Electric Truck Drive Unit Frame Layout for Wheelbase Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing costs of electric trucks with diverse specifications, varying gross vehicle weight, cargo types, and wheelbases, are increased due to complex layout variants and packaging processes in the design stage.
Innovation Solution
An electric truck design featuring drive units attached to each driving wheel, a body frame casing with mounting frame bodies and cross members, and body-connecting parts that allow for a common drive apparatus to be applied across different vehicle specifications, reducing the need for custom drive apparatus manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a common drive apparatus is used across different electric truck specifications, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but adaptability to different wheelbases and vehicle configurations is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The drive apparatus is divided into independent modular components including drive units, mounting frame bodies, and body-connecting parts. Each module can be independently manufactured and then assembled in different configurations to accommodate various wheelbases and vehicle specifications, resolving the contradiction between standardization and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The body-connecting parts are designed to connect drive units at flexible positions along the mounting frame bodies, allowing the same drive apparatus to be dynamically reconfigured for different wheelbases and vehicle layouts without requiring custom manufacturing for each specification
2Volume of moving object
If drive units are arranged adjacent to each other in vehicle width direction, then packaging efficiency is improved, but complexity of layout design increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting frame bodies are designed with universal connection interfaces and standardized mounting positions that can accommodate drive units arranged adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction. This universal design enables compact packaging while avoiding complex custom layout designs through standardized, multi-functional connection points
Data Source
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AI summary
[PROBLEM] To provide an electric truck that can be manufactures at low costs. [SOLUTION] An electric truck 1 includes drive units 10 being provided to each of driving wheels 2A of the electric truck 1, each of the drive units 10 transmitting a driving force of a motor to each of the driving wheels 2A; a body frame casing 5; and body-connecting parts 32, 33. The body frame casing 5 includes a pair of mounting frame bodies 5A extending in a vehicle width direction of the electric truck 1 and being arranged apart in a vehicle front-rear direction and a pair of cross members 5B and/or 5C connecting the pair of mounting frame bodies 5A. The body-connecting parts 32, 33 connect each of a vehicle front side and a vehicle rear side of each of the drive units 10 arranged in a frame of the body frame casing 5 to each of the mounting frame bodies 5A. The pair of the drive units 10 are arranged so as to be adjacent to each other in the vehicle width direction inside the frame of the body frame casing 5.