BATTERY PACK MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR ELECTRIC CAR

• US 20130248267A1
• Filed: 01/29/2013
• Published: 09/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Suzuki Motor Corporation
• Inventors: Nitawaki, Kunihiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,881,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/68.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/04 of the electric storage means for propulsion exchanging batteries for electric propulsion of vehicles B60L53/80; for auxiliary purposes only B60R16/04; supplying batteries to, or removing batteries from, vehicles B60S5/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0416 Arrangement in the rear part of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0438 Arrangement under the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to protect a battery pack in the event of a vehicle rear impact in an electric car in which the battery pack is arranged between rear side members arranged at a vehicle rear portion.

The present invention provides a battery pack mounting structure for electric cars in which a pair of rear side members having a front portion, a rear portion, and a rising portion are arranged at both vehicle-widthwise side portions, intermediate portions of the respective rear side members are coupled to each other by a cross member, and a battery pack is mounted on a vehicle body by a sub-frame that is coupled to the respective rear side members and the cross member, wherein the cross member is arranged at a position below a bent portion that connects the rising portion and the rear portion of each of the rear side members, the sub-frame includes a ring-like support frame that extends in a horizontal direction and surrounds an outer periphery of the battery pack, and a front side portion and both vehicle-widthwise side portions of the support frame are respectively coupled to the cross member and the rear portions of the respective rear side members by coupling portions.

Claims

1. A battery pack mounting structure for electric cars, comprising:

a pair of rear side members extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction and having a front portion, a rear portion that is arranged at a position above the front portion, and a rising portion that connects both portions are arranged at both vehicle-widthwise side portions, intermediate portions of the respective rear side members are coupled to each other by a cross member that extends in a vehicle width direction, and a battery pack is mounted on a vehicle body by a sub-frame that is coupled to the respective rear side members and the cross member, wherein the cross member is arranged at a position below a bent portion that connects the rising portion and the rear portion of each of the rear side members, the sub-frame includes a ring-like support frame that extends in a horizontal direction and surrounds an outer periphery of the battery pack, and a front side portion and both vehicle-widthwise side portions of the support frame are respectively coupled to the cross member and the rear portions of the respective rear side members by coupling portions.

2. The battery pack mounting structure for electric cars according to claim 1, wherein the battery pack includes a flange portion that surrounds the battery pack in a ring-like shape, and that is coupled to the support frame of the sub-frame.

3. The battery pack mounting structure for electric cars according to claim 2, wherein the support frame includes a pair of side member portions that extend in directions along the respective rear side members, and a front member portion and a rear member portion that extend in the vehicle width direction, the battery pack is arranged at an offset position toward one side of the pair of side member portions in the vehicle width direction on an inner side of the support frame, and a bracket that couples the front member portion and the rear member portion is arranged in a space that is formed on the other side of the pair of side member portions on the inner side of the support frame by offsetting the battery pack.

4. The battery pack mounting structure for electric cars according to claim 1, wherein a fuel tank is arranged in front of the battery pack, a filler pipe that extends to a vehicle-widthwise outer side from the rear side member is coupled to the fuel tank, and the filler pipe extends to the vehicle-widthwise outer side from the rear side member through a space sandwiched between the rear side member and the support frame in a vehicle vertical direction.