Front body structure

Abstract

To secure a crash stroke in an area at the front relative to a driving motor and improve rigidity of a vehicle body.SOLUTION: A vehicle body front structure A includes: a partition wall portion 71 which demarcates a vehicle cabin R1 inside space; and a pair of left and right suspension tower portions 90, 91 which are formed to expand inward in a vehicle width direction and support upper portions of front suspension devices 20. A lower portion of the partition wall portion 71 is formed so as to go to the vehicle rear farther as it lowers. A driving motor M1 is installed below the lower portion of the partition wall portion 71. An upper portion of the partition wall portion 71 extends from an intermediate portion of the left suspension tower portion 90 as seen in a vehicle fore and aft direction to an intermediate portion of the right suspension tower portion 91 as seen in the vehicle fore and aft direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, the engine room and the passenger compartment are separated by a partition wall extending in the width direction and the up-down direction of the vehicle. In the engine room in front of this partition wall, a pair of left and right suspension towers to which the upper parts of the front suspension device are attached are formed so as to bulge inward into the passenger compartment, and a pair of left and right front side frames extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle are also provided. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-119458 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In conventional vehicles equipped with engines, the engine and auxiliary components that make up the intake and exhaust systems are located within the engine compartment, so when an impact load acts from the front during a collision, the impact load is absorbed by deforming the components in the engine compartment and the front side frames.

[0005] However, in the case of electric vehicles, the number of auxiliary parts is significantly reduced compared to engines, so there is a concern that the shock load may not be absorbed sufficiently.

[0006] On the other hand, when considering the handling stability and ride comfort while the vehicle is running, it is desirable to improve the rigidity of the vehicle body. However, simply adding reinforcing members to improve the rigidity of the vehicle body results in an increase in the vehicle body weight, which is undesirable from the viewpoint of, for example, energy conservation.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above points, and its object is to simultaneously ensure a crash stroke forward of the traction motor and improve the rigidity of the vehicle body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present disclosure can be based on a front body structure for an electric vehicle equipped with a traction motor in the front portion of the vehicle. The front body structure includes a partition wall portion provided at the front portion of the vehicle so as to extend in the vehicle width direction and defining the interior space of the vehicle, and a pair of left and right suspension tower portions formed to bulge inward in the vehicle width direction and supporting upper portions of a front suspension device. Lower portions of the partition walls are formed so as to be positioned further rearward in the vehicle as they extend downward, the traction motor is mounted below the lower portions of the partition walls, and the upper portions of the partition walls extend from a central portion of the left suspension tower portion in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle to a central portion of the right suspension tower portion in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

[0009] With this configuration, the traction motor is mounted below the lower part of the partition wall, which is positioned further rearward as it goes downward, making it possible to position the traction motor closer to the rear of the vehicle, thereby ensuring sufficient crash stroke in the fore-and-aft direction in the event of a collision.

[0010] Furthermore, because the front-to-rear middle sections of the suspension towers that bulge inward in the vehicle width direction are connected by the upper part of the partition, the length of the upper part of the partition in the vehicle width direction is shortened, the partition is lighter, and the left and right suspension towers can be connected by a shorter path, improving the rigidity of the front of the vehicle body.

[0011] A partition wall according to a second aspect of the present disclosure may include a first partition wall and a second partition wall extending downward from a lower portion of the first partition wall toward the rear of the vehicle. The traction motor may be mounted below a lower portion of the second partition wall, and the first partition wall may be formed to extend from a central portion of the left suspension tower wall in the vehicle longitudinal direction to a central portion of the right suspension tower wall in the vehicle longitudinal direction. In this configuration, the first partition wall and the second partition wall may be formed as separate members or as a single member.

[0012] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, the vehicle may include a motor placement portion that is formed by causing a portion of the second partition wall to bulge toward the interior of the vehicle, and in which at least a portion of the traction motor can be placed.

[0013] With this configuration, the motor mounting portion formed in the second partition bulges into the passenger compartment, allowing the driving motor to be positioned closer to the rear of the vehicle, thereby ensuring a larger crash stroke in the event of a collision.

[0014] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the first partition wall may be provided with a partition wall reinforcing member extending in the vehicle width direction. With this configuration, the rigidity of the first partition wall can be further increased by the partition wall reinforcing member.

[0015] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, front wheel houses that bulge outward inward in the vehicle width direction may be continuous with the vehicle rear sides of the left and right suspension tower sections. Both sides of the second partition wall in the vehicle width direction may be connected to the left and right front wheel houses.

[0016] With this configuration, the front wheel housings that bulge inward in the vehicle width direction are connected by the second partition wall, which shortens the length of the second partition wall in the vehicle width direction, making the second partition wall lighter, and also allows the left and right front wheel housings to be connected by a shorter path, thereby further improving the rigidity of the front part of the vehicle body.

