Saddle-riding electric vehicle

Abstract

A saddle-riding electric vehicle (1) comprises: a motor (50) that drives a drive wheel (3); a battery (100) storing electricity for driving the motor (50); a vehicle body frame (5) supporting the battery (100); a swing arm (30) supporting the rear wheel (3) and swingably coupled to the vehicle body frame (5); and a rear cushion (32) having a first end part coupled to the vehicle body frame (5) and a second end part coupled to the swing arm (30). The battery (100) straddles over the rear cushion (32) in the front-rear direction. A rear cushion support part (61) coupled to the rear cushion (32) and a battery securing part (62) to which the battery (100) is secured are located forward of the rear end of the battery (100) and are formed in the same support member (22a) connected to the vehicle body frame (5).

Description

Saddle-type electric vehicle

[0001] The present invention relates to a saddle-ride type electric vehicle.

[0002] In recent years, efforts to realize a low-carbon or carbon-free society have become more active, and research and development of saddle-type electric vehicles has been conducted to reduce CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency in vehicles. Some saddle-type electric vehicles include a drive motor and a battery unit that supplies power to the motor (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses a battery pack attached to a vehicle body, which includes a casing and a battery housed in the casing and configured with multiple cells to serve as the power source for the electric motor. The battery pack has a rearward protrusion at the top that protrudes rearward and is positioned above a motor unit case, and a downward protrusion at the front that protrudes downward and is positioned in front of the motor unit case.

[0003] Japanese Patent No. 6002233

[0004] In the field of saddle-ride type electric vehicles, it is desirable to increase the size and capacity of batteries in order to increase the vehicle's driving time. However, in saddle-ride type electric vehicles, components such as a rear suspension, a motor, and an inverter may be arranged around the battery, so it is necessary to secure space for arranging the larger battery. Furthermore, when the battery is enlarged, it is necessary to ensure sufficient rigidity of the structure supporting the battery.

[0005] The present invention provides a saddle-type electric vehicle that can support a large-capacity battery with high rigidity, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable transportation systems.

[0006] (1) One aspect of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the present invention comprises a motor (50) that drives drive wheels (3), a battery (100) that stores power to drive the motor (50), a body frame (5) that supports the battery (100), a swing arm (30) that supports a rear wheel (3) and is swingably connected to the body frame (5), and a rear cushion (32) that has a first end connected to the body frame (5) and a second end connected to the swing arm (30), wherein the battery (100) straddles above the rear cushion (32) in the fore-and-aft direction, and a rear cushion support part (61) connected to the rear cushion (32) and a battery fixing part (62) to which the battery (100) is fixed are located forward of the rear end of the battery (100) and are formed on the same support member (22a) that is connected to the body frame (5).

[0007] According to the present invention, by utilizing the space behind the rear cushion support portion, it is possible to increase the size and capacity of the battery without affecting the rear wheel suspension structure. Moreover, because the rear cushion support portion and the battery fixing portion are provided in the same location connected to the body frame, it is possible to ensure sufficient rigidity of the structure supporting the battery compared to a configuration in which a bracket solely for fixing the battery is provided on the body frame.

[0008] (2) In the saddle-type electric vehicle of the above aspect (1), the battery (100) may have a main portion (101) that forms the front portion of the battery (100) and a rearward extending portion (102) that extends rearward from the main portion (101) and has a smaller vertical dimension than the main portion (101), and the rear cushion support portion (61) may be disposed in a position rearward of the main portion (101) and lower than the rearward extending portion (102).

[0009] With the above-described configuration, the rear cushion support portion and the battery fixing portion can be made compact by utilizing the space behind the main portion of the battery and below the rearward extending portion of the battery.

[0010] (3) In the saddle-type electric vehicle of the above aspect (2), the battery (100) has battery cells (109), and the number of the battery cells (109) in the rear extension portion (102) may be less than the number of the battery cells (109) in the main portion (101).

[0011] With the above configuration, the rearward extending portion can be made smaller than the main portion, making it easier to extend the battery rearward from the main portion without interfering with the rear cushion support portion, thereby enabling a larger battery capacity.

[0012] (4) In the saddle-type electric vehicle of the above aspect (3), the battery cells (109) of the rear extension portion (102) may be integrated to form a battery module (108), and the battery module (108) of the rear extension portion (102) may be arranged so that its longitudinal direction is along the fore-and-aft direction when viewed from the side.

[0013] With the above configuration, the vertical dimension of the rearward extending portion can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the battery modules are arranged so that their longitudinal directions are aligned vertically in the rearward extending portion, which allows for a larger space below the rearward extending portion and improves the layout flexibility of the components arranged below the rearward extending portion.

[0014] (5) In a saddle-type electric vehicle according to any one of the above aspects (2) to (4), a seat (9) for a passenger to sit on is arranged above the rear extension portion (102), and the upper end of the rear extension portion (102) may be located at a lower position than the upper end of the main portion (101).

[0015] With the above-described configuration, the seat extending upward and forward can be disposed from above the rearward extending portion to above the main portion, thereby making effective use of the space above the battery.

[0016] (6) In the saddle-type electric vehicle according to any one of the above aspects (2) to (5), the body frame (5) has a head pipe (16) through which a steering shaft that steers the front wheel (2) is inserted so as to be free to rotate, a pair of main frames (17) having a front end connected to the head pipe (16) and branching out to the left and right from the front end to extend rearward in a space outside the vehicle width direction of the battery (100), and a pair of pivot frames (18) connected to the rear ends of the pair of main frames (17) and on which a swing shaft (33) that swingably supports the swing arm (30) is installed, and the connection portion of the pair of main frames (17) and the pair of pivot frames (18) is located rearward of the main portion (101) and below the rear extension portion (102), and the minimum width of the pair of pivot frames (18) may be narrower than the maximum width of the pair of main frames (17).

[0017] With the above configuration, the pair of pivot frames located at the bottom of the vehicle can be made narrower than the pair of main frames by utilizing the space behind the main portion and below the rear extension portion, making it easier to set a large maximum bank angle for the saddle-ride type electric vehicle.

