Small electric vehicle

Abstract

To provide a small electric vehicle that can efficiently store a variety of cargo while ensuring high driving stability. [Solution] The small electric vehicle 1 has a seat 6 positioned above a floor 3 supported by a frame 2, and a cargo bed 7 positioned above the rear wheels 5. The frame 2 includes a floor frame 21 that extends along both sides of the floor 3 in the vehicle width direction and supports the floor 3, a lower frame 22 that extends diagonally upward and rearward from the rear of the floor frame 21, an upper frame 23 that extends diagonally upward and forward via a bent portion 23A at the rear of the lower frame 22, and a cross frame 24 that connects the front ends of the left and right upper frames 23 and supports the seat 6. The floor 3 has a flat surface 31 on which luggage can be placed, and the cargo bed 7 is connected to the left and right bent portions 23A.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, small electric vehicles have been used as a means of moving short distances, and the small electric vehicles are capable of traveling on a sidewalk at a speed comparable to that of pedestrians. Since the vehicle dimensions of small electric vehicles are defined by standards, when trying to secure a storage space for luggage by providing a basket in front of the driver's knees, there is a problem that the driver's riding posture becomes cramped.

[0003] In response to such problems, for example, in Patent Document 1, a loading platform is provided between a pair of left and right rear wheels, and a seat is arranged above the front part of the loading platform, so that a storage space for luggage can be secured between the seat and the loading platform without increasing the longitudinal length of the vehicle. A small electric vehicle is disclosed. Further, in Patent Document 2, by efficiently arranging a battery unit, a floor having a wide flat surface is realized, a utility space is secured at the feet of the occupant, and a box-shaped or cage-shaped luggage storage device is mounted in the space between a pair of left and right rear wheels. A small electric vehicle is disclosed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Conventional small electric vehicles, as described above, can store cargo on a cargo bed between the left and right rear wheels and on the flat surface of the floor. However, because the cargo storage space between the rear wheels and the cargo storage space on the floor are secured independently, it was difficult to stably store relatively large cargo that exceeded the size of each storage space. In addition, when heavy cargo is placed on the cargo bed between the rear wheels or on the cargo storage device, the heavy object is positioned far from the vehicle's center of gravity. In such a state, the driving stability of the small electric vehicle may decrease, and there was room for improvement.

[0006] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned points, and aims to provide a small electric vehicle that can efficiently store a variety of luggage and ensure high driving stability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To achieve the above objective, one aspect of the present invention provides a small electric vehicle comprising: a floor supported by a frame; a pair of left and right front wheels positioned in front of the floor; a pair of left and right rear wheels positioned behind the floor; seats positioned above the floor where occupants sit; and a cargo bed positioned above the rear wheels where luggage is placed. The frame in this small electric vehicle includes: a pair of left and right floor frames extending along both sides of the floor in the vehicle width direction and supporting the floor; a pair of left and right lower frames extending diagonally upward and rearward from the rear of the floor frame; a pair of left and right upper frames extending diagonally upward and forward via bends at the rear of the lower frames; and a cross frame extending in the vehicle width direction, connecting the front ends of the left and right upper frames, and supporting the seats. The floor extends in the vehicle longitudinal direction and vehicle width direction and has a flat surface on which luggage can be placed, and the cargo bed is connected to the left and right bends between the lower and upper frames. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The small electric vehicle according to the present invention can efficiently store a variety of cargo and ensure high driving stability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a small electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, seen from the front left side. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the small electric vehicle of the above embodiment, seen from the rear left side. [Figure 3] This is a side view of the small electric vehicle of the above embodiment, viewed from the left. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the small electric vehicle of the above embodiment, viewed from the lower left. [Figure 5] This is a side view showing an example of a state in which cargo is loaded on both the floor and the cargo bed in the above embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a side view showing an example of a state in which cargo is loaded across the floor and the cargo bed in the above embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1 to 4 are perspective views of a small electric vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the front left, from the rear left, from the left, and from the lower left. In each of the figures described below, arrow F indicates the front in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, arrow U indicates the upward direction in the vehicle's vertical direction, and arrows R and L indicate the right and left (vehicle width direction) as seen from the perspective of an occupant seated in the seat looking forward.