[0017] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a pair of left and right side sills may be provided at both ends of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction, extending in the vehicle front-rear direction. In this case, the second partition wall portion extends rearward of the vehicle until it reaches the left and right side sills and can be connected to the left and right side sills, thereby further improving the rigidity of the front portion of the vehicle body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] As explained above, the lower part of the partition is positioned further rearward on the vehicle as it goes downwards, the drive motor is mounted below the lower part of the partition, and the middle parts of the left and right suspension tower sections in the fore-and-aft direction are connected to each other at the part of the partition above the drive motor, so it is possible to ensure a crash stroke forward of the drive motor while also improving the rigidity of the vehicle body. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0019] [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 an enlarged plan view showing a front portion of the lower structure. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom view showing the front portion of the lower structure, omitting the power train, shock absorbers, springs, hubs, etc. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a front power train and its vicinity at the front of the vehicle body. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the front part of the vehicle body cut horizontally at the middle part in the vertical direction. [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 9. [Figure 11]9, showing a state in which the reinforcing member has been removed. FIG. [Figure 12] 10 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a structure in which a reinforcing member is attached to a lid of a battery unit. FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the interior of a vehicle with a reinforcing member removed. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the front part of the vehicle body, omitting the powertrain, battery unit, suspension device, etc. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the upper structure with the battery and the like omitted, taken along line XV-XV in FIG. 9. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] 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.

[0021] Fig. 1 is a left side view of an electric vehicle (electric automobile) 1 equipped with a vehicle body front 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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 front vehicle body structure A is provided on the electric vehicle 1 that includes a front running motor M1 mounted in the front of the vehicle and a rear running motor M2 mounted in 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. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the front powertrain PT1 and its vicinity, and Fig. 5 is a bottom view in which the front powertrain PT1 is omitted.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 2, the lower structure 2 includes a battery case 10, a pair of left and right front side frames 11, 12 extending forward in front of the battery case 10, and a pair of left and right rear frames 13, 14 extending rearward behind the battery case 10. 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 Fig. 2, a cover 35 (described below) of the battery case 10 has been removed.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] (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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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. 4) that covers the battery B from above. Note that FIG. 3 shows the state in which the lid 35 is removed.

[0036] 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.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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 fixed 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 fixed to the right side sill 75 with fastening members or the like.

[0039] The front battery frame 32 is provided in front of the battery case 10 and extends in the left-right direction. In a front view, at least a portion of the front driving motor M1 that constitutes the front powertrain PT1 is positioned so as to overlap at least a portion of the front battery frame 32, i.e., the middle portion of the front battery frame 32 in the vehicle width direction. The rear battery frame 33 is provided in the rear of the battery case 10 and extends in the left-right direction.

[0040] 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.

[0041] The bottom plate 34 extends substantially horizontally and is fixed to the lower surfaces 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 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 lid body 35 may be attached to the battery frames 30 to 33 using, for example, fastening members, or by adhesive bonding or welding. Therefore, a battery storage space S (shown in FIG. 2) that stores battery B is defined and formed by 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 body 35.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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).

[0044] 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.

[0045] 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.

[0046] 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.

[0047] 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.

[0048] 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.

[0049] 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.

[0050] As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the vehicle body front structure A includes a pair of left and right front side frames 11, 12, a frame bracket 40, a first cross member 15, a pair of left and right impact absorbing members 16, 17, and a second cross member 19. In this embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned members, the vehicle body front structure A also includes a front member 18, reinforcing members 19A, 19B, etc. The members that make up the vehicle body front structure A are not limited to the above-mentioned members, and may include other members, devices, apparatuses, etc. Furthermore, of the above-mentioned members, members that are not essential constituent elements of the present invention may be omitted.

[0051] The front side frames 11, 12 extend linearly and substantially horizontally below the left and right front main frames 72, 73 of the upper structure 3. The front side frames 11, 12 can be made of, for example, extruded material or press-molded material. In this embodiment, the front side frames 11, 12 are made of extruded material, so that the cross-sectional shape in the direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is substantially uniform from the front end to the rear end.

[0052] The left and right front side frames 11, 12 are attached to the front battery frame 32 that constitutes the front portion of the battery case 10 via frame brackets 40. In other words, the rear portions of the left and right front side frames 11, 12 are connected to the front battery frame 32 by the frame brackets 40. The frame brackets 40 are integrally molded metal parts that extend in the left-right direction along the front surface of the front battery frame 32. The rear portions of the left and right front side frames 11, 12 are fixed to the frame brackets 40. The metal that constitutes the frame brackets 40 is not particularly limited, but examples include aluminum, in which case the frame brackets 40 may be made of aluminum die-cast.

[0053] The left and right front side frames 11, 12 are attached to the front battery frame 32 via frame brackets 40, with the rear portions of the front side frames 11, 12 abutting against the front surface of the front battery frame 32. Therefore, the front side frames 11, 12 extend forward from the front battery frame 32. Note that the rear portions of the front side frames 11, 12 may be spaced slightly forward from the front surface of the front battery frame 32. In this case, too, it can be said that the front side frames 11, 12 extend forward from the front battery frame 32 when viewed as a whole.

[0054] The rear portion of the left front side frame 11 is disposed so as to correspond to a portion of the front battery frame 32 that is more to the left of the center in the left-right direction. Similarly, the rear portion of the right front side frame 12 is disposed so as to correspond to a portion of the front battery frame 32 that is more to the right of the center in the left-right direction. This provides a predetermined distance between the left and right front side frames 11, 12. The distance between the rear portions of the front side frames 11, 12 is set narrower than the distance between the left battery frame 30 and the right battery frame 31 of the battery case 10.

