ELECTRIC VEHICLE HAVING A TRACTION BATTERY

An electric vehicle having a traction battery, with a body having a charging port with a charging interface, which can be exposed or covered using a charging flap. The electric vehicle includes a combination flap, which is configured in the form of an air-conducting element and comprises the charging flap.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2022 116 020.3, filed Jun. 28, 2022, the content of such application being incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an electric vehicle having a traction battery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electric vehicles having a traction battery are sufficiently known. The traction battery serves to propel the electric vehicle in the form of an electric motor and requires a charging interface in a body of the electric vehicle, via which it can be charged with energy in the form of a power flow.

From the application DE 10 2015 113 463 A1, which is incorporated by reference herein, an electric vehicle having a charging interface arranged in the region of a mudguard for charging a traction battery is known, wherein the charging interface can be optionally covered or exposed by means of a covering element.

An electric vehicle with a front flap and a mudguard adjacent the front flap can be found in the application DE 10 2008 053 973 A1, which is incorporated by reference herein, wherein a flap, which is adjustable between an open position and a covered position, is arranged between the mudguard and the front flap, underneath which a charging interface for charging a traction battery is arranged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electric vehicle according to the present invention having a traction battery comprises a body with a charging port having a charging interface that can be exposed or covered with the aid of a charging flap. According to aspects of the invention, the electric vehicle comprises a combination flap, which is configured in the form of an air-conducting element and comprises the charging flap. That is to say, in other words, the electric vehicle has the combination flap consisting of the air-conducting element and the charging flap, which is configured so as to expose the charging interface and which can be used as an air-conducting element in the operation of the electric vehicle in order to reduce flow losses so as to reduce energy consumption. A further aerodynamic and aesthetic advantage is a reduction of joints in the body, which can lead to the inducement of turbulence and/or a reduction of an overall impression of the electric vehicle. Finally, with the aid of the invention, the body has a reduced number of ports, because only one port is configured for the charging port and for receiving of the air-conducting element in the body.

Advantageously, the combination flap is arranged in a rear region of the body so that an output of the electric vehicle can be advantageously adjusted in the rear region with the aid of the air-conducting element.

In order to realize the reduction of flow losses in a broad operating range, preferably in the entire operating range of the electric vehicle, the combination flap can be brought into different positions in a driving operation of the electric vehicle.

The combination flap could comprise the charging flap and the air-conducting element being independently movable. However, it is advantageous when the charging flap is configured so as to be coupled to the air-conducting element so that a secured positioning of the charging flap is inducible simultaneously with the air-conducting element. Thus, prior to a charging operation, the air-conducting element can be coupled to the charging flap so that, when the air-conducting element is moved, the charging flap is moved simultaneously and the charging interface can be swiftly exposed.

To the extent that the air-conducting element can be moved independently of the charging flap, an additional covering element of the charging port in order to secure the charging port during travel of the electric vehicle can be omitted, which can reduce costs of the electric vehicle. If the charging flap were permanently coupled to the air-conducting element, such a covering element would be necessary for safety reasons, because the charging flap is intended to cover the charging interface and protect against, for example, dirt, water, and other environmental factors.

For secure covering of the charging interface, the charging flap can be moved in dependence on the air-conducting element. This means that the charging interface cannot be exposed without movement, for example displacement of the air-conducting element, and is thus always covered securely.

Advantageously, the electric vehicle comprises a drive unit, which is configured so as to move the combination flap and to move the charging flap and the air-conducting element together or independently. In other words, in order to reduce costs, a drive unit is configured which, however, can be configured so as to move the charging flap as well as the air-conducting element.

In order to securely receive a charging cable in the charging interface, the drive unit is configured so that the combination flap fully exposes the charging port only in a charging state of the electric vehicle.

