Battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle, and vehicle incorporating same

• US 20050257974A1
• Filed: 05/04/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ozeki, Takashi, Kitayama, Kyosuke, Nakagawa, Mitsuo, Ariga, Kyoichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,264,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.500
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/005 the electric storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/12 Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/126 Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 19/30 Frame parts shaped to receive other cycle parts or accessories axle suspensions B62K25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2202/00 Motorised scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A battery mounting structure is provided for an electric vehicle which is operated using a motor as a driving source in which running wind is effectively utilized for cooling the batteries, and the cooling efficiency of a battery unit is enhanced. The electric vehicle is provided with a body frame where a front frame member extends from a head pipe diagonally downward toward the rear of the vehicle body. The battery mounting structure is attached to the front frame member of the body frame so that the cooling face of the battery unit is directly exposed to running wind. The battery mounting structure includes cooling fins which confront the running wind, and is covered by a body cover having louvered air intakes and air exhausts. The louvers direct the running wind smoothly to the cooling fins and protect the battery mounting structure.

Claims

1. A battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle having a body frame including a head pipe and a front frame member which extends diagonally downward from the head pipe toward the rear of the electric vehicle, the electric vehicle including an electric motor as a driving source, and at least one battery unit for supplying power to the motor, wherein the battery unit has a radiating face for radiating heat outwardly therefrom;

said battery mounting structure comprising a battery case for supportively holding said battery unit on said body frame;

wherein the battery mounting structure is adapted to secure the battery unit to the front frame member of the body frame in such a configuration that the radiating face of the battery unit is directly exposed to running wind during operation of the vehicle.

2. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

radiating fins are provided on the radiating face of the battery unit.

3. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

plural battery units attached to the front frame member of the body frame are spaced about the front frame member;

and

an interval between adjacent battery units is wider adjacent to a lower part of the battery mounting structure than adjacent to an upper part of the battery mounting structure.

4. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one battery unit comprises a first battery unit disposed on the left side of the vehicle, and a second battery unit disposed on the right side of the vehicle with the front frame member of the body frame therebetween;

and

a third battery unit arranged along the front frame member.

5. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the battery mounting structure further comprises a front cover for covering the battery unit from the front of the vehicle, and a rear cover for covering the battery unit from the rear of the vehicle;

and

wherein a cooling wind intake is formed in a front wall of the front cover that faces the forward direction of the vehicle.

6. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 5, further comprising a louver provided on the front cover at the cooling wind intake.

7. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 5, wherein a cooling wind exhaust port is formed in the rear cover.

8. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the cooling wind exhaust port is formed on a side wall of the rear cover at a location which is overlapped with a side wall of the front cover, the exhaust port located behind the side wall of the front cover when viewed from the side of the vehicle.

9. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising a louver provided on the rear cover at the cooling wind exhaust port.

10. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the radiating face of the battery unit is adapted to be directly exposed to running wind during movement of the vehicle, and is oriented to substantially face the direction of flow of running wind.

11. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein three battery units are attached to the front frame member of the body frame, the three battery units being arranged so that a first battery unit is situated along a rear face of the front frame member, a second battery unit is situated laterally outward of the left side of the front frame member, and a third battery unit is situated laterally outward of the right side of the front frame member, and wherein the three battery units reside within an arc-shaped space between an arcuate rear cover and a front fender.

12. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 11, wherein a left end and a right end of the arc-shaped space open forwardly to receive the running wind therein.

13. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

radiating fins are provided on the radiating face of the battery unit, the radiating fins comprising elongate protrusions lying generally in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the front frame member and protruding substantially in the forward movement direction of the vehicle.

14. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the battery unit is covered from the front of the vehicle with a front cover;

a cooling wind intake is formed in a front wall of the front cover that faces the forward direction of the vehicle;

a louver is provided on the cooling wind intake; and

radiating fins are provided on the radiating face of the battery unit, wherein the radiating face of the battery unit is oriented to substantially face the cooling wind intake, such that the louver directs running wind toward the radiating fins.