[0055] The left and right front side frames 11, 12 are approximately the same height. The left and right front side frames 11, 12, the front central member 26 of the battery case 10, the left battery frame 30, and the right battery frame 31 are also disposed at approximately the same height.

[0056] The left and right front side frames 11, 12 extend so that they are positioned outward in the vehicle width direction as they move forward. That is, the left front side frame 11 is inclined with respect to an imaginary line extending in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction in a plan view so that it is positioned further left as it moves forward. The right front side frame 12 is inclined with respect to an imaginary line extending in the vehicle's fore-and-aft direction in a plan view so that it is positioned further right as it moves forward. As a result, the distance between the left and right front side frames 11, 12 (the distance between them in the vehicle width direction) becomes wider as it moves forward, and a space C is formed between the left and right front side frames 11, 12 in which all or part of various parts, devices, and equipment can be placed. The shape of this space C expands in the vehicle width direction as it moves forward.

[0057] The inclination angle of the left front side frame 11 with respect to the above-mentioned imaginary line is equal to the inclination angle of the right front side frame 11 with respect to the above-mentioned imaginary line. The front portion of the left front side frame 11 is disposed more inward in the vehicle width direction than the left battery frame 30 of the battery case 10. In addition, the front portion of the right front side frame 12 is disposed more inward in the vehicle width direction than the right battery frame 31 of the battery case 10.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 1, the front portions of the left and right front side frames 11, 12 and the front portions of the left and right front main frames 72 of the upper structure 3 are set to be at approximately the same position in the front-to-rear direction.

[0059] 5, the frame bracket 40 includes a vertical plate portion 40a that extends in the vehicle width direction and up-down direction along the front surface of the front battery frame 32, and a lower plate portion 40b that extends rearward from the lower edge of the vertical plate portion 40a along the underside of the front battery frame 32 and also extends in the vehicle width direction. The vertical plate portion 40a and the lower plate portion 40b are fixed to the front battery frame 32 with fastening materials or the like. By fixing the vertical plate portion 40a and the lower plate portion 40b of the frame bracket 40 to the front surface and underside of the front battery frame 32, respectively, the mounting rigidity of the frame bracket 40 to the front battery frame 32 can be increased.

[0060] A left-side insertion hole 40c into which the rear portion of the left front side frame 11 is inserted and a right-side insertion hole 40d into which the rear portion of the right front side frame 12 is inserted are formed at a distance in the vehicle width direction on the vertical plate portion 40a of the frame bracket 40. The rear portion of the left front side frame 11 is inserted into the left-side insertion hole 40c and fixed to the frame bracket 40 by, for example, adhesive, fastening members, etc.

[0061] 4, the frame bracket 40 includes a left upper plate 40e extending in the front-rear direction so as to cover the upper surface of the left front side frame 11, and a right upper plate 40f extending in the front-rear direction so as to cover the upper surface of the right front side frame 12. The left upper plate 40e is bonded to the upper surface of the left front side frame 11 with, for example, an adhesive, and the right upper plate 40f is similarly bonded to the upper surface of the right front side frame 12. This allows the left and right front side frames 11, 12 to be firmly fixed to the frame bracket 40.

[0062] The frame bracket 40 has a left support portion 41 and a right support portion 42, which are integrally molded with the vertical plate portion 40a and the lower plate portion 40b. The left support portion 41 is disposed on the outer side (left side) of the left front side frame 11 in the vehicle width direction and supports the front side frame 11 from the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the left support portion 41 protrudes forward from the left side of the left insertion hole 40c in the vertical plate portion 40a and extends along the left side surface of the left front side frame 11. The front portion of the left support portion 41 reaches near the center of the left front side frame 11 in the fore-and-aft direction, allowing the left support portion 41 to support a wide range of the left support portion 41. The left front side frame 11 can also be glued to the left support portion 41.

[0063] The right support portion 42 is disposed on the outer side (right side) of the right front side frame 12 in the vehicle width direction and supports the front side frame 12 from the outer side in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the right support portion 42 protrudes forward from the right portion of the right insertion hole 40d in the vertical plate portion 40a and extends along the right side surface of the right front side frame 12. The front portion of the right support portion 42 reaches near the center of the right front side frame 12 in the front-to-rear direction, and therefore, the right support portion 42 can support a wide range of the right support portion 42. The right front side frame 12 can also be glued to the right support portion 42.

[0064] The left and right suspension arms 20A that constitute the front suspension device 20 are supported on the outer side of the frame bracket 40 in the vehicle width direction so as to be freely swingable in the vertical direction. That is, a left arm attachment portion 43 is provided on the frame bracket 40 to the left of the left support portion 41 so as to protrude to the left. The base end of the left suspension arm 20A is attached to this left arm attachment portion 43 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-to-rear direction. Furthermore, a right arm attachment portion 44 is provided on the frame bracket 40 to the right of the right support portion 42 so as to protrude to the right. The base end of the right suspension arm 20A is attached to this right arm attachment portion 44 so as to be rotatable around an axis extending in the front-to-rear direction.

