Battery pack

Abstract

To obtain a battery pack that can suppress the load on the battery module. [Solution] The battery pack 10 comprises a lower case 32 and an upper case 34 having a bending point R that is prone to bending when hit from the front while mounted on a vehicle, two battery modules 20A and 20B housed inside the lower case 32 and upper case 34 and arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle with a gap A at the bending point R, and an intermediate plate 40 provided in the gap A that restrains and holds the two battery modules 20A and 20B.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a battery pack including a plurality of battery modules.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a structure for reducing the impact on battery cells when an excessive load is applied from the outside while suppressing an increase in size. Specifically, the structure includes a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion that protrude from the side surface and are arranged apart from each other in a predetermined direction, and a first concave portion and a second concave portion into which the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion are respectively fitted. Thereby, since the load from the outside is divided between the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion, the impact on the battery cells can be reduced.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when the configuration includes a lower case and an upper case outside the battery cell, the relationship between the positions where collision input is likely to occur in the lower case and the upper case and the positions of the first protruding portion and the second protruding portion is not considered, so the assumed effect may not be obtained.

[0005] [[ID=,38]] In consideration of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a battery pack capable of suppressing the load on the battery module.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The battery pack according to claim 1 comprises a lower case and an upper case having a bending point that is prone to bending when hit from the front while mounted on a vehicle, two battery modules housed inside the lower case and the upper case and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a gap at the bending point, and an intermediate plate provided in the gap that restrains and holds the two battery modules.

[0007] In the battery pack according to claim 1, the intermediate plate is positioned at a location where bending is likely to occur when hit from the front. Therefore, the impact input is applied to the intermediate plate, thereby suppressing the load on the battery module.

[0008] The battery pack according to claim 2, in the configuration described in claim 1, is a point of change where the width in the vehicle width direction changes abruptly when mounted on the vehicle.

[0009] When a collision input is applied to the battery pack, the lower case and upper case are highly likely to bend starting from a point where the horizontal or vertical cross-section changes abruptly. In the battery pack according to claim 2, the bending point is defined as the point where the width in the vehicle width direction changes abruptly when mounted on a vehicle, so the bending point can be defined as a point where bending is actually highly likely to occur.

[0010] The battery pack according to claim 3, in the configuration according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprises an intermediate plate having a front holding portion for restraining and holding the battery module in front, a rear holding portion for restraining and holding the battery module in rear, and a connecting portion which is configured to be weaker than the front holding portion and the rear holding portion and connects the front holding portion and the rear holding portion at the bending point.

[0011] In the battery pack according to claim 3, a connection portion is provided at the bending point that is more fragile than the front and rear holding portions. Therefore, when an impact input is applied to the intermediate plate, the connection portion is damaged, thereby suppressing the load on the battery module.

[0012] The battery pack according to claim 4, in the configuration described in claim 3, wherein the intermediate plate has an H-shaped cross-sectional shape when viewed from at least one of the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction when mounted on a vehicle, and is composed of the front holding portion, the rear holding portion and the connecting portion.

[0013] In the battery pack according to claim 4, the intermediate plate has an H-shaped cross-section when viewed from at least one of the vehicle width direction and the vehicle height direction when mounted on a vehicle, and is composed of a front retaining portion, a rear retaining portion and a connecting portion. As a result, the thickness of the connecting portion in at least one of the vehicle width direction and the vehicle height direction is thinner than that of the front retaining portion and the rear retaining portion. Therefore, the connecting portion is weaker than the front retaining portion and the rear retaining portion, and when a collision input is applied to the intermediate plate, it breaks at the connecting portion, thus suppressing the load on the battery module.

[0014] The battery pack according to claim 5 is configured according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the two battery modules fastened to the intermediate plate each have a fastening portion to the lower case at a location where the intermediate plate is absent.