To further securely cover the charging port, the drive unit is further advantageously configured so that the charging flap fully covers the charging port in a driving operation of the electric vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

InFIG.1, in an excerpt, a side view of a body1of an electric vehicle2according to aspects of the invention is shown, with a traction battery, which is not shown in greater detail, in a first operating state. The body1has a charging port3with a charging interface4, which can be exposed or covered with the aid of a charging flap5. Furthermore, the body1has an air-conducting element6in a region of a rear7of the body1.

Preferably, the rear7is configured in a rounded manner in order to reduce a coefficient of air resistance or an air resistance of the body1. However, the air-conducting element6and its predominant effect, the guiding of the air flow, are independent of a shape of the rear7. The air-conducting element6forms part of the body1, but can be moved relative to the remaining body1.

The air-conducting element6is provided for the purpose of reducing turbulence in the air flow, which can lead to an increase in the coefficient of air resistance. For this purpose, the air-conducting element6can be moved relative to the remaining body1, thus the portion of the body1without the air-conducting element6, at least as part of a rear side part8. The rear side part8comprises a flow-guiding surface9faces the surrounding environment, along which air flows and is conducted by it.

The air-conducting element6is in particular configured in its operational end position, in which it is depicted inFIG.2, for extending the flow-guiding surface9along a longitudinal extension, thus in particular along a longitudinal body axis X of the body1. In other words, in addition to its extension along the longitudinal body axis X, the air-conducting element6self-evidently also extends along a transverse body axis Y and a vertical body axis Z, as a result of which it also comprises a flow guidance along the transverse body axis Y and the vertical body axis Z. However, its function is predominantly an extension of the flow-guiding surface9to guide the flow along the longitudinal body axis X. Or, in further other words, the air-conducting element6is designed in particular in its operational end position for the extension of the flow-guiding surface9in the direction of a rear-terminating surface10along the longitudinal body axis X. It could also protrude over the rear-terminating surface10.

The rear side part8is configured so as to at least partially comprise a wheel box11and, depending on the design of the body1, can at least partially comprise a rear light port26and at least partially a bumper12.

The electric vehicle2according to aspects of the invention comprises the air-conducting element6and the charging flap5in the form of a combination flap13. Or, in other words, the electric vehicle2comprises a combination flap13, which is configured in the form of an air-conducting element6and comprises the charging flap5. The combination flap13is arranged in the rear side part8, thus in the rear region of the body1on a side wall of the body1, wherein the charging port3of the electric vehicle2according to aspects of the invention in the present embodiment example is configured in the rear side part8.

A positioning of the air-conducting element6is preferably carried out with the aid of a pivoting motion and a translatory motion, which are coupled, wherein a drive unit of the electric vehicle2, which is not shown in greater detail, is configured so as to implement this coupled movement in order to move the combination flap13. In other words, a pivoting motion of the air-conducting element6about an axis of rotation is realized, which is superimposed on a translatory movement. Thus, the essential advantage of the air-conducting element6of the combination flap13consists of moving from the body1simultaneously in the direction of the longitudinal body axis X and the transverse body axis Y and bringing it into different positions.

The drive unit is configured so as to jointly or independently move the charging flap5and the air-conducting element6, wherein, for securely receiving a charging cable not shown in greater detail in the charging interface4, the drive unit is configured so that the combination flap1fully exposes the opening port3exclusively in a charging state of the electric vehicle2. Furthermore, in order to further securely cover the charging port3, the drive unit is configured so that the charging flap5fully covers the charging port3in the driving operation of the electric vehicle2.

In the operational end position in which the air-conducting element6is set, in particular at medium and high speeds of the electric vehicle2, the charging flap5is covered. It should be mentioned at this point that the charging flap5is covered even at low speeds, thus during the entire operation of the electric vehicle2, whereas the air-conducting element6can be positioned in different positions during the operation of the vehicle, or in other words can be moved into different positions. That is to say, in other words, the combination flap13, one component of which is the air-conducting element6, can be brought into different positions during travel.