[0065] The first cross member 15 is a member that spans a portion of the left front side frame 11 that is spaced forward from the front battery frame 32 and a portion of the right front side frame 12 that is spaced forward from the front battery frame 32, and extends linearly in the vehicle width direction. The first cross member 15 can also be made of an extruded material, a pressed material, or the like. In this embodiment, a left portion of the first cross member 15 is fixed to the front portion of the left front side frame 11, and a right portion of the first cross member 15 is fixed to the front portion of the right front side frame 12. Therefore, the front portions of the left and right front side frames 11, 12 are connected to each other by the first cross member 15.

[0066] The first cross member 15 and the front battery frame 32 are substantially parallel to each other. As a result, in a plan view, the first cross member 15, the left and right front side frames 11, 12, and the front battery frame 32 form a rectangular shape (a trapezoid in this example), and in a horizontal cross section, a closed cross section is formed.

[0067] The left side of the first cross member 15 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the front portion of the left front side frame 11. In addition, the right side of the first cross member 15 protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction beyond the front portion of the right front side frame 12.

[0068] The second cross member 19 is disposed between the first cross member 15 and the front battery frame 32, and is a member that is bridged between the left front side frame 11 and the right front side frame 12, and extends linearly in the vehicle width direction. The second cross member 19 can also be made of extruded material, pressed material, etc. The dimension of the second cross member 19 in the vehicle width direction is shorter than the dimension of the first cross member 15 in the vehicle width direction.

[0069] 5, the left end of the second cross member 19 is fixed to the right side surface of the left front side frame 11 by adhesive bonding, welding, fastening members, etc. The right end of the second cross member 19 is similarly fixed to the left side surface of the right front side frame 12. This connects the middle portions of the left and right front side frames 11, 12 in the longitudinal direction to each other.

[0070] The second cross member 19 and the front battery frame 32 are substantially parallel to each other. As a result, in a plan view, the second cross member 19, the left and right front side frames 11, 12, and the front battery frame 32 form a rectangular shape (trapezoidal in this example), and in a horizontal cross section, a closed cross section is formed. In a plan view, the second cross member 19, the left and right front side frames 11, 12, and the first cross member 15 also form a rectangular shape.

[0071] 5, the left reinforcing member 19A extends rearward from a portion of the second cross member 19 that is closer to the left of the center in the vehicle width direction toward the front battery frame 32. The rear portion of the left reinforcing member 19A is fixed to the right side surface of the left front side frame 11. The right reinforcing member 19B extends rearward from a portion of the second cross member 19 that is closer to the right of the center in the vehicle width direction toward the front battery frame 32. The rear portion of the right reinforcing member 19B is fixed to the left side surface of the right front side frame 12.

[0072] The left impact absorbing member 16 is provided in front of the left front side frame 11 and is made up of a tubular member extending forward. The right impact absorbing member 17 is provided in front of the right front side frame 12 and is made up of a tubular member extending forward. Like the crash cans 72a, 73a of the upper structure 3, the impact absorbing members 16, 17 undergo compressive deformation due to a frontal impact load before the front side frames 11, 12 are deformed, thereby absorbing the impact load. As shown in FIG. 1, the rear portions of the left and right impact absorbing members 16, 17 and the rear portions of the crash cans 72a, 73a of the upper structure 3 are set to be approximately the same position in the front-to-rear direction.

[0073] The rear portion of the left impact absorbing member 16 is fixed to the front portion of the left front side frame 11. The extension direction of the left impact absorbing member 16 is along the longitudinal direction of the left front side frame 11, with the axis of the impact absorbing member 16 positioned on a line extending forward from the front side frame 11. In addition, the rear portion of the right impact absorbing member 17 is fixed to the front portion of the right front side frame 12. The extension direction of the right impact absorbing member 17 is along the longitudinal direction of the right front side frame 12, with the axis of the impact absorbing member 17 positioned on a line extending forward from the front side frame 12.

[0074] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the front member 18 is a member that is installed across the left and right impact absorbing members 16, 17. A portion of the front member 18 to the left of the center in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the front portion of the left impact absorbing member 16, and a portion of the front member 18 to the right of the center in the vehicle width direction is fixed to the front portion of the right impact absorbing member 17. As a result, the left and right impact absorbing members 16, 17 are connected by the front member 18. As shown in Figure 1, the front member 18 and the front bumper reinforcement 87 of the upper structure 3 are set at approximately the same position in the front-to-rear direction, and the front member 18 is positioned directly below the front bumper reinforcement 87.

[0075] (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, a pair of left and right front main frames 72, 73, and a pair of left and right side sills 74, 75. Reference numeral 72 indicates the left front main frame, and reference numeral 73 indicates the right front main frame. Reference numeral 74 indicates the left side sill, and reference numeral 75 indicates the right side sill.

[0076] 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.

[0077] The left and right side sills 74, 75 are disposed so as to extend in the front-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. Upper portions of the side sills 74, 75 protrude upward from the connection portion of the floor panel 70, and 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 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. The battery case 10 is fixed to the side sills 74, 75.

[0078] The left and right front main frames 72, 73 are disposed in the front of the vehicle body and are high-strength members extending in the fore-and-aft direction. That is, the left and right front main frames 72, 73 are positioned forward of the floor panel 70 and positioned above the floor panel 70, and more specifically, are disposed so as to extend forward from both the left and right sides of the lower part of the dash panel 71.

