Hybrid electric vehicle

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle comprises a passenger compartment, a center tunnel extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle provided in the central part in the width direction beneath the floor of the passenger compartment, a hydrogen engine, a generator that generates power by receiving power from the hydrogen engine, a battery that stores the power generated by the generator, and a hydrogen tank that stores hydrogen combusted in the hydrogen engine. The battery is installed such that at least a portion of it is located inside the center tunnel.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a hybrid vehicle equipped with a hydrogen engine. Background Technology

[0002] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-19927 describes a hydrogen engine vehicle equipped with a hydrogen tank at the rear of the vehicle.

[0003] When a hydrogen engine is adopted as the engine for a hybrid vehicle, it is necessary to install a large-capacity hydrogen tank to extend the driving range. In addition, hybrid vehicles require a larger-capacity battery than conventional engine vehicles.

[0004] A hybrid vehicle of one embodiment of the present disclosure comprises a passenger compartment, a center tunnel extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle provided in a central portion in the width direction below the floor of the passenger compartment, a hydrogen engine, a generator that generates power by receiving power from the hydrogen engine, a battery that stores the power generated by the generator, and a hydrogen tank that stores hydrogen combusted in the hydrogen engine. The battery is installed such that at least a portion thereof is located inside the center tunnel. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0005] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a hydrogen tank, battery, etc., viewed from below the vehicle in one embodiment of a hybrid vehicle. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a hydrogen tank, battery, etc., viewed from above the vehicle of the hybrid vehicle of FIG. 1. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the structure under the floor of a hybrid vehicle along line 3-3 of Figure 2. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0006] Generally, in hybrid vehicles, it is conceivable to install both the hydrogen tank and the battery beneath the cabin floor, for instance, to maximize cabin space. Components such as the wheel suspension and the hydrogen engine's exhaust pipe are also installed beneath the vehicle floor. Furthermore, when mounting the hydrogen tank and battery beneath the floor, the vehicle's minimum ground clearance must also be considered. Consequently, if a large-capacity battery is installed beneath the cabin floor, it may become difficult to install a large-capacity hydrogen tank there as well.

[0007] The hybrid vehicle of the present disclosure facilitates the mounting of a large-capacity hydrogen tank and a battery under the floor of the passenger compartment.

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a hybrid vehicle will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2. The hybrid vehicle (10) of this embodiment is configured as a series-type hybrid vehicle that adopts a front engine and rear drive vehicle layout. In addition, among the arrows indicated in FIGS. 1 and FIGS. 2, “FR” indicates the front of the vehicle, “RR” indicates the rear of the vehicle, “LF” indicates the left side of the vehicle, and “RF” indicates the right side of the vehicle.

[0009] <Configuration of the drivetrain of a hybrid vehicle (10)>

[0010] First, referring to FIG. 1, the configuration of the drive system of the hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment will be explained. A passenger compartment (12) is provided inside the hybrid vehicle (10). The passenger compartment (12) of the hybrid vehicle (10) is configured to be a single compartment connecting the passenger compartment for passengers and the luggage compartment for luggage, but it may also be configured so that the passenger compartment and the luggage compartment are separated into individual compartments. In the part of the vehicle forward of the passenger compartment (12) of the hybrid vehicle (10), an engine compartment (13) in which a hydrogen engine (11) is installed is provided. Between the passenger compartment (12) and the engine compartment (13), a dash panel (14) is provided to partition them.

[0011] In the engine compartment (13), a generator (15) is installed to generate power by receiving power from a hydrogen engine (11). In the rear of the hybrid vehicle (10), an electric drive unit (18) is installed to drive the rear wheels (17) by receiving power supply. The electric drive unit (18) is a unit that integrates a motor, a reduction gear mechanism, a differential mechanism, etc., and is connected to the rear wheels (17). In addition, the hybrid vehicle (10) is equipped with a battery (16) that stores power generated by the generator (15). The generator (15), the battery (16), and the electric drive unit (18) are electrically connected to each other via a power control unit (19) installed in the engine compartment (13).

[0012] <Arrangement of the structure under the floor of the hybrid vehicle (10)>

[0013] A hybrid vehicle (10) is equipped with a hydrogen tank (21) that stores hydrogen burned in a hydrogen engine (11). In this embodiment, the hybrid vehicle (10) is equipped with five hydrogen tanks (21).

[0014] Meanwhile, a catalytic device (23) that performs selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides using urea solution as a reducing agent is installed in the exhaust pipe (22) of the hydrogen engine (11). Additionally, the hybrid vehicle (10) is equipped with a urea solution tank (24) that stores urea solution added to the exhaust flowing into the catalytic device (23). In this embodiment, a resin tank is used for the urea solution tank (24).