[0015] In the battery pack according to claim 5, each of the two battery modules fastened to the intermediate plate is provided with a fastening portion to the lower case at a location where the intermediate plate is not present. Therefore, even if the intermediate plate is damaged, the restraint of each of the two battery modules to the lower case is maintained. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] As described above, the battery pack according to the present invention has the excellent effect of being able to suppress the load on the battery module. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1](A) longitudinal sectional view and (B) cross-sectional view schematically showing the battery pack according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] (A) enlarged view before impact input and (B) enlarged view after impact input, schematically showing the main part including the battery module of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] (A) longitudinal sectional view and (B) cross-sectional view schematically showing the battery pack according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] (A) longitudinal sectional view and (B) cross-sectional view schematically showing the battery pack according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] (A) cross-sectional view (without battery module), (B) longitudinal sectional view, and (C) cross-sectional view (with battery module) schematically showing a conventional battery pack. [Figure 6] (A) longitudinal sectional view and (B) cross-sectional view schematically showing a conventional battery pack. [Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention]

[0018] Hereinafter, the battery pack 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same reference numerals are used for the same or equivalent elements, and redundant descriptions are omitted. Also, in the drawings, duplicate reference numerals may be appropriately omitted. Also, the arrow FR appropriately shown in each figure indicates the front side in the vehicle longitudinal direction when the battery pack 10 is mounted on the vehicle, and the arrow UP indicates the upper side in the vehicle vertical direction. The arrow RH indicates the right side in the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, when simply using the directions of front and rear, up and down, left and right, and inside and outside, unless otherwise specified, it shall indicate the front and rear in the vehicle longitudinal direction, the up and down in the vehicle vertical direction, the left and right in the vehicle left-right direction (vehicle width direction), and the inside and outside in the vehicle width direction. Also, each figure schematically shows the structure of the battery pack, and actually, the figure is shown in a simplified manner by indicating with a thick line even for the parts where hatching is required.

[0019] The battery pack 10 of this embodiment is, as an example, a secondary battery, and is used, for example, as a battery for various vehicles such as forklifts, hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles. The battery pack 10 is a secondary battery such as a nickel-hydrogen secondary battery or a lithium-ion secondary battery. The battery pack 10 may be, for example, an electric double layer capacitor.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1(A), the battery pack 10 includes, as an example, a plurality of battery modules 20, a case 30 that houses the plurality of battery modules 20 therein, and an intermediate plate 40 that restraint-holds the plurality of battery modules 20. In this embodiment, as an example, the battery pack 10 includes two battery modules 20, namely, a front-side battery module 20A and a rear-side battery module 20B. In the following description, the front-side battery module 20A and the rear-side battery module 20B may both be referred to as the battery module 20. Although not shown in the figure, a plurality of battery modules may be arranged side by side further behind the rear-side battery module 20B. The plurality of battery modules 20 are electrically connected by a bus bar (not shown).

[0021] The battery module 20 includes a plurality of battery cells 22 arranged side by side in one direction. The number of the plurality of battery cells 22 is not particularly limited as long as it is two or more. In this embodiment, the above-mentioned one direction is the direction that becomes the vehicle front-rear direction when the battery pack 10 is mounted on a vehicle, and is hereinafter referred to as the stacking direction (refer to the white arrow in FIG. 2(A)).

[0022] The case 30 includes a lower case 32 and an upper case 34. The case 30 is, as an example, made of a high-strength steel plate, or a composite body in which at least the frame portion is made of a high-strength steel plate and the rest is made of FRGP. As shown in FIG. 1(A), the lower case 32 is formed in a plate shape and is formed so that a plurality of battery modules 20 can be placed thereon. The upper case 34 is formed in a concave shape with an open bottom, covers the plurality of battery modules 20 from above, and is sealed to the lower case 32.

[0023] More specifically, the upper case 34 has a flange portion 34A at its lower end that extends outward and seals with the lower case 32. The upper case 34 also has a front portion 34B that rises from the flange portion 34A on the front side of the vehicle and is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The upper case 34 also has a rear portion 34C that rises from the flange portion 34A on the rear side of the vehicle, extends from the front portion 34B and is formed at a higher height than the front portion 34B.

[0024] The lower case 32 is formed in a plate shape, and its peripheral edge is joined to the flange portion 34A of the upper case 34.

