Electric Bicycle Battery Layout with Drive Control Housing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric bicycles have a battery layout that elevates the center of gravity and limits battery capacity due to the need for space to accommodate terminal units, which interferes with the bicycle's design and stability.

Innovation Solution

The electric bicycle features a battery layout where the battery is housed between the seat pipe and rear wheel, with a drive control device positioned beneath subframes, and battery modules are inclined with power lines in the front portion of the case, reducing the need for additional space and allowing for a larger battery capacity while maintaining stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the battery is disposed between the upstanding pipe and rear wheel with terminal unit beneath the cell unit, then the battery structure is compact, but the center of gravity is elevated and battery capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidcenter of gravity position
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent repositions the terminal unit from beneath the cell unit to the front end of the battery case, utilizing the longitudinal dimension of the battery assembly. This dimensional rearrangement allows the cell unit to extend further back toward the rear wheel, increasing battery capacity while keeping the terminal unit accessible at the front, thereby resolving the contradiction between capacity and center of gravity position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Volume of moving object

If the vertical height of the battery is limited to prevent interference with the saddle, then the battery fits within the frame, but the battery capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidbattery vertical height
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent compensates for limited vertical height by extending the battery case longitudinally toward the rear wheel. The cell unit is arranged to maximize length in the longitudinal direction rather than vertical direction, allowing increased capacity without increasing height, thus resolving the contradiction between capacity and vertical height constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If the terminal unit is disposed beneath the cell unit, then the battery structure is conventional, but additional space is required and complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery structure complexityVSAvoidspace requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the terminal unit with the front end structure of the battery case, eliminating the need for a separate terminal base. The terminal unit is integrated into the case structure itself, reducing the number of discrete components and simplifying the overall battery structure while minimizing space requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2738080B1Electrical component layout structure for electric automobile
Publication Date: 2016.09.14 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP2738080B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2738080B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2738080B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an electrical component layout structure for an electric automobile capable of lowering the center of gravity of a battery as quickly as possible and of increasing the capacity of the battery. In an electrical component layout structure for an electric automobile (10) with a battery (38) housed between a seat pipe (18) and a rear wheel (WR), a drive control device housing unit (44) is provided that comprises a housing section (172) disposed between a pair of left and right second subframes (26) and bulging downward from the second subframes (26) and that houses therein a drive control device (170), and a lid section (174) for covering the housing section (172) from above and securing a battery holder (40) above the housing section (172).