Vehicle side structure

Abstract

To obtain a vehicle side part structure which can inhibit a lower hinge of a slide door from interfering with a battery stack housed in a battery case during a side collision of a vehicle even if the lower hinge is disposed at an outer side in a vehicle width direction of the battery case in a front view.SOLUTION: A vehicle side part structure 10 includes: a battery case which is disposed at a vehicle lower side of a floor panel of a vehicle, and houses a battery stack therein; and a lower hinge 30 which has a vertical portion 34 attached to a lower part of a slide door 20 configured to open or close a side part of the vehicle, and a horizontal portion 36 extending from a lower end of the vertical portion 34, and supports the slide door 20 slidably in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and in which at least the horizontal portion 36 is disposed at an outer side in a vehicle width direction of the battery case in a front view in a closed state of the slide door 20. A weakened portion 37 that is deformed or fractured by a load input from the outer side in the vehicle width direction is formed in the horizontal portion 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle side structure. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicles that have a battery case that houses a battery stack made up of multiple battery cells located below a floor panel and that are provided with sliding doors that open and close both left and right sides are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this vehicle, a lower hinge that is attached to the bottom of the sliding door and supports the sliding door so that it can slide in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle is located above the battery case. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-214314 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in order to increase the interior space, the lower hinge of the closed sliding door may be positioned on the outer side of the battery case in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front. In this case, at least the inner end of the lower hinge in the vehicle width direction faces a side portion of the peripheral wall of the battery case. Therefore, if the vehicle is hit in a side collision and the lower hinge is displaced inward in the vehicle width direction, at least the inner end of the lower hinge in the vehicle width direction may interfere with (hit) the battery stack (battery cells) housed inside through the battery case, potentially damaging the battery stack (battery cells).

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle side structure that can prevent the lower hinge of a sliding door from interfering with the battery stack housed inside the battery case in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, even if the lower hinge is positioned outside the battery case in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vehicle side structure of a first aspect of the present invention comprises a battery case arranged on the vehicle lower side of the floor panel of the vehicle and accommodating a battery stack inside, a vertical portion attached to the lower part of a sliding door that opens and closes the side of the vehicle, and a horizontal portion extending integrally from the lower end of the vertical portion, supporting the sliding door so that it can slide in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and when the sliding door is in a closed state, at least the horizontal portion is arranged on the vehicle width outer side of the battery case when viewed from the front, and a weak portion is formed in the horizontal portion that deforms or breaks when a load is input from the vehicle width outer side.

[0007] According to the first aspect of the invention, when the sliding door is closed, at least the horizontal portion of the lower hinge of the sliding door is disposed on the vehicle width direction outer side of the battery case in a front view, and the horizontal portion is formed with a fragile portion that is deformed or broken by a load input from the vehicle width direction outer side.

[0008] Therefore, when the vehicle is involved in a side collision and a collision load acting inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the horizontal portion of the lower hinge of the sliding door, the horizontal portion deforms or breaks, starting from the weak portion. This reduces the inward displacement stroke of the horizontal portion of the lower hinge in the vehicle width direction, thereby preventing the horizontal portion from interfering with the battery case. In other words, according to the present invention, even if the lower hinge of the sliding door is located outward in the vehicle width direction from the battery case in a front view, interference of the lower hinge with the battery stack housed inside the battery case during a side collision of the vehicle is prevented.

[0009] A vehicle side structure according to a second aspect of the present invention is the vehicle side structure according to the first aspect, wherein the weakened portion is a bead portion that protrudes upward toward the vehicle.

[0010] According to the second aspect of the invention, the fragile portion is a bead portion that protrudes upward toward the vehicle. Therefore, when the vehicle is involved in a side collision and a collision load directed toward the inside of the vehicle width direction is input to the horizontal portion of the lower hinge of the sliding door, the horizontal portion will deform upward from the bead portion as a base point, or the horizontal portion will break from the bead portion. This further reduces interference between the lower hinge of the sliding door and the battery case compared to when the horizontal portion deforms downward from the bead portion that protrudes downward toward the vehicle bottom.

