Body structure

Abstract

To enhance mounting rigidity of a battery frame on a vehicle body and enhance rigidity of the battery frame itself.SOLUTION: A vehicle body structure A includes: a battery protection frame 33 having a hollow cross-section; a vehicle body side frame 40 which extends along the battery protection frame 33 and is coupled with the battery protection frame 33; and a fixation member B1 which is inserted through a hole portion 33h of the battery protection frame 33 and capable of fixing the battery protection frame 33 to a vehicle body component 95, which is different from the vehicle body side frame 40, within the battery protection frame 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle body structure for, for example, an electric vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle with a battery mounted below a floor panel. This patent document 1 includes an annular vehicle body bottom frame formed along the outer periphery of the floor panel and an annular battery mounting frame fixed to the vehicle body bottom frame, with the battery disposed inside the battery mounting frame. The battery mounting frame has upper and lower mounting walls that form flanges that protrude outward, and these upper and lower mounting walls are disposed on the underside of the vehicle body bottom frame and fastened with bolts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2020 / 105283 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of an electric vehicle, the capacity of the battery that supplies power to the driving motor directly affects the cruising distance, and therefore there is a demand to increase the capacity of the battery as much as possible. In this regard, in Patent Document 1, the upper and lower mounting walls that protrude outward from the battery mounting frame are arranged and fastened to the underside of the vehicle body bottom skeleton frame, so the battery mounting space must be narrowed by the amount that the upper and lower mounting walls protrude.

[0005] Therefore, it is conceivable to fasten the battery mounting frame directly to the vehicle body by omitting the upper and lower mounting walls of Patent Document 1. In this way, the battery mounting space can be expanded by the amount corresponding to the elimination of the upper and lower mounting walls, making it possible to increase the amount of batteries that can be mounted.

[0006] However, if the upper and lower mounting walls are removed, the problem arises of how to ensure the mounting rigidity of the battery mounting frame to the vehicle body, and there is also a risk that the rigidity of the battery mounting frame itself will decrease, resulting in insufficient battery protection performance.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of these points, and an object thereof is to increase the mounting rigidity of a battery protection frame to a vehicle body, as well as to increase the rigidity of the battery protection frame itself. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present disclosure can be based on a body structure for an electric vehicle that includes a traction motor and a battery that supplies power to the traction motor and is disposed below a floor panel. The body structure includes a battery protection frame with a hollow cross section that protects the battery, a vehicle body frame that extends toward and is connected to the battery protection frame, and a fixing member that opens on an outer surface of the battery protection frame and is inserted into the space inside the battery protection frame through a hole that connects to the space, and that can fix the battery protection frame to a vehicle body component other than the vehicle body frame inside the battery protection frame.

[0009] With this configuration, the battery protection frame has a hollow cross section, resulting in a highly rigid and lightweight battery protection frame. In addition, the battery protection frame is connected to the vehicle body frame, which extends along the battery protection frame, thereby also increasing the rigidity of the battery protection frame.

[0010] Furthermore, since the battery protection frame is fixed to the vehicle body components separately from the vehicle body frame by fixing members inside the frame, there is no need for the outwardly protruding upper and lower mounting walls as in the conventional example, and the battery mounting space is accordingly increased.

[0011] Furthermore, by fixing the battery protection frame internally, the distance between the vehicle body component and the part of the battery protection frame where the fixing force of the fixing member acts is shorter than when the battery protection frame is fixed to the vehicle body component externally, which increases the mounting rigidity of the battery protection frame to the vehicle body.

[0012] The vehicle body side frame according to the second aspect of the present disclosure may be provided with a covering portion that is formed to extend along the outer surface on which the hole portion of the battery protection frame is formed, and that covers the hole portion from the outside of the battery protection frame.

[0013] This configuration prevents foreign objects from entering the battery protection frame through the holes. Also, while leaving the holes open can lead to a decrease in aerodynamic performance while driving, this configuration covers the holes, preventing a decrease in aerodynamic performance while driving.

[0014] The battery protection frame according to the third aspect of the present disclosure may be disposed below the vehicle body structural member. In this case, a partition wall that divides the space into upper and lower sections may be provided inside the battery protection frame between an upper wall section and a lower wall section of the battery protection frame, and the fixing member may apply a fixing force to the partition wall.

[0015] According to this configuration, the provision of the partition wall further increases the rigidity of the battery protection frame itself. In this case, by applying a fixing force to the partition wall using the fixing member, the distance between the portion of the battery protection frame where the fixing force of the fixing member acts and the vehicle body component can be sufficiently shortened, thereby sufficiently increasing the mounting rigidity of the battery protection frame to the vehicle body.

[0016] The vehicle body frame according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure may include a suspension connection portion to which at least a portion of a suspension device can be connected. With this configuration, the vehicle body frame includes the suspension connection portion, thereby increasing the rigidity of the vehicle body frame. Since this highly rigid vehicle body frame is connected to the battery protection frame, the rigidity of the battery protection frame can be further increased.

[0017] The battery protection frame according to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure may extend in a vehicle width direction. The vehicle body frame includes a lower plate portion extending in the vehicle width direction along a lower wall portion of the battery protection frame and fixed to the lower wall portion, and a vertical plate portion extending in the vehicle width direction along one wall portion of the battery protection frame in the vehicle front-rear direction and fixed to the one wall portion.

[0018] With this configuration, the lower plate portion and vertical plate portion of the vehicle body side frame can be fixed to the lower wall portion and one of the walls in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle of the battery protection frame, respectively, so that the vehicle body side frame can be firmly fixed to the battery protection frame.