[0011] In Figures 1 to 4, the small electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment includes, for example, a floor 3 supported by a frame 2, front wheels 4 and rear wheels 5, a seat 6 on which an occupant sits, a cargo bed 7 for carrying luggage, and a handle 8 operated by an occupant seated in the seat 6. In this embodiment, the front wheels 4 are arranged in pairs on the left and right at the front of the floor 3, and the rear wheels 5 are arranged in pairs on the left and right at the rear of the floor 3. The seat 6 is positioned above the floor 3, the cargo bed 7 is positioned above the left and right rear wheels 5, and the handle 8 is positioned in front of the seat 6. The configuration examples of each part of the small electric vehicle 1 will be described in detail below.

[0012] Frame 2 includes a pair of left and right floor frames 21, a pair of left and right lower frames 22, a pair of left and right upper frames 23, and a cross frame 24. In this embodiment, frame 2 is made of, for example, a single pipe material with a round hollow cross section continuous in the longitudinal direction, and by bending the pipe material at a predetermined position, each part of the floor frame 21, lower frame 22, upper frame 23, and cross frame 24 is integrally formed. However, frame 2 is not limited to the above example and may be formed by joining multiple pipe materials by welding or the like. In addition, the hollow cross-sectional shape of the pipe material can be any shape other than round, such as a square shape.

[0013] The pair of left and right floor frames 21 extend along both sides of the floor 3 in the vehicle width direction and support the floor 3. Specifically, the rear and intermediate portions of the floor frame 21 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction extend generally horizontally and straight in the longitudinal direction. The front portion of the floor frame 21 extends inward in the vehicle width direction as it approaches the front of the vehicle, and then extends inward upward (Figures 1 to 4).

[0014] The portion of the floor frame 21 at the front that slopes inward in the vehicle width direction extends generally horizontally and, together with the rear and middle portions of the floor frame 21 in the vehicle width direction, supports the floor 3 from the side of the vehicle (Figures 3 and 4). In other words, the floor 3 is sandwiched between the roughly horizontal portions of the left and right floor frames 21. Footrests 25, which protrude outward in the vehicle width direction, are fixed to the portion of the floor frame 21 at the front that slopes upward in the vehicle direction by welding or the like (Figures 2 and 3). The footrests 25 are configured so that an occupant seated in the seat 6 can rest their feet on them.

[0015] Each front end of the left and right floor frames 21 has a hole through which the straight portion of the upper part of the footrest 25, which extends in the vehicle width direction, is inserted (Figure 2). The inner end of the straight portion of the footrest 25 inserted through the hole at the tip of the floor frame 21 is fixed to the side wall of the lower center 83A in the vehicle width direction of the front shield 83, which covers the steering frame 81 and the like, as described later.

[0016] The lower frame 22 extends diagonally upward and rearward from the rear of the floor frame 21. In this embodiment, the lower frame 22 extends straight, inclining upward as it approaches the rear of the vehicle, via a bent portion 22A that is continuous with the rear of the floor frame 21. In other words, the lower frame 22 is formed to be tilted backward with respect to the vertical direction. The left and right upper frames 23 are continuous with the rear of the left and right lower frames 22.

[0017] The upper frame 23 extends diagonally upward and forward of the vehicle via a bent portion 23A (dashed line portion in Figures 1 to 4) that is continuous with the rear of the lower frame 22. In other words, the upper frame 23 bends forward from the rear of the lower frame 22, and then extends straight while inclining upward as it moves forward. That is, the upper frame 23 is formed to be tilted forward with respect to the vertical direction. Therefore, the portions of frame 2 corresponding to the lower frame 22 and the upper frame 23 are formed in an L-shape that protrudes toward the rear of the vehicle when viewed from the side of the vehicle (Figure 3).

