Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

This facilitates the installation of large-capacity hydrogen tanks and batteries under the floor of the vehicle compartment. [Solution] In a hybrid vehicle 10 comprising a center tunnel 30 extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and located in the central part of the vehicle width direction under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, a hydrogen engine 11, a generator 15 that generates electricity using power from the hydrogen engine 11, a battery 16 that stores the electricity generated by the generator 15, and a hydrogen tank 21 that stores the hydrogen burned by the hydrogen engine 11, the battery 16 is installed to be located inside the center tunnel.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hybrid vehicle equipped with a hydrogen engine.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a hydrogen engine vehicle equipped with a hydrogen tank at the rear of the vehicle.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When a hydrogen engine is adopted as the engine of a hybrid vehicle, in order to extend the cruising range, it is necessary to install a large - capacity hydrogen tank. Also, a hybrid vehicle needs to install a battery with a larger capacity than a general engine vehicle.

[0005] In such a hybrid vehicle, in order to secure the cabin space, etc., it is conceivable to install both the hydrogen tank and the battery under the floor of the cabin. Under the floor of the vehicle, there are also installed wheel suspension devices, exhaust pipes of the hydrogen engine, etc. Also, when installing the hydrogen tank and the battery under the floor, it is necessary to consider the minimum ground clearance of the vehicle. Therefore, when installing a large - capacity battery under the floor of the cabin, it may be difficult to install a large - capacity hydrogen tank under the floor of the cabin.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A hybrid vehicle that solves the above problems comprises a passenger compartment, a center tunnel extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and located in the central part of the vehicle width direction beneath the floor of the passenger compartment, a hydrogen engine, a generator that generates electricity using power from the hydrogen engine, a battery that stores the electricity generated by the generator, and a hydrogen tank that stores the hydrogen to be burned by the hydrogen engine, wherein the battery is installed such that at least a portion of it is located inside the center tunnel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The above hybrid vehicle has the advantage of facilitating the installation of a large-capacity hydrogen tank and battery under the floor of the passenger compartment. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 shows the arrangement of the hydrogen tank, battery, etc., as viewed from below the vehicle in one embodiment of a hybrid vehicle. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows the arrangement of the hydrogen tank, battery, etc., of the hybrid vehicle shown in Figure 1, as viewed from above the vehicle. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the underbody structure of a hybrid vehicle along line 3-3 in Figure 2. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a hybrid vehicle will be described in detail with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment is configured as a series hybrid vehicle employing a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle layout. In Figures 1 and 2, the arrows indicate the front of the vehicle, "FR" indicates the rear of the vehicle, "LF" indicates the left side of the vehicle, and "RF" indicates the right side of the vehicle.

[0010] <Configuration of the drivetrain of hybrid vehicle 10> First, with reference to Figure 1, the configuration of the drive system of the hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment will be described. Inside the hybrid vehicle 10, there is a passenger compartment 12. The passenger compartment 12 of this hybrid vehicle 10 is configured so that the passenger compartment where the occupants sit and the luggage compartment where luggage is loaded are in a single continuous section, but the passenger compartment and the luggage compartment may be configured as separate sections. In the part of the hybrid vehicle 10 in front of the passenger compartment 12, there is an engine compartment 13 in which a hydrogen engine 11 is installed. Between the passenger compartment 12 and the engine compartment 13, there is a dash panel 14 that separates them.

[0011] The engine compartment 13 houses a generator 15 that generates electricity using power from the hydrogen engine 11. An electric drive unit 18 is installed at the rear of the hybrid vehicle 10, which drives the rear wheels 17 using electricity supplied by the electric drive unit 18. The electric drive unit 18 is an integrated unit containing a motor, reduction mechanism, differential mechanism, etc., and is connected to the rear wheels 17. Furthermore, the hybrid vehicle 10 is equipped with a battery 16 that stores the electricity generated by the generator 15. The generator 15, battery 16, and electric drive unit 18 are electrically connected to each other via a power control unit 19 installed in the engine compartment 13.