[0015] The hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment is configured to have a battery (16), each hydrogen tank (21), and a urea tank (24) mounted under the floor of the vehicle cabin (12). Four of the five hydrogen tanks (21) are installed side by side in the vehicle width direction in the part of the vehicle front of the electric drive unit (18) under the floor of the vehicle cabin (12). The remaining hydrogen tank (21) is installed in the part of the vehicle rear of the electric drive unit (18) under the floor of the vehicle cabin (12). The battery (16) and the urea tank (24) are installed in the part of the vehicle front of each hydrogen tank (21) under the floor of the vehicle cabin (12). More specifically, in the part of the vehicle front of each hydrogen tank (21) under the floor of the vehicle cabin (12), the battery (16) is installed in the central part of the vehicle width direction. Additionally, in the portion of the vehicle's front side, above each hydrogen tank (21) located under the floor of the vehicle's cabin (12), a urea tank (24) is installed on the left side of the vehicle's battery (16). Furthermore, on the left side of the hybrid vehicle (10), a urea injection port (25) is installed to inject urea into the urea tank (24) from outside the vehicle.

[0016] Additionally, a high-voltage cable (20) is installed below the floor of the vehicle cabin (12) and connected from the battery (16) to the electric drive unit (18) via the power control unit (19). The high-voltage cable (20) is wired through the left side of the vehicle, passing through the battery (16) and each hydrogen tank (21) below the floor of the vehicle cabin (12). Meanwhile, the exhaust pipe (22) of the hydrogen engine (11) equipped with the catalytic converter (23) is extended in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, passing through the right side of the vehicle, passing through the battery (16) and each hydrogen tank (21) below the floor of the vehicle cabin (12).

[0017] FIG. 2 shows the arrangement of the battery (16) and each hydrogen tank (21) as viewed from above the vehicle of the hybrid vehicle (10). FIG. 3 also shows a cross-sectional view of the structure under the floor of the hybrid vehicle (10) along line 3-3 of FIG. 2. In the front part of the vehicle of the cabin (12), the driver's seat (26) and the passenger seat (27) are installed spaced apart in the width direction, and the rear seat (28) is installed behind them. The floor panel (29) constituting the floor surface of the cabin (12) has a so-called floor tunnel formed in the central part in the width direction, which protrudes upward from the vehicle than the parts on both sides. As a result, a center tunnel (30) is formed under the floor of the cabin (12), passing through the central part in the width direction, that is, the part between the driver's seat (26) and the passenger seat (27), and extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In the hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment, a battery (16) is installed inside the center tunnel (30).

[0018] <Operation of the embodiment>

[0019] In the case of a conventional engine vehicle that adopts a front-engine, rear-drive vehicle layout, a propeller shaft is installed in the center tunnel to transmit power from the engine installed at the front of the vehicle to the rear wheels. In the case of the hybrid vehicle (10) of this embodiment, a front-engine, rear-drive vehicle layout is realized by installing a hydrogen engine (11) for power generation at the front of the vehicle and an electric drive unit (18) that receives power supply and drives the rear wheels (17) at the rear of the vehicle. Since a propeller shaft is unnecessary for such a hybrid vehicle (10), it is possible to install a battery (16) inside the center tunnel (30).

[0020] When the battery (16) is installed in a part other than the center tunnel (30) under the floor of the passenger compartment (12), the vertical dimensions of the battery (16) are limited due to constraints caused by the minimum ground height of the hybrid vehicle (10). If the capacity of the battery (16) is increased without increasing the vertical dimensions, the vertical dimensions of the battery (16) become larger. In such a case, the battery (16) occupies a significant portion of the space under the floor of the passenger compartment (12), thereby reducing the space available for mounting the hydrogen tank (21) under the floor of the passenger compartment (12). In contrast, in the case of the hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment, the battery (16) is installed inside the center tunnel (30). Therefore, the vertical dimensions of the battery (16) can be made larger than when the battery (16) is installed in a part other than the center tunnel (30) under the floor of the passenger compartment (12). As a result, since the increase in the dimensions of the battery (16) in the vehicle's front-to-rear and vehicle width directions due to the increase in capacity can be suppressed, it is easy to secure the installation space for the hydrogen tank (21) under the floor of the vehicle's cabin (12).

[0021] <Effect of the embodiment>

[0022] The hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment configured as described above exhibits the following effects.

[0023] (1) The hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment is provided with a center tunnel (30) extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, which is provided in the central part of the vehicle width direction below the floor of the vehicle cabin (12). In addition, the hybrid vehicle (10) is provided with a hydrogen engine (11), a generator (15) that generates power by receiving power from the hydrogen engine (11), a battery (16) that stores power generated by the generator (15), and a hydrogen tank (21) that stores hydrogen combusted in the hydrogen engine (11). Furthermore, the hybrid vehicle (10) is configured to install the battery (16) so that it is located inside the center tunnel (30). By installing the battery (16) inside the center tunnel (30), the reduction in the installation space of the hydrogen tank (21) due to the increase in the capacity of the battery (16) is suppressed. Therefore, it becomes easy to increase the capacity of the hydrogen tank (21) along with the increase in the capacity of the battery (16). In this way, the hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment has the effect of facilitating the installation of a large-capacity hydrogen tank (21) and a battery (16) under the floor of the vehicle cabin (12).