[0018] The left and right bending portions 23A connecting the lower frame 22 and the upper frame 23 are fixed across the loading platform 7. In the present embodiment, a loading platform frame 26 is fixed to the lower portions of the left and right bending portions 23A by welding or the like (FIG. 4), and the loading platform 7 is attached onto the loading platform frame 26. The loading platform frame 26 has a U-shaped (U-shaped) shape that is open toward the front of the vehicle when viewed in the vehicle up-and-down direction, and both longitudinal ends thereof are fixed to the lower portions of the left and right bending portions 23A, respectively. Note that the upper portions of the left and right bending portions 23A penetrate through the front portions of the side portions in the vehicle width direction of the loading platform 7 (FIGS. 1 to 4).

[0019] The front portions of the left and right upper frames 23 are connected to each other via a cross frame 24 extending in the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, the front portions of the left and right upper frames 23 are connected to both ends in the vehicle width direction (longitudinal direction) of the cross frame 2 through bending portions 24A continuous thereto. A fixing portion 63 (described later) of the seat 6 is attached to the center portion in the vehicle width direction of the cross frame 24, and the cross frame 24 supports the seat 6 from below the vehicle (FIGS. 1 to 3).

[0020] As described above, the floor frame 21, the lower frame 22, the upper frame 23, and the cross frame 24 are preferably integrally formed by bending a single pipe material at predetermined positions. Thereby, joints of each element constituting the frame 2 are eliminated, and high rigidity can be ensured for the entire frame 2. Further, in the present embodiment, both ends of a single pipe material (front end portions of the left and right floor frames 21) are fixed to the side wall portion of the lower center portion 83A in the vehicle width direction of the front shield 83 via the straight portion at the upper portion of the footrest 25, so that the rigidity of the frame 2 is further enhanced.

[0021] The floor 3, supported by the floor frame 21 of frame 2, has a flat surface 31 (top surface) that extends in the vehicle's longitudinal and width directions and on which luggage can be placed. In this embodiment, the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 has a substantially rectangular shape that is elongated in the vehicle's longitudinal direction when viewed from above. Here, the front and rear edges of the flat surface 31 are formed in a gentle arc shape (Figures 1 and 2). In addition to luggage, occupants seated in the seats 6 can also rest their feet on the flat surface 31 of the floor 3.

[0022] In this embodiment, the rear end 24B of the cross frame 24 is positioned towards the front of the vehicle relative to the rear end 31A of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3. As shown in Figure 3, the rear end 24B of the cross frame 24 is positioned at a distance D towards the front of the vehicle relative to the rear end 31A of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3. The distance D is determined according to the shape (width) of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 and the inclined shape of the lower frame 22 and upper frame 23, and is designed (optimized) in advance considering the vehicle's center of gravity and the seating posture of the occupants.

[0023] A battery mounting section 32 is formed below the flat surface 31 of the floor 3. The battery mounting section 32 is configured to accommodate multiple on-board batteries (not shown) for supplying power to a power unit 51, including an electric motor for driving the rear wheels 5 (or front wheels 4). In addition, multiple hooks 33 are provided on the right and left sides of the floor 3, protruding outward in the vehicle width direction and spaced apart in the front-to-back direction. Each hook 33 is used to secure cords, nets, etc., to the floor 3 to prevent luggage placed on the flat surface 31 from moving.

[0024] The left and right front wheels 4 are rotatably supported by a suspension mechanism 41 (Figure 1). The front wheels 4 are steered left and right in response to the operation of the steering wheel 8 by the occupant. The steering wheel 8 is connected to the upper end of a steering shaft 82, which is rotatably supported by a steering frame 81 (Figures 2 and 3). The lower end of the steering shaft 82 is connected to the front wheels 4 via a steering mechanism (not shown) including a rack and pinion mechanism. Part of the steering frame 81 and the steering shaft 82 are covered by a front shield 83. In addition, the upper parts of the left and right front wheels 4 are covered by front fenders 42.

