VEHICLE

• US 20100116571A1
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Suzuki, Naoto
• Application Number:
  US12/449,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20100116571A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.250
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/126 Methods for pairing a vehicle and a charging station, e.g. establishing a one-to-one relation between a wireless power transmitter and a wireless power receiver
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle is a hybrid vehicle including an engine driven by fuel, and the vehicle includes a motor-generator driven by electric power and a charge plug to which a connector is removably connected, the charge plug being capable of at least one of being supplied with electric power from the connector and supplying electric power to the connector. An engine is arranged to be offset toward one side surface and the charge plug is provided in the other side surface.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

an internal combustion engine driven by fuel;

a drive source driven by an energy source different from said fuel;

an energy source storage portion capable of storing said energy source;

an energy source supply portion to which an external connection portion is removably connected, capable of being supplied with said energy source from said external connection portion and/or supplying said energy source to said external connection portion; and

an internal combustion engine accommodation portion for accommodating said internal combustion engine,

said internal combustion engine being arranged closer to the other side surface relative to one side surface in the internal combustion engine accommodation portion, and

said energy source supply portion being provided in said one side surface.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission accommodation case for accommodating a transmission transmitting, with speed change, rotational force generated by said internal combustion engine to a drive shaft of the vehicle, wherein

said transmission accommodation case is provided between said one side surface and said internal combustion engine.

3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said energy source is electric power, said energy source storage portion is a battery capable of storing and discharging electric power, said drive source is a rotating electric machine driven by electric power from said battery and driving wheels, and said transmission accommodation case accommodates said rotating electric machine.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the wheels are driven by motive power of said rotating electric machine or said internal combustion engine.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said energy source is electric power, said energy source storage portion is a battery capable of storing and discharging electric power, and said drive source is a first rotating electric machine,

said vehicle further comprises a second rotating electric machine, and

the wheels are driven only by the first rotating electric machine and said second rotating electric machine is capable of generating electric power by using motive power of said internal combustion engine and charging said battery or driving said first rotating electric machine by using the generated electric power.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

said internal combustion engine is 3-cylinder engine.

7. The vehicle according to claim 3, further comprising an inverter case for accommodating an inverter for controlling drive of said rotating electric machine, wherein

said inverter case is provided between said one side surface and said internal combustion engine.

8. The vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

said inverter case is arranged in a region located between said internal combustion engine and said energy source supply portion.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said energy source is electric power,

said drive source is a rotating electric machine having a polyphase winding and a neutral point of the polyphase winding,

said energy source storage portion is a battery,

said vehicle further comprises an inverter connected to said rotating electric machine and an inverter control portion capable of controlling drive of said inverter,

said energy source supply portion includes a line connected to said neutral point, and

said inverter control portion controls said inverter such that AC electric power provided to said neutral point is converted to DC electric power for supply to said battery.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein

said rotating electric machine includes a first rotating electric machine having a first polyphase winding and a first neutral point of the first polyphase winding and a second rotating electric machine having a second polyphase winding and a second neutral point of the second polyphase winding,

said energy source supply portion includes a first line connected to said first neutral point and a second line connected to said second neutral point,

said inverter includes a first inverter for converting DC electric power from said battery to AC electric power and supplying the AC electric power to said first rotating electric machine and a second inverter for converting DC electric power from said battery to AC electric power and supplying the AC electric power to said second rotating electric machine, and

said inverter control portion controls said first and second inverters such that AC electric power provided to said first and second neutral points can be converted to DC electric power for supply to said battery.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said energy source is electric power,

said drive source is a rotating electric machine having a polyphase winding and a neutral point of the polyphase winding,

said energy source storage portion is a battery,

said vehicle further comprises an inverter connected to said rotating electric machine and an inverter control portion capable of controlling drive of said inverter,

said energy source supply portion includes a line connected to said neutral point, and

said inverter control portion controls said inverter such that DC electric power supplied from said battery to said inverter can be converted to AC electric power for supply from said energy source supply portion to an external load.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein

said rotating electric machine includes a first rotating electric machine having a first polyphase winding and a first neutral point of the first polyphase winding and a second rotating electric machine having a second polyphase winding and a second neutral point of the second polyphase winding,

said energy source supply portion includes a first line connected to said first neutral point and a second line connected to said second neutral point,

said inverter includes a first inverter for converting DC electric power from said battery to AC electric power and supplying the AC electric power to said first rotating electric machine and a second inverter for converting DC electric power from said battery to AC electric power and supplying the AC electric power to said second rotating electric machine, and

said inverter control portion controls said first inverter and said second inverter such that DC electric power supplied from said battery to said first inverter and said second inverter can be converted to AC electric power for supply from said energy source supply portion to an external load.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said energy source is electric power,

said energy source storage portion is a battery,

said vehicle further comprises a conversion device connected to said energy source supply portion and said battery, and

said conversion device is capable of conversion of electric power supplied from said energy source supply portion to DC electric power that can be supplied to said battery for charging of said battery and/or conversion of DC electric power supplied from said battery for supply from said energy source supply portion to an external load.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein

said conversion device is provided at a position distant from said internal combustion engine accommodation portion, and

said vehicle further comprises a line connecting said conversion device and the energy source supply portion to each other and passing through said internal combustion engine accommodation portion.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14, further comprising a driver and/or passenger accommodation portion capable of accommodating a driver and/or a passenger and a luggage storage portion located on a side opposite to said internal combustion engine accommodation portion, with respect to said driver and/or passenger accommodation portion, wherein

said conversion device is arranged within said luggage storage portion.

16. A hybrid vehicle incorporating an internal combustion engine and a motor, comprising:

a battery for supplying electric power for driving said motor to said motor;

an electric power reception portion electrically connected to said battery, that can be connected to a connector for supplying electric power outside the vehicle to said hybrid vehicle;

an internal combustion engine accommodation portion for accommodating said internal combustion engine; and

one side surface and the other side surface located opposite to said one side surface,

said internal combustion engine being arranged to be offset toward said other side surface with respect to a centerline passing through a center in a direction of width of said hybrid vehicle, and

said electric power reception portion being provided in said one side surface.

18. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising an inverter case for accommodating an inverter for controlling drive of said motor, wherein

said inverter case is arranged between said internal combustion engine and said one side surface, in said internal combustion engine accommodation portion.

19. The hybrid vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising an inverter case for accommodating an inverter for controlling drive of said motor, wherein

said inverter case is arranged between said internal combustion engine and said electric power reception portion, in said internal combustion engine accommodation portion.

17. A hybrid vehicle incorporating an internal combustion engine and a motor, comprising:

a battery for supplying electric power for driving said motor to said motor;

an electric power reception portion electrically connected to said battery, that can be connected to a connector for supplying electric power outside the vehicle to said hybrid vehicle;

an internal combustion engine accommodation portion for accommodating said internal combustion engine; and

one side surface and the other side surface located opposite to said one side surface,

said internal combustion engine being arranged closer to said other side surface relative to said one side surface, with respect to a centerline passing through a center in a direction of width of said hybrid vehicle, and

said electric power reception portion being provided in said one side surface.