[0011] Furthermore, a third aspect of the vehicle side structure according to the present invention is the vehicle side structure of the first aspect, wherein the fragile portion is made of a material that is weaker in strength than other portions of the horizontal portion.

[0012] According to the third aspect of the invention, the fragile portion is made of a material that is weaker than the other portions of the horizontal portion. Therefore, when the vehicle is involved in a side collision and a collision load is applied to the horizontal portion of the lower hinge of the sliding door inward in the vehicle width direction, the horizontal portion is likely to deform or break from the fragile portion as a base point. This further prevents the lower hinge of the sliding door from interfering with the battery case.

[0013] A vehicle side structure according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the vehicle side structure according to the first aspect, wherein the weakened portion is an elongated hole portion.

[0014] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the weak portion is an elongated hole. Therefore, when the vehicle is involved in a side collision and a collision load is applied to the horizontal portion of the lower hinge of the sliding door inward in the vehicle width direction, the horizontal portion is likely to deform or break from the weak portion as a base point. This further prevents the lower hinge of the sliding door from interfering with the battery case.

[0015] In addition, a fifth aspect of the vehicle side structure according to the present invention includes a battery case that is arranged on the vehicle lower side of the floor panel of the vehicle and that houses a battery stack inside; a vertical portion that is attached to the lower part of a sliding door that opens and closes the side of the vehicle; a first horizontal portion that extends integrally from the lower end of the vertical portion; and a second horizontal portion that has an upper surface of an outer end of the first horizontal portion joined to the lower surface of an inner end of the first horizontal portion in the vehicle width direction, thereby supporting the sliding door so that it can slide in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle, and when the sliding door is in a closed state, at least the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion are arranged on the outer side of the battery case in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front, and the joint between the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion is a weak portion that peels off when a load is input from the outer side of the vehicle width direction.

[0016] According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the lower hinge of the sliding door has a first horizontal portion and a second horizontal portion, and the upper surface of the outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of the second horizontal portion is joined to the lower surface of the inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the first horizontal portion. When the sliding door is in a closed state, at least the first and second horizontal portions of the lower hinge of the sliding door are disposed outside the battery case in the vehicle width direction in a front view, and the joint between the first and second horizontal portions is a weak portion that peels off due to a load input from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

[0017] Therefore, when the vehicle experiences a side collision and a collision load acting inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the first and second horizontal portions of the lower hinge of the sliding door, the joint between the first and second horizontal portions separates. This reduces the inward displacement stroke of the first and second horizontal portions of the lower hinge in the vehicle width direction, thereby preventing the first and second horizontal portions from interfering with the battery case. In other words, according to the present invention, even if the lower hinge of the sliding door is located outward in the vehicle width direction from the battery case in a front view, interference of the lower hinge with the battery stack housed inside the battery case is prevented during a side collision of the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] As described above, according to the present invention, even if the lower hinge of the sliding door is positioned on the vehicle widthwise outer side of the battery case when viewed from the front, the lower hinge can be prevented from interfering with the battery stack housed inside the battery case in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a side portion of a vehicle equipped with a vehicle side portion structure according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic front view showing a vehicle side structure according to a first embodiment, partially in cross section and enlarged. [Figure 3] 3A is a schematic plan view showing an enlarged view of the lower hinge of the vehicle side structure according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a schematic front view taken along the line XX in FIG. [Figure 4] 4(A) is a schematic plan view showing an enlarged view of a lower hinge of a vehicle side structure according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 4(B) is a schematic front view taken along line YY in FIG. [Figure 5] 5A is a schematic plan view showing an enlarged view of a lower hinge of a vehicle side structure according to a third embodiment, and FIG. 5B is a schematic front view taken along line ZZ in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For ease of explanation, the arrow UP shown in each drawing indicates the upward direction of the vehicle, the arrow FR indicates the forward direction of the vehicle, the arrow LH indicates the leftward direction of the vehicle, and the arrow RH indicates the rightward direction of the vehicle. Furthermore, in the following description, unless otherwise specified, when the up / down, front / rear, and left / right directions are mentioned, they refer to the up / down, front / rear, left / right directions of the vehicle. Furthermore, the left / right direction is synonymous with the vehicle width direction.