[0025] The handlebars 8 are equipped with an accelerator control unit 84, such as an accelerator grip or accelerator lever, and a brake lever 85 (Figures 1 to 3). The rider can adjust the speed of the small electric vehicle 1 by operating the accelerator control unit 84 and the brake lever 85. Information regarding the driving status of the small electric vehicle 1 is displayed on the meter panel 86. The maximum speed of the small electric vehicle 1 is limited to a predetermined value (for example, 20 km / h).

[0026] A box 83B capable of storing beverage bottles, etc., is formed on the upper rear side of the front shield 83 (Figures 2 and 3). In addition, a headlight 87 and a holder 88 are installed in front of the front shield 83 (Figures 1 and 3). The holder 88 is configured so that attachments such as a carrier case can be attached to it.

[0027] The left and right rear wheels 5 are rotatably supported by a suspension mechanism 52 (Figures 1 to 4). The rear wheels 5 are driven by a power unit 51, which is supplied with power from an onboard battery housed in a battery mounting section 32 on the floor 3. The power unit 51 is mounted between the left and right rear wheels 5, at the front lower part of the cargo bed 7.

[0028] The seat 6 has a seat portion 61, a backrest portion 62, and a fixing portion 63 (Figures 1 to 3). The seat portion 61 is the part on which the occupant sits and forms the seating surface. The backrest portion 62 is the part that extends upward from the rear of the seat portion 61 and is configured to support the area around the waist of the occupant seated on the seat portion 61. The fixing portion 63 is attached to the underside of the seat portion 61 and has a hole 63A that penetrates in the vehicle width direction. The fixing portion 63 fixes the seat 6 to a predetermined position on the cross frame 24 by tightening the cross frame 24, which is inserted through the hole 63A, with bolts or the like.

[0029] As described above, the cargo bed 7 is mounted on the cargo bed frame 26 and fixed so as to straddle the left and right bends 23A located between the lower frame 22 and the upper frame 23. The cargo bed 7 has a flat bottom surface 71 on which cargo is placed. The bottom surface 71 extends in the longitudinal and width directions of the vehicle and is formed in a roughly rectangular shape in plan view. The rear end 31A of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3, as described above, is positioned towards the rear of the vehicle relative to the front end 7A of the cargo bed 7 (the leading edge portion of the bottom surface 71) (Figure 3). In other words, when viewed from the vertical direction of the vehicle, the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 and the cargo bed 7 overlap. That is, the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 extends below the cargo bed 7.

[0030] Furthermore, the cargo bed 7 has a peripheral wall portion 72 extending upward toward the vehicle on the peripheral edge portion of the bottom surface portion 71, excluding the front edge (Figures 1 to 3). The peripheral wall portion 72 has an inner wall surface that extends generally perpendicular to the flat surface (top surface) of the bottom surface portion 71, and an outer wall surface that is positioned opposite the inner wall surface on the outside of the vehicle. The outer wall surface of the peripheral wall portion 72 is an inclined surface that approaches the inner wall surface as it moves upward toward the vehicle. Elongated holes 72A are formed on both the left and right sides of the peripheral wall portion 72, extending in the vehicle's longitudinal direction and penetrating in the vehicle's width direction. In addition, two elongated holes 72B are formed on the rear side of the peripheral wall portion 72, extending in the vehicle's width direction and penetrating in the vehicle's longitudinal direction, spaced apart in the vehicle's width direction. These elongated holes 72A and 72B can be used to fasten cords, nets, etc., used when securing cargo to the cargo bed 7.