[0018] (7) In the saddle-type electric vehicle according to any one of the above aspects (1) to (6), the battery (100) may have a downward extension portion (103) that extends downward from the main portion (101) and has a smaller longitudinal dimension than the main portion (101).

[0019] With the above-described configuration, the space below the main portion can be utilized to increase the size of the battery, thereby increasing the battery capacity.

[0020] (8) In the saddle-type electric vehicle of the above aspect (7), the battery (100) has battery cells (109), and the number of the battery cells (109) in the downward extension portion (103) may be less than the number of the battery cells (109) in the main portion (101).

[0021] With the above configuration, the downward extension can be made smaller than the main portion, so the limited space below the main portion can be utilized to make the battery larger, thereby increasing the battery capacity.

[0022] (9) In the saddle-type electric vehicle of the above aspect (7) or (8), the battery cells (109) of the downward extension portion (103) may be integrated to form a battery module (108), and the battery module (108) of the downward extension portion (103) may be arranged so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the vertical direction when viewed from the side.

[0023] With the above configuration, the dimension of the downward extension in the front-to-rear direction can be made smaller than in a configuration in which the battery modules are arranged in the downward extension so that their longitudinal direction is aligned with the front-to-rear direction, which allows for a larger space to be provided behind the downward extension, thereby improving the degree of freedom in the layout of components arranged behind the downward extension.

[0024] (10) In the saddle-type electric vehicle of any of the above aspects (7) to (9), the body frame (5) has a head pipe (16) through which a steering shaft that supports the front wheel (2) so as to be steerable is rotatably inserted, and a down frame (19) that extends rearward and downward from the head pipe (16) through a space in front of the battery (100), and the front end of the downward extension portion (103) may be located rearward of the front end of the main portion (101).

[0025] With the above-described configuration, the battery is less likely to interfere with the down frame when it is moved upward to remove it from the body frame. The same is true when it is moved downward to attach it to the body frame. Therefore, the ease of attaching and detaching the battery can be improved.

[0026] (11) In the saddle-type electric vehicle of any of the above aspects (2) to (10), the motor (50) may be arranged below the battery (100), and the body frame (5) may have a cross frame (22) that connects the pair of main frames (17) or the pair of pivot frames (18) and is located rearward of the main portion (101) and below the rear extension portion (102), the support member (22a) that extends from the cross frame (22) and has the rear cushion support portion (61) and the battery fixing portion (62) formed therein, and a second extension member (22b) that extends in a direction different from the support member (22a) from a region of the cross frame (22) to which the support member (22a) is connected in the vehicle width direction and has a motor fixing portion (63) to which the motor (50) is fixed formed therein.

[0027] With the above-described configuration, the battery fixing portion and the motor fixing portion are formed in a common area in the vehicle width direction on the cross frame, thereby improving the support rigidity of the battery and the motor.

[0028] According to the above-described saddle-type electric vehicle, a battery with a large capacity can be supported with high rigidity.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a left side view of an electric motorcycle (saddle-ride type electric vehicle) 1 according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a left side view of a main part of the electric motorcycle; FIG. 3 is a plan view (top view) of a main part of the electric motorcycle; FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a frame main body of the electric motorcycle; FIG. 5 is a rear view of the periphery of a cross member in the frame main body; FIG. 6 is a left side view of the periphery of the cross member; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a battery unit of the electric motorcycle; FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the battery unit; and FIG. 9 is a left side view showing the interior of the battery unit.

[0030] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that directions such as front, rear, up, down, left, and right in the following description are the same as directions in a vehicle described below. That is, the up and down direction corresponds to the vertical direction, and the left and right direction corresponds to the vehicle width direction. In the vehicle width direction, a direction away from the vehicle width center is referred to as the outward direction in the vehicle width direction, and a direction approaching the vehicle width center is referred to as the inward direction in the vehicle width direction. Furthermore, in the drawings used in the following description, the arrow UP indicates upward, the arrow FR indicates forward, and the arrow LH indicates left. In the drawings, the line CL indicates the vehicle width centerline (vehicle width center).

[0031] Figure 1 is a left side view of an electric motorcycle (saddle-ride type electric vehicle) 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the electric motorcycle 1 according to this embodiment is an off-road saddle-ride type electric vehicle. The electric motorcycle 1 has a large vertical stroke for the wheels, a large ground clearance for the body, a small and lightweight body, and a concentrated mass for the body. The electric motorcycle 1 includes a front wheel 2, a rear wheel 3, a front wheel suspension system 4, a body frame 5, a body cover 6, a rear wheel suspension system 7, a power unit 8, and a battery unit 100.

[0032] The front wheel suspension system 4 includes a pair of left and right front forks 10 that support the front wheel 2 at their lower ends, a top bridge 11 and a bottom bridge 12 that span the upper portions of the pair of front forks 10, and a stem pipe (not shown) that spans between the top bridge 11 and the bottom bridge 12 and is inserted into a head pipe 16. The front wheel 2 is steerably supported on the head pipe 16 of the body frame 5 via the front wheel suspension system 4. A steering handlebar 13 is supported on the top bridge 11. In the embodiment, a telescopic front fork 10 is illustrated as an example of the front suspension of the electric motorcycle 1, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the front suspension may be of another type, such as a link type that uses a swing arm.

[0033] Figure 2 is a left side view of essential parts of the electric motorcycle 1. Figure 3 is a plan view (top view) of essential parts of the electric motorcycle 1. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the body frame 5 includes a head pipe 16, a pair of left and right main frames 17, a pair of left and right pivot frames 18, a single down frame 19, a pair of left and right lower frames 20, a pair of left and right gussets 21, a cross member 22, and a lower cross member 23, which are joined together by welding or the like. Hereinafter, the assembly of these frame members that are inseparably integrated will be referred to as the "frame main body."

[0034] The head pipe 16 is located at the vehicle width center CL and is provided singly at the front end of the body frame 5. A stem pipe (steering shaft) is inserted through the head pipe 16 and rotatably supported therein.