[0079] The left and right front main frames 72, 73 have a symmetrical structure and can be formed, for example, by joining multiple press-formed materials together or by extrusion. The cross section of each front main frame 72, 73 in a direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction is set to be larger than the cross section of the front side frames 11, 12 of the lower structure 2 in the same direction. This makes each front main frame 72, 73 a thicker, stronger member than the front side frames 11, 12.

[0080] The front ends of the left and right front main frames 72 are provided with crush cans 72a, 73a, respectively, that compress and deform during a frontal collision to absorb collision energy. The crush cans 72a, 73a are cylindrical members that extend in the front-to-rear direction. The crush cans 72a, 73a compress and deform when a frontal impact load occurs, absorbing the impact load before the front main frames 72, 73 are deformed. A front bumper reinforcement 87 extending in the left-to-right direction is fixed to the front ends of the left and right crush cans 72a, 73a.

[0081] As shown in Figures 6 to 9, dash panel 71 is a member that separates the passenger compartment R1 from the power compartment R3, and dash panel 71 defines the passenger compartment R1. This dash panel 71 is made of, for example, a steel plate and extends in the left-right direction at the front of the vehicle, as well as in the up-down direction. As shown in Figure 9, a pair of left and right suspension towers 90, 91 are provided on both the left and right sides of the front of the upper structure 3. Reference numeral 90 denotes the left suspension tower, and reference numeral 91 denotes the right suspension tower.

[0082] The left and right suspension tower sections 90, 91 are each formed to bulge inward in the vehicle width direction. That is, the left suspension tower section 90 is formed to bulge rightward from the left side section across the power compartment R3 to the passenger compartment R1, and also has a vertical bulge range set so that it can accommodate a portion of the left front suspension device 20 provided on the lower structure 2 described below. The upper section of the left front suspension device 20 (e.g., an upper section of a shock absorber) is supported by the upper section of the left suspension tower section 90. The right suspension tower section 91 is formed to bulge leftward from the right side section across the power compartment R3 to the passenger compartment R1, and also has a vertical bulge range set so that it can accommodate a portion of the right front suspension device 20 provided on the lower structure 2 described below. The upper section of the right front suspension device 20 is supported by the upper section of the right suspension tower section 91.

[0083] As shown in Figure 9, left and right front wheel houses 85, 86 for accommodating left and right front wheels FT are formed on both the left and right sides of the front part of the upper structure 3 so as to bulge inward in the vehicle width direction. Reference numeral 85 denotes the left front wheel house 85, and reference numeral 86 denotes the right front wheel house 86. The left front wheel house 85 is continuous with the rear side of the left suspension tower section 90 and bulges to the right from the left side of the passenger compartment R1 to accommodate the left front wheel FT. The right front wheel house 86 is continuous with the rear side of the right suspension tower section 91 and bulges to the left from the right side of the passenger compartment R1 to accommodate the right front wheel FT.

[0084] 6 and 7, a cowl portion 88 is provided above the dash panel 71. The cowl portion 88 extends in the left-right direction from the top of the left suspension tower portion 90 to the top of the right suspension tower portion 91. The lower portion of the cowl portion 88 extends forward, reaching the midpoint between the left and right suspension tower portions 90, 91 in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0085] Dash panel 71 includes an upper panel portion (first partition portion) 71A that constitutes the upper portion of dash panel 71, and a lower panel portion (second partition portion) 71B that constitutes the lower portion of dash panel 71. Upper panel portion 71A and lower panel portion 71B may be formed from separate members, or may be formed from different portions of a single member. When upper panel portion 71A and lower panel portion 71B are formed from separate members, they may be molded into desired shapes and then joined together to form an integrated unit, or the two members may be joined together and then molded into the desired shape.

[0086] The upper end of the upper panel portion 71A is connected to the lower portion of the cowl portion 88. The upper panel portion 71A extends in the left-right direction and also in the up-down direction, specifically, from the middle portion of the left suspension tower portion 90 in the fore-and-aft direction to the middle portion of the right suspension tower portion 91 in the fore-and-aft direction.

[0087] The upper end of the lower panel portion 71B is connected to the lower end of the upper panel portion 71A. Therefore, the upper end of the lower panel portion 71B extends in the left-right direction from the central portion of the left suspension tower portion 90 in the front-rear direction to the central portion of the right suspension tower portion 91 in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, the portion below the upper end of the lower panel portion 71B (hereinafter referred to as the lower portion of the lower panel portion 71B) is formed so that it is positioned further rearward as it goes downward. The lower portion of the lower panel portion 71B may be inclined or curved.

[0088] The lower end (rear end) of the lower panel portion 71B is connected to the front end of the floor panel 70. The left and right sides of the lower portion of the lower panel portion 71B are connected to the left and right front wheel houses 85, 86, respectively, and extend rearward until they reach the left and right side sills 74, 75, and are connected to the left and right side sills 74, 75, respectively.

[0089] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9, the front running motor M1 is mounted below the lower portion of the lower panel portion 71B. In other words, the lower portion of the lower panel portion 71B is disposed so as to cover the front running motor M1 from above. The upper structure 3 is provided with a motor mounting portion 71a as a configuration that enables the front running motor M1 to be disposed below the lower portion of the lower panel portion 71B. The motor mounting portion 71a is a portion where at least a portion of the front running motor M1 can be disposed, and is a bulging portion formed by bulging the lower portion of the lower panel portion 71B toward the interior of the vehicle compartment R1. FIG. 14 shows the motor mounting portion 71a as viewed from below.