[0031] A restricting section 73 is provided at the lower front of the cargo bed 7 to restrict the movement of cargo placed on the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 toward the rear of the vehicle (Figure 1). The restricting section 73 extends from the front of the underside of the cargo bed 7 diagonally downward toward the front of the vehicle to just before the flat surface 31 of the floor 3. The restricting section 73 is formed with a predetermined width in the vehicle width direction, overlaps with the center of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 in the vehicle width direction, and is positioned in front of the aforementioned power unit 51. In addition, lights 74 such as brake lights and turn signals are mounted at the lower rear of the cargo bed 7 (Figures 1 to 4).

[0032] Next, we will explain in detail, with some specific examples, the state in which cargo is loaded on the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 and the cargo bed 7 in the small electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment.

[0033] Figure 5 is a side view showing an example of a state in which cargo 9A and 9B are loaded on both the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 and the cargo bed 7. In the small electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the luggage storage space on the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 and the luggage storage space on the cargo bed 7 are formed to overlap in the vertical direction of the vehicle. As shown in Figure 5, luggage 9A and 9B with relatively large dimensions in the longitudinal direction and / or width direction of the vehicle can be loaded on both the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 and the cargo bed 7.

[0034] In the example shown in Figure 5, a flat-laying bag or similar luggage 9A is placed on the flat surface 31 of the floor 3, and a box-shaped luggage such as a general-purpose shopping basket 9B is placed on the bottom surface 71 of the cargo bed 7. Luggage 9A has a length in the vehicle width direction that is about the same as the width of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3, is long in the vehicle front-rear direction (but shorter than the total length of the flat surface 31), and its height in the vehicle vertical direction is lower than the step between the floor 3 and the cargo bed 7. Luggage 9B has a length in the vehicle width direction that is shorter than the distance between the left and right upper frames 23, and its height in the vehicle vertical direction is higher than the height from the bottom surface of the cargo bed 7 to the lower end of the cross frame 24, and lower than the height from the bottom surface of the cargo bed 7 to the bottom surface of the seat portion 61 of the seat 6. The dashed line shown in Figure 5 indicates the approximate position of the lower body of an occupant seated on the seat portion 61 of the seat 6.

[0035] Specifically, the luggage 9A on floor 3 is placed towards the rear end of the flat surface 31 to ensure sufficient legroom for the occupants. This luggage 9A is secured to the flat surface 31 of floor 3 using multiple hooks 33 and cords 91 provided on the right and left sides of floor 3, respectively. These cords 91 prevent the luggage 9A from moving upward and in the width direction of the vehicle. In addition, the rear end of the luggage 9A is close to or in contact with the front end of the restricting section 73 provided on the lower front of the cargo bed 7 or the front edge of the bottom surface 71 of the cargo bed 7, preventing the luggage 9A from moving backward. This prevents a collision between the luggage 9A and the power unit 51. The longitudinal movement of the luggage 9A can also be suppressed by increasing the binding force of the cords 91.

[0036] The cargo 9B on the cargo bed 7 is placed towards the front of the bottom surface 71. The upper front of cargo 9B is close to or in contact with the rear end 24B of the cross frame 24 or the rear end of the fixing part 63 of the seat 6, preventing cargo 9B from moving forward of the vehicle. The front bottom of cargo 9B is located further forward of the vehicle than the front end 7A of the cargo bed 7 (the front edge of the bottom surface 71) and overlaps the rear of cargo 9A on the floor 3 side. In addition, the front right side of cargo 9B is close to or in contact with the inner ends in the vehicle width direction of the left and right upper frames 23, preventing cargo 9B from moving in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, the movement of cargo 9B towards the rear of the vehicle and in the vehicle width direction is also prevented by the inner wall surface of the peripheral wall 72 of the cargo bed 7. Furthermore, by using the elongated holes 72A and 72B provided in the peripheral wall portion 72 of the cargo bed 7 and cords, nets, etc. (not shown), it is possible to tie the cargo 9B to the cargo bed 7, thereby preventing the cargo 9B from moving in any direction.