[0035] The pair of main frames 17 branch out to the left and right from the upper part of the head pipe 16 and extend rearward and downward. In this embodiment, the main frames 17 are hollow pipe-shaped. However, the main frames may also be solid. The pair of main frames 17 are joined to each other at their respective front ends. In a plan view seen from above, the front portions of the pair of main frames 17 extend while curving so as to bulge outward in the vehicle width direction behind the head pipe 16. In a plan view seen from above, the rear portions of the pair of main frames 17 extend linearly along the fore-and-aft direction.

[0036] The pair of pivot frames 18 are connected to the rear ends of the main frames 17 on the same left and right sides. In this embodiment, the pivot frames 18 are hollow pipe-shaped members provided separately from the main frames 17. By connecting the pivot frames 18 to the rear ends of the main frames 17, they are inseparably integrated with the main frames 17. However, the pivot frames may be solid. The pair of pivot frames 18 extend rearward and downward from the rear ends of the main frames 17. The pivot frames 18 extend rearward and downward at a steeper inclination than the main frames 17 in the fore-and-aft direction in a side view, with the connection between the main frames 17 and the pivot frames 18 as the boundary. The pair of pivot frames 18 extend in a curved, rearward-convex arc shape in a side view. A pivot shaft 33 extending in the vehicle width direction is installed between the middle portions of the pair of pivot frames 18 near the lower ends in the up-down direction. Note that the term "middle" used in this embodiment refers not only to the center between both ends of an object, but also to the inner range between both ends of an object.

[0037] 2 and 4, the pair of pivot frames 18 have a shape that convex outward in the vehicle width direction so that their maximum width in the vehicle width direction is at their respective vertically intermediate portions. The pair of pivot frames 18 have a minimum width near their lower ends. The minimum width of the pair of pivot frames 18 is narrower than the maximum width of the pair of main frames 17.

[0038] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the down frame 19 extends rearward and downward from the lower part of the head pipe 16. In a side view, the down frame 19 extends rearward and downward at a steeper incline than the main frame 17. A radiator 91 for cooling the power unit 8 is attached to at least one of the left and right side portions of the down frame 19 (the left side in this embodiment). A first mount bracket 45 is provided on the down frame 19. The first mount bracket 45 is joined to the vertical middle portion of the down frame 19. The first mount bracket 45 protrudes rearward from the down frame 19.

[0039] The pair of lower frames 20 branch out to the left and right from the lower end of the down frame 19 and extend rearward. The rear end of each of the pair of lower frames 20 is connected to the lower end of the pivot frame 18 on the same side as the left and right. A second mount bracket 47 is provided on each lower frame 20. The second mount bracket 47 is provided on the front end of each of the left and right lower frames 20. The second mount bracket 47 extends upward from each lower frame 20. The second mount bracket 47 is formed integrally with the lower frame 20.

[0040] The pair of gussets 21 connect the left and right main frames 17 and the down frames 19 on the same side. The pair of gussets 21 branch off to the left and right from a middle portion of the down frame 19 near the top in the up-down direction and extend rearward. The rear ends of the pair of gussets 21 are connected to middle portions of the left and right main frames 17 on the same side in the front-to-rear direction.

[0041] The cross member 22 extends in the vehicle width direction and connects the rear portions of the pair of main frames 17 (or the upper portions of the pair of pivot frames 18).

[0042] The lower cross member 23 extends in the vehicle width direction and connects the lower parts of the pair of pivot frames 18 below the pivot shaft 33. A link support bracket 23a extending rearward is fixed to the lower cross member 23. The front end of a link arm 34 is connected to the link support bracket 23a.

[0043] Fig. 5 is a top view of the frame main body around the cross member 22. Fig. 6 is a left side view of the frame main body around the cross member 22. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the body frame 5 includes a first extension member 22a (support member) and a second extension member 22b.

[0044] The first extension member 22a is provided at the center of the cross member 22 in the vehicle width direction. A pair of first extension members 22a are provided on the left and right sides with a gap between them on the vehicle width center CL. The pair of first extension members 22a extend rearward and upward from the cross member 22. The pair of first extension members 22a are formed with a rear cushion support portion 61 to which the upper end of the rear cushion 32 is connected, and a battery fixing portion 62 to which the battery unit 100 is fixed. The battery fixing portion 62 is provided at the tip of the first extension member 22a and is connected to the battery unit 100 via a shaft-shaped member extending in the vehicle width direction. The rear cushion support portion 61 is provided between the battery fixing portion 62 and the cross member 22 and is connected to the upper end of the rear cushion 32 (see FIG. 2) via a shaft-shaped member extending in the vehicle width direction.

[0045] The second extension member 22b extends in a direction different from that of the first extension member 22a from a region of the cross member 22 where the first extension member 22a is connected in the vehicle width direction. The second extension member 22b is provided on the vehicle width center CL. Both ends of the second extension member 22b in the vehicle width direction are located between both ends of the pair of first extension members 22a in the vehicle width direction. The second extension member 22b protrudes downward. A motor fixing portion 63 to which the power unit 8 is fixed is formed on the second extension member 22b.

[0046] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the body frame 5 further includes a pair of left and right seat rails 24 and a pair of left and right support rails 25. The front end of each of the left and right seat rails 24 is connected to the upper end of the pivot frame 18 on the same side. Each of the left and right seat rails 24 extends rearward and upward from the front end. A seat 9 is disposed above the left and right seat rails 24. The front and rear intermediate portions of the left and right seat rails 24 are connected to each other via a seat support bracket 28 that supports the load from the seat 9.

[0047] The left and right support rails 25 are located below the left and right seat rails 24. The front end of each of the left and right support rails 25 is connected to the vertical middle portion of the pivot frame 18 on the same side. Each of the left and right support rails 25 extends rearward and upward from the front end. The rear end of each of the left and right support rails 25 is connected from below to the rear portion of the seat rail 24 on the same side.

[0048] The rear portions of the left and right seat rails 24 are connected by a cross rail 26 that extends in the vehicle width direction. The pair of left and right seat rails 24, the pair of left and right support rails 25, and the cross rail 26 are joined together by welding or the like. Hereinafter, the assembly in which these frame members are inseparably integrated will be referred to as a subframe that can be attached to and detached from the frame main body. The subframe corresponds to a seat frame that supports the seat 9 from below.