[0019] According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, the hole is formed in the lower wall of the battery protection frame, and in this case, the lower plate of the vehicle body frame can be used to cover the hole from below. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] As described above, by connecting the hollow cross-section battery protection frame to the vehicle body frame, the rigidity of the battery protection frame itself can be increased, and further, by fixing the battery protection frame to a vehicle body component inside it, the mounting rigidity of the battery protection frame to the vehicle body can also be increased. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of an electric vehicle according to an embodiment, with a portion thereof omitted; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing the electric vehicle divided into a lower structure and an upper structure. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the rear portion of the vehicle body structure. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the lower structure as seen from above. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view of the rear portion of the lower structure. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the rear portion of the upper structure. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the rear left portion of the vehicle body structure cut vertically. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rear left portion of the vehicle body structure cut in the vertical direction. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the rear left portion of the vehicle body structure cut in the vertical direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description of the preferred embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

[0023] Fig. 1 is a left side view of an electric vehicle (electric automobile) 1 equipped with a vehicle body structure A according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, this electric vehicle 1 is equipped with a lower structure 2 and an upper structure 3. In Fig. 1, the front bumper, rear bumper, front and rear wheels, etc. are omitted and are shown with imaginary lines, and each part is shown schematically. In Fig. 2, in addition to the parts omitted in Fig. 1, the doors, bonnet hood, front fenders, windshields, front and rear lighting devices, interior materials, etc. are omitted and each part is shown schematically.

[0024] In the description of this embodiment, the front side of the vehicle will be simply referred to as "front," the rear side of the vehicle will be simply referred to as "rear," the right side of the vehicle will be simply referred to as "right," and the left side of the vehicle will be simply referred to as "left." The left-right direction of the vehicle is the vehicle width direction.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the electric vehicle 1 is a passenger car. The electric vehicle 1 may be, for example, a sedan, a hatchback, a minivan, or the like, and its shape is not particularly limited. As shown in FIG. 2, the electric vehicle 1 is formed with a cabin R1 that serves as a passenger space (interior space) for occupants. As shown in FIG. 1, a front seat (seat) S1 is provided at the front of the cabin R1, and a rear seat S2 is provided behind the front seat S1 in the cabin R1. A luggage compartment R2 is provided behind the rear seat S2 as needed. The cabin R1 and the luggage compartment R2 are provided in an upper structure 3. Note that the cabin R1 may be provided with only the front seat S1, or may also have a third-row seat (not shown) behind the rear seat S2.

[0026] Meanwhile, the space (front space) in front of the vehicle interior R1 at the front of the electric vehicle 1 can be, for example, a power room R3. That is, as shown in Fig. 3, the vehicle body structure A is provided on the electric vehicle 1 that includes a front running motor M1 mounted at the front of the vehicle and a rear running motor M2 mounted at the rear of the vehicle, a battery B that supplies power to the running motors M1 and M2, and a battery case 10 that houses the battery B. The battery case 10 is disposed below a floor panel 70, which will be described later.

[0027] The front running motor M1 generates driving force to drive the left and right front wheels FT, and a front power train PT1 is made up of this front running motor M1 alone or the front running motor M1 together with a reducer, a transmission, etc. The rear running motor M2 shown in Figures 2 and 3 generates driving force to drive the left and right rear wheels RT (shown in Figure 1), and a rear power train PT2 is made up of this rear running motor M2 alone or the rear running motor M2 together with a reducer, a transmission, etc.

[0028] In this embodiment, the rear traveling motor M2 is configured to generate a higher maximum output (maximum torque) than the front traveling motor M1, and is larger than the front traveling motor M1. Accordingly, the rear powertrain PT2 is larger than the front powertrain PT1. Note that the rear traveling motor M2 may generate a lower maximum output than the front traveling motor M1, or the rear traveling motor M2 and the front traveling motor M1 may generate the same maximum output. Also, only the front powertrain PT1 may be provided, or only the rear powertrain PT2 may be provided. Furthermore, for example, in the case of a large vehicle, the front traveling motor M1 and the rear traveling motor M2 will be larger than those in a small vehicle.

[0029] As shown in Figure 2, the lower structure 2 includes a battery case 10, a pair of left and right front side frames 11, 12 that extend forward in front of the battery case 10, and a pair of left and right rear frames 13, 14 that extend rearward behind the battery case 10. The left and right rear frames 13, 14 extend in the front-to-rear direction at the rear of the vehicle. Reference numeral 11 indicates the left front side frame, and reference numeral 12 indicates the right front side frame. Reference numeral 13 indicates the left rear frame, and reference numeral 14 indicates the right rear frame. In Figure 2, a cover 35 (described below) of the battery case 10 has been removed.

[0030] In the case of a typical electric vehicle, the battery case is often separate from the vehicle body and is detachably attached under the floor, but in this embodiment, not only is the battery case 10 integrated with the left and right front side frames 11, 12 and the left and right rear frames 13, 14, and the front side frames 11, 12 and the rear frames 13, 14, together with the battery case 10, are detachably attached to the upper structure 3.

[0031] Specifically, the electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment is configured to be separable into an upper and lower structure 2 having a battery case 10, and an upper structure 3 that forms the vehicle compartment R1 and luggage compartment R2. Being separable into upper and lower structures means that the lower structure 2 is integrated with the upper structure 3 using fastening members such as bolts, nuts, and screws, without using welding, adhesives, or the like. This allows the lower structure 2 to be separated from the upper structure 3 as needed when performing maintenance or repairs on the electric vehicle 1 after it has been delivered to the user, improving maintainability. Note that the fastening members used in the following description also include bolts, nuts, screws, and the like.

[0032] Here, a ladder frame type vehicle body structure is known as an automobile body structure. In the case of a ladder frame type vehicle body structure, the ladder frame can be separated into an upper and lower portion and a cabin. However, since the ladder frame extends continuously in the fore-and-aft direction, it mainly bears the collision load in the event of a frontal collision and a rearward collision. In the event of a side collision, the ladder frame only auxiliarily bears the collision load, and it is the cabin that mainly bears the collision load. In this way, in a ladder frame type vehicle body structure, the components that bear the collision load in the event of a frontal collision and a rearward collision and in the event of a side collision are usually separated.

[0033] In contrast, in the case of the electric vehicle 1 of this embodiment, the lower structure 2 having front side frames 11, 12 and rear frames 13, 14, and the upper structure 3 are separable, but in the event of a frontal collision, a rear collision, or a side collision, the collision load is received by the lower structure 2 and the upper structure 3, and the collision load can be distributed and absorbed between the two structures 2, 3, which is a significant difference in technical concept from a conventional ladder frame type vehicle body structure. The structures of the lower structure 2 and the upper structure 3 will be described in detail below.