[0025] As shown in Figure 1(B), the lower case 32 comprises a first main body 32A, a second main body 32B, a third main body 32C, and a fourth main body 32D from the front of the vehicle. Here, Figure 1(B) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the battery pack 10, but for convenience, it is shown with the upper case 34 removed.

[0026] The first main body 32A is formed in a rectangular shape with a width H1 in the vehicle width direction when viewed from above. The second main body 32B is adjacent to the first main body 32A and has a width H2 (H2) smaller than that of the first main body 32A when viewed from above. It is formed in a rectangular shape designated as H1).<h1>

[0027] The lower case 32 and the upper case 34 are formed to have the same shape when viewed from above. In this embodiment, as an example, the first main body portion 32A, the second main body portion 32B, and the third main body portion 32C of the lower case 32 are covered by the front portion 34B of the upper case 34. Also, the fourth main body portion 32D of the lower case 32 is covered by the rear portion 34C of the upper case 34. In this embodiment, as an example, the case 30 is positioned below the floor panel (not shown) located beneath the passenger compartment S.

[0028] When an impact input is applied to the battery pack 10, the case 30 configured as described above, namely the lower case 32 and upper case 34, is highly likely to bend starting from a point where the horizontal or vertical cross-section abruptly changes. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 1(B), the boundary line between the first main body 32A and the second main body 32B is a point of change where the horizontal cross-section abruptly changes from width H1 to width H2. Therefore, when an impact input is applied from the front of the vehicle, the lower case 32 and upper case 34 are highly likely to bend starting from this point of change, and this point of change is designated as the bending point R.

[0029] Specifically, when an impact input is applied from the front of the vehicle, the lower case 32 is highly likely to bend downwards from the bending point R, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 1(A). Similarly, the upper case 34 is highly likely to bend downwards from the bending point R, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 1(A).

[0030] In the case 30 configured as described above, the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B, housed in the internal space formed by the lower case 32 and the upper case 34, are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a gap A at the bending point R. Specifically, the front battery module 20A is located in front of the vehicle at the bending point R, and the rear battery module 20B is located behind the vehicle, with a gap A between them.

[0031] An intermediate plate 40 that restrains and holds the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B is provided in this gap A. As shown in Figure 2(A), the intermediate plate 40 comprises a front holding portion 42 that restrains and holds the front battery module 20A and a rear holding portion 44 that restrains and holds the rear battery module 20B. The front holding portion 42 and the rear holding portion 44 are connected by a connecting portion 46 that is configured to be weaker than the front holding portion 42 and the rear holding portion 44.

[0032] The intermediate plate 40 has an H-shaped cross-section when viewed from the vehicle width direction and the vehicle height direction, consisting of a front holding portion 42, a rear holding portion 44, and a connecting portion 46. Specifically, the connecting portion 46 is formed with a smaller diameter in the vehicle height direction and vehicle width direction than the front holding portion 42 and the rear holding portion 44.

[0033] Furthermore, the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B, connected by the intermediate plate 40, are sandwiched between a pair of end plates 24 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. Each of the pair of end plates 24 is fastened to the lower case 32 via brackets or the like. Here, the fastening points between the end plates 24 and the lower case 32 are referred to as fastening portions 26. The fastening portions 26 are provided in locations where the intermediate plate 40 is absent, as shown in Figures 1(A)(B) and 2(A). Note that the width of at least one of the end plates 24 and fastening portions 26 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction is larger than the width of the front retaining portion 42 and the rear retaining portion 44 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction in order to fasten them more securely to the lower case 32.

[0034] Next, the effects and benefits of the battery pack 10 in the first embodiment will be described.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5(A), the conventional battery pack 100 uses a case 30 with the same configuration as the battery pack 10 according to the embodiment described above. Hereafter, components having the same configuration as in the embodiment described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0036] When a collision input F is applied to a conventional battery pack 100 from the front, there is a high probability that bending will occur at the bending point R in the case 30, as shown in Figures 5(B) and 5(C). In a conventional battery pack 100, multiple battery cells are arranged continuously in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle within a single battery module in order to increase the energy density of the battery pack 100. The battery module is sandwiched between a pair of end plates 24 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and each of the pair of end plates 24 has a fastening portion 26 that is fastened to the lower case 32 via a bracket or the like.