[0049] The body frame 5 is of a semi-double cradle type. The body frame 5 mounts the power unit 8 including the motor 50 below the rear portions of the left and right main frames 17 behind the head pipe 16 and in front of the left and right pivot frames 18. The body frame 5 surrounds the power unit 8 from the front and below with a single down frame 19 and left and right lower frames 20.

[0050] A power unit 8 for running the vehicle is mounted inside the body frame 5, and a battery unit 100 for storing electricity to be supplied to the power unit 8 is mounted inside the body frame 5. The battery unit 100 can be inserted and removed from above through an opening between the left and right main frames 17. The front portions of the left and right main frames 17 and the left and right gussets 21 have a large curvature outward in the vehicle width direction to ensure clearance with the front portion of the battery unit 100.

[0051] The body cover 6 covers the body frame 5 and the like. The body cover 6 includes a pair of left and right front side cowls 41 and a pair of left and right rear side cowls 42.

[0052] The pair of front side cowls 41 are disposed from positions below the left and right sides of the front of the seat 9 to positions overlapping with the upper parts of the down frames 19 in a side view seen from the vehicle width direction. Each front side cowl 41 extends forward from below the front of the seat 9. Each front side cowl 41 extends so as to straddle the outward side of the main frame 17 on the same left or right side in the vehicle width direction. At least one of the front side cowls 41 functions as an air guide plate (radiator shroud) for the radiator 91 (see FIG. 3 ) supported on the side of the down frame 19.

[0053] The pair of rear side cowls 42 are respectively disposed below the left and right sides of the rear of the seat 9 in a side view. Each rear side cowl 42 is disposed so as to cover the seat rail 24 and the support rail 25 on the same left or right side from the outside in the vehicle width direction.

[0054] A rear fender 43r extends rearward behind the seat 9. The rear fender 43r is disposed above the rear wheel 3 at a distance. In the drawing, reference numeral 43f denotes a front fender that is disposed above the front wheel 2 at a distance and supported by the bottom bridge 12.

[0055] A top cover 44 is disposed in front of the seat 9. The top cover 44 is disposed between the upper ends of the front and rear middle portions of the pair of front side cowls 41. The top cover 44 covers the second storage portion 113 (see FIG. 7 ) of the main portion 101 of the battery unit 100 from above.

[0056] The rear wheel suspension system 7 comprises a swing arm 30 which supports the rear wheel 3 at its rear end, a link mechanism 31 which connects the front of the swing arm 30 to the lower cross member 23, and a rear cushion 32 which spans between the link mechanism 31 and the cross member 22.

[0057] The swing arm 30 is disposed below the rear of the vehicle body and extends in the front-to-rear direction. The front end of the swing arm 30 is supported by the pair of pivot frames 18 via pivot shafts 33 so as to be able to swing up and down.

[0058] The link mechanism 31 includes a pair of left and right link arms 34 and a link member 35. The pair of link arms 34 are disposed below the front portion of the swing arm 30 in a side view and extend in the longitudinal direction. The front end of the link arm 34 is rotatably connected to the link support bracket 23a of the lower cross member 23 via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction. The rear end of the link arm 34 is rotatably connected to the link member 35 via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction.

[0059] The link member 35 is formed in a roughly triangular shape in a side view. An upper apex of the link member 35 is rotatably connected to a link connecting portion at the front-rear intermediate portion of the swing arm 30 via a shaft extending in the vehicle width direction. A lower apex of the link member 35 is rotatably connected to the rear end of the link arm 34 via a shaft extending in the vehicle width direction. A front apex of the link member 35 is rotatably connected to the lower end of the rear cushion 32 via a shaft extending in the vehicle width direction.

[0060] The rear cushion 32 is provided on the inside of the rear of the vehicle body in the vehicle width direction (e.g., on the vehicle width center CL). The rear cushion 32 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a compression coil spring disposed on the outer periphery of a damper cylinder, and is disposed with its axial direction tilted forward with respect to the vertical direction. An upper end (first end) of the rear cushion 32 is rotatably connected to the first extension member 22a of the cross member 22 via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction. A lower end (second end) of the rear cushion 32 is rotatably connected to the front top of the link member 35 via a shaft extending along the vehicle width direction.

[0061] The power unit 8 includes a motor 50 for driving the vehicle, a reduction gear (not shown) that reduces the output of the motor 50, an output shaft 70 that outputs the power of the motor 50 reduced by the reduction gear, a PCU (Power Control Unit) 130 that controls the motor 50, and a housing 80 that accommodates the driving parts such as the motor 50 and the reduction gear, as well as the PCU 130.

[0062] The power unit 8 is configured as an integrated unit including the motor 50, the reducer, the output shaft 70, the PCU 130, and the housing 80. The PCU 130 is disposed below the motor 50. The housing 80 forms the outer shape of the power unit 8. The power unit 8 can be cooled by a water-cooling system including a radiator 91.

[0063] The motor 50 is disposed with its rotational axis aligned with the vehicle width direction. The drive section of the motor 50 is housed in a motor case 54 formed in the upper part of the housing 80. The motor case 54 forms the outer shell of the motor 50. The upper rear part of the motor case 54 is fixed to a motor fixing section 63 (see FIG. 6 ) of the body frame 5. A gear-type reducer is disposed on one of the left and right sides of the motor 50.

[0064] The output shaft 70 is disposed at the rear lower part of the motor case 54. The output shaft 70 extends in the vehicle width direction, with its left end protruding outside the housing 80. The left end of the output shaft 70 and the rear wheel 3 are linked via a chain transmission mechanism 77. This allows the output of the motor 50 to be transmitted to the rear wheel 3.

[0065] The PCU 130 is a control device that includes a PDU (Power Drive Unit) that is a motor driver, an ECU (Electric Control Unit) that controls the PDU, etc. The PDU includes an inverter that converts the current supplied from the battery unit 100 from direct current to alternating current, and then supplies the current to the motor 50. The PCU 130 is housed in a PCU case 81 of the housing 80.

