EV Body Structure With Offset Rocker Panel for Wider Battery Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing body structures for electrically operated vehicles compromise crash safety in rear-end collisions while limiting the battery capacity due to the narrow transverse dimensions of the traction battery.
Innovation Solution
The rocker panel and rear body longitudinal member are offset in the transverse direction, allowing for wider battery installation space and increased capacity, with a widened rear corner joint and additional structural reinforcements to redirect crash forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rocker panel and rear body longitudinal member are arranged in longitudinal alignment, then crash safety is improved through force transmission, but the transverse dimensions of the battery installation space are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional change by offsetting the rocker panel laterally relative to the rear body longitudinal member in the transverse direction. This creates a lateral offset that expands the battery installation space in the transverse dimension while the rear corner joint maintains force transmission paths in the longitudinal dimension, thus resolving the contradiction between crash safety and battery space.
2Quantity of substance
If the traction battery is made wider to increase capacity, then battery capacity is improved, but crash safety is compromised due to insufficient force transmission structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the body structure into distinct components: the rear body longitudinal member, the rocker panel, and the rear corner joint. This segmentation allows the battery to be widened independently while the segmented body structure maintains dedicated force transmission paths through the rear corner joint, preventing compromise of crash safety.
3Area of stationary object
If the rear corner joint is widened to accommodate the lateral offset, then battery installation space is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rear corner joint is designed with multi-functionality: it accommodates the lateral offset to maximize battery installation space while simultaneously serving as the primary force transmission path during rear-end collisions. This universal component performs both spatial and structural functions, avoiding the need for additional separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
A body structure for an electrically operated vehicle, having an installation space for a traction battery, which space is open toward the vehicle bottom in the vertical vehicle direction, is closed toward the vehicle top by a floor pan part that forms the vehicle floor, and is delimited on both sides in the transverse vehicle direction by a rocker panel that delimits a side-door opening toward the vehicle bottom, wherein a rear body longitudinal member that transitions into the respective rocker panel toward the front of the vehicle in the longitudinal vehicle direction extends on each vehicle side in the rear-end region, and wherein the relevant rear corner of the traction battery is enclosed by an interior corner region, in particular right-angled interior corner region, that stretches between the rocker panel and the front battery cross member.