WO2019235381A1

WO2019235381A1 - Electric vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2019235381A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/021756
Authority: WO
Inventors: 東秀典; 伊藤邦泰; 加藤隆浩; 小林直樹
Original assignee: 本田技研工業株式会社
Priority date: 2018-06-04
Filing date: 2019-05-31
Publication date: 2019-12-12
Also published as: JP7307724B2; JPWO2019235381A1

Abstract

This electric vehicle (10) has a rear wheel housing (68) in the lower part of the side surface of the vehicle body (16). Battery storage sections (200a-200d) which extend in the width direction of the vehicle are provided above said rear wheel housing (68). The opening ends of the battery storage sections (200a-200d) face the outside in the width direction of the vehicle, and the blocked ends which are the bottoms face the interior of the vehicle in the width direction. Step up/step-down voltage converters (350a-350d) which step-up or step-down the voltage of the power supplied from detachable batteries (300) are provided further towards the inside in the vehicle width direction than the battery storage sections (200a-200d)

Description

Electric vehicle

The present invention relates to an electric vehicle that obtains electric power by detachably inserting a detachable battery into a bottomed battery housing.

The electric vehicle is driven by an electric drive device such as a motor being driven by power supplied from a detachable battery, and the front wheels and the rear wheels are rotated accordingly. The vehicle body of this type of electric vehicle is provided with a battery housing portion in which a vehicle body side connector electrically connected to a battery side connector provided in a detachable battery is provided at the bottom.

For example, the republished WO2017 / 022394 describes an electric vehicle that is provided with two battery housing portions and can be attached with two detachable batteries. In this electric vehicle, two battery housing portions are disposed between the left rear wheel and the right rear wheel, and a lid member facing the rear of the vehicle body is provided. When the user opens the lid member from the rear of the vehicle body, the detachable battery can be inserted or removed.

The electric vehicle is equipped with the same number of buck-boost converters as the detachable battery. With this step-up / down converter, the power supplied from each detachable battery is individually controlled to an appropriate voltage to energize an electric drive device such as a motor.

A power harness and a signal harness for transmitting power are bridged from the battery housing part to the buck-boost converter and from the buck-boost converter to the electric drive device. In the republished WO2017 / 022394, the number of detachable batteries (battery housing parts) and the step-up / down converters is two. However, when the number of detachable batteries is increased to extend the continuous travel distance, The number of converters, power harnesses, and signal harnesses will also increase.

The buck-boost converter and various harnesses occupy a considerable space in the interior of the electric vehicle. For this reason, it is not easy to arrange devices other than the step-up / down converter and the harness in the inner chamber. In other words, the inner chamber tends to be a so-called dead space.

A general object of the present invention is to provide an electric vehicle in which a battery accommodating portion for accommodating a detachable battery is provided above the rear wheel house.

The main object of the present invention is to provide an electric vehicle capable of effectively utilizing the upper part of the rear wheel house provided with the battery housing portion.

In order to achieve the above object, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric vehicle having an electric drive device driven by electric power supplied from a plurality of detachable batteries that are detachably attached. ,
A rear wheel house is provided below the side surface of the vehicle body, and includes a side panel positioned above the rear wheel house,
On the inner side of the side panel, a bottomed battery accommodating portion extending along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body is provided,
When the vehicle body is viewed in plan, at least a part of the battery housing portion is located above the rear wheel house,
An opening for individually inserting or pulling out the detachable battery of the battery housing portion faces the side panel, and a bottom portion faces the inside in the vehicle width direction,
In addition, the buck-boost converter for individually increasing or decreasing the voltage of the detachable battery has the same number as the detachable battery,
An electric vehicle is provided in which the step-up / down converter is supported by support means together with the battery housing portion and is disposed in the vicinity of the bottom portion of the battery housing portion facing inward in the vehicle width direction.

According to the present invention employing the above-described configuration, the battery accommodating portion and the step-up / down converter can be disposed close to each other, and the harness spanned from the step-up / down converter to the electric drive device can be shortened as much as possible. Can do. For this reason, a sufficient space is formed in the inner chamber above the rear wheel house where the battery accommodating portion and the step-up / down converter are provided.

Therefore, the upper part of the rear wheel house can be effectively used as an interior room such as a luggage room. That is, since it is possible to avoid the dead space above the rear wheel house, the utilization efficiency of the inner chamber is improved.

1 is a schematic right side view of an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a support frame (support means) that is provided in the electric vehicle of FIG. 1 and supports a battery case (battery housing portion). FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the support frame of FIG. 2 supports a battery case and a DC-DC converter (step-up / down converter). It is the top view which showed typically the arrangement layout of the battery case in an electric vehicle. It is a schematic perspective view of a battery case when a lock plate is in a closed position. 6A and 6B are a schematic perspective view from one direction of the detachable battery and a schematic perspective view from another direction. It is a rear view of a concentration box. It is a top view of a concentration box vicinity. It is an electrical system diagram of a detachable battery, a DC-DC converter, and a concentration box. It is a schematic perspective view from the back of the lid provided in a side panel. It is a schematic side view explaining the state which the lid of FIG. 10 displaces. It is a schematic plan view which shows a driver | operator's moving direction at the time of replacing | exchanging the detachable battery in a battery case. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of the battery case when the operation lever shown in FIG. 5 is rotated and the lock plate is in an open position. It is the top view which showed typically the electric vehicle which provided the passenger seat in the left rear of a vehicle body.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the electric vehicle according to the present invention will be described and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “lower” and “upper” refer to the front, rear, left, right of the user seated on the driver's seat, Represents lower and upper. The left-right direction is the vehicle width direction, and the up-down direction is the height direction of the electric vehicle.

FIG. 1 is a schematic right side view of an electric vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment. The electric vehicle 10 has a vehicle body 16 formed by assembling a vehicle body panel 14 to a vehicle body frame 12 and travels by rotating front wheels 18 and rear wheels 20 suspended on the left and right of the vehicle body 16. It is a small car for passengers. The driver's seat 22 is disposed substantially in the middle of the vehicle body 16 in the front-rear direction and substantially in the center of the vehicle width direction.

The vehicle body frame 12 will be briefly described first. The vehicle body frame 12 has a pair of left and right front side frames 24 and a rear side frame 26 extending in the front-rear direction. The left and right front side frames 24 are assembled so that they are gradually inclined toward the upper side as they go rearward, and the distance between them is increased. The rear side frame 26 is joined to the upper surface of the rear end of the front side frame 24 with an offset. As with the front side frame 24, the left and right rear side frames 26 are inclined upwardly and gradually toward the rear, while the distance between them is substantially constant.

A plurality of cross members 28 extending in the vehicle width direction are bridged between the left and right front side frames 24 and the left and right rear side frames 26, respectively. A stationary main battery 34 is disposed between the two cross members 28 disposed between the front pillar 30 and the center pillar 32 and the driver seat 22.

Near the front end of the front side frame 24, left and right front pillars 30 are erected via extension members (not shown) extending outward from the outer surface of the front side frame 24. The front pillar 30 extends vertically upward from the tip of the extension member, and the upper ends of the front pillars 30 are connected to a steering hanger frame 36 that extends in the vehicle width direction.

The front pillar extension 38 that is inclined so as to be directed rearward as it goes upward is joined to the left front portion and the right front portion of the steering hanger frame 36, respectively. A front roof cross member 40 extending in the vehicle width direction is bridged between the portions of the left and right front pillar extensions 38 whose inclination angles change. Further, the front end of the roof side rail 42 is joined to the rear end of the front pillar extension 38. The roof side rail 42 is inclined slightly downward as it goes rearward and extends to the rear end of the vehicle body 16.

Near the joint between the left and right front side frames 24 and the rear side frame 26, the lower ends of the center pillars 32 are joined. A center roof cross member 44 extending in the vehicle width direction is bridged between the upper ends of the left and right center pillars 32. The upper end of the left center pillar 32 is joined to the left roof side rail 42, and the upper end of the right center pillar 32 is joined to the right roof side rail 42.

The lower ends of the left and right rear pillars 48 are joined to the rear ends of the left and right rear side frames 26, respectively. The upper end of the left rear pillar 48 is joined to the left roof side rail 42, and the upper end of the right rear pillar 48 is joined to the right roof side rail 42. Further, the rear roof cross extends along the vehicle width direction from the intersection of the right rear pillar 48 and the right roof side rail 42 to the intersection of the left rear pillar 48 and the left roof side rail 42. Member 50 is bridged.

A connecting member 52 is bridged between a substantially intermediate portion in the extending direction of the center pillar 32 and a substantially intermediate portion in the extending direction of the rear pillar 48. The connecting member 52 is slightly inclined so as to go upward as it goes rearward. The center pillar 32, the rear pillar 48, and the connecting member 52 constitute a rear pillar unit 54.

Of the both sides of the vehicle body 16, the space between the front pillar 30 and the center pillar 32 serves as a driver entrance. Doors 56 are respectively provided at the left and right entrances. A window 58 is provided on the upper portion of the door 56.

A door hinge 60 that is vertically aligned is provided at the front end of the door 56, and the door hinge 60 is swingably locked to the center pillar 32. By this locking, the door 56 is rotatably supported by the center pillar 32. A door handle 62 is provided on the outer surface of the rear upper portion of the door 56, and a latch mechanism (not shown) linked to the door handle 62 is provided on the rear edge of the door 56. A support bracket 64 that supports a striker (not shown) that is detachably locked by a latch mechanism is joined to the center pillar 32 so as to protrude forward.