[0021] First Embodiment First, a first embodiment will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle 12 equipped with a vehicle side structure 10 according to the first embodiment has a sliding door 20 that opens and closes the side of the vehicle 12. The sliding door 20 is provided slidably on both the left and right sides of the vehicle 12, and is configured to open and close an entrance (vehicle compartment) for passengers getting in and out of the rear seats of the vehicle 12.

[0022] The vehicle 12 is provided with an upper guide portion 14, a center guide portion 16, and a lower guide portion 56. The upper guide portion 14 is provided on the upper portion of the vehicle 12 and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The center guide portion 16 is provided in approximately the center of the vehicle 12 in the up-down direction and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The lower guide portion 56, which will be described in detail later, is provided on the lower portion of the vehicle 12 and extends in the front-to-rear direction.

[0023] An upper hinge 22 is attached to the top of the sliding door 20, and a guide roller 24 attached to the upper hinge 22 engages with the upper guide portion 14. A center hinge 26 is attached to the approximate center in the up-down direction of the sliding door 20, and a guide roller 28 attached to the center hinge 26 engages with the center guide portion 16. Furthermore, a lower hinge 30 is attached to the bottom of the sliding door 20, and a guide roller 44 attached to the lower hinge 30 engages with the lower guide portion 56.

[0024] As a result, the sliding door 20 is supported so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the vehicle 12. In Fig. 1, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the guide portions and guide rollers are depicted as being separated from each other, but in reality, each guide roller is inserted into each guide portion. The sliding door 20 is configured to include a door outer panel 20A on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and a door inner panel 20B on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the peripheral portions of the door outer panel 20A and the door inner panel 20B are joined by hemming (see Fig. 2).

[0025] 2, a lower hinge 30 is attached to the lower part of the sliding door 20. The lower hinge 30 has a hinge body 32 that is formed in a substantially "L" shape when viewed from the front in the front-rear direction (hereinafter simply referred to as "front view"). The hinge body 32 is configured to include a fixing portion 34 as a vertical portion extending in the up-down direction along the door inner panel 20B, and a base support portion 36 as a horizontal portion extending integrally from a lower end of the fixing portion 34 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction.

[0026] The fixing portion 34 is formed to have a generally hat-shaped cross section that is open on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and is fastened and fixed to a side surface of the door inner panel 20B that faces inward in the vehicle width direction with bolts 68 and nuts 69. The base support portion 36 is formed to have a generally hat-shaped cross section that is open on the lower side, and extends to the lower side of the outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of a step 54, which will be described later. Note that in Figure 3, the base support portion 36 is drawn as a generally flat plate for simplicity of illustration.

[0027] 3, the base support portion 36 is formed with a fragile portion 37 that is deformed or broken by a collision load applied from the outside in the vehicle width direction. This fragile portion 37 is a bead portion 37A that is convex upward and extends in the approximately front-to-rear direction at the approximately center of the base support portion 36 in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, when a collision load is applied to the base support portion 36 from the outside in the vehicle width direction, the approximately center of the base support portion 36 in the vehicle width direction is plastically deformed into an upward convex shape in a front view, with the bead portion 37A as the base point, or is broken from the bead portion 37A.

[0028] 2, one end of a connecting member 38 is fixed to the inner end of the base support portion 36 in the vehicle width direction by a bolt 68 and a nut 69. The connecting member 38 is a generally flat plate-shaped member that extends in the vehicle width direction with its thickness direction in the up-down direction, and the base portion 40 is attached to the other end of the connecting member 38 by a pin 39 so as to be swingable with its axial direction in the up-down direction.

[0029] The base portion 40 extends inward in the vehicle width direction from the connecting member 38, and a pair of shaft portions 42 with their axial direction extending up and down is provided on the upper surface of the vehicle width direction inner end portion 40A of the base portion 40. A guide roller 44 is rotatably attached to the upper end of each shaft portion 42, and each guide roller 44 is inserted between a pair of guide pieces 56A that constitute the lower guide portion 56.