[0012] <Layout of the underfloor structure of hybrid vehicle 10> The hybrid vehicle 10 is equipped with hydrogen tanks 21 for storing hydrogen that is burned in the hydrogen engine 11. In this embodiment, the hybrid vehicle 10 has five hydrogen tanks 21.

[0013] Meanwhile, the exhaust pipe 22 of the hydrogen engine 11 is equipped with a catalytic converter 23 that performs selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides using urea water as a reducing agent. The hybrid vehicle 10 is also equipped with a urea water tank 24 that stores the urea water to be added to the exhaust gas flowing into the catalytic converter 23. In this embodiment, a resin tank is used for the urea water tank 24.

[0014] The hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment is configured to have a battery 16, hydrogen tanks 21, and a urea water tank 24 mounted under the floor of the passenger compartment 12. Four of the five hydrogen tanks 21 are installed in the vehicle width direction in the portion of the vehicle forward of the electric drive unit 18 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12. The remaining hydrogen tank 21 is installed in the vehicle rearward of the electric drive unit 18 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12. The battery 16 and the urea water tank 24 are installed in the portion of the vehicle forward of each hydrogen tank 21 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12. More specifically, in the portion of the vehicle forward of each hydrogen tank 21 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, the battery 16 is installed in the center in the vehicle width direction, and the urea water tank 24 is installed to the left of the battery 16. A urea water inlet 25 for injecting urea water into the urea water tank 24 from outside the vehicle is installed on the left side of the hybrid vehicle 10.

[0015] Furthermore, a high-voltage cable 20 is installed under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, connecting the battery 16 to the electric drive unit 18 via the power control unit 19. The high-voltage cable 20 is routed under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, passing to the left of the battery 16 and each hydrogen tank 21. On the other hand, the exhaust pipe 22 of the hydrogen engine 11, on which the catalytic converter 23 is installed, extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, passing under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, passing to the right of the battery 16 and each hydrogen tank 21.

[0016] Figure 2 shows the arrangement of the battery 16 and each hydrogen tank 21 of the hybrid vehicle 10 as seen from above the vehicle. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the underfloor structure of the hybrid vehicle 10 along line 3-3 in Figure 2. In the front part of the passenger compartment 12, the driver's seat 26 and the passenger seat 27 are installed with a gap in the vehicle width direction, and the rear seats 28 are installed behind them. The floor panel 29 that constitutes the floor surface of the passenger compartment 12 has a portion in the center in the vehicle width direction that protrudes upward from the portions on either side of the vehicle, forming a so-called floor tunnel. As a result, a center tunnel 30 is formed under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction through the central part in the vehicle width direction, i.e., the portion between the driver's seat 26 and the passenger seat 27. In the hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the battery 16 is installed inside this center tunnel 30.

[0017] <Effect of the Embodiment> In conventional engine vehicles employing a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout, a propeller shaft is installed in the center tunnel to transmit power from the engine located at the front of the vehicle to the rear wheels. In the hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment, a hydrogen engine 11 for power generation is installed at the front of the vehicle, and an electric drive unit 18 that receives power and drives the rear wheels 17 is installed at the rear of the vehicle, thereby realizing a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive vehicle layout. Since a propeller shaft is not required in such a hybrid vehicle 10, it is possible to install the battery 16 inside the center tunnel 30.

[0018] When the battery 16 is installed in a portion other than the center tunnel 30 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, due to the constraint by the minimum ground clearance of the hybrid vehicle 10, the dimension of the battery 16 in the vehicle up-and-down direction is restricted. If the capacity of the battery 16 is increased without increasing the dimension in the vehicle up-and-down direction, the dimensions of the battery 16 in the vehicle front-and-rear direction and the vehicle width direction will become large. In such a case, since the battery 16 occupies a non-negligible portion of the under-floor space of the passenger compartment 12, the mounting space for the hydrogen tank 21 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12 will decrease. On the other hand, in the case of the hybrid vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the battery 16 is installed inside the center tunnel 30. Therefore, the dimension of the battery 16 in the vehicle up-and-down direction can be made larger than the case where the battery 16 is installed in a portion other than the center tunnel 30 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12. As a result, an increase in the dimensions of the battery 16 in the vehicle front-and-rear direction and the vehicle width direction associated with an increase in capacity can be suppressed, and it becomes easy to secure the installation space for the hydrogen tank 21 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12.