A side panel 66 is attached behind the door 56 so as to cover the rear pillar unit 54. A rear wheel house 68 surrounding the upper portion of the rear wheel 20 is provided below the side panel 66, that is, below the side surface of the vehicle body 16. In other words, the side panel 66 is located above the rear wheel house 68. Of course, the side panel 66 forms the vehicle body panel 14.

A support frame 80 (support means) shown in detail in FIG. 2 is joined above the left and right rear side frames 26. The support frame 80 includes a right prism member 82 and a left prism member 84 that extend along the front-rear direction on the left or right side, and a front prism member 86 and a rear prism member 88 that extend along the vehicle width direction. Have outer frame parts connected so as to form a rectangular shape. A first auxiliary prism member 90 and a second auxiliary prism member 92 that are parallel to the right prism member 82 and the left prism member 84 are bridged between the front prism member 86 and the rear prism member 88.

Also, a third sub-prism member 94 is bridged by the right prism member 82, the first sub-prism member 90, and the second sub-prism member 92. Further, behind the third auxiliary prism member 94, a fourth auxiliary prism member 96 is bridged from the right prism member 82 through the first auxiliary prism member 90 and the second auxiliary prism member 92 to the left prism member 84. The third auxiliary prism member 94 and the fourth auxiliary prism member 96 are parallel to the front prism member 86 and the rear prism member 88.

Each intersection of the right prism member 82 and the front prism member 86, the third sub prism member 94, and the fourth sub prism member 96, and each intersection of the left prism member 84, the front prism member 86, and the fourth sub prism member 96. The triangular block 100 in which the attachment hole 98 is formed is joined to the part and the like. The mounting bolt passed through the mounting hole 98 is passed through the insertion hole of the rear side frame 26, and the nut is screwed into the body protruding from the insertion hole, whereby the support frame 80 is connected to the rear side frame 26. Is done.

Support holes are formed at appropriate positions in each prism member constituting the support frame 80. As shown in FIG. 3, the support plate 102 and the four battery cases (battery housing parts) 200 a to 200 d are attached to the support frame 80 by the support bolts screwed into the support holes. The battery cases 200a to 200d among these are bottomed hollow bodies whose one end is an open end (opening) and the other end is a closed end (bottom), and are approximated to a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

In the present embodiment, two of the four battery cases 200a to 200d are disposed on the right side of the vehicle body 16, and the remaining two are disposed on the left side. In addition, both the two arranged on the right side and the two arranged on the left side are arranged in parallel on the front side and the rear side of the vehicle body 16. Hereinafter, in order to facilitate the distinction, the battery cases located on the front right side, the rear right side, the front left side, and the rear left side are designated as the right front battery case 200a, the right rear battery case 200b, the left front battery case 200c, and the left rear battery case 200d. Sometimes. However, when the four are collectively referred to as “battery cases 200a to 200d”.

The right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b have a right front stay 202a, a right middle stay 204a and a right side in a posture in which the open end is on the right, the closed end is on the left, and the open end side is higher than the closed end side. It is connected to the support frame 80 via the rear stay 206a. That is, the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b are inside the side panel 66, the opening end faces the right side panel 66, the closed end faces inward in the vehicle width direction, and the closed end extends from the open end. It extends along the vehicle width direction in an inclined posture directed downward as it goes to. The right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b are positioned and fixed to the vehicle body frame 12 so that a portion (part) near the opening end is located above the right rear wheel house 68.

The right front stay 202a is attached to the front side surface of the right front battery case 200a via a connecting bolt, and the right rear stay 206a is attached to the rear side surface of the right rear battery case 200b via a connecting bolt. The right middle stay 204a is attached to both the rear side surface of the right front battery case 200a and the front side surface of the right rear battery case 200b via connection bolts, and is sandwiched between the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b. Yes.

On the other hand, the left front battery case 200c and the left rear battery case 200d have a posture in which the open end faces the left side panel 66, the closed end faces inward in the vehicle width direction, and the open end side is higher than the closed end side. Thus, the support frame 80 is connected via the left front stay 202b, the left middle stay 204b, and the left rear stay 206b. Eventually, the left front battery case 200c and the left rear battery case 200d extend along the vehicle width direction in an inclined posture directed downward from the open end toward the closed end inside the side panel 66. Parts (a part) near the opening end of the left front battery case 200c and the left rear battery case 200d are located above the left rear wheel house 68. An arrangement layout of the battery cases 200a to 200d in the electric vehicle 10 is shown in FIG. 4 as a schematic plan view.

Similarly to the above, the left front stay 202b is the front side surface of the left front battery case 200c, the left middle stay 204b is both the rear side surface of the left front battery case 200c and the front side surface of the left rear battery case 200d, and the left rear stay 206b is the left rear battery case. It is attached to the rear side surface of 200d via a connecting bolt. The left middle stay 204b is sandwiched between the left front battery case 200c and the left rear battery case 200d.