[0030] The base 40 is provided with a shaft 46 whose axial direction is in the left-right direction, and a load roller 48 is rotatably attached to the inner end of the shaft 46 in the vehicle width direction. The load roller 48 is in contact with a step-under panel 52 (described later), and the lower hinge 30 is supported by the step-under panel 52 via the load roller 48.

[0031] Meanwhile, the vehicle 12 is equipped with a floor panel 50 that forms the floor surface of the passenger compartment. The floor panel 50 extends in the vehicle width direction and the front-rear direction with the thickness direction being the up-down direction, and a floor carpet 51 is laid on the upper surface of this floor panel 50. A step-under panel 52 is provided between the floor panel 50 and a rocker 60, which will be described later.

[0032] That is, the floor panel 50 and the rocker 60 are connected by the step-under panel 52. The step-under panel 52 has an upper flange portion 52A bent at its upper end along the underside of the floor panel 50, and this upper flange portion 52A is overlapped on the underside of the floor panel 50 and joined by welding or the like.

[0033] The step-under panel 52 also has a first vertical wall portion 52B extending downward integrally from the upper flange portion 52A in a front view, a first horizontal wall portion 52C bending integrally from a lower end of the first vertical wall portion 52B and extending outward in the vehicle width direction, a second vertical wall portion 52D extending downward integrally from the outer end of the first horizontal wall portion 52C in the vehicle width direction, and a second horizontal wall portion 52E bending integrally from the lower end of the second vertical wall portion 52D and extending outward in the vehicle width direction. The second horizontal wall portion 52E is overlapped from above with a rocker inner panel 64 (described later) and joined by welding or the like.

[0034] A resin step 54 for passengers to use when getting on and off is attached to the first lateral wall portion 52C of the step under panel 52. The step 54 is formed in a substantially L-shape when viewed from the front, and the lower end of the step 54 forms a fixed portion 54A that is bent along the first lateral wall portion 52C. The fixed portion 54A is fastened and fixed to the first lateral wall portion 52C with a bolt 68 and a nut 69.

[0035] The step 54 extends upward from the fixing portion 54A and further outward in the vehicle width direction. A reinforcing rib 54C extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the step main body 54B extending in the vehicle width direction. A plurality of ribs 54C (five in the figure) are provided, and each rib 54C protrudes upward integrally from the step main body 54B.

[0036] A lower guide portion 56 is formed on the underside of the step main body 54B. The lower guide portion 56 includes a pair of left and right guide pieces 56A that protrude downward from the step main body 54B. The pair of guide pieces 56A extend in the front-rear direction along the step main body 54B, and the guide roller 44 of the lower hinge 30 fits between the pair of guide pieces 56A. In other words, the lower guide portion 56 guides the lower hinge 30 to move in the front-rear direction.

[0037] A resin scuff plate 58 is provided above the step 54. The scuff plate 58 extends from the outer end of the floor panel 50 in the vehicle width direction to the outer end of the step main body 54B in the vehicle width direction, and is attached to the step 54 by a clip or the like (not shown). An opening / closing device 18 for the sliding door 20 is also attached to the step 54. The opening / closing device 18 is disposed on the upper surface of the first lateral wall portion 52C, and includes parts such as a motor and pulleys required for automatically opening and closing the sliding door 20.

[0038] Additionally, a rocker 60 having a closed cross-sectional structure and extending in the front-rear direction is provided on the vehicle width outer side of a battery case 70 (described later) and below the lower hinge 30. The rocker 60 includes a rocker outer panel 62 located on the vehicle width outer side and a rocker inner panel 64 located on the vehicle width inner side.

[0039] The rocker outer panel 62 is formed in a generally crank shape when viewed from the front. Specifically, the rocker outer panel 62 extends downward from an upper flange portion 62A at its upper end, and its lower portion is bent inward in the vehicle width direction. A lower flange portion 62B extends downward from the inner end portion in the vehicle width direction.