InFIGS.1to3, the body1of the electric vehicle2according to aspects of the invention is depicted in different operating states, wherein the combination flap13according toFIG.1is illustrated in a first operating state, which is characterized by a flush arrangement of the combination flap13in the rear side part8. In other words, the charging flap5and the air-conducting element6are arranged entirely in the rear side portion8, as is preferably provided while idling or at low speeds of the electric vehicle2. The charging port3is fully covered, the air-conducting element6is “retracted,” and a reduced joint pattern is formed in the rear side portion8.

InFIG.2, the body1of the electric vehicle2according to aspects of the invention is depicted in a second operating state, wherein the air-conducting element6is positioned rearward along the longitudinal body axis X, thus in the direction of the rear7. The charging flap5is further arranged so as to cover the charging port3completely. This second operating state is preferably provided at high speeds of the electric vehicle2. In other words, the air-conducting element6is “extended,” in particular in a speed range in which it exhibits aerodynamic efficacy.

At this point, it should be mentioned that it is possible, depending on the configuration of a drive unit of the electric vehicle2for the combination flap13not shown in greater detail, to implement further operating states of the body1during operation of the electric vehicle2between the first operating state and the second operating state. In other words, the air-conducting element6can occupy further positions between its first position, which is depicted inFIG.1, and its second position, which is depicted inFIG.2, wherein the first position and the second position are boundary positions between which further positions can be assumed, as is preferably provided in a mid-speed range of the electric vehicle2. In other words, in its first position, the air-conducting element6is arranged in its maximum possible position in the direction of a front of the body1, which is configured so as to face away from the rear7, whereas, in its second position, it is positioned in its maximum possible position in the direction of the rear7. The air-conducting element6can be moved in these operating states of the body1independently of the charging flap5.

The body1of the electric vehicle2according to aspects of the invention is illustrated inFIG.3in a third operating state, wherein the air-conducting element6and the charging flap5are positioned rearward along the longitudinal body axis X, thus in the direction of the rear7. The charging port3is exposed so that an electric cable, not shown in greater detail, can be received in the charging interface4. This third operating state can only be realized in the charging operation of the electric vehicle2. InFIG.4, the body1in this third operating state is illustrated in a top plan view. In this third operating state, which corresponds to a charging state of the electric vehicle2, the combination flap13is arranged so as to fully expose the charging port3.

It can be seen that, in the present embodiment example, the charging flap5is designed to be shorter than the air-conducting element6in the direction of a vertical body axis Z, which is configured orthogonally to the longitudinal body axis X and the transverse body axis Y, so that a covering element14is arranged in order to cover a body port15, which preferably comprises the charging port3and is placed in a position and can be arranged immovably.

The combination flap13is configured so as to couple the charging flap5with the air-conducting element6. InFIG.5, the combination flap is depicted in a schematic diagram with a coupling unit16. The charging flap3has a first charging flap guide17and a second charging flap guide18. A first element guide19and a second element guide20are associated with the air-conducting element6. The second charging flap guide18and the first element guide19are configured so as to couple the charging flap3and the air-conducting element6so that they can be coupled in order to perform a joint motion. The coupling unit16thus comprises the second charging flap guide18and the first element guide19. In the direction of the arrows, the charging flap3and the air-conducting element6are thus movable together or separately from one another.

InFIGS.6to8, the coupling unit16is depicted in a schematic diagram, wherein the coupling unit16further comprises a first coupling element21in the form of a slider and a second coupling element22, which configured so as to induce a form-fit with the first coupling element and is configured in the form of a pin in the present embodiment example.

In the first coupling position, with the aid of the first coupling element21, the second coupling element22is positioned so as to be engaged with a third coupling element23formed in the charging flap3and with a fourth coupling element24formed in the air-conducting element6. In the second coupling position, the second coupling element22is connected to the third coupling element23and to the fourth coupling element24, wherein a form-fit connection is produced in each case. A connection to the coupling slider21is disengaged so that, as illustrated inFIG.8, the charging flap3and the air-conducting element6can be slid together. The charging flap3is thus movable in dependence on the air-conducting element6.

With the aid of an actuating element25, the air-conducting element6can adjusted into its further positions.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS