Electric Vehicle Hood with Pivoting Grille for Front Trunk Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles with battery electric powertrains lack easy access to the front trunk area, as the space typically reserved for the engine is used for storage, requiring a solution that maintains cost efficiency, aesthetics, and functionality while providing access similar to engine-driven configurations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle design featuring a grille opening adjacent to the front trunk with a hood pivotally mounted via a horizontal hinge, allowing the grille to pivot from a closed to an open position for easy access, while maintaining the same exterior appearance as engine-driven models.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the engine compartment is converted to a front trunk for battery electric vehicles, then storage capacity is improved, but access to the trunk becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The hood is divided into two functional zones: a front portion that pivots independently to provide trunk access, and a rear portion that remains connected to the vehicle body. This segmentation allows the front section to be opened separately for cargo access while the rear section stays closed, resolving the contradiction between maintaining storage capacity and improving access ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The hood incorporates a horizontal hinge mechanism that enables dynamic movement of the front portion relative to the rear portion. This dynamic configuration allows the hood to transition between fully closed, partially open (front only), and fully open states, providing flexible access to the front trunk while preserving the enclosed storage space when needed.
2Ease of manufacture
If a traditional hood design is used for battery electric vehicles, then manufacturing cost efficiency is improved, but access to the front trunk is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The hood is segmented into front and rear portions connected by a horizontal hinge, allowing the front section to be opened independently for trunk access. This segmentation modifies the traditional hood design minimally while adding the required access functionality, maintaining cost efficiency through simple structural additions rather than complete redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The hood structure serves multiple functions: it provides the traditional vehicle aesthetic and aerodynamic profile, maintains structural integrity, and enables front trunk access through the pivoting front portion. This multi-functionality allows a single design to serve both conventional vehicle requirements and electric vehicle storage needs without requiring separate specialized components.
3Ease of operation
If the vehicle structure is modified to provide front trunk access, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hood is divided into front and rear portions that can move independently, with the front portion pivoting on a horizontal hinge. This segmentation provides trunk access functionality while keeping the structural modification localized to the hood assembly, avoiding complex changes to the overall vehicle structure and minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A horizontal hinge mechanism is introduced to enable the front hood portion to pivot dynamically. This dynamic element provides the necessary access motion while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical connection, avoiding the need for complex actuators, motors, or control systems that would significantly increase vehicle structure complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle having front body structure including a grille opening adjacent to a front trunk. A hood is pivotally mounted to the structure over the front trunk. A grille is mounted to the body structure or the hood via a horizontal hinge, the grille pivotable from a closed position in the grille opening to an open position extending from the body structure.