[0090] Specifically, the front running motor M1 is disposed between the left and right suspension towers 90, 91 and between the left and right front wheel housings 85, 86. Therefore, the front running motor M1 is positioned directly below the lower portion of the lower panel 71B. A vehicle widthwise intermediate portion of the lower portion of the lower panel 71B bulges upward to accommodate at least the upper and rear portions of the front running motor M1, and this bulge defines the motor mounting section 71a. The lateral dimension of the motor mounting section 71a is set shorter than the dimension between the left and right front wheel housings 85, 86, so that both left and right sides of the motor mounting section 71a are formed by inclined surfaces that slope downward toward the rear. In other words, providing the motor mounting section 71a enables the front running motor M1, i.e., the front powertrain PT1, to be positioned closer to the rear of the vehicle, thereby ensuring sufficient longitudinal crash stroke during a head-on collision, etc.

[0091] The motor mounting section 71a may be provided with a reducer, a transmission, and a casing for accommodating them, which constitute the front powertrain PT1. The motor mounting section 71a may also be provided with a control device and a wire harness (neither of which are shown) that control the front running motor M1. When the downward facing surface of the motor mounting section 71a is the inner surface of the motor mounting section 71a, a gap is formed between the inner surface of the motor mounting section 71a and the front running motor M1, as shown in FIG. 7, so that the front running motor M1 does not come into contact with the inner surface of the motor mounting section 71a during normal running.

[0092] The upper structure 3 includes a front cross member 93 disposed within the passenger compartment R1. The front cross member 93 is fixed to the upper surface of the floor panel 70 rearward of the motor mounting portion 71a and extends in the vehicle width direction. The front cross member 93 is formed, for example, to be open downward, and by joining to the upper surface of the floor panel 70, the open portion is closed to form a closed cross section. The left end of the front cross member 93 is fixed to the right side surface of the left side sill 74, and the right end of the front cross member 93 is fixed to the left side surface of the right side sill 75. As shown in FIG. 10 , the upper end of the front cross member 93 is disposed at the same height as the upper end of the side sill 75.

[0093] The front portion of the left front seat S1 is attached to the left of the center of the front cross member 93 in the vehicle width direction, and the front portion of the right front seat S1 is attached to the right of the center of the front cross member 93 in the vehicle width direction. A slide rail or the like (not shown) is provided below each front seat S1, and the front portion of this slide rail is fixed to the front cross member 93 via a bracket or the like. The rear portion of the slide rail is fixed to the floor panel 70 rearward of the front cross member 93.

[0094] The upper structure 3 is equipped with a reinforcing member 94 that connects the motor mounting portion 71a and the front cross member 93. The rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 abuts against the front surface of the front cross member 93 from the front, so that when a rearward load acts on the reinforcing member 94, the load can be reliably received by the front cross member 93.

[0095] The reinforcing member 94 is disposed in the center of the vehicle width direction and supports the motor mounting portion 71a from the rear, thereby suppressing rearward deformation of the motor mounting portion 71a. For example, if an impact load from the front causes the front running motor M1 to move backward and hit the motor mounting portion 71a, the motor mounting portion 71a may be subjected to the impact load and attempt to deform rearward. In such a case, the reinforcing member 94 suppresses deformation of the motor mounting portion 71a, thereby suppressing intrusion of the front running motor M1 into the passenger compartment R1. Furthermore, during normal driving other than during a collision, connecting the motor mounting portion 71a to the high-strength front cross member 93 can improve vehicle body rigidity, and the reinforcing member 94 contributes to improving, for example, handling stability.

[0096] The reinforcing member 94 is provided so that its longitudinal direction faces the front-rear direction. The dimension of the reinforcing member 94 in the front-rear direction is set to be longer than the dimension in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the dimension of the reinforcing member 94 in the up-down direction is set to be shorter than the dimension in the left-right direction, resulting in an overall flat shape. In this embodiment, the reinforcing member 94 is formed of a press-molded product, but this is not limiting and the reinforcing member 94 may be formed of, for example, an extruded material. As shown in FIG. 7 and other figures, the reinforcing member 94 is formed with a rib 94b extending in the front-rear direction.

[0097] As shown in Figure 10, the front portion of the reinforcing member 94 is fixed to the upper portion of the motor mounting portion 71a. The reinforcing member 94 extends rearward from the upper portion of the motor mounting portion 71a and is inclined so that it is positioned lower as it goes further rearward. This leaves a space between the reinforcing member 94 and the floor panel 70. The reinforcing member 94 may also be fixed to the lower portion of the motor mounting portion 71a. In this case, the reinforcing member 94 extends rearward along the upper surface of the floor panel 70 and can be fixed to the floor panel 70.

[0098] The upper structure 3 is provided with a floor reinforcement 96 that extends in the front-to-rear direction along the floor panel 70 below the reinforcing member 94. The floor reinforcement 96 is fixed to the upper surface of the floor panel 70. A rear portion of the floor reinforcement 96 is connected to a middle portion of the front cross member 93 in the vehicle width direction.