[0040] The rocker inner panel 64 has a generally hat-shaped cross section that is open outward in the vehicle width direction when viewed from the front. Specifically, an upper flange portion 64A is formed at the upper end of the rocker inner panel 64, and this upper flange portion 64A is overlapped with the upper flange portion 62A of the rocker outer panel 62 and joined by welding or the like. A lower flange portion 64B is formed at the lower end of the rocker inner panel 64, and this lower flange portion 64B is overlapped with the lower flange portion 62B of the rocker outer panel 62 and joined by welding or the like. This gives the rocker 60 a closed cross-sectional structure.

[0041] A weatherstrip 66 is attached to the joined upper flange portions 62A and 64A, and this weatherstrip 66 seals the gap with the sliding door 20. A rocker molding 63 is attached to the outer side of the rocker outer panel 62 in the vehicle width direction by clips or the like (not shown). The rocker molding 63 is made of resin and covers the lower part of the rocker outer panel 62 from the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

[0042] A metal battery case 70 is disposed on the inside in the vehicle width direction of the rocker 60 and the base portion 40 of the lower hinge 30, and below the floor panel 50. The battery case 70 covers almost the entire area of ​​the floor panel 50 in a plan view. The battery case 70 is supported by side members, cross members, and the like (not shown).

[0043] The battery case 70 includes a bottom wall 72, a peripheral wall 74, and a cover wall 76, and houses therein a battery stack 80 consisting of a plurality of battery cells, a wire harness, a cooling device (all not shown), etc. The battery stack 80 is configured to supply power to a drive motor (not shown).

[0044] The bottom wall 72 of the battery case 70 is formed in a generally rectangular shape in a plan view with the thickness direction extending in the up-down direction, and a peripheral wall 74 is provided integrally with and erected on the outer periphery of the bottom wall 72. That is, the peripheral wall 74 is formed in a generally rectangular frame shape along the outer periphery of the bottom wall 72. The cover wall 76 is formed in a generally rectangular shape with the thickness direction extending in the up-down direction to correspond to the outer shapes of the bottom wall 72 and the peripheral wall 74, and the outer periphery of the cover wall 76 is fastened to the upper surface of the peripheral wall 74 by bolts 68.

[0045] The left and right side portions 74S of the peripheral wall 74 located on the outer sides in the vehicle width direction are formed to have a closed cross-sectional structure in a front view, and are divided into two upper and lower closed cross-sections by a flat partition wall 74A integrally provided at approximately the center in the vertical direction. An undercover 67 is provided below the battery case 70, and both ends of the undercover 67 in the vehicle width direction are fastened to the step under-panel 52 together with the step 54 by bolts 68 and nuts 69.

[0046] 2, when the sliding door 20 is in a closed state, the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 of the lower hinge 30 are disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the battery case 70 in a front view. In other words, when the sliding door 20 is in a closed state, the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 of the lower hinge 30 are disposed in a position overlapping with the side portion 74S of the battery case 70 facing outward in the vehicle width direction in a side view seen from the vehicle width direction (hereinafter simply referred to as "side view").

[0047] Next, the operation of the vehicle side portion structure 10 according to the first embodiment configured as above will be described.

[0048] As described above, in the vehicle 12 according to the first embodiment, when the sliding door 20 is in a closed state, the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 of the lower hinge 30 are disposed on the outer side of the battery case 70 in the vehicle width direction in a front view (disposed in a position overlapping with the side portion 74S of the battery case 70 in a side view). Therefore, when the vehicle 12 is subjected to a side collision, the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 of the lower hinge 30 tend to be displaced inward in the vehicle width direction.

[0049] Here, an upwardly convex bead portion 37A is formed in the base support portion 36 of the lower hinge 30 as a fragile portion 37 that is deformed or broken by a collision load input from the outside in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, when the vehicle 12 is subjected to a side collision and a collision load directed toward the inside in the vehicle width direction is input to the base support portion 36, the base support portion 36 is either deformed upwardly convexly (plastically deformed so as to be convex upward) with the bead portion 37A as the base point, or the base support portion 36 is broken into two pieces from the bead portion 37A.