[0066] In addition to the motor case 54, the housing 80 includes a PCU case 81 that houses the PCU 130. The PCU case 81 is disposed below the motor case 54. The PCU case 81 houses the PCU 130 inside. The front portion of the PCU case 81 protrudes forward beyond the front end portion of the motor case 54.

[0067] The power unit 8 (housing 80) is supported on the body frame 5 via multiple fixing portions (including rubber mounts). The power unit 8 is disposed in front of (on the inner periphery of) the pivot frame 18, which is curved in a convex arc shape that protrudes rearward in side view. The power unit 8 is disposed above the lower frames 20. The power unit 8 is disposed below the lower rear ends of the main frames 17 in side view. An upper portion (motor case 54) of the power unit 8 is disposed spaced apart rearward from the down frame 19, and a lower portion (PCU case 81) extends to near the lower ends of the down frame 19. The front end of the PCU case 81 is supported by the front ends of the left and right lower frames 20 via second mount brackets 47. The lower portion of the PCU case 81 is covered by an undercover 27 attached to the lower frames 20.

[0068] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the battery unit 100. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7 , the battery unit 100 is L-shaped in a side view with a notched lower rear portion. The battery unit 100 overlaps the motor 50 (motor case 54) in the front-to-rear and up-down directions. The battery unit 100 is disposed from the front to the top of the power unit 8. The battery unit 100 has a constant overall left-to-right width and is disposed between the inner surfaces of the left and right main frames 17 in the vehicle width direction in a plan view. The battery unit 100 includes a main portion 101 disposed in a position overlapping the main frame 17, a rearward extension portion 102 extending rearward from the rear end of the main portion 101, and a downward extension portion 103 extending downward from the bottom end of the main portion 101.

[0069] The main portion 101 forms the front portion of the battery unit 100. The main portion 101 includes the portion of the battery unit 100 closest to the head pipe 16. The upper end of the main portion 101 coincides with the upper end of the battery unit 100. The front end of the main portion 101 coincides with the front end of the battery unit 100. The main portion 101 is disposed between the down frame 19 and the cross member 22. The main portion 101 is disposed in front of the cross member 22 so as to overlap the cross member 22 in the fore-and-aft direction. The main portion 101 is disposed in front of the first extension member 22a so as to overlap the first extension member 22a in the fore-and-aft direction. The main portion 101 is located forward of the connection between the main frame 17 and the pivot frame 18 in a side view. The main portion 101 is disposed such that its rear upper portion protrudes above the main frame 17 and its front lower portion protrudes below the main frame 17 in a side view. The portions of the main portion 101 that protrude upward from the main frame 17 are covered from the outside in the vehicle width direction by the rear portions of the front side cowls 41 (see FIG. 1). The main frame 17 is disposed so as to cross the outside of the main portion 101 in the vehicle width direction in a side view.

[0070] At least a portion of the main portion 101 is disposed above the power unit 8 so as to directly face the power unit 8. In this embodiment, the front portion of the main portion 101 is located forward of the power unit 8, and the rear portion of the main portion 101 is placed on the power unit 8 from above. A first mount portion 101a protrudes from the front surface of the main portion 101 (see FIG. 9 ). The first mount portion 101a is supported by a first mount bracket 45 at the vertical middle portion of the down frame 19.

[0071] The main portion 101 includes a first housing portion 112 having a substantially square shape in side view, and a second housing portion 113 that protrudes upward from the first housing portion 112 and contains electrical components such as contactors. The first housing portion 112 includes the rear and lower ends of the main portion 101 and is mounted on the power unit 8 from above. The second housing portion 113 includes the upper end of the main portion 101. The second housing portion 113 protrudes upward beyond the main frame 17 in side view and is covered from above by a top cover 44 (see FIG. 1 ). The rear portion of the second housing portion 113 is located below the front portion of the seat 9, whose seating surface (upper surface) extends forward and upward. The rear surface of the second housing portion 113 is formed in an inclined shape that extends forward as it extends upward in side view, matching the inclination of the front portion of the seat 9. The outer surface of the second housing portion 113 in the vehicle width direction is formed in an inclined shape that extends outward in the vehicle width direction as it extends downward. This reduces the bulkiness of the second accommodating portion 113, and gives the top cover 44 a rounded, compact shape.

[0072] The rearward extending portion 102 extends rearward between the upper end of the rear cushion 32 and the underside of the seat 9 in the vertical direction. The rearward extending portion 102 extends rearward to a position overlapping the front-rear middle portion of the seat rail 24 in a side view. The seat support bracket 28 is formed in a U-shape so as to straddle the rearward extending portion 102 from above to the left and right. The rearward extending portion 102 is disposed above the cross member 22 so as to overlap the cross member 22 in the vertical direction. The rearward extending portion 102 is disposed above the first extending member 22a so as to overlap the first extending member 22a in the vertical direction. In a side view, the rearward extending portion 102 straddles the first extending member 22a in the longitudinal direction. In a side view, the rearward extending portion 102 is disposed above the connection portion between the main frame 17 and the pivot frame 18.

[0073] The rearward extending portion 102 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The rearward extending portion 102 has a pair of side surfaces facing the vehicle width direction, an upper surface facing upward, and a lower surface facing downward. Each side surface of the rearward extending portion 102 is formed flush with the side surfaces of the first housing portion 112 of the main portion 101 facing the vehicle width direction. The rearward extending portion 102 is formed so that its longitudinal direction is along the front-rear direction in a side view. More specifically, the rearward extending portion 102 is formed so that its dimension in the front-rear direction is greater than its dimension in the vehicle width direction and its dimension in the up-down direction. The overall dimension in the up-down direction of the rearward extending portion 102 is smaller than the dimension in the up-down direction of the main portion 101. The upper end of the rearward extending portion 102 is located lower than the upper end of the main portion 101. Furthermore, the upper end of the rearward extending portion 102 is located lower than the upper end of the first housing portion 112 of the main portion 101. The lower end of the rear extension portion 102 is located higher than the lower end of the main portion 101 .