A vehicle body side connector (not shown) is provided on the closed end of the right front battery case 200a, that is, the bottom wall. The power of a detachable battery 300 (see FIGS. 6A and 6B), which will be described later, is taken out via the vehicle body side connector, and information about the temperature and remaining capacity of the detachable battery 300 is transmitted. The vehicle body side connector is a so-called male connector.

An operation lever 210 is provided at the opening end of the right front battery case 200a. In other words, as shown in FIG. 5, the lever stay 212 covered with the right front stay 202a and the right middle stay 204a is positioned and fixed on the front side surface and the rear side surface of the right front battery case 200a. The operation lever 210 is connected to the lever stay 212 via a first rotation shaft 214 extending along the vehicle width direction. The first rotation shaft 214 is rotatable with respect to the lever stay 212.

The operation lever 210 includes a side portion 216 that is substantially L-shaped when viewed from the front or the front, and a grip portion 218 that is bridged between the side portions 216 and that is gripped by the user. A protruding cam portion 220 that bulges away from the grip portion 218 is provided at the bent portion of the side portion 216.

The right end of the lever stay 212 extends to the right from the opening end of the right front battery case 200a. At the right end portion, a lock plate 224 is rotatably provided (openable and closable) via a hinge mechanism including the second rotation shaft 222. The lock plate 224 is elastically biased toward the open side by a not-shown winding spring through which the second rotation shaft 222 is passed. The open side is a side away from the detachable battery 300, and the closed side is a side close to the detachable battery 300. That is, the lock plate 224 rotates (opens / closes) in a direction approaching or separating from the detachable battery 300, and the rotation angle is approximately 270 °.

A curved cam portion 226 that is in sliding contact with the protruding cam portion 220 of the operation lever 210 is provided at a portion of the lock plate 224 that faces the side portion 216 of the operation lever 210. When the operation lever 210 is rotated so that the grip portion 218 is lowered by the user, the first rotation shaft 214 is rotated, and the lock plate 224 on which the curved cam portion 226 is pressed from the protruding cam portion 220 is moved. It turns to the closing side.

The remaining right rear battery case 200b, left front battery case 200c, and left rear battery case 200d are configured in the same manner as the right front battery case 200a. Accordingly, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

Here, the detachable battery 300 individually accommodated in each of the battery cases 200a to 200d will be described with reference to FIGS. 6A and 6B. In this case, the detachable battery 300 has a vertically long substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and when the detachable battery 300 is viewed in plan, the shape is substantially square or substantially rectangular.

On the top surface of the detachable battery 300, there are an arch portion 302 having an arch shape formed by bending both ends in the longitudinal direction and continuing to the top surface, and a tab-shaped projection portion 304 having an upper edge curved in an arc shape. It is provided so as to face each other. Furthermore, a bar-shaped gripping portion 306 is bridged from the upper end of the arch portion 302 to the upper end of the tab-like protruding portion 304. Since both upper ends of the arch portion 302 and the tab-like protruding portion 304 protrude from the upper surface of the detachable battery 300, the bar-shaped grip portion 306 is separated from the upper surface of the detachable battery 300. Accordingly, a gripping clearance 308 is formed between the bar-shaped gripping portion 306 and the upper surface of the removable battery 300. The user can grip the bar-shaped grip portion 306 by inserting a hand (finger) into the grip clearance 308.

The battery-side connector 310 that is a female connector is provided on the bottom surface of the detachable battery 300 on the side where the arch portion 302 is provided. By inserting the vehicle body side connector into the battery side connector 310, the detachable battery 300 and the vehicle body side connector are electrically connected.

One detachable battery 300 is accommodated in each of the battery cases 200a to 200d. Therefore, the number of detachable batteries 300 that can be mounted on the electric vehicle 10 is four, which is the same as the number of battery cases 200a to 200d.

On one support board 102, DC-DC converters 350 a to 350 d as step-up / step-down converters that appropriately increase or decrease the voltage of power supplied from the detachable battery 300 are supported via an L-shaped stay 104. . The number of DC-DC converters 350a to 350d is set to be the same as the number of detachable batteries 300, and is four in the present embodiment. That is, the removable battery 300 in the right front battery case 200a is electrically connected to the right front DC-DC converter 350a, and the removable battery 300 in the right rear battery case 200b is electrically connected to the right rear DC-DC converter 350b. Is done. Similarly, each detachable battery 300 in the left front battery case 200c and the left rear battery case 200d is individually electrically connected to the left front DC-DC converter 350c and the left rear DC-DC converter 350d.