[0019] <Effect of the embodiment> The hybrid vehicle 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above has the following effects. (1) The hybrid vehicle 10 of the present embodiment includes a center tunnel 30 extending in the vehicle front-and-rear direction provided at the center portion in the vehicle width direction under the floor of the passenger compartment 12. The hybrid vehicle 10 also includes a hydrogen engine 11, a generator 15 that generates electricity receiving the power of the hydrogen engine 11, a battery 16 that stores the electricity generated by the generator 15, and a hydrogen tank 21 that stores hydrogen burned by the hydrogen engine 11. The hybrid vehicle 10 is configured such that the battery 16 is installed so as to be located inside the center tunnel 30. By installing the battery 16 inside the center tunnel 30, a decrease in the installation space for the hydrogen tank 21 associated with an increase in the capacity of the battery 16 can be suppressed. Therefore, it becomes easy to increase the capacity of the hydrogen tank 21 together with an increase in the capacity of the battery 16. Thus, the hybrid vehicle 10 of the present embodiment has the effect of facilitating the mounting of a large-capacity hydrogen tank 21 and battery 16 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12.

[0020] (2) In the hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the hydrogen tank 21 is installed in a portion behind the battery 16 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12 in the rear of the vehicle. Also, the hydrogen engine 11 and the generator 15 are installed in the engine compartment 13 provided in a portion in front of the vehicle relative to the passenger compartment 12. Thereby, the hydrogen engine 11, the generator 15, the battery 16, and the hydrogen tank 21 can be arranged in an optimized manner.

[0021] (3) The hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment is equipped with an electric drive unit 18 at the rear of the vehicle that receives power supply from the battery 16 and drives the rear wheels 17 of the hybrid vehicle 10. In such a hybrid vehicle 10, a front-engine rear-drive vehicle layout can be realized without installing a propeller shaft for transmitting the power of the hydrogen engine 11 to the rear wheels 17 inside the center tunnel 30. Therefore, it becomes possible to mount the battery 16 inside the center tunnel 30.

[0022] (4) A high-voltage cable 20 that connects from the battery 16 to the electric drive unit 18 via the power control unit 19 is installed in a portion to the left of the vehicle relative to the battery 16 and each hydrogen tank 21 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12. On the other hand, the exhaust pipe 22 of the hydrogen engine 11 is installed in a portion to the right of the vehicle relative to the battery 16 and each hydrogen tank 21 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12. Thus, under the floor of the passenger compartment 12 of the hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the exhaust pipe 22 of the hydrogen engine 11 and the high-voltage cable 20 are installed so as to sandwich the battery 16 in the vehicle width direction. Since the high-voltage cable 20 can be installed at a location away from the exhaust pipe 22 through which high-temperature exhaust flows, the high-voltage cable 20 can be protected from the heat damage of the exhaust.

[0023] (5) The exhaust pipe 22 of the hydrogen engine 11 mounted in the hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment is equipped with a catalytic converter 23 that performs selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides using urea water as a reducing agent. The hybrid vehicle 10 is also provided with a urea water tank 24 for storing urea water and a urea water inlet 25 for injecting urea water into the urea water tank 24 from outside the vehicle. The urea water inlet 25 is located on the left side of the hybrid vehicle 10. The urea water tank 24 is located under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, in front of each hydrogen tank 21 and to the left of the battery 16. In other words, in the hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the urea water tank 24 is located under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, in front of the hydrogen tank 21 and to the side of the battery 16. The urea water inlet 25 is located on the side of the hybrid vehicle 10 where the urea water tank 24 is located, as viewed from the battery 16. Conversely, consider installing the urea water inlet 25 on the side of the hybrid vehicle 10 opposite to the side where the urea water tank 24 is located, relative to the battery 16. In this case, the piping connecting the urea water inlet 25 and the urea water tank 24 would have to be installed to cross under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, and this piping could potentially limit the installation space for the battery 16 and each hydrogen tank 21. In contrast, in the hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment, both the urea water tank 24 and the urea water inlet 25 are installed on the left side of the hybrid vehicle 10. Therefore, the piping connecting the urea water tank 24 and the urea water inlet 25 is less likely to limit the installation space for the battery 16 and each hydrogen tank 21 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12.

