Figure 4 omits the illustration of the connector 61 and the wire harness 62.

[0035] ≪Cover≫ As shown in Figure 1, cover 3 has a main body cover 30 and a fender 35. The main body cover 30 covers at least a portion of the vehicle frame 2. The fender 35 covers at least a portion of the wheel 10. The fender 35 is part of cover 3. The main body cover 30 and the fender 35 are independent components. That is, the fender 35 is not integrally formed with the main body cover 30.

[0036] [Main unit cover] The main body cover 30 is attached to the vehicle body frame 2 so as to cover the vehicle body frame 2. The main body cover 30 includes a front cover 31, a floor cover 32, and a rear cover 33. The front cover 31 covers the steering column 21 and the front end 22a of the main frame 22 as shown in Figure 3. The floor cover 32 is positioned on the front part 22f of the main frame 22 as shown in Figure 3 and covers the front part 22f excluding the front end 22a. The feet of an occupant seated in the seat 16 rest on the floor cover 32. The rear cover 33 covers the area around the seat post 23 and the rear part 22r of the main frame 22 as shown in Figure 3. The suspension device 5 shown in Figures 4 and 5 is located inside the rear cover 33. Other components, such as a control unit (not shown) for controlling the motor 6, are also located inside the rear cover 33.

[0037] 〔fender〕 The fender 35 includes a front fender 35f and a rear fender 35r. The front fender 35f covers the top of the front wheel 10f. In this example, one front fender 35f is provided for each of the left and right front wheels 10f. As shown in Figure 2, the front fenders 35f are positioned on the left and right sides of the front cover 31, respectively. The front cover 31 and the front fenders 35f are independent components. The left and right front fenders 35f are formed symmetrically.

[0038] The rear fender 35r covers the area above the rear wheel 10r. In this example, one rear fender 35r is provided for each of the left and right rear wheels 10r. As shown in Figure 2, the rear fenders 35r are positioned on the left and right sides of the rear cover 33. The rear cover 33 and the rear fenders 35r are independent components. The left and right rear fenders 35r are formed symmetrically.

[0039] The structure of the rear cover 33 and rear fender 35r in this example will be described in detail, mainly with reference to Figures 6 to 9. Since the left and right rear fenders 35r are symmetrical, the left rear fender 35r will be described as representative. The rear cover 33 has an upper part that covers the outer circumference of the seat post 23 as shown in Figures 4 and 5, and a lower part that covers the suspension device 5 from above. The lower part of the rear cover 33 is formed to cover at least a portion of the arm 50. As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the rear cover 33 in this example extends from the inner end of the arm 50 to near the outer end. The part of the arm 50 near the outer end is not covered by the rear cover 33. In Figures 6 to 8, the part hidden by the rear cover 33 is shown with a dashed line. In Figures 6 and 7, the connector 61, wire harness 62, and FE bracket 56 are omitted from the illustration. In Figure 8, the connector 61 is shown in a simplified manner, and the wire harness 62 and FE bracket 56 are omitted from the illustration.

[0040] The rear fender 35r has an inner wall portion 351 facing the inside of the tire 13 of the rear wheel 10r, and an overhang portion 352 extending from the inner wall portion 351 toward the rear cover 33. The overhang portion 352 partially overlaps with the rear cover 33 when viewed from above. The overhang portion 352 covers the portion of the arm 50 near the outer end. Therefore, the arm 50 is covered by the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r over its entire length from the inner end to the outer end. The overhang portion 352 is positioned below the rear cover 33, with a gap between them. In this example, the overhang portion 352 is formed in an L-shape in cross-section, as shown in Figure 9. The overhang portion 352 has a lateral wall portion 353 extending toward the rear cover 33 from the lower end of the inner wall portion 351, and a vertical wall portion 354 extending almost upward from the inner end of the lateral wall portion 353. The inner wall portion 351 and the vertical wall portion 354 face each other with a gap between them. Therefore, the inner wall portion 351, the horizontal wall portion 353, and the vertical wall portion 354 form a U-shaped groove 36 in cross-section. Figure 9 mainly shows the positional relationship between the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r and the shape of the rear fender 35r, and for the sake of explanation, the internal structure of the arm 50 and the rear cover 33 is omitted from the illustration.

[0041] The rear fender 35r is detachably attached to the FE bracket 56 shown in Figure 5. As shown in Figure 9, the rear fender 35r is attached to the FE bracket 56 by overlapping the inner wall portion 351 with the mounting portion 56a and fitting a fastener into the through hole 56h shown in Figure 5. Since the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r are separate, it is possible to replace only the rear fender 35r.

[0042] As shown in Figure 8, the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r partially overlap when viewed from above. Each of the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r has an overlapping region 7 that overlaps vertically with a gap between them, as shown in Figure 9. In this example, the rear fender 35r is located below the rear cover 33 in the overlapping region 7. The rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r are spaced apart vertically and therefore do not come into contact with each other. The gap g between the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r is set so that the rear fender 35r does not come into contact with the rear cover 33 when the rear wheel 10r swings to its highest point, that is, when the shock absorber 55 shown in Figure 5 is in its most contracted state. In Figure 9, the position of the rear fender 35r when the rear wheel 10r swings to its highest point is shown by the dashed line. The interval g referred to here is the smaller of the following two intervals: the distance from the inner end of the fender 35 to the intersection of the perpendicular line passing through this inner end and the main body cover 30, and the distance from the outer end of the main body cover 30 to the intersection of the perpendicular line passing through this outer end and the fender 35. In this example, the interval g is the vertical distance from the upper end of the vertical wall portion 354, which is the inner end of the rear fender 35r, to the lower surface of the rear cover 33.