The four DC-DC converters 350a to 350d have a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and are positioned and fixed to the support plate 102 so that their long sides extend along the vertical direction. That is, the DC-DC converters 350a to 350d are in the standing posture.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a concentration box 352 supported by the rear pillar unit 54 is disposed in the vicinity of the rear edge of the support plate 102. The concentration box 352 plays a role of integrating the power supplied from the four detachable batteries 300 via the DC-DC converters 350a to 350d into one system to be integrated power. That is, each of the four DC-DC converters 350a to 350d is electrically connected to the concentration box 352 via the two individual power harnesses 354 (cable bundles) having different polarities.

From the concentration box 352, the + polarity power harness 356a and the -polarity power harness 356b start. The + polarity power harness 356a and the -polarity power harness 356b are electrically connected to a motor 360 that is an electric drive device via a power drive unit (PDU) 358. The + polarity power harness 356 a and the −polarity power harness 356 b have a larger diameter than the individual power harness 354.

FIG. 9 shows an electrical system of the detachable battery 300, the DC-DC converters 350a to 350d, and the concentration box 352. In order to simplify the drawing and facilitate understanding, the power harness is represented by a single solid line. 9 indicates a communication system (signal system), and “B” indicates the detachable battery 300. The detachable battery 300 and the DC-DC converters 350a to 350d are controlled under the action of the MG-ECU 364 electrically connected via the signal harness 362. The signal harness 362 is omitted in FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 8 in which the battery cases 200a to 200d are omitted, the PDU 358 is disposed on the lower right side on the front end side of the support frame 80. The motor 360 is disposed on the left side of the PDU 358, that is, on the lower left side on the front end side of the support frame 80. Eventually, the motor 360 is positioned in front of the concentration box 352 and below the battery cases 200a to 200d, and hence the detachable battery 300.

As described above, the opening ends of the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b face the right side panel 66, and the opening ends of the left front battery case 200c and the left rear battery case 200d face the left side panel 66. . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the left and right side panels 66 are each provided with a lid 400 as a lid member that shields the open end so as to be openable and closable. The lid 400 is disposed so as to be surrounded by the center pillar 32, the rear pillar 48, the support frame 80, and the connecting member 52.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the right lid 400 is provided with two substantially L-shaped arms 402 on the front and rear sides in front view. The front arm 402 is attached to the lever stay 212 on the front side of the right front battery case 200a, and the rear arm 402 is attached to the lever stay 212 on the rear side of the right rear battery case 200b. Further, the lid 400 is rotatably connected to the arm 402 via

link members

404a and 404b.

More specifically, the first through-hole 406 and the second through-hole 408 are formed on the pair of arms 402 so as to be up and down, and the first rotation support shaft 410 rotates between the first through-holes 406. Passed through as possible. The lower end of the link member 404 a is connected to the first rotation support shaft 410. On the other hand, the lower end of the link member 404b is connected to the arm 402 via an intervening bolt passed through the second through hole 408.

On the back surface of the lid 400, brackets 412 are provided in the vicinity of the front edge and the vicinity of the rear edge. The bracket 412 has an abutment main surface 414 that abuts against the back surface of the lid 400, a vast first side surface 416a that rises inward in the vehicle width direction from the corresponding contact main surface 414, and the first side surface 416a. A narrow second side surface 416b. A long hole 418 is formed below the first side surface 416a, and the second rotation support shaft 420 is rotatably passed through the long hole 418. The upper end of the link member 404 a is connected to the second rotation support shaft 420.

Also, shaft holes are formed above the first side surface 416a and the second side surface 416b so as to face each other. A third rotation support shaft 424 that is shorter than the first rotation support shaft 410 and the second rotation support shaft 420 is rotatably passed through the shaft hole. The upper end of the link member 404b is connected to the third rotation support shaft 424.

A hook 430 is provided on the back surface of the lid 400. The hook 430 is inserted into a hook hole (not shown) and is locked or unlocked by a lock mechanism (not shown) in the same manner as a lid that opens and closes an oil filler opening of a gasoline vehicle. In order to release the hook 430 from the lock mechanism, a lid opener provided in the vicinity of the driver's seat 22 may be operated. Such locking mechanisms and lid openers are well known in gasoline vehicles, and therefore illustration and detailed description thereof are omitted.

Further, it is preferable to provide a seal member (not shown) that circulates along the outer edge on the back surface of the lid 400.

The electric vehicle 10 according to the present embodiment is basically configured as described above, and the function and effect will be described next.

The electric vehicle 10 travels when the motor 360 is energized by the electric power supplied from the detachable battery 300 housed in the battery cases 200a to 200d. That is, the electric power supplied from the detachable battery 300 is individually converted into an appropriate voltage by the DC-DC converters 350a to 350d. The electric power supplied via the DC-DC converters 350a to 350d is sent to the concentration box 352 via the individual power harness 354 and integrated into one system.

