Stepped Vehicle Floor Battery Layout for Interior Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to increase battery capacity in vehicles while maintaining internal space and comfort, as mounting batteries across the floor panel raises the floor, reducing headroom and legroom, leading to discomfort and potential space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle body structure with a floor panel configuration where the front floor panel is positioned higher than the rear, with batteries arranged in multiple sections: a center section and outer sections, and utilizing the space near pillars for additional battery placement, ensuring a higher capacity without compromising internal space and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If batteries are mounted across the entirety below the floor panel, then battery capacity is increased, but the floor panel height is raised, reducing internal space and comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The floor panel is divided into multiple sections with different heights: a front floor panel section, a rear floor panel section, and a center floor panel section. The center section is positioned higher than the front and rear sections, creating a stepped configuration that allows battery placement in the elevated center area while maintaining lower floor heights at the front and rear for passenger comfort and space.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the floor panel are given different height characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The center portion is raised to maximize battery capacity in that location, while the front and rear portions remain lower to preserve legroom, headroom, and seating comfort. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between battery capacity and internal space.
2Quantity of substance
If the floor panel is raised to accommodate batteries, then battery capacity is increased, but headroom and legroom are reduced, compromising comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The floor panel is segmented into zones with different elevations. The center zone is raised for battery mounting, while the front and rear zones remain at lower elevations to maintain adequate legroom and headroom for occupants. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high battery capacity without compromising passenger comfort.
3Quantity of substance
If batteries are arranged in a single high position, then battery capacity is maximized, but the vehicle interior feels narrow and uncomfortable
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a single elevated battery area, the floor panel is segmented into multiple height zones. The center portion is raised for batteries, while the front and rear portions remain lower, creating a stepped appearance that maintains visual and physical perception of adequate interior space while still accommodating significant battery capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The floor panel structure implements local quality by raising only the center section where batteries are placed, while keeping the front and rear sections at lower heights. This localized elevation strategy maximizes battery capacity in the center area while preserving the perception of spacious interior at the front and rear where passengers sit and move.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle body structure includes a front floor panel provided on a vehicle front side and a rear floor panel provided at the rear of the front floor panel. The front floor panel is positioned higher than the rear floor panel. A first battery arrangement portion is provided long in a vehicle front-rear direction at a center portion of the front floor panel in the vehicle width direction. A second battery arrangement portion is provided outside the first battery arrangement portion in a vehicle width direction below the front floor panel. An upper portion of the first battery arrangement portion is positioned higher than an upper portion of the second battery arrangement portion.