[0024] (6) The urea water tank 24 is installed in the vehicle to the left of the battery 16 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12, while the exhaust pipe 22 of the hydrogen engine 11 is installed in the vehicle to the right of the battery 16 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12. In other words, in the hybrid vehicle 10 of this embodiment, the urea water tank 24 is installed under the floor of the passenger compartment 12 in the vehicle width direction, with the battery 16 sandwiched between it and the exhaust pipe 22. Therefore, the urea water tank 24 can be protected from heat damage caused by the high-temperature exhaust flowing through the exhaust pipe 22.

[0025] (Other embodiments) The above embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0026] The urea solution tank 24 and the urea solution inlet 25 may be installed in locations different from those shown in Figure 1. For example, the urea solution tank 24 may be installed to the right of the battery 16, and the urea solution inlet 25 may be installed on the right side of the hybrid vehicle 10. Alternatively, the urea solution inlet 25 may be installed on one of the left or right sides of the hybrid vehicle 10, on the side opposite to the side where the urea solution tank 24 is located, as viewed from the battery 16.

[0027] If the urea water tank 24 is constructed from a heat-resistant material, it may be installed under the floor of the passenger compartment 12 on the same side as the exhaust pipe 22, on either side of the battery 16.

[0028] If a urea SCR system is not installed, the hybrid vehicle 10 may be configured without the catalytic converter 23 for selective catalytic reduction, the urea water tank 24, and the urea water inlet 25.

[0029] If other heat damage countermeasures are in place, the high-voltage cable 20 may be installed under the floor of the passenger compartment 12 on the same side as the exhaust pipe 22, on either side of the battery 16.

[0030] The hydrogen tanks 21 may be positioned in a different location and orientation than in the above embodiment, as long as they are located in the area behind the battery 16 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12. The number of hydrogen tanks 21 may also be changed. For example, one or more hydrogen tanks 21 may be positioned inside the center tunnel 30 in the area behind the battery 16. Furthermore, the hydrogen tanks 21 may be installed in a location different from the area behind the battery 16 under the floor of the passenger compartment 12.

[0031] The position and orientation of the battery 16 within the center tunnel 30 may be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the battery 16 may be installed so that a portion of it is located inside the center tunnel 30, while the remaining portion is located outside the center tunnel 30. It is sufficient that at least a portion of the battery 16 is located inside the center tunnel 30.

[0032] • The seat layout of the hybrid vehicle 10 can be changed as desired. The hybrid vehicle 10 may be configured as a four-wheel drive vehicle that drives the front wheels with the power of the hydrogen engine 11. In that case, the generator 15 may be configured to also function as an electric motor that generates driving force. Furthermore, the hybrid vehicle 10 may be configured as a front-wheel drive vehicle that omits the electric drive unit 18 that drives the rear wheels 17. In other words, the layout of the battery 16, hydrogen tank 21, etc. in the hybrid vehicle 10 of the above embodiment and modified examples is applicable to any hybrid vehicle that does not use the power of the hydrogen engine 11 installed at the front of the vehicle to drive the rear wheels 17. In such a hybrid vehicle, there is no need to install a power transmission mechanism such as a propeller shaft that transmits power from the hydrogen engine 11 to the rear wheels 17 inside the center tunnel 30, so the battery 16 can be installed inside the center tunnel 30.

[0033] The engine compartment 13, which houses the hydrogen engine 11 and the generator 15, may constitute the hybrid vehicle 10 as a vehicle employing a rear-engine vehicle layout where the engine compartment is located at the rear of the passenger compartment 12.

[0034] (Additional notes) [Note 1] A hybrid vehicle comprising a passenger compartment, a center tunnel extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and provided in the central part of the vehicle width direction beneath the floor of the passenger compartment, a hydrogen engine, a generator that generates electricity using power from the hydrogen engine, a battery that stores the electricity generated by the generator, and a hydrogen tank that stores the hydrogen to be burned by the hydrogen engine, wherein the battery is installed inside the center tunnel.