In this way, by integrating the power in the concentration box 352, the power harnesses connected to the devices located on the downstream side of the concentration box 352 are connected to the + polarity power harness 356a and the −polarity power harness 356b. Become a book. Therefore, the number of power harnesses and the like are reduced as compared with the case where power is supplied from the DC-DC converters 350a to 350d to the motor 360 via the PDU 358. Therefore, the configuration including the signal harness 362 is simplified, and the arrangement is easy.

The electric power is further sent from the concentration box 352 to the motor 360 via the + polarity power harness 356a and the -polarity power harness 356b, and passes through the PDU 358 on the way.

Here, the concentration box 352 is disposed behind the DC-DC converters 350a to 350d, and the motor 360 is disposed in front of the concentration box 352. Moreover, the motor 360 is at a lower position than the battery cases 200a to 200d (that is, the detachable battery 300). Therefore, the lengths of the + polar power harness 356a and the −polar power harness 356b from the DC-DC converters 350a to 350d to the motor 360 can be made as small as possible.

For the reasons described above, it is possible to avoid a situation in which a large number or long power harnesses are housed in the inner chamber above the rear wheel house 68. Accordingly, a sufficient space is formed in the inner chamber above the rear wheel house 68, so that the inner chamber can be effectively used as, for example, a luggage compartment. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid a dead space above the rear wheel house 68 where the battery cases 200a to 200d and the DC-DC converters 350a to 350d are disposed. The room utilization efficiency is improved.

Energized motor 360 rotates the axle. Accordingly, the electric vehicle 10 travels by rotating the front wheels 18 or the rear wheels 20. While the electric vehicle 10 is operated in this way, electric power is supplied from the removable battery 300 to the motor 360 and the electrical system, so that the capacity of the removable battery 300 is reduced. The capacity reduction of the detachable battery 300 is recognized by the user, for example, when a warning light provided on the instrument panel is turned on.

In this case, the user (driver, mechanic, etc.) replaces the detachable battery 300 having a reduced capacity with a charged detachable battery 300. That is, the driver stops the electric vehicle 10 at a predetermined parking lot and operates the lid opener in the passenger compartment. Thereby, the hook 430 provided on the back surface of the lid 400 is released from the lock mechanism. One lid opener that releases the left and right lids 400 from the lock mechanism at the same time may be provided, or a left lid opener that releases only the hook 430 of the left lid 400 from the lock mechanism, and a right side A right lid opener that releases only the hook 430 of the lid 400 from the lock mechanism may be provided.

When the hook 430 is released from the lock mechanism, the

link members

404a and 404b are rotated by the weight of the hook 430 so as to descend about the first rotation support shaft 410 as shown in FIG. At the same time, the second rotation support shaft 420 is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction along the elongated hole 418. As described above, the lid 400 is lowered (displaced) and is displaced outward in the vehicle width direction by the amount of displacement of the second rotation support shaft 420. As a result, the lid 400 is opened, and the openings of the battery cases 200a to 200d, the detachable battery 300, and the operation lever 210 are visible. In other words, the openings of the battery cases 200a to 200d, the removable battery 300, and the operation lever 210 are exposed.

Hereinafter, a case where the driver replaces the detachable battery 300 will be described as an example. After getting off, the driver holds the charged detachable battery 300. At this time, the driver may insert his hand (finger) into the gripping clearance 308 to grip the bar-shaped gripping portion 306.

In this case, FIG. 12 shows a moving direction until the driver after getting off moves to the battery cases 200a to 200d. As can be seen from FIG. 12, in the electric vehicle 10, after the driver gets off the driver seat 22 to the right or left, the driver moves to the right or left rear wheel house 68, thereby The case 200a, the right rear battery case 200b, the left front battery case 200c, and the left rear battery case 200d can be closest to each other.

Since the lid 400 is already open, the driver holds the operation lever 210 of the right front battery case 200a and pulls it upward, for example. The operation lever 210 rotates about the first rotation shaft 214 when the first rotation shaft 214 rotates. During this rotation, the protruding cam portion 220 (see FIG. 5) provided on the operation lever 210 is in sliding contact with the curved cam portion 226 provided on the lock plate 224. As a result, the lock plate 224 rotates around the second rotation shaft 222 in response to the elastic urging force of the winding spring. When the curved cam portion 226 is released from the pressing of the protruding cam portion 220, the lock plate 224 is in a position rotated about 270 ° as shown in FIG. 13, in other words, an open position.

As a result, the separation distance between the lock plates 224 is larger than the width of the removable battery 300. Accordingly, the driver can grip the bar-shaped grip 306 of the removable battery 300 in the right front battery case 200a, and in this state, can pull out the discharged removable battery 300 outward in the vehicle width direction. It is. After the discharged detachable battery 300 is taken out in this way and the right front battery case 200a is emptied, the driver inserts the charged detachable battery 300 into the right front battery case 200a to the closed end (bottom) side. Push in. Since the right front battery case 200a is inclined downward toward the closed end side, gravity acts on the detachable battery 300 traveling in the right front battery case 200a. For this reason, it is easy to advance the detachable battery 300 in the right front battery case 200a. For example, when the bottom surface of the detachable battery 300 is closest to the closed end of the right front battery case 200 a, the vehicle body side connector is inserted into the battery side connector 310.