[0034] (undercarriage) First, we will explain the lower structure 2. In addition to the battery case 10, front side frames 11, 12, and rear frames 13, 14, the lower structure 2 also includes front and rear powertrains PT1, PT2, front wheels FT, rear wheels RT, a front suspension device 20, and a rear suspension device 21. There is no particular restriction on the type of the front suspension device 20 and the rear suspension device 21.

[0035] The battery case 10 and the battery B housed inside the battery case 10 constitute a battery unit BY, but other components, such as a battery cooling device, may also be included in the battery unit BY.

[0036] The battery case 10 is a large case formed below the floor panel 70 of the upper structure 3, extending from near the left end to near the right end of the floor panel 70 and from near the front end to near the rear end of the floor panel 70. By disposing the battery case 10 over a wide area below the floor panel 70 in this manner, a large-capacity battery B can be mounted on the electric vehicle 1. The battery B may be, for example, a lithium-ion battery, an all-solid-state battery, or another secondary battery. The battery B may also be a so-called battery cell or a battery pack containing multiple battery cells. In this embodiment, the battery B is configured by a battery pack, and multiple battery packs are mounted lined up in the front-rear and left-right directions.

[0037] The battery case 10 includes a left battery frame 30, a right battery frame 31, a front battery frame 32, a rear battery frame 33, a bottom plate 34, and a lid 35 (shown in FIG. 5) that covers the battery B from above. Note that FIGS. 2 and 3 show the state in which the lid 35 is removed.

[0038] The left battery frame 30, the right battery frame 31, the front battery frame 32, and the rear battery frame 33 are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy extrusion, but may also be made of aluminum alloy plate material or a press-formed steel plate material. The bottom plate 34 can also be made of an extrusion. In the following description, "extrusion material" refers to an aluminum alloy extrusion material, and "press-formed material" refers to an aluminum alloy plate material or a press-formed steel plate material. Each member may also be made of, for example, a casting.

[0039] The cross-sectional shape in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the left battery frame 30, the right battery frame 31, the front battery frame 32, and the rear battery frame 33 are all rectangular. The left battery frame 30, the right battery frame 31, the front battery frame 32, and the rear battery frame 33 are all disposed at the same height and extend substantially horizontally.

[0040] The left battery frame 30 and the right battery frame 31 are outer battery frames that extend in the front-rear direction outside the battery B in the vehicle width direction. The left battery frame 30 is provided on the left side of the battery case 10 and extends in the front-rear direction along the left side sill 74. The left battery frame 30 is attached to the left side sill 74 with fastening members or the like. The right battery frame 31 is provided on the right side of the battery case 10 and extends in the front-rear direction along the right side sill 75. The right battery frame 31 is attached to the right side sill 75 with fastening members or the like. The left battery frame 30 and the right battery frame 31 are battery protection frames that protect battery B.

[0041] The front battery frame 32 is provided at the front of the battery case 10 and extends in the left-right direction. The rear battery frame 33 extends in the left-right direction at the rear of the battery case 10, i.e., behind the battery B. The front battery frame 32 and the rear battery frame 33 are battery protection frames that protect the battery B.

[0042] The left end of the front battery frame 32 is connected to the front end of the left battery frame 30, and the right end of the front battery frame 32 is connected to the front end of the right battery frame 31. The left end of the rear battery frame 33 is connected to the rear end of the left battery frame 30, and the right end of the rear battery frame 33 is connected to the rear end of the right battery frame 31. Therefore, the left battery frame 30, the right battery frame 31, the front battery frame 32, and the rear battery frame 33 are members that make up a frame-shaped frame formed to surround all of the batteries B in a plan view.

[0043] The left and right ends of the front battery frame 32 and the rear battery frame 33 are attached to left and right side sills 74, 75, respectively, by fastening members or the like. Furthermore, the left and right ends of the rear battery frame 33 are connected to the left and right battery frames 30, 31, and are therefore attached to the left and right side sills 74, 75 via the left and right battery frames 30, 31. Furthermore, the left and right ends of the rear battery frame 33 may be attached directly to the left and right side sills 74, 75.

[0044] The bottom plate 34 shown in Figure 4 and other figures extends substantially horizontally and is fixed to the undersides of the left battery frame 30, the right battery frame 31, the front battery frame 32, and the rear battery frame 33. The lid body 35 shown in Figures 5 and 6 and other figures is fixed to the upper surfaces of the left battery frame 30, the right battery frame 31, the front battery frame 32, and the rear battery frame 33. In other words, the lid body 35 is attached to the battery frames 30 to 33. The rear battery frame 33 protrudes rearward beyond the rear of the lid body 35.

[0045] The lid 35 may be attached to the battery frames 30 to 33 using, for example, fastening members, adhesives, welding, etc. Therefore, the left battery frame 30, the right battery frame 31, the front battery frame 32, the rear battery frame 33, the bottom plate 34, and the lid 35 define a battery storage space S (shown in FIG. 2) that stores the battery B.

[0046] The size of the battery storage space S can be changed depending on the capacity of the battery B to be installed. The size of the battery storage space S can be easily changed by changing the lengths of the left battery frame 30, right battery frame 31, front battery frame 32, and rear battery frame 33 and the shape of the bottom plate 34. For example, in the case of a compact vehicle with a short wheelbase and narrow tread, the left battery frame 30, right battery frame 31, front battery frame 32, and rear battery frame 33 can be shortened and the shape of the bottom plate 34 and lid 35 can be reduced accordingly, thereby making the battery storage space S smaller for a compact vehicle. On the other hand, in the case of a large vehicle, the left battery frame 30, right battery frame 31, front battery frame 32, and rear battery frame 33 can be lengthened and the shape of the bottom plate 34 and lid 35 can be increased accordingly, thereby making the battery storage space S larger for a large vehicle. If the left battery frame 30, right battery frame 31, front battery frame 32, and rear battery frame 33 are made of extruded material, the length can be easily changed. The bottom plate 34 can also be made of an extruded material, which allows for easy shape changes.

[0047] The top of the battery accommodating space S may be closed by the lid 35 or by the floor panel 70 of the upper structure 3. In addition to the battery B, the battery accommodating space S may also be provided with a cooling device for cooling the battery B, a heating device for heating the battery B (temperature control device), etc. Furthermore, the power of the battery B is supplied to the driving motors M1, M2 via a control device (not shown). Furthermore, the battery B can be charged via a charging socket, a contactless charger, etc. (not shown).

