VEHICLE

• US 20100025127A1
• Filed: 03/04/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Oyobe, Hichirosai
• Application Number:
  US12/448,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20100025127A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.220
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/28 characterised by the electric energy storing means, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• 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 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• 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 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/22 Constructional details or arrangements of charging converters specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/24 Using the vehicle's propulsion converter for charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A hybrid vehicle is identified as a vehicle including a first drive unit (4) driven by a first energy source, a first reservoir unit (201 ) reserving the first energy source, a first connection unit allowing a first energy source supply unit to be connected thereto and guiding the first energy source supplied from the first energy source supply unit to the first reservoir unit (201), a second drive unit (MG1, MG2) driven by a second energy source different from the first energy source, a second reservoir unit (B) reserving the second energy source, and a second connection unit allowing a second energy source supply unit to be connected thereto and guiding the second energy source supplied from the second energy source supply unit to the second reservoir unit. The first connection unit is provided at one lateral surface of the vehicle and the second connection unit is provided at the other lateral surface of the vehicle, the one lateral surface and the other lateral surface being arranged in a width direction of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a first drive unit driven by a first energy source;

a first reservoir unit reserving said first energy source;

a first connection unit allowing a first energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and guiding said first energy source supplied from said first energy source supply unit to said first reservoir unit;

a second drive unit driven by a second energy source different from said first energy source;

a second reservoir unit reserving said second energy source; and

a second connection unit allowing a second energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and guiding said second energy source supplied from said second energy source supply unit to said second reservoir unit, wherein

said first connection unit is provided at one lateral surface of said vehicle and said second connection unit is provided at the other lateral surface of said vehicle, said one lateral surface and said other lateral surface being arranged in a width direction of said vehicle.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said first drive unit is an internal combustion engine driven by said first energy source identified as fuel, and generating drive power, and

said second drive unit is an electric motor driven by said second energy source identified as electric power, and generating drive power for driving a wheel.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said first drive unit is a power generation unit using said first energy source identified as fuel, and generating electric power, and

said second drive unit is an electric motor generating drive power for driving a wheel, by said second energy source identified as electric power.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said first drive unit is a power generation unit using said first energy source identified as fuel, and generating electric power,

said second drive unit is an electric motor generating drive power for driving a wheel, by said second energy source identified as electric power, and

said power generation unit includes an internal combustion engine driven by said first energy source identified as fuel, and a power-generating electric motor driven by drive power obtained from said internal combustion engine.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first connection unit and said second connection unit are opposed in the width direction of said vehicle.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said first drive unit is an internal combustion engine driven by said first energy source identified as fuel, and generating drive power,

said second drive unit is an electric motor driven by said second energy source identified as electric power, and generating drive power for driving a wheel,

the vehicle further comprises a passenger accommodation cabin accommodating a passenger,

said electric motor and said internal combustion engine are provided forward in a traveling direction with respect to said passenger accommodation space, and

said first reservoir unit, said second reservoir unit, said first connection unit, and said second connection unit are provided rearward in the traveling direction with respect to said electric motor and said internal combustion engine.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

a passenger accommodation cabin accommodating a passenger, and

a loading-and-unloading opening in communication with said passenger accommodation cabin, wherein

said first connection unit and said second connection unit are located rearward in a traveling direction with respect to said loading-and-unloading opening.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

a passenger accommodation cabin accommodating a passenger, and

a loading-and-unloading opening in communication with said passenger accommodation cabin, wherein

said wheel includes a front wheel located forward in a traveling direction with respect to said loading-and-unloading opening, and a rear wheel located rearward in the traveling direction with respect to said loading-and-unloading opening, and

said second connection unit is located upward with respect to said rear wheel.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said second energy source is electric power,

said second reservoir unit is a power storage device storing said second energy source identified as direct-current electric power,

the vehicle further comprises a converter

connecting said second connection unit and said power storage device,

converting said second energy source which is supplied from said second energy source supply unit and identified as alternating-current electric power into said second energy source identified as direct-current electric power, and

supplying the direct-current electric power to said power storage device, and

said converter is disposed on a periphery of said power storage device.

12. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said second energy source is electric power,

said second drive unit is an electric motor driven by said second energy source identified as alternating-current electric power,

said electric motor includes a first electric motor having a first multiphase winding wire and a first neutral point of the first multiphase winding wire, and a second electric motor having a second multiphase winding wire and a second neutral point of the second multiphase winding wire,

said second connection unit includes a first interconnection connected to said first neutral point, and a second interconnection connected to said second neutral point,

the vehicle further comprises

a first inverter converting said second energy source which is supplied from said power storage device and identified as direct-current electric power into said second energy source identified as alternating-current electric power, and supplying the alternating-current electric power to said first electric motor,

a second inverter converting said second energy source which is supplied from said power storage device and identified as direct-current electric power into said second energy source identified as alternating-current electric power, and supplying the alternating-current electric power to said second electric motor, and

an inverter control unit controlling said first and second inverters, and

the inverter control unit controls said first and second inverters such that alternating-current electric power provided from said second connection unit to said first and second neutral points is converted into direct-current electric power and supplied to said power storage devices.

14. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said first connection unit and said second connection unit are disposed to be line-symmetric to each other with respect to a centerline of said vehicle, the centerline extending in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising

a passenger accommodation cabin accommodating a passenger, and

a loading-and-unloading opening in communication with said passenger accommodation cabin, wherein

said first connection unit and said second connection unit are disposed in a forward section of the vehicle with respect to said loading-and-unloading opening.

16. The vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a passenger accommodation cabin accommodating a passenger, wherein

one of said first connection unit and said second connection unit is located forward with respect to said passenger accommodation cabin, and the other of said first connection unit and said second connection unit is located rearward with respect to said passenger accommodation cabin.

17. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said first drive unit is a power generation unit using said first energy source identified as fuel, and generating electric power,

said power generation unit includes an internal combustion engine driven by said first energy source identified as fuel, and a power-generating electric motor driven by drive power obtained from said internal combustion engine,

said second drive unit is an electric motor generating drive power for driving a wheel, by said second energy source identified as electric power,

said first connection unit includes a first reception unit allowing said first energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and a first lid unit allowing an opening of the reception unit to be opened and closed, and

said second connection unit includes a connector capable of allowing the first energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and a second lid unit allowing said connector to be exposed to an outside and to be accommodated in the vehicle.

18. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

said first drive unit is a fuel cell using said second energy source identified as hydrogen, and generating electric power,

said second drive unit is electric motor generating drive power for driving a wheel, by said second energy source identified as electric power,

said first connection unit includes a first reception unit allowing said first energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and a first lid unit allowing an opening of the reception unit to be opened and closed, and

said second connection unit includes a connector capable of allowing the first energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and a second lid unit allowing said connector to be exposed to an outside and to be accommodated in the vehicle.

2. A vehicle comprising:

a first drive unit driven by a first energy source;

a first reservoir unit reserving said first energy source;

a first connection unit allowing a first energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and guiding said first energy source supplied from said first energy source supply unit to said first reservoir unit;

a second drive unit driven by a second energy source different from said first energy source;

a second reservoir unit reserving said second energy source; and

a second connection unit allowing a second energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and supplying said second energy source stored in said second reservoir unit to an outside from said second energy source supply unit, wherein

said first connection unit is provided at one lateral surface of said vehicle and said second connection unity is provided at the other lateral surface of said vehicle, said one lateral surface and said other lateral surface being arranged in a width direction of said vehicle.

11. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said second energy source is electric power,

said second reservoir unit is a power storage device storing said second energy source identified as direct-current electric power,

the vehicle further comprises a converter

connecting said second connection unit and said power storage device,

converting said second energy source which is stored in said power storage device and identified as direct-current electric power into the second energy source identified as alternating-current electric power, and

supplying the alternating-current electric power to said second energy source supply unit, and

said converter is disposed on a periphery of said power storage device.

13. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

said second energy source is electric power,

said second drive unit is an electric motor driven by said second energy source identified as alternating-current electric power,

said electric motor includes a first electric motor having a first multiphase winding wire and a first neutral point of the first multiphase winding wire, and a second electric motor having a second multiphase winding wire and a second neutral point of the second multiphase winding wire,

said second connection unit includes a first interconnection connected to said first neutral point, and a second interconnection connected to said second neutral point,

the vehicle further comprises

a first inverter converting said second energy source which is supplied from said power storage device and identified as direct-current electric power into said second energy source identified as alternating-current electric power, and supplying the alternating-current electric power to said first electric motor,

a second inverter converting said second energy source which is supplied from said power storage device and identified as direct-current electric power into said second energy source identified as alternating-current electric power, and supplying the alternating-current electric power to said first electric motor, and

an inverter control unit controlling said first and second inverters, and

said inverter control unit controls said first inverter and said second inverter converting direct-current electric power which is supplied from said power storage device to said first inverter and said second inverter into alternating-current electric power, and supplying the alternating-current electric power to an external load from said second connection unit.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a power generation unit generating electric power by a first energy source;

a first reservoir unit reserving said first energy source;

a first connection unit allowing a first energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and guiding said first energy source supplied from said first energy source supply unit to said first reservoir unit;

a drive unit driven by a second energy source different from said first energy source;

a second reservoir unit reserving said second energy source; and

a second connection unit allowing a second energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and guiding said second energy source supplied from said second energy source supply unit to said second reservoir unit, wherein

said first connection unit is provided at one lateral surface of said vehicle, and said second connection unit is provided at the other lateral surface of said vehicle, said one lateral surface and said other lateral surface being arranged in a width direction of said vehicle.

20. A vehicle comprising:

a power generation unit generating electric power by a first energy source;

a first reservoir unit reserving said first energy source;

a first connection unit allowing a first energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and guiding said first energy source supplied from said first energy source supply unit to said first reservoir unit;

a drive unit driven by a second energy source different from said first energy source;

a second reservoir unit reserving said second energy source; and

a second connection unit allowing a second energy source supply unit to be connected thereto, and guiding said second energy source stored in said second reservoir unit to an outside from said second energy source supply unit, wherein

said first connection unit is provided at one lateral surface of said vehicle, and said second connection unit is provided at the other lateral surface of said vehicle, said one lateral surface and said other lateral surface being arranged in a width direction of said vehicle.