Next, the driver holds the operation lever 210 of the right front battery case 200a and pulls it downward. As a result, the operation lever 210 rotates around the rotating first rotation shaft 214. During the rotation, the protruding cam portion 220 presses the curved cam portion 226. Since the curved cam portion 226 is provided so as to be twisted, the lock plate 224 rotates about 270 ° around the second rotation shaft 222 against the elastic biasing force of the winding spring, and FIG. The closed position is shown. The vehicle body side connector may be raised and lowered with respect to the closed end side of the right front battery case 200a as the operation lever 210 is pulled down and pulled up.

When the lock plate 224 is in the closed position, the distance between the lock plates 224 is smaller than the width of the detachable battery 300. That is, the detachable battery 300 is in a so-called locked state by the lock plate 224. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the detachable battery 300 housed in the right front battery case 200a from being detached from the right front battery case 200a.

Next, the driver replaces the detachable battery 300 in the right rear battery case 200b in the same manner as described above. Thereafter, the driver pulls up the right lid 400 so that the lid 400 rotates upward, and engages the hook 430 provided on the back surface with the lock mechanism. By this locking, the lid 400 is fixed at the closed position. In other words, the lid 400 is locked in the closed state. Further, the lid 400 in the closed state shields the open ends of the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b and the two detachable batteries 300.

As can be understood from the above, the lid 400 on the right side is held by the vehicle body 16 even when the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b are open to expose the respective open ends. That is, it is not necessary for the driver to remove the lid 400 or to secure a place for storing the removed lid 400. Therefore, the detachable battery 300 can be easily replaced, and the replacement space (parking lot) can be narrowed.

Further, the driver replaces the detachable battery 300 in the left front battery case 200c and the left rear battery case 200d in the same manner as described above, and then sets the left lid 400 to the closed position. Thus, the replacement of the four detachable batteries 300 is completed.

Here, as described above, the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b are disposed above the right rear wheel house 68, and the left front battery case 200c and the left rear battery case 200d are disposed on the left rear wheel house 68. It is arrange | positioned above. If the adult has an average height, the user can take out the detachable battery 300 from the battery cases 200a to 200d at such positions and insert the detachable battery 300 into the battery cases 200a to 200d. It can be performed in a natural standing posture with almost no bending and at a lower position than the shoulder. Therefore, it is avoided that the user who replaces the detachable battery 300 including the driver is forced to take an unreasonable posture.

In addition, the open ends of the battery cases 200a to 200d face the side surfaces (left and right side panels 66) of the electric vehicle 10. Then, by turning the lid 400 to the open position as described above, the removable battery 300 can be taken out or inserted (attached). Therefore, the lid 400 and components other than the parts for enabling the lid 400 to rotate are not required. Accordingly, the configuration around the battery cases 200a to 200d is simplified, and the number of parts can be reduced.

Moreover, two battery cases 200a to 200d are equally assigned to the right side and two to the left side of the vehicle body 16. For this reason, first, it is avoided that the weight distribution in the electric vehicle 10 is significantly different between the right side and the left side. Further, after replacing the detachable battery 300 in the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b, the driver can move to the left of the vehicle body 16 through the compartment of the vehicle body 16, so that the left When the other detachable battery 300 is replaced, it can be moved from the right side to the left side in a short distance.

Also, the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b are arranged in parallel along the front-rear direction. For this reason, the heights of the open ends of the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b from the ground are substantially the same. Therefore, the driver can replace each detachable battery 300 in the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b with the natural standing posture. Of course, the same applies to the replacement of the detachable batteries 300 in the left front battery case 200c and the left rear battery case 200d.

On the other hand, in an electric vehicle in which a battery housing portion is disposed behind the vehicle body 16, when replacing the detachable battery 300, it is necessary to go around the vehicle body 16. Therefore, the access distance to the battery accommodating portion is increased. Further, when the battery housing part is moved from the rear of the vehicle body 16 to the vicinity of the center part, it is necessary to provide a slide rail or the like.

In addition, in an electric vehicle in which the battery housing portion is opened behind the passenger compartment, the user holds the removable battery 300 while holding the removable battery 300 outside the vehicle and bending forward and twisting the upper body downward. Must be inserted into the part. For this reason, it must be an unreasonable posture and is cramped.

れば According to this embodiment, the above problems are solved. That is, it becomes easy to insert or remove the detachable battery 300 from the battery cases 200a to 200d, and the access distance to the detachable battery 300 is shortened. Further, since the battery cases 200a to 200d are not moved, there is no need to provide a slide rail or the like, and the configuration is simplified correspondingly.