[0024] (2) In the hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment, the hydrogen tank (21) is installed in a rear portion of the vehicle, below the floor of the passenger compartment (12), and the battery (16). In addition, the hydrogen engine (11) and the generator (15) are installed in an engine compartment (13) provided in a front portion of the vehicle, above the passenger compartment (12). By doing so, the arrangement of the hydrogen engine (11), generator (15), battery (16), and hydrogen tank (21) is optimized.

[0025] (3) In the hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment, an electric drive unit (18) is mounted at the rear of the vehicle to drive the rear wheel (17) of the hybrid vehicle (10) by receiving power from the battery (16). In this hybrid vehicle (10), a front engine rear drive vehicle layout can be realized without installing a propeller shaft that transmits power from the hydrogen engine (11) to the rear wheel (17) inside the center tunnel (30). Therefore, it is possible to mount the battery (16) inside the center tunnel (30).

[0026] (4) A high-voltage cable (20) is installed in the left-side portion of the vehicle, above the battery (16) and each hydrogen tank (21) located below the floor of the vehicle cabin (12), and is connected from the battery (16) to the electric drive unit (18) via the power control unit (19). Meanwhile, the exhaust pipe (22) of the hydrogen engine (11) is installed in the right-side portion of the vehicle, above the battery (16) and each hydrogen tank (21) located below the floor of the vehicle cabin (12). In this way, the exhaust pipe (22) of the hydrogen engine (11) and the high-voltage cable (20) are installed below the floor of the vehicle cabin (12) of the hybrid vehicle (10) of this embodiment, with the battery (16) in between. Since the high-voltage cable (20) can be installed in a location away from the exhaust pipe (22) through which high-temperature exhaust flows, the high-voltage cable (20) can be protected from heat damage from the exhaust.

[0027] (5) A catalytic device (23) for performing selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides using urea as a reducing agent is installed in the exhaust pipe (22) of the hydrogen engine (11) mounted on the hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment. In addition, the hybrid vehicle (10) is provided with a urea tank (24) for storing urea and a urea injection port (25) for injecting urea into the urea tank (24) from outside the vehicle. The urea injection port (25) is installed on the left side of the hybrid vehicle (10). The urea tank (24) is installed in front of each hydrogen tank (21) and on the left side of the vehicle where the battery (16) is located, below the floor of the vehicle cabin (12). That is, in the hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment, the urea tank (24) is installed in front of the vehicle where the hydrogen tank (21) is located, and on the side of the vehicle where the battery (16) is located. Additionally, among the left and right sides of the hybrid vehicle (10), a urea injection port (25) is installed on the side where the urea tank (24) is located when viewed from the battery (16). Conversely, it is conceivable to install a urea injection port (25) on the side of the hybrid vehicle (10) opposite to the side where the urea tank (24) is located when viewed from the battery (16). In this case, the pipe connecting the urea injection port (25) and the urea tank (24) must be installed to traverse under the floor of the vehicle cabin (12), and there is a possibility that the installation space for the battery (16) or each hydrogen tank (21) may be limited by the pipe. In contrast, in the hybrid vehicle (10) of the present embodiment, both the urea tank (24) and the urea injection port (25) are installed on the left side of the hybrid vehicle (10). For this reason, the installation space of the battery (16) and each hydrogen tank (21) under the floor of the vehicle room (12) is not limited by the piping connecting the urea tank (24) and the urea injection port (25).

[0028] (6) A urea tank (24) is installed in the left side of the vehicle, above the battery (16) located under the floor of the vehicle (12), while the exhaust pipe (22) of the hydrogen engine (11) is installed in the right side of the vehicle, above the battery (16) located under the floor of the vehicle (12). That is, in the hybrid vehicle (10) of this embodiment, the urea tank (24) is installed in the area where the battery (16) is placed between the exhaust pipe (22) and the vehicle width direction under the floor of the vehicle (12). Therefore, the urea tank (24) can be protected from heat damage caused by high-temperature exhaust flowing through the exhaust pipe (22).

[0029] (Other embodiments)

[0030] The above embodiments may be implemented with modifications as follows. The above embodiments and the following modifications may be implemented in combination with one another to the extent that they are not technically contradictory.