[0048] As shown in FIG. 2, first to third case interior members (unit interior members) 25A, 25B, and 25C are provided inside the battery case 10 constituting the battery unit BY as reinforcing members extending in the left-right direction. The first to third case interior members 25A, 25B, and 25C all have the same height, which is approximately the same as the height of the left battery frame 30 and the like. The case interior members 25A, 25B, and 25C may be made of an extruded material or a press-formed material. In this embodiment, three case interior members 25A, 25B, and 25C are provided, but the number of case interior members 25A, 25B, and 25C can be increased or decreased depending on the dimension of the battery case 10 in the front-rear direction. The first to third case interior members 25A, 25B, and 25C are second members.

[0049] The first to third case internal members 25A, 25B, and 25C are spaced apart from one another in the front-to-rear direction, with the first case internal member 25A positioned at the forefront and the third case internal member 25C positioned at the rearmost. The lower portions of each of the case internal members 25A, 25B, and 25C are fixed to the upper surface of the bottom plate 34. The left end portions of each of the case internal members 25A, 25B, and 25C are fixed to the inner surface (right side surface) of the left battery frame 30, and the right end portions of each of the case internal members 25A, 25B, and 25C are fixed to the inner surface (left side surface) of the right battery frame 31. In other words, the case internal members 25A, 25B, and 25C are members that connect the left battery frame 30 and the right battery frame 31.

[0050] A front central member (intra-unit member) 26 and first to third rear central members (intra-unit members) 27 to 29 are provided inside the battery case 10 as strength members extending in the front-rear direction. The front central member 26 and the first to third rear central members 27 to 29 are disposed at approximately the same height and are provided in the center of the battery case 10 in the left-right direction. The lower ends of the front central member 26 and the first to third rear central members 27 to 29 are attached to the upper surface of the bottom plate 34. The front central member 26 and the first to third rear central members 27 to 29 are first members. The front central member 26 and the first to third rear central members 27 to 29 intersect with the first to third case internal members 25A, 25B, and 25C.

[0051] The front central member 26 is disposed between the front battery frame 32 and the first case internal member 25A, with the front end of the front central member 26 fixed to the left-right center of the front battery frame 32 and the rear end of the front central member 26 fixed to the left-right center of the first case internal member 25A. Therefore, the front battery frame 32 is a member that extends to connect the front ends of the left and right battery frames 30, 31 and the front end of the front central member 26.

[0052] The first rear central member 27 is disposed between the first case internal member 25A and the second case internal member 25B, with the front end of the first rear central member 27 fixed to the left-right center of the first case internal member 25A and the rear end of the first rear central member 27 fixed to the left-right center of the second case internal member 25B. The second rear central member 28 is disposed between the second case internal member 25B and the third case internal member 25C, with the front end of the second rear central member 28 fixed to the left-right center of the second case internal member 25B and the rear end of the second rear central member 28 fixed to the left-right center of the third case internal member 25C. Furthermore, the third rear central member 29 is disposed between the third case internal member 25C and the rear battery frame 33, with the front end of the third rear central member 29 fixed to the left-right center of the third case internal member 25C and the rear end of the third rear central member 29 fixed to the left-right center of the rear battery frame 33. Therefore, the first to third case internal members 25A, 25B, 25C, the front central member 26, and the first to third rear central members 27-29 are arranged in a lattice pattern inside the battery case 10 and connected to one another, further enhancing the reinforcing effect of the battery case 10.

[0053] When an imaginary straight line extending in the front-to-rear direction is imagined in a plan view, the front central member 26 and the first to third rear central members 27-29 are positioned in the left-to-right direction so as to be disposed on that imaginary straight line. In other words, the first to third rear central members 27-29 are provided so as to be positioned on an imaginary extension line to the rear of the front central member 26. The front central member 26 and the first to third rear central members 27-29 may be configured as a single member that is continuous in the front-to-rear direction.

[0054] 5 and 6, the lower structure 2 includes a rear battery frame 33, left and right rear frames 13, 14, and a vehicle body frame 40, and these members form part of the vehicle body structure A. The rear frames 13, 14 can be made of, for example, extruded material or press-formed material. In this embodiment, the rear frames 13, 14 are made of extruded material, so that the cross-sectional shape in the direction perpendicular to the fore-and-aft direction is approximately uniform from the front end to the rear end.

[0055] The left and right rear frames 13, 14 are attached to a rear battery frame 33 that forms the rear part of the battery case 10 via a vehicle body frame 40. In other words, the vehicle body frame 40 extends toward the rear battery frame 33 and also extends in the left-right direction along the rear battery frame 33. The front parts of the left and right rear frames 13, 14 are fixed to the vehicle body frame 40, which is connected to the rear battery frame 33.

[0056] Specifically, the vehicle body frame 40 is made of a member that is integrally molded using metal, and can also be called a cross member because it extends in the left-right direction. The front portions of the left and right rear frames 13, 14 are fixed to the vehicle body frame 40 using welding, adhesive, fastening members, etc. The metal that constitutes the vehicle body frame 40 is not particularly limited, but aluminum, for example, can be used. In this case, the vehicle body frame 40 can be made of aluminum die-cast.

[0057] The left and right rear frames 13, 14 are attached to the rear battery frame 33 via the vehicle body frame 40, and the front portions of the rear frames 13, 14 can abut against the rear surface of the rear battery frame 33. Therefore, the rear frames 13, 14 extend rearward from the rear battery frame 33. Note that the front portions of the rear frames 13, 14 may be somewhat spaced rearward from the rear surface of the rear battery frame 33. In this case, too, it can be said that the rear frames 13, 14 extend rearward from the rear battery frame 33 when viewed as a whole.