[0035] [Note 2] The hybrid vehicle as described in Note 1, wherein the hydrogen tank is installed in the area behind the battery in the underfloor of the passenger compartment. [Note 3] The hybrid vehicle according to Note 1 or Note 2, wherein the hydrogen engine and the generator are installed in an engine compartment located in the part of the vehicle forward of the passenger compartment.

[0036] [Note 4] A hybrid vehicle according to any one of Notes 1 to 3, wherein an electric drive unit that receives power from the battery and drives the rear wheels of the hybrid vehicle is mounted at the rear of the vehicle.

[0037] [Note 5] The hybrid vehicle according to Note 4, wherein the high-voltage cable connecting the battery and the electric drive unit and the exhaust pipe of the hydrogen engine are installed so as to sandwich the battery in the vehicle width direction.

[0038] [Note 6] A hybrid vehicle according to any one of Notes 1 to 5, comprising: a urea water tank for storing urea water; a catalytic device provided in the exhaust pipe of the hydrogen engine for selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides using urea water as a reducing agent; and a urea water inlet for injecting urea water into the urea water tank from outside the vehicle, wherein the urea water tank is located in front of the hydrogen tank under the floor of the passenger compartment and on the side of the battery, and the urea water inlet is located on the side of the left or right side of the hybrid vehicle on which the urea water tank is located as viewed from the battery.

[0039] [Note 7] The hybrid vehicle as described in Note 6, wherein the urea water tank is installed under the floor of the passenger compartment, in a location that sandwiches the battery between the exhaust pipe and the tank in the vehicle width direction. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0040] 10 Hybrid Vehicles 11 Hydrogen engine 12 Cabin 13. Engine compartment 14. Dashboard 15 Generators 16 batteries 17 Rear wheel 18 Electric drive unit 19 Power control unit 20 High-voltage cables 21 Hydrogen tanks 22 Exhaust pipe 23 Catalyst device 24 Urea solution tank 25 Urea water inlet 26 Driver's seat 27 Passenger seat 28 Rear seats 29 Floor Panel 30 Center Tunnel

Claims

1. A hybrid vehicle comprising: a passenger compartment; a center tunnel extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and located in the central part of the vehicle width direction beneath the floor of the passenger compartment; a hydrogen engine; a generator that generates electricity using power from the hydrogen engine; a battery that stores the electricity generated by the generator; and a hydrogen tank that stores the hydrogen burned by the hydrogen engine, The battery is installed such that at least a portion of it is located inside the center tunnel. An electric drive unit that receives power from the aforementioned battery and drives the rear wheels of the hybrid vehicle is mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The high-voltage cable connecting the battery and the electric drive unit, and the exhaust pipe of the hydrogen engine are installed so as to sandwich the battery in the vehicle width direction. Hybrid vehicle.

2. A hybrid vehicle comprising: a passenger compartment; a center tunnel extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and located in the central part of the vehicle width direction beneath the floor of the passenger compartment; a hydrogen engine; a generator that generates electricity using power from the hydrogen engine; a battery that stores the electricity generated by the generator; a hydrogen tank for storing hydrogen burned by the hydrogen engine; a urea water tank for storing urea water; a catalytic converter provided in the exhaust pipe of the hydrogen engine that performs selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides using urea water as a reducing agent; and a urea water inlet for injecting urea water into the urea water tank from outside the vehicle, The battery is installed such that at least a portion of it is located inside the center tunnel. The urea water tank is installed in the vehicle's forward position, beyond the hydrogen tank located under the floor of the passenger compartment, and on the side of the battery. The urea solution inlet is installed on one of the left or right sides of the hybrid vehicle, on the side where the urea solution tank is located, as viewed from the battery. Hybrid vehicle.

3. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrogen tank is installed in a portion of the vehicle rearward of the battery, under the floor of the passenger compartment.

4. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the hydrogen engine and the generator are installed in an engine compartment located in the part of the vehicle forward of the passenger compartment.

5. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the urea water tank is installed under the floor of the passenger compartment in a location that sandwiches the battery between it and the exhaust pipe in the vehicle width direction.

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