Straddle Electric Vehicle

• US 20150291046A1
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Kawabata, Hiroki
• Granted Patent: US 9,956,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2001/0405 characterised by their position
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 1/08 Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/16 on motorcycles or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 43/28 hidden within the cycle frame
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 2204/00 Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor for driving electrically assisted bicycles B62M6/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A straddle electric vehicle comprises a charging connector to which an outside connector connected to an outside electric power supply is detachably attached; a battery which charges therein electric power supplied from the outside electric power supply with the outside connector attached to the charging connector, and discharges the electric power stored therein to supply the electric power to an electric motor; a battery case accommodating the battery; and a seat on which a passenger is seated, wherein the battery case is disposed between the seat and a front wheel, the charging connector is attached to an upper portion of the battery case, and a charging port of the charging connector is located forward relative to the seat so as to face rearward.

Claims

1. A straddle electric vehicle which drives by a driving power generated by an electric motor, comprising:

a charging connector to which an outside connector connected to an outside electric power supply is detachably attached;

a battery which charges therein electric power supplied from the outside electric power supply, with the outside connector attached to the charging connector, and discharges the electric power stored therein to supply the electric power to the electric motor;

a battery case accommodating the battery; and

a seat on which a passenger is seated,

wherein the battery case is disposed between the seat and a front wheel, the charging connector is attached to an upper portion of the battery case, and a charging port of the charging connector is positioned forward relative to the seat so as to face rearward.

2. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the upper portion of the battery case has a protruding section, and

wherein the charging connector is accommodated in the protruding section, and the charging port is provided in a rear side of the protruding section.

3. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the charging port is inclined upward.

4. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the battery case has in a rear upper portion a pair of grip members sandwiched by the rider'"'"'s knees, and

wherein the charging port is positioned forward relative to the grip members.

5. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the battery case has in a rear upper portion a pair of right and left grip members sandwiched by the rider'"'"'s knees, and

wherein the charging port is positioned between the right and left grip members.

6. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein a width of the charging connector is set greater than a height of the charging connector.

7. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the charging port is positioned above the seat.

8. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 3, comprising:

an eave portion provided above the charging port so as to extend rearward.

9. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1,

wherein the charging port is provided in a rear wall of the battery case.

10. The straddle electric vehicle according to claim 1, comprising:

a charging cover detachably attached to the charging port.

11. A straddle electric vehicle which drives by driving power generated by an electric motor, comprising:

a charging connector to which an outside connector connected to an outside electric power supply is detachably attached;

a battery which charges therein electric power supplied from the outside electric power supply, with the outside connector attached to the charging connector, and discharges the electric power stored therein to supply the electric power to the electric motor;

a seat on which a passenger is seated; and

a case member disposed between the seat and a front wheel,

wherein the charging connector is attached to an upper portion of the case member, and a charging port of the charging connector is positioned forward relative to and above the seat.