Electric utility vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an electric utility vehicle (1) having a driver's cab (4) and a charging region (2) on a chassis, at least one battery pack (10) being attached to the chassis and a side impact protection (3) being attached laterally to the chassis or to the battery pack (10), characterised in that the side impact protection (3) is designed as a closed hollow body and has at least one compressed air inlet and one compressed air outlet.

Description

[0001] Electric commercial vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to an electric commercial vehicle.

[0003] State of the art

[0004] Commercial vehicle chassis are typically manufactured on the basis of a continuous ladder frame. Such a ladder frame consists of two longitudinal members, which are often designed as C-profile elements, and are connected by several cross members. The longitudinal members are usually bolted or riveted to the cross members. Various vehicle components are attached to the frame, such as the front and rear axles, drive units, cab, cargo body or fifth wheel coupling, fuel tanks, battery box, and exhaust system. To allow for the flexible use of a single chassis type for different vehicle variants or drive systems, a modular design is desirable.

[0005] Ladder-frame chassis are sufficiently stable, but have a relatively high curb weight. This problem of high curb weight is exacerbated by the fact that increasingly stringent emissions regulations require additional exhaust aftertreatment components, such as catalytic converters or urea tanks, to be fitted to the vehicle. Further weight-increasing factors include the growing proportion of electronics in sensors and actuators, higher comfort requirements, and the use of alternative fuels or drive concepts, with hybrid or fully electric drives being prime examples of the latter. High curb weight is associated with a lower payload, increased fuel consumption, and consequently, undesirable additional costs and greater emissions.

[0006] From DE 102009 012 350 A1 a modular chassis for commercial vehicles is known which achieves a weight reduction compared to conventional chassis while maintaining the usual stiffness and strength properties, wherein the middle assembly is designed as a box-shaped hollow profile made of sheet metal forming parts, and the longitudinal members of the front and rear assemblies are made of profile parts that are at least partially closed, and at least one of the front and rear assemblies is detachably attached to the middle assembly.

[0007] The inner cavity of the box structure of the central assembly can be used, for example, to protect components of the drive system, the supply tanks, and / or the exhaust system of the commercial vehicle. Because one of the connection points between the individual assemblies is detachable, vehicle components such as battery packs can be easily inserted during assembly of the commercial vehicle.

[0008] In accordance with current European regulations, front and rear underride guards on heavy goods vehicles (classes N2 and N3) or trailers (classes O3 and O4) are intended to provide sufficient protection against collisions with vehicles of classes M1 (passenger cars) and N1 (light trucks up to 3.5 t) from being run under the vehicle. Side guards, which have been mandatory in Germany since 1992 according to Section 32c of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO), are subject to significantly lower mechanical requirements. Directive 89 / 97 / EEC and UNECE Regulation 73 stipulate that these guards must provide effective protection for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists against the danger of being run over laterally by the vehicle. During the type approval test, such a device is considered suitable if it can withstand a force of 1 kN applied perpendicularly from the outside at any point.

[0009] In addition to mechanical load-bearing capacity, geometric requirements are also placed on underride guards and side protection devices. An important dimension here is the ground clearance. For side protection, a maximum ground clearance of 300 mm is specified.

[0010] Such side protection is known from GB 2 576 965 A.

[0011] EP 3 338 315 B2 discloses a battery pack comprising a housing in which several battery modules, each containing several battery cells, are arranged, and a cooling system for cooling the battery cells. The housing of the battery pack is made, for example, of a metal, in particular aluminum. The cooling system comprises at least one cooling plate, which is arranged outside the housing of the battery pack. The at least one cooling plate rests flat against a cover plate of the housing, and heat is dissipated from the at least one battery cell through the cover plate to the cooling plate.

[0012] These battery packs are installed in commercial vehicles both inside and outside the longitudinal beams. When installed outside the longitudinal beams, they are exposed to side impacts in traffic.

[0013] Therefore, it makes sense to install side impact protection and side underride protection on a fully electric commercial vehicle.

[0014] The generic patent DE 10 2014 003 925 A1 discloses a vehicle with a chassis, a body connected to the chassis, and several attachments. Attachments may include containers, compressed air tanks, and battery carriers.

[0015] Document DE 30 29 340 A1 discloses a commercial vehicle with tubular underbody protection elements that serve as compressed air storage.

