Telescopic EV Chassis Layout for Rear Side Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicles with front access do not offer comfortable side access to the interior space behind the front seats without requiring excessive chassis extension, which increases length, weight, and cost, and limits passenger or cargo capacity.

Innovation Solution

A telescopically movable chassis with a front portion supporting the front wheels and rear portion supporting the rear wheels, where the portions are partially overlapping in the retracted position to enable side door access, and fully separated in the extended position to increase interior space, allowing comfortable access to both front and rear seats without significant length extension.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the chassis is extended to increase interior space for passengers or cargo, then the space capacity is improved, but the vehicle length increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterior spaceVSAvoidvehicle length
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The chassis is divided into a front portion and a rear portion that can move independently relative to each other. The front portion contains the front seats and is accessible through front doors, while the rear portion contains the rear seats and is accessible through side doors. This segmentation allows the rear portion to be extended to increase interior space without proportionally increasing the overall vehicle length, as the rear portion can be accessed independently when extended.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The chassis extension is achieved not by uniformly lengthening the entire vehicle, but by extending the rear portion along the longitudinal axis while maintaining a compact front portion. This dimensional approach allows increased interior volume without a proportional increase in overall vehicle length, as the extension is localized to the rear section where side door access is provided.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If side doors are provided for accessing rear seats, then accessibility to rear seats is improved, but the side doors interfere with the rear portion in retracted position

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoiddoor-chassis interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The side doors are designed to be dynamically enabled or disabled based on the chassis configuration. When the rear portion is in the retracted position, the side doors are disabled (covered or blocked) to prevent interference. When the rear portion is extended, the side doors become enabled and accessible, allowing passengers to enter and exit the rear seats comfortably without interfering with the compact retracted configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system preliminarily determines the accessibility state of side doors based on the chassis extension status. Before allowing side door operation, the system ensures the rear portion is in the extended position where side door access is geometrically feasible. This preliminary check prevents attempts to open side doors when they would interfere with the retracted rear portion, avoiding mechanical conflicts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the chassis is kept compact in retracted position, then parking capability is improved, but access to rear seats becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparking capabilityVSAvoidrear seat access
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle dynamically adjusts its configuration between compact and extended states based on operational needs. For parking, the chassis is maintained in the compact retracted position, optimizing parking capability. For rear seat access, the chassis is extended to create sufficient space for side door operation. This dynamic adaptation allows the vehicle to optimize for either parking or accessibility depending on the current operational context.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The chassis extension and retraction operates as a periodic action that switches between two states: compact for parking and extended for rear seat access. The system transitions between these states based on the required function, allowing the vehicle to maintain compact dimensions during parking while periodically extending to provide comfortable rear seat access when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4214105B1Electric vehicle with front access
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 MALENA ENG SL
  • EP4214105B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4214105B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4214105B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

An electric vehicle with front access, comprising a chassis (10) with a front portion (11), supporting front wheels (31), a front door (20) for accessing to at least one front seat (41), and at least one side door (21) for accessing the inside of the chassis through a side of the vehicle, and with a rear portion (12) supporting rear wheels (32), wherein 5 said front portion (11) and rear portion (12) are partially overlapped and are telescopically movable between a retracted position and an extended position, and wherein said at least one side door (21) and the rear portion (12) of the chassis are partially superimposed in the retracted position, disabling its opening, and are not superimposed in the extended position, enabling its opening, providing access to the 10 interior space of the chassis (10) behind said at least one front seat (41).