Underfloor Battery Offset Layout Beside Exhaust Pipe in PHEV Minivans
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Solution Overview
Problem
Minivan-type plug-in hybrid electric vehicles face challenges in accommodating a large battery while maintaining a low, flat floor to ensure a spacious passenger compartment, as the exhaust system components and battery layout often interfere with each other, leading to space constraints and potential weight distribution issues.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle design positions the battery offset towards one side in the vehicle width direction, with the exhaust pipe disposed on the opposite side, and the muffler and fuel tank positioned rearward, allowing for a large battery to be installed under the floor without raising the floor height, and incorporates a sliding door system that minimizes space requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large battery is installed under the floor panel to provide sufficient electric power, then the battery capacity increases, but the floor height increases and the passenger compartment space decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is disposed asymmetrically under the floor panel, extending from the front-rear center toward the rear of the vehicle. This asymmetric placement optimizes space utilization by avoiding conflict with the exhaust system while maximizing battery capacity, thereby maintaining a low floor height and preserving passenger compartment space.
Solution Approach 2:
The battery is arranged in the front-rear direction rather than occupying width or height dimensions. By extending the battery along the front-rear axis from the center toward the rear, the design utilizes an underutilized spatial dimension, allowing large battery capacity without increasing floor height or reducing lateral passenger space.
2Device complexity
If the exhaust pipe is disposed centrally under the floor panel for compact arrangement, then the exhaust system is compact, but it interferes with battery placement and forces increased floor height
Solution Approach 1:
The under-floor space is segmented into distinct functional zones: the exhaust system occupies the central region, while the battery is positioned in the rear portion. This spatial segmentation allows both the exhaust pipe and battery to coexist without interference, maintaining compact exhaust arrangement while preserving low floor height and passenger space.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the battery is positioned centrally under the floor panel for balanced weight distribution, then weight balance improves, but the exhaust pipe cannot be properly routed and floor height must increase
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions under the floor panel are assigned different functions with optimized characteristics. The central region houses the exhaust system with appropriate clearance, while the rear region accommodates the battery. This local optimization allows the exhaust pipe to be properly routed in the center without forcing increased floor height, while the battery in the rear provides sufficient capacity.
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 enables a spacious passenger compartment with a flat floor, balanced weight distribution, and efficient use of space by accommodating a large battery and exhaust system components without increasing vehicle weight or component count.
Implementation Method 1
a vehicle on-board charger configured to convert AC power supplied from outside of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle into DC power and charge the battery with the DC power
Implementation Method 2
a battery configured to store electric power to be supplied to the motor
Implementation Method 3
an exhaust pipe configured to guide exhaust gas from the engine rearward in the vehicle front-rear direction
Implementation Method 4
a muffler configured to reduce exhaust noise
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A minivan-type plug-in hybrid electric vehicle includes a battery, a fuel tank, and an exhaust pipe, which are disposed under a floor panel. The battery is disposed so as to extend over both the right area and the left area of the vehicle. The center of gravity of the battery is offset toward a first side in the vehicle width direction from the center in the vehicle width direction. The exhaust pipe is disposed on a second side of the battery, opposite to the first side, in the vehicle width direction. The exhaust pipe is disposed to a side of the battery.