[0031] · The urea tank (24) and the urea injection port (25) may be installed at locations different from those in FIG. 1. For example, the urea tank (24) may be installed to the right of the battery (16) and the urea injection port (25) may be installed on the right side of the hybrid vehicle (10). Additionally, among the left and right sides of the hybrid vehicle (10), the urea injection port (25) may be installed on the side opposite to the side where the urea tank (24) is located when viewed from the battery (16).

[0032] · In cases where the urea tank (24) is constructed of a heat-resistant material, the urea tank (24) may be installed on the same side as the exhaust pipe (22) among the left and right sides of the battery (16) located under the floor of the passenger compartment (12).

[0033] · If the urea SCR system is not installed, the hybrid vehicle (10) may be configured with the catalytic device (23) for performing selective catalytic reduction, the urea tank (24), and the urea injection port (25) omitted.

[0034] · In cases where other heat damage countermeasures are taken, the high-voltage cable (20) may be installed on the same side as the exhaust pipe (22) among the left and right sides of the battery (16) located under the floor of the car room (12).

[0035] · If the hydrogen tank (21) is located in a rear part of the vehicle rather than the battery (16) located under the floor of the passenger compartment (12), it may be arranged in a different location and direction than in the above embodiment. Additionally, the number of hydrogen tanks (21) may be changed. For example, one or more hydrogen tanks (21) may be arranged in a rear part of the vehicle rather than the battery (16) located inside the center tunnel (30). Additionally, hydrogen tanks (21) may be installed at a location different from the rear part of the vehicle rather than the battery (16) located under the floor of the passenger compartment (12).

[0036] · The position and orientation of the battery (16) inside the center tunnel (30) may be appropriately changed. Additionally, the battery (16) may be installed such that a portion of it is located inside the center tunnel (30), while the remaining portion is located outside the center tunnel (30). The battery (16) only needs to be installed such that at least a portion thereof is located inside the center tunnel (30).

[0037] · The layout of the seats in the hybrid vehicle (10) can be changed arbitrarily.

[0038] · A hybrid vehicle (10) may be configured as a four-wheel drive vehicle that drives the front wheels with the power of a hydrogen engine (11). In that case, the generator (15) may be configured to have the function of an electric motor that generates driving force. Additionally, a 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). That is, the layout of the battery (16), hydrogen tank (21), etc. in the hybrid vehicle (10) of the above embodiment and modified example can be applied to any hybrid vehicle in which the power of the hydrogen engine (11) installed in the entire vehicle is not used for driving the rear wheels (17). In such a hybrid vehicle, since there is no need to install a power transmission mechanism, such as a propeller shaft, that transmits power to the rear wheels (17) of the hydrogen engine (11) inside the center tunnel (30), the installation of the battery (16) inside the center tunnel (30) can be realized.

[0039] · A hybrid vehicle (10) may be configured as a vehicle that adopts a rear engine vehicle layout in which an engine compartment (13) equipped with a hydrogen engine (11) and a generator (15) is provided at the rear of the vehicle in the passenger compartment (12).

Claims

Claim 1 A hybrid vehicle comprising a passenger compartment, a center tunnel extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle provided in the central part in the width direction below the floor of the passenger compartment, a hydrogen engine, a generator that generates power by receiving power from the hydrogen engine, a battery that stores the power generated by the generator, and a hydrogen tank that stores hydrogen combusted in the hydrogen engine, wherein at least a portion of the battery is installed to be located inside the center tunnel. Claim 2 A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen tank is installed in a rear portion of the vehicle above the battery, below the floor of the passenger compartment. Claim 3 A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen engine and the generator are installed in an engine compartment located in a portion of the vehicle's front section, above the passenger compartment. Claim 4 A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising an electric drive unit mounted on the rear of the vehicle, wherein the electric drive unit receives power from the battery and drives the rear wheels of the hybrid vehicle. Claim 5 A hybrid vehicle according to claim 4, additionally comprising a high-voltage cable connecting the battery and the electric drive unit and an exhaust pipe of the hydrogen engine, wherein the high-voltage cable and the exhaust pipe are installed such that the battery is positioned between them in the vehicle width direction. Claim 6 A hybrid vehicle according to claim 1, additionally comprising: a urea tank for storing urea solution; a catalytic device provided in the exhaust pipe of the hydrogen engine for performing selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides using urea solution as a reducing agent; and a urea injection port for injecting urea solution into the urea tank from outside the vehicle, wherein the urea tank is installed in front of the vehicle above the hydrogen tank under the floor of the vehicle cabin and also in a vehicle-side portion of the battery, and the urea injection port is installed on the side of the left and right sides of the hybrid vehicle where the urea tank is located when viewed from the battery. Claim 7 In claim 6, the urea tank is installed in a hybrid vehicle in a portion where the battery is positioned between the exhaust pipe and the floor of the vehicle cabin in the vehicle width direction.

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