Patent ID: 7913788
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: B60K,B60L,Y02T

Abstract:
1. An integrated energy storage and rear suspension assembly for use with a vehicle having a body including a rear body cavity and an adjacent forward body cavity, the rear and forward body cavities located between a pair of frame rails, the assembly comprising: a rear fuel tank/suspension module including a rear sandwich panel, a fuel tank assembly mounted on the rear sandwich panel, a rear cross member mounted on and extending laterally across a rear edge of the rear sandwich panel, a front cross member mounted on and extending laterally across a front edge of the rear sandwich panel, and a pair of lower control arms, each mounted to and extending from opposed ends of the rear cross member and the front cross member, the rear fuel tank/suspension module configured to slide into the rear body cavity; a battery support assembly including a propulsion battery mounted on a front sandwich plate, the front sandwich plate having an upper face sheet adjacent to the propulsion battery, a lower face sheet spaced from the upper face sheet and a core connecting the upper face sheet to the lower face sheet, the lower face sheet having a smooth lower surface, and the battery support assembly being configured to slide into the forward body cavity; and a structural joining plate connected to and securing a rear edge of the front sandwich panel to the front edge of the rear sandwich panel.