[0050] This reduces the displacement stroke of the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 inward in the vehicle width direction, thereby preventing the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 (the vehicle width direction inner end portion 40A) of the lower hinge 30 of the sliding door 20 from interfering with the battery case 70 (hitting the battery case 70 and transmitting the collision load).

[0051] In other words, according to the first embodiment, even if the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 of the lower hinge 30 of the sliding door 20 are positioned on the vehicle width outer side of the battery case 70 when viewed from the front, the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 (the vehicle width inner end portion 40A) can be prevented from interfering with the battery stack 80 (battery cells) housed inside the battery case 70 in the event of a side collision of the vehicle 12.

[0052] Furthermore, since this base support portion 36 is deformed upwardly (plastically deformed so as to be convex upward) using the bead portion 37A as a base point, interference between the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 (inner end portion 40A in the vehicle width direction) of the lower hinge 30 of the sliding door 20 and the battery case 70 can be further prevented than when it is configured to be deformed downwardly (plastically deformed so as to be convex downward) using a bead portion (not shown) formed so as to be convex downward.

[0053] (Variation) Note that the fragile portion 37 may be formed by using a material that is weaker than the material of the other portions of the base support portion 36 except for the fragile portion 37. For example, the base support portion 36 may be formed by molding the fragile portion 37 from a metal material with low rigidity and molding the portions other than the fragile portion 37 from a metal material with high rigidity, and then integrally joining them by laser welding or the like.

[0054] In this case, when the vehicle 12 is hit by a side collision and a collision load directed inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the base support portion 36, the base support portion 36 is likely to be deformed or broken, starting from the weak portion 37. Therefore, interference between the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 (the inner end portion 40A in the vehicle width direction) of the lower hinge 30 of the sliding door 20 and the battery case 70 can be further suppressed.

[0055] Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described. Note that the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts as those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions (including common functions) will be omitted as appropriate. Also, in Figure 4, the illustration of the base support portion 36 is simplified.

[0056] 4, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in that the fragile portions 37 are elongated hole portions 37B each having a generally slit shape with a longitudinal direction generally in the front-to-rear direction. Even in the case of such elongated hole portions 37B, when the vehicle 12 is involved in a side collision and a collision load directed toward the inside in the vehicle width direction is input to the base support portion 36, the base support portion 36 is likely to be deformed or broken with the elongated hole portions 37B as the base point.

[0057] Therefore, similar to the first embodiment described above, the displacement stroke of the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 toward the inside in the vehicle width direction can be reduced, and interference of the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 (the inside end portion 40A in the vehicle width direction) of the lower hinge 30 of the sliding door 20 with the battery case 70 can be further suppressed.

[0058] In other words, according to the second embodiment, even if the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 of the lower hinge 30 of the sliding door 20 are positioned on the vehicle width outer side of the battery case 70 when viewed from the front, the base support portion 36 and the base portion 40 (the vehicle width inner end portion 40A) can be further prevented from interfering with the battery stack 80 (battery cells) housed inside the battery case 70 in the event of a side collision of the vehicle 12.

[0059] Third Embodiment Finally, a third embodiment will be described. The same reference numerals are used to designate the same components as those in the first embodiment, and detailed descriptions (including common functions) will be omitted as appropriate. Also, in FIG. 5, the illustration of the base support portion 36 (first base support portion 36A and second base support portion 36B) is simplified.

[0060] As shown in Figure 5, in this third embodiment, the base support portion 36 is composed of a first base support portion 36A extending integrally from the lower end of the fixed portion 34, and a second base support portion 36B having the upper surface of the outer end portion in the vehicle width direction joined to the lower surface of the inner end portion in the vehicle width direction of the first base support portion 36A, and the joint portion 37C between the first base support portion 36A and the second base support portion 36B is made into a fragile portion 37 that peels off due to a load input from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

[0061] Therefore, in the vehicle 12 according to the third embodiment, when the sliding door 20 is in a closed state, at least the first base support portion 36A, the second base support portion 36B, and the base portion 40 of the lower hinge 30 are disposed on the vehicle width outer side of the battery case 70 in a front view. In addition, a joint portion 37C between the lower surface of the vehicle width inner end portion of the first base support portion 36A and the upper surface of the vehicle width outer end portion of the second base support portion 36B is configured by joining with, for example, an adhesive, and is configured to peel off due to a collision load input from the vehicle width outer side.