[0058] The front portion of the left rear frame 13 is disposed so as to correspond to a portion of the rear battery frame 33 that is more to the left of the center in the left-right direction. In addition, the front portion of the right rear frame 14 is disposed so as to correspond to a portion of the rear battery frame 33 that is more to the right of the center in the left-right direction. This results in a predetermined distance between the left and right rear frames 13, 14. The distance between the rear frames 13, 14 is set narrower than the distance between the left battery frame 30 and the right battery frame 31 of the battery case 10. In addition, the heights of the left and right rear frames 13, 14 are approximately the same.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 , the rear battery frame 33 has a hollow cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, forming an internal space. Specifically, the rear battery frame 33 includes an upper wall 33a extending in the left-right direction, a front wall 33b extending downward from the front edge of the upper wall 33a and also extending in the left-right direction, a rear wall 33c extending downward from the rear edge of the upper wall 33a and also extending in the left-right direction, and a lower wall 33d extending from the lower edge of the front wall 33b to the lower edge of the rear wall 33c and also extending in the left-right direction. Therefore, the rear battery frame 33 has a rectangular cross section, but the cross-sectional shape of the rear battery frame 33 is not limited to a rectangular shape and may be a complex polygonal shape. While the upper wall 33a and the lower wall 33d are set to have the same longitudinal dimension, one may be shorter than the other. Furthermore, the front wall portion 33b and the rear wall portion 33c are set to have the same vertical dimension, but this is not limitative, and one may be shorter than the other.

[0060] A first partition wall 33e is provided inside the rear battery frame 33 between the upper wall portion 33a and the lower wall portion 33d. The first partition wall 33e divides the interior space of the rear battery frame 33 into upper and lower sections. The first partition wall 33e extends in the front-rear direction from the vertically middle portion of the front wall portion 33b to the vertically middle portion of the rear wall portion 33c, and also extends in the left-right direction. The first partition wall 33e and the upper wall portion 33a are generally parallel, and the first partition wall 33e and the lower wall portion 33d are also generally parallel. In this embodiment, the first partition wall 33e is horizontal, but it may be inclined. Although not shown, a third partition wall, a fourth partition wall, etc. may also be provided.

[0061] A second partition wall 33f is provided inside the rear battery frame 33 between the front wall 33b and the rear wall 33c, dividing the interior space of the rear battery frame 33 into front and rear sections. The second partition wall 33f and the first partition wall 33e are substantially perpendicular to each other, and a vertically intermediate portion of the second partition wall 33f intersects with a vertically intermediate portion of the first partition wall 33e, forming an integrated structure. The second partition wall 33f extends vertically from a vertically intermediate portion of the upper wall 33a to a vertically intermediate portion of the lower wall 33d, and also extends laterally. The second partition wall 33f and the front wall 33b are substantially parallel, and the second partition wall 33f and the rear wall 33c are substantially parallel. In this embodiment, the second partition wall 33f is vertical, but it may be inclined.

[0062] 9, the vehicle body frame 40 includes a vertical plate portion 40a extending in the vehicle width direction and up-down direction along the rear wall portion 33c of the rear battery frame 33, and a lower plate portion 40b extending forward from the lower edge of the vertical plate portion 40a along the lower wall portion 33d of the rear battery frame 33 and also extending in the vehicle width direction. The vertical plate portion 40a and the lower plate portion 40b are fixed to the rear wall portion 33c and the lower wall portion 33d of the rear battery frame 33, respectively, by a plurality of fixing members (described later). By fixing the vertical plate portion 40a and the lower plate portion 40b of the vehicle body frame 40 to the rear wall portion 33c and the lower wall portion 33d of the rear battery frame 33, respectively, in this manner, the mounting rigidity of the vehicle body frame 40 to the rear battery frame 33 can be increased.

[0063] 4 and 5, the vehicle body frame 40 includes a left outer rib 40c located on the left side of the left rear frame 13, a left inner rib 40d located on the right side of the left rear frame 13, a right outer rib 40e located on the right side of the right rear frame 14, and a right inner rib 40f located on the left side of the right rear frame 14. The left outer rib 40c and the left inner rib 40d prevent the left rear frame 13 from tipping in the left-right direction, and the right outer rib 40e and right inner rib 40f prevent the right rear frame 14 from tipping in the left-right direction. Furthermore, since the ribs 40c, 40d, 40e, and 40f are arranged to protrude in the left-right direction of the left and right rear frames 13 and 14, when an impact load acts on the rear frames 13 and 14 from behind, for example, the impact load can be dispersed over a wide range in the left-right direction by using the ribs 40c, 40d, 40e, and 40f.

[0064] The vehicle body frame 40 is provided with a connecting portion 41 that connects the rear ends of the left outer rib 40c and the left inner rib 40d to the rear ends of the right outer rib 40e and the right inner rib 40f. The connecting portion 41 extends in the left-right direction and connects the front-rear middle portions of the left and right rear frames 13, 14 to each other. That is, in a plan view, the left and right rear frames 13, 14, the rear battery frame 33, and the connecting portion 41 form a rectangular closed cross section.

[0065] A pair of left and right arm connectors (suspension connectors) 42, 43 are provided on the left and right sides, which are outboard in the vehicle width direction, of the vehicle body frame 40. The left and right arm connectors 42, 43 connect front portions of left and right suspension arms 21A, which constitute part of the rear suspension device 21, so that the arms can rotate up and down. The arm connectors 42, 43 extend above the connector 41, and the upper portions of the arm connectors 42, 43 are each detachably attached to the upper structure 3.

[0066] A rear suspension cross member 44 extending in the left-right direction is provided at the rear portions of the left and right rear frames 13, 14. The rear portions of the left and right rear frames 13, 14 are connected to each other by the rear suspension cross member 44. A pair of left and right arm connectors 44a, 44b are provided on the left and right sides, which are outboard in the vehicle width direction, of the rear suspension cross member 44 to which rear portions of the left and right suspension arms 21A are connected so as to be rotatable in the up-down direction. The arm connectors 44a, 44b extend upward, and the upper portions of the arm connectors 44a, 44b are each detachably attached to the upper structure 3. In addition, in a plan view, the left and right rear frames 13, 14, connector 41, and rear suspension cross member 44 form a rectangular closed cross section.

[0067] A subframe 46 is provided at the rear of the lower structure 2. The subframe 46 includes a left member 46a that is disposed rearward of the left rear frame 13 and extends in the front-to-rear direction, a right member 46b that is disposed rearward of the right rear frame 14 and extends in the front-to-rear direction, and a rear member 46c that connects the rear ends of the left member 46a and the right member 46b together.