[0099] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 11 and 13, a connecting member 95 that connects the front portion of the reinforcing member 94 and the front portion of the floor reinforcement 96 in the up-down direction is provided behind the motor mounting section 71a. The front portions of the reinforcing member 94 and the floor reinforcement 96 are fixed to the connecting member 95 with fastening members. This connecting member 95 is made, for example, of a molded plate material and is a member that constitutes part of the motor mounting section 71a. In other words, the motor mounting section 71a has a main body portion that is made of a bulge, and the connecting member 95. Although not shown, the front portion of the reinforcing member 94 may be fixed directly to the rear portion of the main body portion of the motor mounting section 71a without using the connecting member 95.

[0100] In this embodiment, the connecting member 95 is a member that constitutes part of the motor mounting portion 71a, and therefore the front portion of the floor reinforcement 96 is connected to the lower part of the motor mounting portion 71a. As a result, the front portion of the floor reinforcement 96 and the front portion of the reinforcing member 94 are connected to parts of the motor mounting portion 71a that are spaced apart in the up-down direction, and therefore the rigidity of the motor mounting portion 71a can be increased over a wide range.

[0101] Furthermore, the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 is connected to the rear portion of the floor reinforcement 96. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 10, a first closed cross section is formed by the motor mounting portion 71a, the reinforcing member 94 extending at an inclined downward rearward from the upper portion of the motor mounting portion 71a, and the floor reinforcement 96 extending in the front-to-rear direction. This first closed cross section has a triangular shape in a side view, and the vertical dimension becomes shorter as it goes rearward.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 10, the connecting member 95 extends rearward from the upper rear portion of the main body of the motor mounting section 71a and then downward. The upper portion of the connecting member 95 is connected to the upper rear portion of the main body of the motor mounting section 71a, and the lower portion of the connecting member 95 is connected to the lower rear portion of the main body of the motor mounting section 71a. This allows the connecting member 95 and the main body of the motor mounting section 71a to form a second closed cross section in a side view. This second closed cross section has a shape close to a rectangle and is located in front of the first closed cross section. The second closed cross section is not essential and may be configured as needed.

[0103] In the above embodiment, the connecting member 95 is a member that constitutes part of the motor mounting portion 71a, but this is not limiting, and the motor mounting portion 71a can also be constituted by a bulging portion alone. In this case, the front portion of the reinforcing member 94 is directly fixed to the rear portion of the motor mounting portion 71a, and a first closed cross section is formed by the motor mounting portion 71a, the reinforcing member 94, and the floor reinforcement 96. Furthermore, by fixing the connecting member 95 to the rear portion of the bulging portion that constitutes the motor mounting portion 71a, a second closed cross section is formed by the connecting member 95 and the motor mounting portion 71a.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 12 , the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 is attached to the floor panel 70 and the cover 35 of the battery unit BY. Specifically, a flange 94a extending in the vehicle width direction is formed at the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94, and a bolt B1 passes through this flange 94a. A nut N1, into which the bolt B1 threads, is fixed to the upper surface of the flange 94a. The bolt B1 passes through a portion of the cover 35 directly below the flange 94a and a portion of the floor panel 70 directly below the flange 94a. The bolt B1 passes through the cover 35, floor panel 70, and flange 94a from below the cover 35 and threads into the nut N1, thereby fixing the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 to the floor panel 70 and the cover 35. In this way, the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94, the floor panel 70, and the cover 35 are fastened together by the common fastening members B1 and N1, thereby enabling a strong integration. The bolt B1 may be passed through the flange 94a from above and threaded into a nut N1 fixed to the underside of the lid 35. A screw or the like may be used instead of the bolt B1. The reinforcing member 94 may also be attached to the lid 35 and the floor panel 70 at multiple locations spaced apart in the vehicle width direction.

[0105] As shown in Figure 10, the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 is also attached to the center portion of the first case internal member 25A in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, a bolt B2 passes through a portion of the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 that is spaced apart in the vehicle width direction from a flange 94a (shown in Figure 12). The bolt B2 also passes through the floor reinforcement 96, the floor panel 70, and the cover 35. A nut N2 is fixed to the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 so that it coincides with the portion through which the bolt B2 passes.

[0106] The first case internal member 25A has an insertion hole 25a for a bolt B2. The bolt B2 is inserted from below through the insertion hole 25a and passes through the upper wall portion of the first case internal member 25A, the cover 35, the floor panel 70, the floor reinforcement 96, and the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 in that order, and is then screwed onto a nut N2, thereby fastening the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 to the first case internal member 25A. In this manner, the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94, the floor reinforcement 96, the floor panel 70, the cover 35, and the first case internal member 25A are fastened together with the common fastening members B2 and N2, thereby achieving a strong, integrated structure. The bolt B2 may also be passed through the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 from above and screwed into a nut N2 fixed to the first case internal member 25A. A screw or the like may be used instead of the bolt B2. The reinforcing member 94 may also be attached to the first case internal member 25A at multiple locations spaced apart in the vehicle width direction.