[0037] In such conventional structures, when the case 30, i.e., the lower case 32 and upper case 34, bend at the bending point R during a frontal collision, the bent lower case 32 and upper case 34 may come into contact with the battery module, so a structure was needed to mitigate the impact on the battery module.

[0038] As shown in Figures 6(A) and 6(B), in the conventional second battery pack 100A, the battery module is divided, and the front battery module 120A and the rear battery module 120B are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a gap D at the bending point R. The front battery module 120A and the rear battery module 120B are each sandwiched between a pair of end plates 24 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and each of the pair of end plates 24 has a fastening portion 26 that is fastened to the lower case 32 via a bracket or the like.

[0039] Here, the gap D of the conventional second battery pack 100A is set to be larger than the gap A of the battery pack 10 in the embodiment described above. That is, since the end plate 24 has a greater width in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the front holding portion 42 and rear holding portion 44 of the embodiment described above, the gap D of the conventional second battery pack 100A, which is provided with two end plates 24, is larger than the gap A of the battery pack 100A which is provided with only the front holding portion 42 and rear holding portion 44 without the end plates 24.

[0040] In the conventional second battery pack 100A, the impact on the battery module 120 can be reduced when the case 30, i.e., the lower case 32 and upper case 34, bends at the bending point R during a frontal collision. However, since the front battery module 120A and the rear battery module 120B each require end plates 24 and fastening parts 26 on both sides in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, the energy density decreases.

[0041] Therefore, in the battery pack 10 according to this embodiment, the intermediate plate 40 is positioned in a region including the bending point R, which is considered to be a place where bending is likely to occur when hit from the front. As a result, when the case 30, i.e., the lower case 32 and the upper case 34, bends at the bending point R during a frontal collision, the collision input is applied to the intermediate plate 40, thereby suppressing the load on the battery module 20.

[0042] Furthermore, when a collision input is applied to the battery pack 10, the lower case 32 and upper case 34 are highly likely to bend starting from a point where the horizontal or vertical cross-section changes abruptly. In the battery pack 10 according to this embodiment, the bending point R is set as a point where the width in the vehicle width direction changes more abruptly when mounted on a vehicle, so the bending point R can be set to a point where bending is actually highly likely.

[0043] Furthermore, in the battery pack 10 according to this embodiment, the bending point R is equipped with a connection portion 46 that is more fragile than the front holding portion 42 and the rear holding portion 44 of the intermediate plate 40. Therefore, as shown in Figure 2(A), when a collision input is applied to the intermediate plate 40, the connection portion 46 is damaged as shown in Figure 2(B), thus suppressing the load on the battery module 20.

[0044] Furthermore, in the battery pack 10 according to this embodiment, the intermediate plate 40 has an H-shaped cross-section when viewed from the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction when mounted on a vehicle, consisting of a front holding portion 42, a rear holding portion 44, and a connecting portion 46. As a result, the thickness of the connecting portion 46 in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction is thinner compared to the front holding portion 42 and the rear holding portion 44. Therefore, the connecting portion 46 is weaker than the front holding portion 42 and the rear holding portion 44, and when a collision input is applied to the intermediate plate 40, the connecting portion 46 is damaged, thus suppressing the load on the battery module 20.

[0045] Furthermore, in the battery pack 10 according to this embodiment, the gap A in the vehicle longitudinal direction between the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B is smaller compared to the gap D of the conventional second battery pack 100A described above, so the decrease in energy density can be suppressed more effectively than in the conventional second battery pack 100A described above.

[0046] Furthermore, in the battery pack 10 according to this embodiment, the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B, which are fastened to the intermediate plate 40, are each provided with fastening portions 26 to the lower case 32 in areas where the intermediate plate 40 is not present. Therefore, even if the intermediate plate 40 is damaged, the restraint of the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B to the lower case 32 is maintained.