The new removable battery 300 inserted into the battery cases 200a to 200d has a sufficient capacity. Therefore, the motor 360 is energized in the same manner as before the replacement of the detachable battery 300 to provide a predetermined output. Also, the electrical system functions as before replacement.

The electrically driven vehicle 10 travels when the energized motor 360 rotates the front wheel 18 and the rear wheel 20 via the axle. At this time, since the left and right lids 400 shield the open ends of the battery cases 200a to 200d, the removable battery 300 is protected from foreign matters such as dust and rainwater. Providing a sealing member on the back surface of the lid 400 is more preferable because dust, rainwater, and the like are prevented from entering from the gap between the lid 400 and the side panel 66.

The present invention is not particularly limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

For example, as shown in FIG. 14, instead of providing the left front battery case 200c and the left rear battery case 200d, a passenger seat 500 (an occupant seat other than the driver seat 22) is provided at the left rear of the vehicle body 16. Thus, the electric vehicle 10A may be configured. That is, in this case, only the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b are provided. It goes without saying that the passenger seat 500 may be provided on the right rear side of the vehicle body 16 instead of providing the right front battery case 200a and the right rear battery case 200b. In any case, it is possible to change to a two-seater ride without changing the electrical system specifications.

Further, two or more removable batteries 300 may be detachably accommodated in parallel in one battery case 200a to 200d. In this case, the vehicle body side connectors may be provided at the closed ends of the battery cases 200a to 200d in a number corresponding to the number of the detachable batteries 300, and a partition plate portion or the like may be provided inside the battery cases 200a to 200d. This is because the detachable battery 300 can be configured to extend in parallel along the extending direction of the battery cases 200a to 200d by the partition plate portion or the like.

Furthermore, the lid 400 may be kept closed by a so-called push lock. In this case, in order to release the lid 400 from the lock so as to be in the open position, the user may push the lid 400 slightly inward in the vehicle width direction.

Furthermore, the user is not limited to the driver, and may be a passenger or a person other than the passenger such as a mechanic.

DESCRIPTION OF

SYMBOLS

10, 10A ... Electric vehicle 12 ... Body frame 14 ... Body panel 16 ... Vehicle body 22 ... Driver's seat 56 ... Door 66 ... Side panel 68 ... Rear wheel house 80 ... Support frame (support means) 102 ... Support board 200a-200d ... Battery case (battery housing)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 210 ... Operation lever 212 ... Lever stay 214 ... 1st rotating shaft 218 ... Grasping part 220 ... Protruding cam part 222 ... 2nd rotating shaft 224 ... Lock plate 226 ... Curve cam part 300 ... Detachable battery 306 ... Bar -Shaped gripping part 308 ... gripping clearance 310 ... battery side connectors 350a to 350d ... DC-DC converter (buck-boost converter)
352 ...

Concentration boxes

354, 356a, 356b ... Electric power harness 358 ... Power drive unit 360 ... Motor (electric drive device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 400 ... Lid 402 ...

Arm

404a, 404b ... Link member 410 ... 1st rotation support shaft 412 ... Bracket 418 ... Long hole 420 ... 2nd rotation support shaft 424 ... 3rd rotation support shaft 430 ... Hook 500 ... Passenger seat

Claims

An electric vehicle (10) having an electric drive device (360) driven by electric power supplied from a plurality of detachable batteries (300) detachably attached,
A rear wheel house (68) is provided below the side surface of the vehicle body (16), and a side panel (66) located above the rear wheel house is provided.
Inside the side panel, a bottomed battery housing portion (200a to 200d) extending along the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body is provided,
When the vehicle body is viewed in plan, at least a part of the battery housing portion is located above the rear wheel house,
An opening for individually inserting or pulling out the detachable battery of the battery housing portion faces the side panel, and a bottom portion faces the inside in the vehicle width direction,
Furthermore, it has the same number of step-up / down converters (350a to 350d) for individually increasing or decreasing the voltage of the removable battery as the removable battery,
The step-up / down converter is supported by support means (80) together with the battery housing portion, and is disposed in the vicinity of the bottom portion of the battery housing portion facing inward in the vehicle width direction.
The electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a concentration box (352) for integrating electric power supplied from the plurality of detachable batteries via the step-up / down converter.
The concentration box is arranged behind the vehicle body than the step-up / down converter,
The electric drive device is an electric vehicle that is disposed in front of the vehicle body at a position lower than the plurality of detachable batteries than the concentration box.
3. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electric vehicle has two or more battery accommodating portions, at least one of which is disposed on the right side of the vehicle body, and the remainder is disposed on the left side. vehicle.
3. The electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the battery housing portion is disposed only on a right side or a left side of the vehicle body, and is operated on a left side or a right side where the battery housing portion is not provided. An electric vehicle provided with a passenger seat (500) other than the passenger seat (22).