Pickup PHEV Electrical Unit Layout Without Raising Floor Height
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pickup trucks face challenges in providing sufficient installation space for both the battery and high-voltage electrical units due to the need to raise the floor, which reduces the available volume of the cabin and truck bed, failing to meet user demands for large-volume load carrying.
Innovation Solution
The power control unit and vehicle on-board charging unit are separately disposed in different regions of the vehicle, namely below the rear-seat area in the cabin section and beneath the truck bed in the cargo section, respectively, allowing for sufficient installation space for high-voltage electrical units while minimizing reductions in occupant and cargo space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the battery and high-voltage electrical units are installed in a pickup truck, then the vehicle can function as a PHEV, but the floor height must be raised which reduces the available volume of the cabin and truck bed
Solution Approach 1:
The high-voltage electrical units (power control unit and vehicle on-board charging unit) are segmented and disposed in separate locations: one unit in the engine compartment and another in the cargo section. This segmentation allows the battery to be installed in the cargo section while distributing electrical units across multiple spaces, avoiding the need to raise the floor height throughout the entire vehicle and preserving cabin and truck bed volume.
2Volume of stationary object
If the floor is raised to accommodate the battery and high-voltage electrical units, then installation space is provided, but the available volume for passenger and cargo space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing floor height (vertical dimension) to create installation space, the solution utilizes the longitudinal dimension by disposing electrical units in the engine compartment and cargo section. This dimensional shift allows installation space to be created without compromising the vertical clearance needed for passenger and cargo volume.
3Adaptability or versatility
If high-voltage electrical units are installed in the vehicle, then PHEV functionality is achieved, but routing length for connections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power control unit is disposed in the engine compartment adjacent to the motor, and the vehicle on-board charging unit is disposed in the cargo section adjacent to the battery. This localized disposal strategy minimizes the routing length for electrical connections by placing each electrical unit close to its corresponding connection point, reducing overall wiring length while maintaining PHEV functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures ample space for high-voltage electrical units without significantly compromising passenger or cargo capacity, facilitates shorter routing for connections, and maintains the vehicle's functionality and usability.
Implementation Method 1
The engine generates, through combustion of fuel, rotational driving force to be transmitted to a wheel
Implementation Method 2
The motor is configured to generate the rotational driving force using electric power supplied from the battery
Implementation Method 3
The vehicle on-board charging unit converts electric power supplied from outside the vehicle and supplies the converted electric power to the battery
Data Source
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AI summary
A pickup truck-type plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes a battery configured to be charged with electric power supplied from outside the vehicle, a vehicle on-board charging unit that converts electric power supplied from outside the vehicle and supplies the converted electric power to the battery, a power control unit that controls electric power of a motor, a cabin section including a passenger compartment in which, a seat is installed, an engine compartment section including an engine compartment in which an engine is installed, and a cargo section including a truck bed that opens upward. The vehicle on-board charging unit and the power control unit are disposed separately in two of three regions including a region in the cabin section that is below the seat, a region in the cargo section that is below the truck bed, and a region adjacent to the motor.