[0068] The front portions of the left member 46a and the right member 46b of the subframe 46 are fixed to the rear suspension cross member 44. In other words, the subframe 46 is connected to the left and right rear frames 13, 14 via the rear suspension cross member 44. As shown in FIG. 6 , in the connected state, the left and right rear frames 13, 14 are positioned lower than the subframe 46.

[0069] (superstructure) Next, the upper structure 3 will be described. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper structure 3 includes a floor panel 70, a dash panel (partition portion) 71, and a pair of left and right side sills 74, 75. Reference numeral 74 denotes the left side sill, and reference numeral 75 denotes the right side sill.

[0070] The floor panel 70 forms the floor surface of the vehicle compartment R1 and is made of steel plates or the like that extend in the front-to-rear and left-to-right directions. The space above the floor panel 70 forms the vehicle compartment R1. A roof 80 is provided above the vehicle compartment R1. A front opening 3a and a rear opening 3b are formed on both the left and right sides of the upper structure 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the front opening 3a and the rear opening 3b can be opened and closed by a front door 81 and a rear door 82, respectively. Although not shown, a front door and a rear door are also provided on the right side of the upper structure 3 in an openable and closable manner.

[0071] The left and right side sills 74, 75 are disposed so as to extend in the front-to-rear direction at both left and right ends of the floor panel 70. The left end of the floor panel 70 is connected to the vertical middle portion of the left side sill 74, and the right end of the floor panel 70 is connected to the vertical middle portion of the right side sill 75. The upper portions of the side sills 74, 75 protrude upward from the connection portion of the floor panel 70, and the lower portions of the side sills 74, 75 protrude downward from the connection portion of the floor panel 70. The battery case 10 is disposed below the floor panel 70, and is therefore disposed between the left and right side sills 74, 75. In a side view of the vehicle, the lower portions of the side sills 74, 75 overlap with the battery case 10.

[0072] The dash panel 71 extends in the vehicle width direction and the vertical direction, and is a member for separating the vehicle compartment R1 from the power compartment R3. The lower end of the dash panel 71 is connected to the front end of the floor panel .

[0073] Figure 7 is a bottom view of the rear portion of the upper structure 3, and as shown in Figure 7, the floor panel 70 of the upper structure 3 has a rear panel portion 70A that forms the floor surface of the luggage compartment R2. Left and right rear wheel houses 72, 73 are provided on the left and right sides of the rear panel portion 70A, respectively.

[0074] The upper structure 3 includes a pair of left and right rear side frames 90, 91 that extend in the front-to-rear direction at the rear of the vehicle. The left rear side frame 90 is formed to extend along the left end of the rear panel portion 70A, on a position inward in the vehicle width direction from the left rear wheel house 72. A left crash can 90a is provided at the rear of the left rear side frame 90 so as to protrude rearward beyond the rear of the rear panel portion 70A.

[0075] The right rear side frame 91 is formed to extend along the right end of the rear panel portion 70A, on a position inward in the vehicle width direction from the right rear wheel house 73. A right crash can 91a is provided at the rear of the right rear side frame 91 so as to protrude rearward beyond the rear of the rear panel portion 70A. Bumper reinforcements 92 extending in the left-right direction are attached to the rear of the left crash can 90a and the rear of the right crash can 91a. The front portions of the left and right rear side frames 90, 91 are formed to bend or slope downward.

[0076] 4 and 8, the rear battery frame 33 of the battery case 10 extends in the vehicle width direction forward of the front portions of the rear side frames 90, 91. More specifically, because the battery case 10 is provided below the floor panel 70, the rear battery frame 33 is disposed below the front portions of the rear side frames 90, 91.

[0077] The front portion of the left rear side frame 90 is spaced a predetermined distance rearward and inward in the vehicle width direction from the rear portion of the left side sill 74, and the front portion of the left rear side frame 90 is not connected to the rear portion of the left side sill 74. Similarly, the front portion of the right rear side frame 91 is spaced a predetermined distance rearward and inward in the vehicle width direction from the rear portion of the right side sill 75, and the front portion of the right rear side frame 91 is not connected to the rear portion of the right side sill 75. In other words, assuming that the left rear side frame 90 and the left side sill 74 are connected, the front portion of the rear side frame 90 would extend forward and be connected to the rear portion of the side sill 74. This would result in the front portion of the rear side frame 90 protruding inward in the vehicle width direction from the rear wheel well 72. Similarly, on the right side, the front portion of the rear side frame 91 would protrude inward in the vehicle width direction from the rear wheel well 73. If the left and right rear side frames 90, 91 protrude inward in the vehicle width direction, the dimension of the rear side of the battery case 10 in the left-right direction must be shortened, which in turn reduces the amount of battery B that can be mounted.

[0078] In this embodiment, the rear side frames 90, 91 are disconnected from the side sills 74, 75, respectively, to form a space that allows the battery case 10 to be extended rearward. This allows the battery case 10 to be extended rearward until the rear side of the battery case 10 approaches the rear wheel houses 72, 73, and also ensures a long dimension in the left-right direction at the rear of the battery case 10, allowing for an increased capacity for the battery B to be mounted.

[0079] 7, for example, assuming an imaginary straight line L1 extending forward from the center of the front of the left rear side frame 90 in the left-right direction, and an imaginary straight line L2 extending forward from the center of the front of the right rear side frame 91 in the left-right direction, the battery case 10 (outline shown by the imaginary line) is provided from an area to the left of the imaginary line L1 to an area to the right of the imaginary line L2. By providing such a large battery case 10, the battery B can be mounted outside the imaginary lines L1 and L2 in the vehicle width direction, thereby further increasing the amount of battery B that can be mounted.

[0080] In addition, in a side view of the vehicle, the battery case 10 extends rearward beyond the rear portions of the side sills 74, 75. Therefore, the rear battery frame 33 is positioned rearward beyond the rear portions of the side sills 74, 75, and therefore the battery B can be mounted rearward beyond the rear portions of the side sills 74, 75.

[0081] Furthermore, if the rear side frames 90, 91 and the side sills 74, 75 are disconnected from each other, there may be a problem in that there is no direct load transfer path from the rear side frames 90, 91 to the side sills 74, 75 when an impact load acts from behind. However, in this embodiment, even if there is no such load transfer path, the impact load from behind can be absorbed by using the battery case 10.