[0047] Next, with reference to the drawings, a battery pack 10A according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The battery pack 10A of this embodiment includes an intermediate plate 40A with a different configuration from the battery pack 10 of the first embodiment described above. In this embodiment, the configuration other than the intermediate plate 40A is the same as that of the battery pack 10 of the first embodiment described above, so only the intermediate plate 40A will be described in detail here.

[0048] As shown in Figures 3(A) and 3(B), the intermediate plate 40A of this embodiment does not have a configuration corresponding to the front holding portion 42 of the intermediate plate 40 of the above embodiment. That is, the intermediate plate 40A is composed of a rear holding portion 44 and a connecting portion 46.

[0049] In this embodiment, the front battery module 20A is sandwiched between a pair of end plates 24 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and each of the pair of end plates 24 has a fastening portion 26 that is fastened to the lower case 32 via a bracket or the like. The rear end plate 24 of this pair of end plates 24 is joined to the connection portion 46 of the intermediate plate 40. The intermediate plate 40A is positioned in the gap B between the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B.

[0050] Here, the gap B of the battery pack 10A is set to be larger than the gap A in the battery pack 10 of the embodiment described above. That is, since the end plate 24 has a greater width in the vehicle longitudinal direction than the rear holding portion 44 of this embodiment, the gap B of the battery pack 10A of this embodiment, which is provided with one end plate 24, is larger than the gap A in the above embodiment, which is provided with a front holding portion 42 and a rear holding portion 44 without an end plate 24. On the other hand, the gap B of this embodiment is formed to be smaller than that of the conventional battery pack 100A described above. That is, the gap B of the battery pack 10A of this embodiment, which is provided with one end plate 24, is smaller than the gap D of the conventional second battery pack 100A, which is provided with two end plates 24.

[0051] Next, the effects and benefits of the battery pack 10A in the second embodiment will be described.

[0052] In the battery pack 10A according to this embodiment, similar to the above embodiment, the intermediate plate 40A is positioned in a region including the bending point R, which is considered likely to bend when hit from the front. Therefore, when the case 30, i.e., the lower case 32 and the upper case 34, bends at the bending point R during a frontal collision, the collision input is applied to the intermediate plate 40A, thereby suppressing the load on the battery module 20.

[0053] Furthermore, when a collision input is applied to the battery pack 10A, the lower case 32 and upper case 34 are highly likely to bend starting from a point where the horizontal or vertical cross-section changes abruptly. In the battery pack 10A according to this embodiment, the bending point R is set as the point where the width in the vehicle width direction changes more abruptly when mounted on a vehicle, so the bending point R can be set to a point where bending is actually highly likely.

[0054] Furthermore, in the battery pack 10A according to this embodiment, the bending point R is equipped with a connection portion 46 that is more fragile than the rear holding portion 44 of the intermediate plate 40A. Therefore, when a collision input is applied to the intermediate plate 40A, the connection portion 46 is damaged, thereby suppressing the load on the battery module 20.

[0055] Furthermore, in the battery pack 10A according to this embodiment, when the intermediate plate 40A is mounted on a vehicle, the thickness of the connection portion 46 in the vehicle width direction and the vehicle height direction is thinner compared to the rear retaining portion 44. As a result, the connection portion 46 is weaker than the rear retaining portion 44, and when a collision input is applied to the intermediate plate 40A, the connection portion 46 is damaged, thereby suppressing the load on the battery module 20.

[0056] Furthermore, in the battery pack 10A according to this embodiment, the front battery module 20A is sandwiched between a pair of end plates 24 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and each of the pair of end plates 24 has a fastening portion 26 that is fastened to the lower case 32 via a bracket or the like. As a result, the gap B between the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B becomes larger than the gap A in the above embodiment. However, since the gap B between the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B can be made smaller than the gap A of the conventional second battery pack 100A described above, the decrease in energy density can be suppressed more effectively than in the conventional second battery pack 100A described above.

[0057] Furthermore, in the battery pack 10A according to this embodiment, the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B, which are fastened to the intermediate plate 40A, are each provided with fastening portions 26 to the lower case 32 in areas where the intermediate plate 40A is not present. Therefore, even if the intermediate plate 40A is damaged, the restraint of the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B to the lower case 32 is maintained.

