Electric Vehicle Brake Lever Layout for Simultaneous Drive Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The operability of the operating member for controlling the drive force of a straddled electric vehicle is compromised due to the need to operate the operating lever with the thumb, leading to weakened grip on the handle and difficulty in simultaneous operation of the brake lever during travel.
Innovation Solution
A control system with a second operating member, positioned above the brake lever, allows for enhanced operability by preventing unintentional release of the thumb from the handle grip and enabling simultaneous operation with the brake lever, featuring a lever design with a pivot center different from the brake lever and a load adjusting device to vary the operating load based on the operating amount.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operating lever is operated by the thumb during traveling, then the drive force can be controlled, but the thumb separates from the handle grip causing weakened holding force
Solution Approach 1:
The second operating member is disposed directly above the brake lever in the vertical dimension, allowing the operator to operate it simultaneously with the brake lever using the same hand without releasing the handle grip. This spatial repositioning in the vertical direction resolves the contradiction by enabling drive force control while maintaining continuous handle grip holding force.
2Ease of operation
If the operating lever is operated during traveling, then the drive force can be controlled, but it becomes difficult to simultaneously operate the brake lever
Solution Approach 1:
By positioning the second operating member vertically above the brake lever, the design enables simultaneous operation of both the brake lever and the operating member for drive force control during traveling. This vertical stacking in another dimension allows multiple operations without interfering with each other, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and simultaneous operation capability.
3Ease of operation
If the second operating member is made less in dimension in the vehicle width direction, then it becomes easier to simultaneously operate with the brake lever, but the operating leverage may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The second operating member is designed with a pivot center different from the brake lever, allowing dynamic adjustment of its position and dimensions. This enables optimization of both the width (for simultaneous operation ease) and the leverage arm length (for sufficient operating force), resolving the contradiction between compactness and mechanical advantage.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for a straddled vehicle including an electric motor configured to generate a drive force and a regenerative brake force. The control system includes: a steering device including a first handle grip and a second handle grip disposed on opposite sides in a width direction, and a brake lever disposed directly in front of the second handle grip; a first operating member for controlling the drive force; a second operating member for reducing either the drive force or the regenerative brake force, the second operating member being in a shape of a lever, and being disposed directly above the brake lever, and a control device configured to control the drive force in accordance with an operation of the first operating member, and reduce the drive force or the regenerative brake force in accordance with an operation of the second operating member.