[0082] 8 to 10, the left and right rear side frames 90, 91 are connected to the rear battery frame 33 by the vehicle body frame 40. Specifically, the upper structure 3 includes a rear cross member 95 as a vehicle body structural member that forms part of the vehicle body, and this rear cross member 95 is disposed so that the front portions of the rear side frames 90, 91 abut against it from behind, and extends in the vehicle width direction. The rear cross member 95 continues from near the front of the left wheel house 72 to near the front of the right wheel house 73, and includes a front plate portion 95a that extends in the up-down and left-right directions, a rear plate portion 95b that is disposed rearwardly from the front plate portion 95a and extends in the up-down and left-right directions, and a lower plate portion 95c that extends from the lower end of the front plate portion 95a to the lower end of the rear plate portion 95b. The vertical dimension of the rear plate portion 95b is set to be longer than the vertical dimension of the front plate portion 95a, and the upper end of the rear plate portion 95b is located higher than the upper end of the front plate portion 95a. In addition, the inclination angles of the front plate portion 95a and the rear plate portion 95b are set so that the distance between the front plate portion 95a and the rear plate portion 95b in the vertical direction becomes wider as it goes up.

[0083] The upper end of the front plate portion 95a and the upper end of the rear plate portion 95b are joined to the underside of the floor panel 70, and a closed cross section is formed by the front plate portion 95a, the rear plate portion 95b, the lower plate portion 95c, and the floor panel 70. This increases the rigidity of the floor panel 70.

[0084] The front portions of the rear side frames 90, 91 abut against a rear plate portion 95b of the rear cross member 95 from behind, and are joined to this rear plate portion 95b and a lower plate portion 95c. Because the vertical dimension of the rear plate portion 95b is longer than that of the front plate portion 95a, a wide joining area between the rear side frames 90, 91 and the rear cross member 95 can be ensured.

[0085] 8, the rear battery frame 33 is disposed below the rear cross member 95, and the lower plate portion 95c of the rear cross member 95 is formed to extend along the outer surface (upper surface) of the upper wall portion 33a of the rear battery frame 33. The rear cross member 95 and the rear battery frame 33 are fastened and fixed in the vertical direction, so that the rear battery frame 33 is detachably attached to the rear cross member 95.

[0086] 9, the lower surface of a cylindrical nut N1 extending in the vertical direction is fixed to the upper surface of the lower plate portion 95c of the rear cross member 95. Since the nut N1 is disposed inside the rear cross member 95, the internal space of the rear cross member 95 can be used effectively.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 10 , multiple nuts N1 are provided at intervals in the left-right direction. A corresponding number of reinforcing plates 95d are provided inside the rear cross member 95. The reinforcing plates 95d have through holes 95e through which the upper portions of the nuts N1 pass. With the upper portions of the nuts N1 passing through the through holes 95e, the outer surfaces of the nuts N1 are welded to the peripheries of the through holes 95e, thereby increasing the fixing strength of the nuts N1. A front portion of the reinforcing plate 95d is formed to fit along the inner surface of the front plate portion 95a and is welded to the front plate portion 95a. A rear portion of the reinforcing plate 95d is formed to fit along the inner surface of the rear plate portion 95b and is welded to the rear plate portion 95b. Therefore, the front plate portion 95a and the rear plate portion 95b are connected by the reinforcing plate 95d.

[0088] The first partition wall portion 33e of the rear battery frame 33 has insertion holes 33g formed therein, through which bolts B1 are inserted from below. The number of insertion holes 33g is the same as the number of nuts N1, and the insertion holes 33g are formed at the same intervals as the spacing between the nuts N1. The nuts N1 are disposed directly above the insertion holes 33g. The bolts B1 inserted into the insertion holes 33g penetrate the upper wall portion 33a of the rear battery frame 33 and the lower plate portion 95c to be screwed into the nuts N1 from below. Although not shown, the upper wall portion 33a of the rear battery frame 33 has insertion holes formed therein, through which the bolts B1 are inserted, and the lower plate portion 95c of the rear cross member 95 also has insertion holes formed therein, through which the bolts B1 are inserted.

[0089] A hole 33h is formed in the lower wall 33d of the rear battery frame 33. This hole 33h is for passing a bolt B1 through, and is formed to open to the outer surface (lower surface) of the lower wall 33d of the rear battery frame 33 and to communicate with the interior space of the rear battery frame 33. The shape of the hole 33h is circular, but is not limited to this. The diameter of the hole 33h is set larger than the maximum outer diameter of the head of the bolt B1, allowing the bolt B1 to be easily inserted.

[0090] The number of holes 33h provided is the same as the number of nuts N1, and they are spaced apart at the same intervals as the spacing between the nuts N1. By inserting the bolts B1 with their shanks facing upward through the holes 33h into the space inside the rear battery frame 33 and threading them into the nuts N1, the rear cross member 95 and the rear battery frame 33 can be fastened together at multiple locations.

[0091] The head of the bolt B1 enters the interior of the rear battery frame 33 and abuts against the peripheral edge of the insertion hole 33g in the first partition wall 33e from below. As a result, the head of the bolt B1 applies a fixing force from below to above on the peripheral edge of the insertion hole 33g in the first partition wall 33e, thereby fixing the rear battery frame 33 to the rear cross member 95 inside the rear battery frame 33. In other words, the bolt B1 is a fixing member that is inserted into the space inside the rear battery frame 33 from the hole portion 33h and can fix the rear battery frame 33 to the rear cross member 95, which is separate from the vehicle body frame 40, inside the rear battery frame 33. Although not shown, the fixing member is not limited to a bolt and may be a fastening member such as a screw or a rivet.

[0092] The lower plate portion 40b of the vehicle body frame 40 is formed to extend along the outer surface (the outer surface of the lower wall portion 33d) on which the hole 33h is formed in the rear battery frame 33. Therefore, the lower plate portion 40b can cover the hole 33h from below. In this embodiment, the lower plate portion 40b is a cover portion that covers the hole 33h from the outside of the rear battery frame 33. The lower plate portion 40b extends further forward than the front portion of the hole 33h, and therefore can completely cover the hole 33h.

