Electric vehicle

An electric vehicle includes: a vehicle main body; and a cooling box provided in the vehicle main body. A passenger compartment in which a passenger gets, and a front accommodation compartment provided more frontward than the passenger compartment are formed in the vehicle main body. The cooling box is disposed in the front accommodation compartment. Thus, the cooling box mounted on the electric vehicle can be easily accessed even when the electric vehicle is parked reversely.

This nonprovisional application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-203743 filed on Oct. 20, 2017 with the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates to an electric vehicle.

Description of the Background Art

A van-type vehicle described in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2002-206838 includes a driver's seat, a general baggage loading compartment, and a vehicle-mounted refrigerator. The general baggage loading compartment is disposed on the rear side of the driver's seat.

SUMMARY

When a vehicle is stopped, the vehicle is generally parked reversely in many cases such that a rear wheel comes into contact with a wheel stopper. When the vehicle is parked reversely, another vehicle may be parked next to the vehicle or there may be an obstacle such as a fence.

In such a case, the refrigerator is disposed more rearward than the driver's seat in the above-described van-type vehicle, and thus, it is difficult to put baggage on the refrigerator and take baggage down from the refrigerator.

The present disclosure has been made in light of the above-described problem, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide an electric vehicle in which a cooling box mounted on the electric vehicle can be easily accessed even when the electric vehicle is parked reversely.

An electric vehicle according to the present disclosure includes: a vehicle main body; and a cooling box provided in the vehicle main body. A passenger compartment in which a passenger gets, and a front accommodation compartment provided more frontward than the passenger compartment are formed in the vehicle main body, and the cooling box is disposed in the front accommodation compartment. According to the above-described electric vehicle, an object to be accommodated can be easily put into the cooling box when the electric vehicle is parked reversely.

The electric vehicle further includes a first front wheel and a second front wheel provided more frontward than a center of the vehicle main body and arranged each other in a width direction of the vehicle main body. The cooling box is disposed between the first front wheel and the second front wheel.

According to the above-described electric vehicle, damage of the cooling box can be suppressed even when the electric vehicle receives side collision.

The cooling box is located closer to the passenger compartment than a front end of the vehicle main body, a door configured to open and close the cooling box is provided on a side surface of the cooling box located on the passenger compartment side, and the door is disposed in the passenger compartment. According to the above-described electric vehicle, an object accommodated in the cooling box can be taken out from the passenger compartment.

The cooling box is disposed at a center in a width direction of the vehicle main body. According to the above-described electric vehicle, the weight balance of the electric vehicle in the width direction can be kept.

The vehicle main body includes a first side surface and a second side surface arranged in a width direction, and the cooling box is disposed on the first side surface side with respect to a center in the width direction of the vehicle main body. According to the above-described electric vehicle, an object to be accommodated can be put into the cooling box from the side surface side of the vehicle.

The electric vehicle further includes a cooling circuit configured to cool air in the passenger compartment and air in the cooling box, wherein when the front accommodation compartment is viewed from above in a plan view, at least a part of the cooling circuit is located in the front accommodation compartment.

According to the above-described electric vehicle, a distance between the cooling circuit and the cooling box is short, and thus, the air in the cooling box can be efficiently cooled.

The electric vehicle further includes a rear-side cooling box, wherein a rear accommodation compartment located more rearward than the passenger compartment is formed in the vehicle main body, and the rear-side cooling box is disposed in the rear accommodation compartment. Food and the like can also be stored in the rear-side cooling box.

The vehicle main body includes a roof provided so as to close an upper part of the front accommodation compartment, the roof includes a roof main body and a divided roof, and the divided roof is provided on the vehicle main body and is disposed on a portion of the front accommodation compartment located above the cooling box.

According to the above-described electric vehicle, by opening the divided roof, an object to be accommodated can be put into the cooling box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

An electric vehicle according to a first embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 15. The same or substantially the same components, of the components shown inFIGS. 1 to 15, are denoted by the same reference characters and redundant description will not be repeated.

FIG. 1is a block diagram schematically showing an electric vehicle1. Electric vehicle1includes a vehicle main body2, a front wheel3, a rear wheel4, a battery5, a PCU6, a motor7, an ECU9, a communication device17, a storage18, a cooling box30, and a cooling circuit40.