[0016] DE 20 2012 102 721 U1 discloses a compressed air reservoir designed as a 4-sided profile which forms a structural component of the vehicle.

[0017] The purpose of the invention is to save components and weight for a commercial vehicle.

[0018] Description of the invention

[0019] The problem is solved with an electric commercial vehicle with a driver's cab and cargo area mounted on a chassis, wherein at least one battery pack is attached to the chassis and a side impact protection device is attached laterally to the battery pack, the side impact protection device being designed as a closed hollow body and having at least one compressed air inlet and one compressed air outlet. The side impact protection device serves as a pressure vessel for the pneumatic circuit of the commercial vehicle.

[0020] In one embodiment, the side impact protection is formed from a single closed body.

[0021] In another embodiment, the side impact protection consists of individual panels, each attached to a battery pack.

[0022] The individual panels are at least mechanically connected to each other.

[0023] The individual panels are connected to each other via a compressed air connection.

[0024] Description of the characters

[0025] Figure 1 shows an example of a commercial vehicle in side view,

[0026] Figure 2 shows a top view of a commercial vehicle,

[0027] Figure 3 shows a battery pack,

[0028] Figure 4 shows the assembly of battery packs, Figure 5 shows a cross-section through a side impact protection system.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a commercial vehicle 1 with a driver's cab 4 and a loading area 2. A side impact protection 3 is indicated, which is designed as a one-piece plate and protects the side area of ​​the commercial vehicle between the trailer 5 and the wheels 6.

[0030] Figure 2 shows an example of a longitudinal section through a commercial vehicle.

[0031] The vehicle is built on a chassis consisting of longitudinal beams 7 and transverse beams 8. All other components are attached to and mounted on the beams, with the driver's cab 4 mounted on a drive unit 9, an electric motor. Battery packs 10 are attached to the longitudinal beams 7, extending outwards from each of them. In this example, four battery packs 10 are installed on each side of the longitudinal beams 7.

[0032] To protect the battery packs 10 and as underride protection, planks 3a are mounted directly on the respective outer sides as side impact protection 3 on the vehicle. The side impact protection 3 is designed as a hollow, closed body and has a compressed air inlet and a compressed air outlet.

[0033] An alternative embodiment mounts the side impact protection 3, as shown in Figure 3, directly as a single panel 3b on the battery pack 10.

[0034] The individual panels are assembled into a complete panel as shown in Figure 4.

[0035] The panels 3b of the side impact protection system 3 form cavities that serve as compressed air reservoirs for the commercial vehicle, replacing the previously required compressed air reservoirs. The panels have at least one compressed air inlet and one compressed air outlet. The individual panels are connected to each other via compressed air connections, so that together they form a compressed air reservoir.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the side impact protection 3b is not incorporated over the entire height of the battery pack.

[0037] Solutions are also possible in which the battery packs are completely covered by the side impact protection along their entire height. Extending the protection below the battery pack to the required clearance above the road surface is another viable design option.

[0038] The side impact protection 3, designed in this way, is connected to the compressed air system of the commercial vehicle 1.

[0039] Alternatively, the individual panels 3b are mechanically connected to each other, but form individual compressed air reservoirs for each battery pack 10, which have their own pressure inlet and outlet and can be individually connected to the vehicle's compressed air system.

[0040] Figure 5 shows a cross-section through the side impact protection 3, which has at least one fastening means 11 with which the side impact protection 3 is attached to the commercial vehicle 1 or to the battery pack 10.

Claims

Claims 1. Electric commercial vehicle (1 ) with driver's cab (4) and cargo area (2) on a chassis, wherein at least one battery pack (10) is attached to the chassis and wherein a side impact protection (3) is provided, characterized in that the side impact protection is attached to the battery pack (10), and that the side impact protection (3) is designed as a closed hollow body and has at least one compressed air inlet and one compressed air outlet, and that the side impact protection (3) serves as a pressure vessel for the pneumatic circuit of the commercial vehicle (1).

2. Electric commercial vehicle (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the side impact protection (3a) is formed from a single closed body.

3. Electric commercial vehicle (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the side impact protection (3) consists of individual panels (3b) which are each attached to a battery pack (10).

4. Electric commercial vehicle (1 ) according to claim 3, characterized in that the individual panels (3b) are at least mechanically connected to each other.

5. Electric commercial vehicle (1 ) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the panels (3b) are connected to each other via a compressed air connection.

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