Side-Access Replaceable Battery Layout for Electric Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electricity-driven vehicles with replaceable batteries require significant changes to the vehicle body structure, particularly increasing the floor panel height, to accommodate battery placement, which disrupts the use of existing vehicle designs.
Innovation Solution
A battery loading portion is positioned above the rear side door opening and within its width, allowing easy access and replacement without altering the floor panel height, using a sliding door to prevent interference and a downward-opening lid for improved visibility, with the battery casing fitted between side members for impact protection and centered for easy inversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the replaceable battery is placed at the lower side of the floor panel to enable easy attachment and detachment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the placement height of the floor panel must be significantly increased, worsening the vehicle body structure design
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the battery placement from a lower position (requiring increased floor height) to an upper position near the rear side door opening. This dimensional change allows the battery to be accessed vertically through the door opening rather than horizontally from below, eliminating the need to increase floor panel height while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The rear side door opening serves as an intermediary access path for battery replacement. Instead of requiring direct access from below the floor panel, the door opening provides an alternative route that accommodates battery insertion and removal without modifying the floor structure
2Device complexity
If the battery loading portion is placed at the upper side above the floor panel, then the vehicle body structure design is preserved, but the ease of access for battery replacement may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The battery loading portion is positioned to be accessible through the rear side door opening in the vertical dimension. This allows users to access the battery from the side/rear direction rather than from below, maintaining both structural integrity and operational ease
Solution Approach 2:
The rear side door opening serves dual functions: as an exit/entry for passengers and as an access path for battery replacement. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate access mechanisms while preserving both vehicle usability and ease of battery maintenance
3Ease of operation
If the rear side door is designed as a sliding door to prevent interference with battery replacement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery loading portion is positioned and oriented such that battery insertion and removal occur in a direction perpendicular to the door's sliding motion. This spatial arrangement allows the sliding door to open without interfering with battery replacement operations, maintaining both ease of operation and simpler door mechanics
Data Source
AI summary
An electricity-driven vehicle includes: a rear side door opening that is opened and closed by a rear side door, a battery loading portion that is placed at an upper side in relation to a lower end of the rear side door opening, and at an upper side in relation to a floor panel; and one or more batteries of a replaceable type, that are inserted into and removed from the battery loading portion from a side of the vehicle. The battery loading portion is fitted within a width of the rear side door opening in a front-and-rear direction.