[0058] Next, with reference to the drawings, a battery pack 10B according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The battery pack 10B of this embodiment includes an intermediate plate 40B with a different configuration from the battery pack 10 of the first embodiment described above. In this embodiment, the configuration other than the intermediate plate 40B is the same as that of the battery pack 10 of the first embodiment described above, so only the intermediate plate 40B will be described in detail here.

[0059] As shown in Figures 4(A) and 4(B), the intermediate plate 40B of this embodiment does not have a configuration corresponding to the rear holding portion 44 of the intermediate plate 40 of the above embodiment. That is, the intermediate plate 40B is composed of a front holding portion 42 and a connecting portion 46.

[0060] In this embodiment, unlike the second embodiment described above, the rear battery module 20B is sandwiched between a pair of end plates 24 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and each of the pair of end plates 24 has a fastening portion 26 that is fastened to the lower case 32 via a bracket or the like. The rear end plate 24 of this pair of end plates 24 is joined to the connection portion 46 of the intermediate plate 40. The intermediate plate 40B is positioned in the gap B between the front battery module 20A and the rear battery module 20B. Here, the gap B of the battery pack 10B is set in the same way as the gap B in the battery pack 10A of the second embodiment described above.

[0061] Next, the effects and benefits of the battery pack 10B in the third embodiment will be described.

[0062] In this embodiment, the battery pack 10B differs from the second embodiment in that, in the gap B, the battery pack 10A of the second embodiment has an end plate 24 on the rear battery module 20B, whereas the battery pack 10A of the second embodiment has an end plate 24 on the front battery module 20A. However, it is otherwise the same. Therefore, the same effects as the second embodiment can be obtained.

[0063] [supplementary explanation] In the first embodiment described above, the intermediate plate 40 has an H-shaped cross-section when viewed from the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction when mounted on a vehicle, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may have an H-shaped cross-section when viewed only from the vehicle width direction or the vehicle vertical direction when mounted on a vehicle.

[0064] Furthermore, in the embodiments described above, the intermediate plates 40, 40A, and 40B are formed with a connection portion 46 having a smaller diameter in the vehicle's vertical and vehicle width directions than the front holding portion 42 and the rear holding portion 44. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the diameter may be smaller in the vehicle's vertical or vehicle width directions.

[0065] Furthermore, the intermediate plates 40, 40A, and 40B are not limited to the above structure, provided that the connecting portion 46 is configured to be weaker than the front holding portion and the rear holding portion. For example, weaker portions such as slits or notches may be provided in the connecting portion.

[0066] Furthermore, the configuration of this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the configuration can be modified as appropriate, as long as the problem can be solved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 10, 10A, 10B battery packs, 20 battery modules, 26 fastening parts, 32 Lower case, 34 Upper case, 40 Intermediate plate, 42 Front retaining part, 44 Rear holding part, 46 Connection part, A, B, D Gap, R Fold point

Claims

1. A lower case and upper case having a bending point that is prone to bending when hit from the front while mounted on a vehicle, Two battery modules housed inside the lower case and the upper case, arranged in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle with a gap at the bending point, An intermediate plate provided in the gap, which restrains and holds the two battery modules, A battery pack equipped with the following features.

2. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the inflection point is a point of change where the width in the vehicle width direction changes abruptly when mounted on the vehicle.

3. The aforementioned intermediate plate is A front holding portion that restrains and holds the battery module in front, A rear holding portion that restrains and holds the battery module at the rear, A connecting portion which is more fragile than the front and rear holding portions and connects the front and rear holding portions at the bending point, The battery pack according to claim 1, comprising:

4. The battery pack according to claim 3, wherein the intermediate plate has an H-shaped cross-sectional shape when viewed from at least one of the vehicle width direction and the vehicle vertical direction when mounted on a vehicle, and is composed of the front holding portion, the rear holding portion and the connecting portion.

5. The battery pack according to claim 1, wherein the two battery modules, which are restrained and held by the intermediate plate, each have fastening portions to the lower case at locations where the intermediate plate is absent.

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