Electric Motorcycle Frame Layout for Battery and Drive Unit Fixation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing saddle riding type vehicles face challenges in maintaining a balance between rigidity and flexibility of the vehicle body frame, which affects riding comfort and dynamic performance, particularly in off-road racing scenarios where the frame needs to be moderately bendable to accommodate large jumps and rider movements.

Innovation Solution

The drive unit and battery are fastened to different frames within the vehicle body frame, with the battery secured to the lower frame and the drive unit to the pivot frame, indirectly connecting these components to allow for moderate bending while maintaining stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the vehicle body frame is made rigid to securely fix the drive unit and battery, then reliability is improved, but riding comfort and dynamic performance deteriorate due to inability to accommodate frame bending during jumps and rider movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefixation reliabilityVSAvoidframe flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle body frame is segmented into multiple independent frame members (head pipe, main frame, lower frame, pivot frame) that are selectively fastened to the drive unit and battery. This segmentation allows each frame member to bend independently while maintaining overall structural integrity, resolving the contradiction between reliable fixation and frame flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different frame members are assigned different fastening characteristics to the drive unit and battery. The head pipe, main frame, lower frame, and pivot frame are selectively fastened at different locations and with different fastening strengths, creating local variations in rigidity that allow the frame to bend in specific areas while maintaining stability at critical points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If the drive unit and battery are fastened to the same frame member, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of fixation deteriorates when the frame bends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefastening structure complexityVSAvoidcomponent fixation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The drive unit and battery are fastened to different frame members (head pipe, main frame, lower frame, pivot frame) rather than the same frame member. This segmentation distributes the fastening loads across multiple independent structural elements, ensuring that bending of one frame member does not compromise the fixation of both components simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame members act as intermediaries between the drive unit and battery, providing indirect support and distribution of mechanical stresses. By fastening components to different frame members, the frame structure mediates the forces and movements, preventing direct stress concentration that would occur if both components were fastened to the same location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4707143A1Saddle riding type vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4707143A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4707143A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4707143A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A saddle riding type electric vehicle (10) includes: a vehicle body frame (18); a drive unit (26) supported by the vehicle body frame (18); and a battery (24) that is supported by the vehicle body frame (18) and supplies electrical power to the drive unit (26). The battery (24) is fastened to a lower frame (46) of the vehicle body frame (18), the drive unit (26) is fastened to a pivot frame (44) of the vehicle body frame (18), and the drive unit (26) and the battery (24) are fastened to each other.