[0043] The overlapping region 7 is positioned to cover the electrical components from above. In this example, the electrical component is the motor 6. Other electrical components may include a connector 61, a battery, and a control unit. As shown in Figure 5, a notch 50n is formed in the upper part 50u of the arm 50. If water is poured onto the arm 50 from above, the water may flow down from the notch 50n and come into contact with the motor 6.

[0044] When the overlap region 7 is viewed from the side, the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r are each formed in the shape of a parenthesis, or arc. The range of the arc-shaped overlap region 7, extending front to back, is such that it can cover at least the area above the electrical components, and preferably corresponds to a central angle of 90° or more, and more preferably 120° or more, of the tire 13. Therefore, water that seeps in through the gap between the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r flows to the front and back of the overlap region 7 and falls to the ground. The shape of the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r when viewed from the side may be in the shape of a tortoise shell bracket or an angle bracket.

[0045] Because the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r have an overlapping region 7, even if water seeps in through the gap between the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r, the water will flow down through the overlapping region 7. Specifically, the water that flows down the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r is caught by the protruding portion 352 and flows down through the protruding portion 352. Therefore, it is possible to prevent water from coming into contact with the motor 6, which is an electrical component located below and near the overlapping region 7.

[0046] In the overlap region 7, the rear fender 35r, which is the lower component of the rear cover 33 and rear fender 35r, has a groove 36. In this example, the groove 36 is formed in the inner wall portion 351 and the protruding portion 352 of the rear fender 35r, so that water that flows into the protruding portion 352 flows along the groove 36. The water flowing in the groove 36 is guided to the front and rear ends of the protruding portion 352 and flows down in front of and behind the arm 50. As a result, it becomes difficult for water to enter the interior of the rear cover 33, and water can be effectively prevented from getting on the motor 6. It is also possible to prevent water from getting on the connector 61 and the like.

[0047] The fact that the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r are independent components offers the following advantages compared to a configuration in which the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r are integrally formed. The rear fender 35r is attached to the outer end of the arm 50 that supports the rear wheel 10r, and therefore moves up and down in conjunction with the arm 50. In other words, the rear fender 35r and the rear wheel 10r move up and down in conjunction while maintaining the vertical distance between them, so they do not come into contact with each other. During driving, the rear wheel 10r does not interfere with the rear fender 35r, so the distance between the rear wheel 10r and the rear fender 35r can be reduced. The rear fender 35r can be positioned closer to the rear wheel 10r, which enhances the aesthetic design of the vehicle 1. In contrast, in a configuration in which the rear cover 33 and the rear fender 35r are integrally formed, the rear fender 35r does not move up and down in conjunction with the rear wheel 10r. Therefore, in order to prevent the rear wheel 10r from interfering with the rear fender 35r while driving, the gap between the rear wheel 10r and the rear fender 35r needs to be increased. Because the rear fender 35r is positioned away from the rear wheel 10r, the gap between the rear fender 35r and the rear wheel 10r becomes larger, which impairs the aesthetic design of the vehicle 1.

[0048] The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims as shown by the claims.

[0049] Unlike this example, in the overlap region 7, the rear cover 33 may be positioned below the rear fender 35r. In that case, a groove 36 may be formed in the portion of the rear cover 33 that overlaps with the rear fender 35r. The rear fender 35r is positioned above the rear cover 33, making it easier to attach and detach the rear fender 35r.

[0050] When there are two front wheels, the structure of the rear cover 33 and rear fender 35r in this example may be applied to the structure of the front cover 31 and front fender 35f. In this case, the front cover 31 and front fender 35f have overlapping regions that overlap each other vertically with a gap between them. When applying the configuration of the rear fender 35r to the front fender 35f, it is preferable to form the grooves described above in the overlapping portion of the front cover 31 and front fender 35f, taking into consideration the steering angle of the front wheel 10f. [Explanation of symbols]

[0051] 1. Small electric vehicle (vehicle) 10 wheels 10f front wheel, 10r rear wheel 13 tires 15-inch handlebars, 16-inch seats 2. Vehicle frame 21 Steering column 22 Mainframes 22a front end, 22f front, 22r rear 22c Bend part 23 Seatpost 25 Cross members 25f front piece, 25u side piece, 25r rear piece 26 Front cross member 27 Rear cross member 27f Front panel, 27r Rear panel, 27u Top panel 3 Cover 30 Main unit cover 31 Front cover 32 Floor Covers 33 Rear cover 35 Fender 35f front fender, 35r rear fender 351 Inner wall, 352 Overhang, 353 Horizontal wall, 354 Vertical wall 36 Groove 4. Upper frame 41 Base 411 Left wall section, 412 Right wall section, 413 Upper wall section 42 Shock absorber mounting bracket (SA bracket) 42f Mounting section 5. Suspension System 50 Arm 50f front, 50b rear, 50u top, 50s side 50n notch, 50h through hole 51 Pivot axis 53 Coil Springs 55 Shock absorbers 55d bottom edge, 55u top edge 56 Fender mounting bracket (FE bracket) 56a Mounting part, 56b Fixing part, 56h Through hole 6 motors 60 Rotation axis 61 Connectors, 62 Wire Harnesses 7. Overlap area g interval

Claims

[Claim 1] A main body cover that covers at least a part of the vehicle frame, The main body cover is provided with fenders positioned on the left and right sides, respectively, which cover at least a portion of the wheels, The main body cover and the fender have overlapping regions that overlap each other vertically with a gap between them. The overlapping region is positioned to cover the electrical components from above. Small electric vehicle.

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