[0093] (Fastening structure of the vehicle body frame) Next, a description will be given of the fastening structure of the vehicle body frame 40 to the rear battery frame 33. As shown in Fig. 9, a plurality of nuts N2 are fixed at intervals in the vehicle width direction to the inner surface (upper surface) of the lower wall portion 33d of the rear battery frame 33. The axes of the nuts N2 extend in the vertical direction and are parallel to the axis of the nuts N1.

[0094] The lower plate portion 40b of the vehicle body frame 40 is disposed on the outer surface (lower surface) of the lower wall portion 33d of the rear battery frame 33, and a plurality of bolts B2 that thread into nuts N2 pass through the lower wall portion 33d of the rear battery frame 33 and the lower plate portion 40b of the vehicle body frame 40 from below. The bolts B2 that pass through the lower wall portion 33d of the rear battery frame 33 and the lower plate portion 40b of the vehicle body frame 40 from below are threaded into the nuts N2 from below. By threading each bolt B2 into each nut N2, the vehicle body frame 40 and the rear battery frame 33 can be fastened together at multiple locations.

[0095] Additionally, multiple nuts N3 are fixed to the inner surface (front surface) of the rear wall portion 33c of the rear battery frame 33. The axis of the nuts N3 extends in the front-rear direction and is perpendicular to the axes of the nuts N1 and N2 in a side view. The multiple nuts N3 are provided spaced apart from one another in the vehicle width direction, and are also provided on the upper and lower portions of the rear wall portion 33c of the rear battery frame 33. The vertical plate portion 40a of the vehicle body frame 40 is disposed on the outer surface (rear surface) of the rear wall portion 33c of the rear battery frame 33. Multiple bolts B3 that thread into the nuts N3 pass through the rear wall portion 33c of the rear battery frame 33 and the vertical plate portion 40a of the vehicle body frame 40. The bolts B3 that pass through the rear wall portion 33c of the rear battery frame 33 and the vertical plate portion 40a of the vehicle body frame 40 from below are threaded into the nuts N3 from the rear. By threading each bolt B3 into each nut N3, the vehicle body frame 40 and the rear battery frame 33 can be fastened together at multiple locations.

[0096] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, according to this embodiment, the rear battery frame 33 that protects the battery B has a hollow cross section, making it a highly rigid and lightweight member. Furthermore, the vehicle body frame 40 that extends along the rear battery frame 33 is connected to the rear battery frame 33 at multiple locations, which also increases the rigidity of the rear battery frame 33.

[0097] Furthermore, because the rear battery frame 33 is fixed to the rear cross member 95 separately from the vehicle body frame 40 by the bolts B1 inside the rear battery frame 33, the distance between the portion of the rear battery frame 33 where the fixing force of the bolts B1 acts (first partition wall portion 33e) and the rear cross member 95 is shorter than when the rear battery frame 33 is fixed to the rear cross member 95 at its lower part. This increases the mounting rigidity of the rear battery frame 33 to the vehicle body.

[0098] Furthermore, the hole 33h for inserting the bolt B1 is formed in the rear battery frame 33, but the hole 33h can be covered from the outside by the lower plate 40b of the vehicle body frame 40, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the interior of the rear battery frame 33. Furthermore, because the hole 33h opens to the underside of the vehicle body, if it is not covered, there is a risk that aerodynamic performance will be reduced while the vehicle is traveling. However, according to this embodiment, the hole 33h is covered by the lower plate 40b, so that a reduction in aerodynamic performance while traveling can be avoided.

[0099] The above-described embodiments are merely examples in all respects and should not be construed as limiting. Furthermore, all modifications and variations within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0100] As described above, the vehicle body structure according to the present disclosure can be provided in, for example, an electric vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 1 Electric vehicles 10 Battery case 21 Rear suspension device 33 Rear battery frame (battery protection frame) 33a Upper wall part 33c Rear wall 33d Lower wall part 33e 1st bulkhead part 33h hole 40 Body side frame 40b Lower plate (cover) 42, 43 Arm connection part (suspension connection part) 95 Rear cross member (body component) B1 Bolt (fixing member)

Claims

1. A vehicle body structure for an electric vehicle including a driving motor and a battery that supplies power to the driving motor and is disposed below a floor panel, a hollow cross-section battery protection frame for protecting the battery; a vehicle body side frame extending toward the battery protection frame and connected to the battery protection frame; a fixing member that is inserted into the space inside the battery protection frame through a hole that opens on an outer surface of the battery protection frame and is connected to the space inside the battery protection frame, and that can fix the battery protection frame to a vehicle body component other than the vehicle body frame inside the battery protection frame, the battery protection frame is disposed below the vehicle body structural member, a partition wall portion that divides the space into upper and lower portions is provided inside the battery protection frame between an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion of the battery protection frame; The vehicle body structural member, the upper wall portion of the battery protection frame, and the partition wall portion each have an insertion hole formed therein, The fixing member is inserted through each of the insertion holes, and one end of the fixing member abuts against the peripheral portion of the insertion hole in the partition portion from below, and the other end of the fixing member passes through an insertion hole formed in the vehicle body constituent member and is screwed into a nut, thereby applying a fixing force to the partition portion that is spaced downward from the upper wall portion to fix the upper wall portion to the underside of the vehicle body constituent member.

2. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1, A vehicle body structure in which the vehicle body side frame is provided with a cover portion that is formed to extend along the outer surface on which the hole portion of the battery protection frame is formed and that covers the hole portion from the outside of the battery protection frame.

3. The vehicle body structure according to claim 1 or 2, The vehicle body structure, wherein the vehicle body frame is provided with a suspension connecting portion to which at least a part of a suspension device can be connected.

4. The vehicle body structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The battery protection frame extends in the vehicle width direction, The vehicle body structure includes a lower plate portion that extends in the vehicle width direction along the lower wall portion of the battery protection frame and is fixed to the lower wall portion, and a vertical plate portion that extends in the vehicle width direction along one wall portion of the battery protection frame in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and is fixed to the one wall portion.

5. The vehicle body structure according to claim 4, The hole is formed in a lower wall of the battery protection frame, A vehicle body structure in which the hole is covered from below by the lower plate portion of the vehicle body side frame.

Images