15. A battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle, the electric vehicle comprising:

a body frame including a front frame member which extends diagonally downward from a head pipe toward the rear of the electric vehicle;

an electric motor as a driving source; and

at least one battery unit for supplying power to the motor, wherein the battery unit has a radiating face for radiating heat outwardly therefrom;

the battery unit comprising a grouping of individual batteries arranged to form an elongate body having a plurality of pairs of opposed sides, wherein each side of a first pair of opposed sides has a surface area which is much greater than a surface area of any of the remaining sides of the body other than the first pair, and wherein each side of the first pair of opposed sides comprises a radiating face of the battery unit, and

wherein the battery mounting structure comprises a battery case which secures the battery unit to the front frame member of the body frame in such configuration that a radiating face of the battery unit is adapted to be directly exposed to running wind during movement of the vehicle.

16. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein

the at least one battery unit comprises a first battery unit arranged on the left side of the vehicle, and a second battery unit arranged on the right side of the vehicle with the front frame member of the body frame therebetween;

and

a third battery unit arranged along the front frame member.

17. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein

the battery unit is covered from the front of the vehicle with a front cover and from the rear of the vehicle with a rear cover;

and

a cooling wind intake is formed in a front wall of the front cover that faces the forward direction of the vehicle, and a louver is provided on the cooling wind intake.

18. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 17, wherein

a cooling wind exhaust port is formed in a side wall of the rear cover at a location which is overlapped with a side wall of the front cover, the exhaust port located behind the side wall of the front cover when viewed from the side of the vehicle, and

wherein a louver is provided on the cooling wind exhaust port.

19. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein

radiating fins are provided on a radiating face of the battery unit, the radiating fins comprising elongate protrusions lying generally in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the front frame member and protruding substantially in the forward movement direction of the vehicle.

20. The battery mounting structure for an electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein

the battery unit is covered from the front of the vehicle with a front cover;

a cooling wind intake is formed on a front wall of the front cover that faces the forward direction of the vehicle;

a louver is provided on the cooling wind intake; and

radiating fins are provided on a radiating face of the battery unit, wherein the radiating fins are oriented to substantially face the cooling wind intake such that the louver directs running wind toward the radiating fins.

21. An electric vehicle, comprising:

a body frame comprising a head pipe and a front frame member which extends diagonally downward from the head pipe toward the rear of the electric vehicle,

an electric motor for use as a driving source,

at least one battery unit for supplying power to the motor, wherein the battery unit has a radiating face for radiating heat outwardly therefrom; and

a battery mounting structure comprising a battery case for supportively holding said battery unit on said body frame;

wherein the battery mounting structure secures the battery unit to the front frame member of the body frame in such a configuration that the radiating face of the battery unit is directly exposed to running wind during operation of the vehicle.

22. The electric vehicle according to claim 21, wherein

radiating fins are provided on the radiating face of the battery unit.

23. The electric vehicle according to claim 21, wherein

plural battery units attached to the front frame member of the body frame are spaced about the front frame member;

and

an interval between adjacent battery units is wider adjacent to a lower part of the battery mounting structure than adjacent to an upper part of the battery mounting structure.

24. The electric vehicle according to claim 21, wherein said at least one battery unit comprises a first battery unit disposed on the left side of the vehicle, and a second battery unit disposed on the right side of the vehicle with the front frame member of the body frame therebetween;

and

a third battery unit arranged along the front frame member.

25. The electric vehicle according to claim 21,

further comprising a front cover for covering the battery unit from the front thereof, and a rear cover for covering the battery unit from the rear thereof;

and

wherein a cooling wind intake is formed in a front wall of the front cover that faces the forward direction of the vehicle.

26. The electric vehicle according to claim 25, further comprising a louver provided on the front cover at the cooling wind intake.

27. The electric vehicle according to claim 25, wherein a cooling wind exhaust port is formed in the rear cover.