[0037] To explain the driving stability of the small electric vehicle 1 with luggage 9A and 9B loaded on both the floor 3 and the cargo bed 7 as described above, in a typical small electric vehicle design, the center of gravity of the vehicle is positioned near the center in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle in order to ensure driving stability. In the small electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the center of gravity is designed to be located near directly below the seat 6 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In a small electric vehicle 1 with the center of gravity designed in this way, when luggage 9A on the floor 3 side and luggage 9B on the cargo bed 7 side are loaded so as to overlap in the vertical direction of the vehicle, even if each of the luggage 9A and 9B is heavy, these heavy objects are positioned near the center of gravity of the vehicle, so high driving stability can be ensured.

[0038] In other words, in the small electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the rear end 24B of the cross frame 24 is positioned further forward than the rear end 31A of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3. With this arrangement, the luggage storage space on the floor 3 side and the luggage storage space on the cargo bed 7 side overlap in the vertical direction of the vehicle between the rear end 24B of the cross frame 24 and the rear end 31A of the flat surface 31. Therefore, even when heavy objects are loaded on both the floor 3 and the cargo bed 7 in the arrangement shown in Figure 5, such as luggage 9A and 9B, the center of gravity of the vehicle, including these heavy objects, is located near directly below the seat 6. This makes it possible to efficiently load luggage 9A and 9B while ensuring high driving stability.

[0039] Figure 6 is a side view showing an example of a state in which cargo 9C is loaded across the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 and the cargo bed 7. In the small electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the luggage storage space on the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 and the luggage storage space on the cargo bed 7 are in communication, so it is possible to load luggage 9C of various shapes, as shown in Figure 6.

[0040] In the example shown in Figure 6, a long piece of luggage 9C, such as a golf bag, is placed on the flat surface 31 of the floor 3, passing through the left and right upper frames 23, the cross frame 24, and the luggage platform 7. The total length of the luggage 9C in the longitudinal direction is longer than the front-to-back length of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 or the front-to-back length of the bottom surface 71 of the luggage platform 7. Furthermore, the cross-section of the luggage 9C is narrower than the space defined by the left and right upper frames 23, the cross frame 24, and the front end 7A of the luggage platform 7. The dashed line shown in Figure 6 indicates the approximate position of the lower body of an occupant seated on the seat portion 61 of the seat 6.

[0041] When loading the long cargo 9C described above onto the small electric vehicle 1, the length of the cargo 9C is aligned with the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the cargo 9C is lifted so that its front end is positioned above the cargo bed 7. Then, the cargo 9C is moved diagonally downward and forward of the vehicle so that its front end passes between the left and right upper frames 23 and the cross frame 24 and the cargo bed 7, so that the front end of the cargo 9C contacts the flat surface 31 of the floor 3, and the lower center of the cargo 9C in the longitudinal direction contacts the front end 7A of the cargo bed 7. In this state, the central side of the cargo 9C in the longitudinal direction is close to or in contact with the inner ends in the vehicle width direction of the left and right upper frames 23, preventing the cargo 9C from moving in the vehicle width direction. In addition, the upper center of the cargo 9C in the longitudinal direction is close to or in contact with the cross frame 24 or the fixing part 63 of the seat 6, preventing the cargo 9C from moving forward and upward of the vehicle. Furthermore, by using the hooks 33 on the left and right sides of the floor 3 and / or the elongated holes 72A, 72B in the peripheral wall 72 of the loading platform 7 and using cords, nets, etc. (not shown) to tie the load 9C to the floor 3 and / or the loading platform 7, it is also possible to restrict the movement of the load 9C in any direction.

[0042] Even when the long cargo 9C is loaded across the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 and the cargo bed 7 as described above, the center of gravity of the vehicle, including cargo 9C, will be located near directly below the seat 6, similar to the case when cargo 9A and 9B are loaded as shown in Figure 5 above. Therefore, the small electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment can efficiently store cargo of various shapes and sizes, and can also ensure high driving stability.