[0074] A second mount portion 102a protrudes from the lower surface of the rear extension portion 102. The second mount portion 102a is supported by the battery fixing portions 62 (see FIG. 6) of the pair of first extension members 22a.

[0075] A 12V battery 29 for accessories is disposed further rearward of the rear extension 102. The 12V battery 29 is supported on the rear portion of the seat frame. Reference numeral 43i in the drawing denotes a rear inner fender that is supported by the support rail 25 and prevents the rear wheel 3 from being lifted up.

[0076] The downward extension portion 103 extends downward in the front-rear direction between the lower portion of the down frame 19 and the motor case 54 of the power unit 8. The downward extension portion 103 extends to the vicinity of the upper surface of the PCU case 81.

[0077] The downward extension portion 103 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The downward extension portion 103 has a pair of side surfaces facing the vehicle width direction, a front surface facing forward, and a rear surface facing rearward. Each side surface of the downward extension portion 103 is formed flush with the side surfaces of the first housing portion 112 of the main portion 101 facing the vehicle width direction. The downward extension portion 103 is formed so that its longitudinal direction is along the up-down direction in a side view. More specifically, the downward extension portion 103 is formed so that its up-down dimension is greater than its dimension in the vehicle width direction and its dimension in the front-to-rear direction. The overall front-to-rear dimension of the downward extension portion 103 is smaller than the dimension of the main portion 101 in the front-to-rear direction. The rear end of the downward extension portion 103 is located forward of the rear end of the main portion 101. The front end of the downward extension portion 103 is located rearward of the front end of the main portion 101. The lower end of the downward extension 103 is located above the front end of the power unit 8 that is supported by the second mount bracket 47. A third mount portion 103a protrudes from the lower end of the downward extension 103. The third mount portion 103a is supported on the front ends of the left and right lower frames 20 via the second mount bracket 47.

[0078] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the battery unit 100. As shown in FIG. 8, the battery unit 100 includes a center plate 105 located on the vehicle width centerline CL, a pair of left and right battery assemblies 106 located on both the left and right sides of the center plate 105, and a pair of left and right battery covers 107 covering the left and right battery assemblies 106. The battery covers 107 are box-shaped and open inward in the vehicle width direction. The opening edges of the pair of battery covers 107 are fastened to each other across the outer periphery of the center plate 105. A space is formed between each battery cover 107 and the center plate 105, in which one battery assembly 106 is disposed. The battery unit 100 is generally arranged symmetrically with respect to the vehicle width centerline CL. By arranging the battery units 100, which are heavy objects, symmetrically, the impact of the vehicle weight on the left-right balance is reduced.

[0079] FIG. 9 is a left side view showing the interior of the battery unit 100. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 , each battery assembly 106 is formed by combining multiple battery modules 108. Each battery module 108 has a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape that is elongated in one direction, and is arranged with its longitudinal direction aligned along the front-to-rear or up-down direction. Each battery module 108 is formed by arranging multiple battery cells 109 vertically and front-to-back and integrated together. In each battery assembly 106, the battery cells 109 are aligned in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, all of the battery modules 108 in each battery assembly 106 have the same configuration.

[0080] Each battery module 108 has a slender outer shape that is long in one direction, making it easy to arrange even in a small space. The battery unit 100 can be easily shaped to fit the available space in the vehicle body by rearranging the multiple battery modules 108 to change the overall outer shape. Increasing the freedom of shape of the heavy battery unit 100 and increasing the freedom of arrangement in the available space in the vehicle body reduces the impact on the center of gravity of the vehicle.

[0081] The first housing section 112 of the main section 101 is equipped with six battery modules 108. The six battery modules 108 in the main section 101 are arranged in groups of three, with the center plate 105 sandwiched between them. The three battery modules 108 are lined up in the front-to-rear direction so that they overlap each other in the front-to-rear direction. Each battery module 108 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the up-and-down direction.

[0082] The rearward extending portion 102 is equipped with two battery modules 108. As a result, the number of battery cells 109 included in the rearward extending portion 102 is smaller than the number of battery cells 109 included in the main portion 101. The battery capacity of the rearward extending portion 102 is also smaller than the battery capacity of the main portion 101. The two battery modules 108 included in the rearward extending portion 102 are arranged one on each side of the center plate 105. Each battery module 108 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is along the front-to-rear direction.

[0083] The downward extension 103 is equipped with two battery modules 108. As a result, the number of battery cells 109 included in the downward extension 103 is smaller than the number of battery cells 109 included in the main portion 101. The battery capacity of the downward extension 103 is also smaller than the battery capacity of the main portion 101. The two battery modules 108 included in the downward extension 103 are arranged separately, one on each side of the center plate 105. Each battery module 108 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the vertical direction.

[0084] The center plate 105 includes a plate extension 111 extending upward from the first housing 112 of the main portion 101 to a second housing 113. Electrical components such as contactors are attached to both the left and right sides of the plate extension 111.

[0085] A cable connection portion 114 is provided at the front end of the battery unit 100, protruding forward from the upper portion of the first housing portion 112 and the second housing portion 113 of the main portion 101. One end of a high-voltage cable (positive cable and negative cable) extending from the PCU 130 is connected to the cable connection portion 114, and one end of a low-voltage cable extending from the 12V battery 29 is also connected to the cable connection portion 114. A driving current is supplied from the battery unit 100 to the PCU 130 via the high-voltage cable, and a driving current is supplied from the 12V battery 29 to electrical components such as contactors via the low-voltage cable.

[0086] As described above, the electric motorcycle 1 of the embodiment includes the battery unit 100 that straddles the rear cushion 32 in the front-to-rear direction. The rear cushion support portion 61 connected to the rear cushion 32 and the battery fixing portion 62 to which the battery unit 100 is fixed are located forward of the rear end of the battery unit 100 and are formed on the first extension member 22a connected to the body frame 5. With this configuration, the space behind the rear cushion support portion 61 can be utilized to increase the size of the battery unit 100 and the battery capacity without affecting the suspension structure of the rear wheel 3. Furthermore, because the rear cushion support portion 61 and the battery fixing portion 62 are provided in the same location connected to the body frame 5, it is possible to ensure sufficient rigidity in the structure that supports the battery unit 100 compared to a configuration in which a bracket is provided on the body frame 5 simply to fix the battery unit. Therefore, the electric motorcycle 1 of the embodiment can support a battery with high rigidity even when the battery capacity is increased.