[0107] 3, the center portion of the first case internal member 25A in the vehicle width direction is an intersection with the front central member 26 and also an intersection with the first rear central member 27. The intersection of the first case internal member 25A with the front central member 26 (or the first rear central member 27) is reinforced by the front central member 26 (or the first rear central member 27), making it a particularly strong portion. The rear portion of a reinforcing member 94 can be attached to this strong portion.

[0108] In addition, the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 may be attached to the front cross member 93. For example, the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 may be fixed to the upper portion of the front cross member 93 with a fastening member, or the rear portion of the reinforcing member 94 may be fixed to the front cross member 93 via a bracket (not shown).

[0109] The positional relationship between the reinforcing member 94 and the battery B will be described with reference to Figure 8. When comparing the position of the front part of the foremost battery B among the multiple batteries B included in the battery unit BY with the position of the front part of the reinforcing member 94, the battery B is arranged so that the front part of the foremost battery B is located behind the front part of the reinforcing member 94. This makes it difficult for an impact load from the front to act on the battery B during a collision.

[0110] Furthermore, in a front view, the front traveling motor M1 is positioned so that at least a portion thereof overlaps with the front portion of the reinforcing member 94. For example, as shown in Fig. 7, the vertical position of the front traveling motor M1 is set to be approximately the same as the vertical position of the front portion of the reinforcing member 94. This ensures that when the front traveling motor M1 moves backward, the load thereof can be received reliably by the front portion of the reinforcing member 94.

[0111] As shown in Figures 13, 15, etc., the upper structure 3 includes a partition wall reinforcement member 98. The partition wall reinforcement member 98 is provided forward of the motor mounting portion 71a on the surface of the upper panel portion 71A facing the passenger compartment R1, and extends in the vehicle width direction. A front portion of the partition wall reinforcement member 98 is joined to the lower panel portion 71B. A left end portion of the partition wall reinforcement member 98 is connected to the left suspension tower portion 90, and a right end portion of the partition wall reinforcement member 98 is connected to the right suspension tower portion 91.

[0112] (Effects of the embodiment) As described above, the lower portion of dash panel 71 is formed to be positioned further rearward as it goes downward, and front running motor M1 is mounted below the lower portion of dash panel 71, so that front running motor M1 can be positioned closer to the rear of the vehicle. This ensures a sufficient crash stroke in the fore-and-aft direction in the event of a collision.

[0113] Furthermore, the longitudinally intermediate portions of the left and right suspension tower sections 90, 91, which bulge inward in the vehicle width direction, are connected to each other at the upper portion of dash panel 71, which shortens the length of the upper portion of dash panel 71 in the vehicle width direction, making the upper portion of dash panel 70 lighter, and also allowing the left and right suspension tower sections 90, 91 to be connected via a shorter path, thereby improving the rigidity of the front portion of the vehicle body.

[0114] Furthermore, left and right front wheel housings 85, 86 are formed to bulge inward in the vehicle width direction, and the left and right front wheel housings 85, 86 can be connected to each other at the lower portion of dash panel 71. This shortens the length of the lower portion of dash panel 71 in the vehicle width direction, making the lower portion of dash panel 71 lighter, and also allows the left and right front wheel housings 85, 86 to be connected by a short path, thereby further improving the rigidity of the front portion of the vehicle body.

[0115] 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]

[0116] As described above, the vehicle body front structure according to the present disclosure can be provided in, for example, an electric vehicle. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 1 Electric vehicles 70 Floor Panel 71 Dash panel (partition) 71A Upper panel section (first partition section) 71B Lower panel section (second partition section) 71a Motor placement section 74, 75 Side sill 85, 86 front wheel house 90, 91 suspension tower section A. Front body structure B Battery M1 Drive motor

Claims

1. In a front body structure of an electric vehicle having a driving motor mounted in the front of the vehicle, a partition wall portion provided at a front portion of the vehicle so as to extend in a vehicle width direction and define an interior space of the vehicle; a pair of left and right suspension towers formed to bulge inward in the vehicle width direction and supporting an upper portion of the front suspension device; The partition wall portion includes a first partition wall portion and a second partition wall portion extending downward from a lower portion of the first partition wall portion to be positioned toward the rear of the vehicle, the traction motor is mounted below a lower portion of the second partition wall, A vehicle body front structure in which the first partition portion is positioned forward of the front end of the driving motor and extends from the vehicle fore-and-aft middle portion of the left suspension tower portion to the vehicle fore-and-aft middle portion of the right suspension tower portion.

2. The vehicle body front structure according to claim 1, a front vehicle body structure including a motor mounting portion formed by bulging a portion of the second partition wall into the interior of the vehicle, in which at least a portion of the traction motor can be mounted;

3. The vehicle body front structure according to claim 2, A vehicle body front structure, wherein the first partition wall is provided with a partition wall reinforcing member extending in the vehicle width direction.

4. The vehicle body front structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A front wheel house that bulges inward in the vehicle width direction is continuous with the rear side of the left and right suspension tower sections, A front vehicle body structure in which both sides of the second partition wall in the vehicle width direction are connected to the left and right front wheel houses.

5. The vehicle body front structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a pair of left and right side sills extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle at both ends of the floor panel in the vehicle width direction; The second partition wall portion extends rearward of the vehicle until it reaches the left and right side sills and is connected to the left and right side sills.

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