[0043] Furthermore, in the small electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the rear end 31A of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 is positioned further rearward than the front end 7A of the cargo bed 7. With this arrangement, the space below the cargo bed 7 can also be utilized as cargo storage space on the flat surface 31 of the floor 3, thereby further increasing the efficiency of cargo storage. In this case, if a restricting portion 73 is provided on the underside of the cargo bed 7, the movement of cargo placed on the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 toward the rear of the vehicle is restricted, making it possible to avoid collisions between the cargo and the power unit 51, and thereby increasing the reliability of the small electric vehicle 1.

[0044] Furthermore, in the small electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the frame 2 is formed by bending pipe material. By using such a frame 2, the joints between the elements constituting the frame 2 are eliminated, so high rigidity can be ensured for the frame 2 as a whole. As a result, the influence of vertical loads from the occupants and cargo on the driving conditions when the small electric vehicle 1 is traveling on rough roads, etc., on the driving conditions can be reduced, and driving stability can be further improved.

[0045] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and changes are possible based on the technical idea of ​​the present invention. For example, in the embodiments described above, an example was described in which the rear end 31A of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 is located further rearward than the front end 7A of the cargo bed 7. However, even if the rear end 31A of the flat surface 31 of the floor 3 is located further forward than the front end 7A of the cargo bed 7, as long as the rear end 31A of the flat surface 31 is located further rearward than the rear end 24B of the cross frame 24, the cargo storage space on the floor 3 side and the cargo storage space on the cargo bed 7 side will overlap in the vertical direction, and the present invention is effective. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0046] 1…Small electric vehicle 2...frame 21…Floor frame 22...Lower frame 22A, 23A, 24A…Bending part 23…Upper frame 24…Cross frame 24B…Rear end 25…Footrest 26... Cargo bed frame 3... Floor 31…Flat surface 31A…Rear end 32...Battery mounting section 33... Hook 4…Front wheels 41…Suspension mechanism 42... Front fender 5…Rear wheel 51... Power Unit 52…Suspension mechanism 6… Seats 61...Seat part 62... Backrest 63…Fixed part 7...Cargo bed 71…Bottom part 72...Peripheral wall part 73... Regulatory Department 74…Lights 8... Handle 81…Steering frame 82… Steering shaft 83…Front Shield 9A, 9B, 9C... Luggage

Claims

1. A floor supported by a frame, A pair of front wheels, left and right, are positioned at the front of the vehicle on the aforementioned floor, The aforementioned floor has a pair of left and right rear wheels positioned at the rear of the vehicle, The floor is positioned above the vehicle, and includes seats where the occupants sit, A cargo bed is positioned above the rear wheels of the vehicle and is used to carry luggage, A small electric vehicle equipped with, The aforementioned frame is A pair of left and right floor frames extend along both sides of the floor in the vehicle width direction and support the floor, A pair of left and right lower frames extending diagonally upward and to the rear of the vehicle from the rear of the floor frame, A pair of left and right upper frames extending diagonally upward and forward of the vehicle via a bent portion at the rear of the lower frame, It includes a cross frame that extends in the width direction of the vehicle, connects the front portions of the left and right upper frames, and supports the seat, The floor has a flat surface that extends in the longitudinal and width directions of the vehicle and on which luggage can be placed. A small electric vehicle characterized in that the cargo bed is connected to the left and right bent portions located between the lower frame and the upper frame.

2. The aforementioned cargo bed is mounted on a cargo bed frame, The small electric vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the cargo bed frame has a U-shaped form that opens to the front of the vehicle when viewed from the vertical direction of the vehicle.

3. The small electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a restricting unit for restricting the movement of cargo placed on the flat surface toward the rear of the vehicle.

4. The small electric vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame is formed by bending a pipe material having a hollow cross-section that is continuous in the longitudinal direction.

5. The small electric vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that a space for placing cargo is formed between the left and right upper frames, the cross frame, and the front end of the cargo bed.

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