[0087] The battery unit 100 has a main portion 101 that forms the front portion of the battery unit 100, and a rearward extending portion 102 that extends rearward from the main portion 101 and has a smaller vertical dimension than the main portion 101. The rear cushion support portion 61 is disposed rearward of the main portion 101 and below the rearward extending portion 102. With this configuration, the rear cushion support portion 61 and the battery fixing portion 62 can be formed compactly by utilizing the space rearward of the main portion 101 of the battery unit 100 and below the rearward extending portion 102 of the battery unit 100.

[0088] The battery unit has battery cells 109. The number of battery cells 109 included in the rearward extending portion 102 is smaller than the number of battery cells 109 included in the main portion 101. With this configuration, the rearward extending portion 102 can be made smaller than the main portion 101, making it easier to expand the battery unit 100 rearward from the main portion 101 without interfering with the rear cushion support portion 61. This allows for a larger battery capacity.

[0089] The battery cells 109 in the rear extension portion 102 are integrated to form a battery module 108. The battery module 108 in the rear extension portion 102 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is along the front-to-rear direction in a side view. With this configuration, the vertical dimension of the rear extension portion 102 can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the battery modules 108 in the rear extension portion are arranged so that their longitudinal direction is along the vertical direction. This allows for a larger space to be provided below the rear extension portion 102, thereby improving the degree of freedom in the layout of components arranged below the rear extension portion 102.

[0090] The electric motorcycle 1 further includes a seat 9 on which a rider sits, which is disposed above the rearward extending portion 102. The upper end of the rearward extending portion 102 is located lower than the upper end of the main portion 101. With this configuration, the seat 9, which extends forward and upward, can be disposed from above the rearward extending portion 102 to above the main portion 101. Therefore, the space above the battery unit 100 can be effectively utilized.

[0091] The connection portion between the main frame 17 and the pivot frame 18 is located rearward of the main portion 101 and below the rearward extension portion 102. The minimum width of the pair of pivot frames 18 is narrower than the maximum width of the pair of main frames 17. With this configuration, the pair of pivot frames 18 located at the bottom of the vehicle can be made narrower than the pair of main frames 17 by utilizing the space rearward of the main portion 101 and below the rearward extension portion 102. This makes it easier to set a large maximum bank angle for the electric motorcycle 1.

[0092] The battery unit 100 has a downward extension 103 that extends downward from the main part 101 and has a smaller front-to-rear dimension than the main part 101. With this configuration, the space below the main part 101 can be utilized to increase the size of the battery unit 100. This allows the battery to have a larger capacity.

[0093] The number of battery cells 109 in the downward extension 103 is smaller than the number of battery cells 109 in the main part 101. With this configuration, the downward extension 103 can be made smaller than the main part 101, and the battery unit 100 can be made larger by utilizing the limited space below the main part 101. Therefore, the battery can have a larger capacity.

[0094] The battery modules 108 in the downward extension portion 103 are arranged so that their longitudinal directions are aligned with the up-down direction in a side view. With this configuration, the dimension of the downward extension portion 103 in the front-to-rear direction can be made smaller than in a configuration in which the battery modules 108 in the downward extension portion are arranged so that their longitudinal directions are aligned with the front-to-rear direction. This allows for a larger space to be provided behind the downward extension portion 103, thereby improving the degree of freedom in the layout of components arranged behind the downward extension portion 103.

[0095] The body frame 5 has a down frame 19 that extends rearward and downward from the head pipe 16 through the space in front of the battery unit 100. The front end of the downward extension portion 103 is located rearward of the front end of the main portion 101. With this configuration, the battery unit 100 is less likely to interfere with the down frame 19 when moving the battery unit 100 upward to remove it from the body frame 5. The same is true when moving the battery unit 100 downward to attach it to the body frame 5. This improves the ease of installation and removal of the battery unit 100.

[0096] The body frame 5 includes a cross member 22 located rearward of the main portion 101 and below the rear extension portion 102, a first extension member 22a extending from the cross member 22 and having a rear cushion support portion 61 and a battery fixing portion 62 formed thereon, and a second extension member 22b extending in a direction different from that of the first extension member 22a from a region of the cross member 22 where the first extension member 22a is connected in the vehicle width direction and having a motor fixing portion 63 to which a motor case 54 is fixed. With this configuration, the battery fixing portion 62 and the motor fixing portion 63 are formed in a common region of the cross member 22 in the vehicle width direction, thereby improving the support rigidity of the battery unit 100 and the motor 50.

[0097] The body frame 5 has a second mount bracket 47 that supports the front end of the power unit 8 and the third mount portion 103a of the battery unit 100. This configuration simplifies the support structure for the battery unit 100 and the power unit 8, and improves the rigidity of the body frame 5 near the second mount bracket 47.

[0098] The battery unit 100 overlaps the power unit 8 in the front-rear and up-down directions. With this configuration, the space around the power unit 8 can be utilized to increase the size of the battery unit 100. Therefore, the battery capacity can be increased.

[0099] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment described with reference to the drawings, and various modifications are possible within the technical scope. For example, the configuration of the present embodiment may be applied to saddle-ride electric vehicles other than motorcycles. The saddle-ride electric vehicles include all vehicles on which a driver straddles the body, and include not only motorcycles (including motorized bicycles and scooter-type vehicles), but also three-wheeled vehicles (including vehicles with one front wheel and two rear wheels, as well as vehicles with two front wheels and one rear wheel) or four-wheeled vehicles (such as four-wheeled buggies).