[0062] In the vehicle side structure 10 of the third embodiment configured as described above, when the vehicle 12 is involved in a side collision and a collision load directed inward in the vehicle width direction is input to the first base support portion 36A and the second base support portion 36B of the lower hinge 30 of the sliding door 20, the joint portion 37C between the first base support portion 36A and the second base support portion 36B peels off.

[0063] This reduces the displacement stroke of the first base support portion 36A, the second base support portion 36B and the base portion 40 in the vehicle width direction inward, thereby preventing the first base support portion 36A, the second base support portion 36B and the base portion 40 (vehicle width direction inner end portion 40A) of the lower hinge 30 of the sliding door 20 from interfering with the battery case 70.

[0064] In other words, according to the third embodiment, even if the first base support portion 36A, the second base support portion 36B, and the base portion 40 of the lower hinge 30 of the sliding door 20 are positioned on the vehicle width outer side of the battery case 70 when viewed from the front, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle 12, the first base support portion 36A, the second base support portion 36B, and the base portion 40 (vehicle width inner end portion 40A) can be prevented from interfering with the battery stack 80 (battery cells) housed inside the battery case 70.

[0065] While the vehicle side structure 10 according to this embodiment has been described above with reference to the drawings, the vehicle side structure 10 according to this embodiment is not limited to the one shown in the drawings and can be appropriately modified in design within the scope of the present invention. For example, the configuration of the fragile portion 37 is not limited to the bead portion 37A, the elongated hole portion 37B, and the joint portion 37C shown in the drawings.

[0066] Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the first base support portion 36A may be configured to be located above the cover wall 76 of the battery case 70 in a side view. In this case, even if the vehicle 12 experiences a side collision and the first base support portion 36A is displaced inward in the vehicle width direction, the first base support portion 36A can be prevented from interfering with the battery case 70. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 10 Vehicle side structure 12 vehicles 20 Sliding Door 30 Lower hinge 34 Fixed part (vertical part) 36 Base support part (horizontal part) 36A First base support part (first horizontal part) 36B Second base support part (second horizontal part) 37 Weakened part 37A Bead part 37B Long hole part 37C joint 50 floor panel 70 Battery case 80 Battery Stack

Claims

1. a battery case disposed on a vehicle lower side of a floor panel of the vehicle and accommodating a battery stack therein; a lower hinge having a vertical portion attached to a lower portion of a sliding door that opens and closes a side portion of the vehicle, and a horizontal portion extending integrally from a lower end of the vertical portion, the lower hinge supporting the sliding door so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and in a closed state of the sliding door, at least the horizontal portion being disposed on the outer side of the battery case in the vehicle width direction; Equipped with A vehicle side structure in which the horizontal portion is formed with a weak portion that is deformed or broken by a load input from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

2. 2. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1, wherein the weakened portion is a bead portion that protrudes upward toward the vehicle.

3. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1, wherein the weakened portion is made of a material having a lower strength than other portions of the horizontal portion.

4. The vehicle side structure according to claim 1 , wherein the weakened portion is an elongated hole.

5. a battery case disposed on a vehicle lower side of a floor panel of the vehicle and accommodating a battery stack therein; a lower hinge including: a vertical portion attached to a lower portion of a sliding door that opens and closes a side portion of the vehicle; a first horizontal portion extending integrally from a lower end of the vertical portion; and a second horizontal portion having an upper surface of an outer end portion of the first horizontal portion joined to a lower surface of an inner end portion of the first horizontal portion in the vehicle width direction, the lower hinge supporting the sliding door so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and in which, when the sliding door is in a closed state, at least the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion are disposed outside the battery case in the vehicle width direction; Equipped with A vehicle side structure, wherein the joint between the first horizontal portion and the second horizontal portion is a weak portion that peels off when a load is input from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

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