[0100] In the above embodiment, a single rear cushion 32 is provided on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, but this is not limiting. For example, other configurations may be used, such as a pair of left and right rear cushions 32 provided between the rear portion of the swing arm 30 and the seat frame.

[0101] In the above embodiment, the first extending member 22a is arranged to overlap the main portion 101 of the battery unit 100 in the front-to-rear direction, but this configuration is not limited thereto. The first extending member only needs to be arranged in a position rearward of the main portion 101, and may be arranged offset in the vehicle width direction relative to the main portion 101. Also, in the above embodiment, the first extending member 22a is arranged to overlap the rearward extending portion 102 of the battery unit 100 in the up-down direction, but this configuration is not limited thereto. The first extending member only needs to be arranged in a position lower than the rearward extending portion 102, and may be arranged offset in the vehicle width direction relative to the rearward extending portion 102.

[0102] In the above embodiment, the battery unit 100 includes the main portion 101, the rearward extending portion 102, and the downward extending portion 103, but the shape of the battery unit is not particularly limited. The battery unit only needs to straddle the upper part of the rear cushion in the front-to-rear direction. For example, the downward extending portion 103 may not be provided, or the main portion may straddle the upper part of the rear cushion in the front-to-rear direction.

[0103] In the above embodiment, all the battery modules 108 included in the battery unit 100 have the same configuration, but this configuration is not limiting. That is, the battery unit may include multiple types of battery modules with different configurations.

[0104] In addition, the components in the above-described embodiments can be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0105] According to the above-described saddle-type electric vehicle, a battery with a large capacity can be supported with high rigidity.

[0106] 2 Front wheel 3 Rear wheel (drive wheel) 5 Body frame 9 Seat 16 Head pipe 17 Main frame 18 Pivot frame 19 Down frame 22 Cross member (cross frame) 22a First extension member (support member) 22b Second extension member 30 Swing arm 32 Rear cushion 33 Pivot shaft (swing shaft) 50 Motor 61 Rear cushion support portion 62 Battery fixing portion 63 Motor fixing portion 100 Battery unit (battery) 101 Main portion 102 Rear extension portion 103 Downward extension portion 108 Battery module 109 Battery cell

Claims

1. A saddle-type electric vehicle comprising: a motor (50) that drives a drive wheel (3); a battery (100) that stores power to drive the motor (50); a body frame (5) that supports the battery (100); a swing arm (30) that supports a rear wheel (3) and is swingably connected to the body frame (5); and a rear cushion (32) having a first end connected to the body frame (5) and a second end connected to the swing arm (30), wherein the battery (100) straddles above the rear cushion (32) in the front-to-rear direction, and a rear cushion support part (61) connected to the rear cushion (32) and a battery fixing part (62) to which the battery (100) is fixed are located forward of the rear end of the battery (100) and are formed on the same support member (22a) connected to the body frame (5).

2. A saddle-ride type electric vehicle as described in claim 1, wherein the battery (100) has a main portion (101) that forms a front portion of the battery (100), and a rearward extending portion (102) that extends rearward from the main portion (101) and has a smaller vertical dimension than the main portion (101), and the rear cushion support portion (61) is disposed in a position rearward of the main portion (101) and lower than the rearward extending portion (102).

3. A saddle-ride type electric vehicle as described in claim 2, wherein the battery (100) has battery cells (109), and the number of the battery cells (109) in the rear extension portion (102) is less than the number of the battery cells (109) in the main portion (101).

4. A saddle-ride type electric vehicle as described in claim 3, wherein the battery cells (109) of the rear extension portion (102) are integrated to form a battery module (108), and the battery module (108) of the rear extension portion (102) is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the fore-and-aft direction in a side view.

5. A saddle-ride type electric vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising a seat (9) for a passenger to sit on, disposed above the rear extension portion (102), and an upper end of the rear extension portion (102) is located lower than an upper end of the main portion (101).

6. A saddle-ride type electric vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the body frame (5) comprises: a head pipe (16) through which a steering shaft which steersably supports a front wheel (2) is rotatably inserted; a pair of main frames (17) having a front end connected to the head pipe (16), branching to the left and right from the front end and extending rearward in a space outside the vehicle width direction of the battery (100); and a pair of pivot frames (18) connected to the rear ends of the pair of main frames (17) and on which a swing shaft (33) which swingably supports the swing arm (30) is mounted; wherein a connection portion between the pair of main frames (17) and the pair of pivot frames (18) is located rearward of the main portion (101) and below the rear extension portion (102); and the minimum width of the pair of pivot frames (18) is narrower than the maximum width of the pair of main frames (17).

7. A saddle-ride type electric vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the battery (100) has a downward extension portion (103) that extends downward from the main portion (101) and has a smaller dimension in the fore-and-aft direction than the main portion (101).

8. A saddle-ride type electric vehicle as described in claim 7, wherein the battery (100) has battery cells (109), and the number of the battery cells (109) in the downward extension portion (103) is less than the number of the battery cells (109) in the main portion (101).

9. A saddle-ride type electric vehicle as described in claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the battery cells (109) of the downward extension portion (103) are integrated to form a battery module (108), and the battery module (108) of the downward extension portion (103) is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the vertical direction in a side view.

10. A saddle-ride type electric vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the body frame (5) has a head pipe (16) through which a steering shaft which supports a front wheel (2) so as to be steerable is inserted so as to be freely rotatable, and a down frame (19) which extends rearward and downward from the head pipe (16) through a space in front of the battery (100), and the front end of the downward extension portion (103) is located rearward of the front end of the main portion (101).

11. A saddle-ride type electric vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the motor (50) is disposed below the battery (100), and the body frame (5) has: a cross frame (22) that connects the pair of main frames (17) or the pair of pivot frames (18) and is provided rearward of the main portion (101) and below the rear extension portion (102); the support member (22a) that extends from the cross frame (22) and in which the rear cushion support portion (61) and the battery fixing portion (62) are formed; and a second extension member (22b) that extends in a direction different from the support member (22a) from a region of the cross frame (22) to which the support member (22a) is connected in the vehicle width direction, and in which a motor fixing portion (63) to which the motor (50) is fixed is formed.

Images