Front wheel3is provided more frontward than a center in a front-back direction of electric vehicle1. Rear wheel4is provided more rearward than the center in the front-back direction of electric vehicle1. Battery5is provided on a bottom surface of electric vehicle1. PCU6and motor7are provided near rear wheel4.

Communication device17is configured to be capable of communicating with the outside. For example, communication device17is configured to be capable of receiving a signal from a not-shown server and the like. Various types of information are stored in storage18.

Vehicle main body2includes a floor panel8, a roof13, a front door14, a rear door15, and a back hatch16. A passenger compartment20, a front accommodation compartment21and a rear accommodation compartment22are formed in vehicle main body2.

A front seat23and a rear seat24are disposed in passenger compartment20. Passenger compartment20is a space in which a passenger such as a driver gets.

Front accommodation compartment21is formed more frontward of electric vehicle1than passenger compartment20. Front accommodation compartment21is formed to be open upwardly. Rear accommodation compartment22is provided more rearward than passenger compartment20. Specifically, rear accommodation compartment22is formed on the rear side of rear seat24.

Floor panel8includes a partition wall10, a center floor panel11and a rear floor panel12.

Partition wall10is a wall that partitions front accommodation compartment21and passenger compartment20. Center floor panel11is a panel that forms a bottom surface of passenger compartment20. Rear floor panel12is a panel that forms a bottom surface of rear accommodation compartment22.

Battery5, PCU6and motor7are provided on a lower surface of floor panel8, and specifically, battery5is provided on a lower surface of center floor panel11. Roof13is provided on vehicle main body2so as to be capable of opening and closing an opening of front accommodation compartment21. Front door14and rear door15are pivotably provided on vehicle main body2. When front door14and rear door15are opened, a passenger can enter and exit passenger compartment20.

Back hatch16is provided at a rear end of electric vehicle1in an openable and closable manner. When back hatch16is opened, rear accommodation compartment22can be opened.

FIG. 2is a block diagram schematically showing devices for causing electric vehicle1to travel. Electric vehicle1includes an ECU (Electronic Control Unit)9, a transmission25and an axle26.

Axle26is connected to a left rear wheel4L and a right rear wheel4R. Transmission25is mechanically connected to motor7and axle26.

When electric vehicle1travels, DC power from battery5is supplied to PCU (Power Control Unit)6. PCU6boosts a voltage of the DC power supplied from battery5, and further converts the DC power to AC power and supplies the AC power to motor7. Motor7drives left rear wheel4L and right rear wheel4R using the supplied AC power. As described above, the vehicle according to the present embodiment is an electric vehicle.

FIG. 3is a side view showing front accommodation compartment21and its surroundings. Roof13is provided so as to be pivotable with respect to vehicle main body2, and when roof13is opened, front accommodation compartment21is opened.

FIG. 4is a plan view when front accommodation compartment21is viewed from above in a plan view.FIG. 5is a perspective view schematically showing front accommodation compartment21. Roof13is not shown inFIGS. 4 and 5.

InFIG. 4, electric vehicle1includes right and left side surfaces37R and37L arranged in a width direction of electric vehicle1, a front surface36located at a front end of electric vehicle1, and right and left front wheels3R and3L. Right front wheel3R and left front wheel3L are provided so as to be arranged in the width direction of electric vehicle1.

Right side surface37R is provided with a tire house38R that covers right front wheel3R, and left side surface37L is provided with a tire house38L that covers left front wheel3L.

Front accommodation compartment21is formed by a housing27. Housing27is disposed between passenger compartment20and front surface36and between right side surface37R and left side surface37L. InFIG. 5, front accommodation compartment21includes a main accommodation compartment54and a sub accommodation compartment55.

Sub accommodation compartment55is formed between main accommodation compartment54and passenger compartment20, and is formed so as to extend from main accommodation compartment54toward the rear side of electric vehicle1. Housing27includes a bottom plate50and a peripheral wall51. Peripheral wall51includes a rear wall portion53located on the passenger compartment20side. Sub accommodation compartment55is formed so as to extend from rear wall portion53toward the rear side of electric vehicle1.

Cooling box30is provided in front accommodation compartment21. In the example shown inFIG. 4, cooling box30is disposed in main accommodation compartment54of front accommodation compartment21. Cooling box30is disposed at the center in the width direction of electric vehicle1. A center line O1is an imaginary line passing through the center in the width direction of electric vehicle1. When front accommodation compartment21and cooling box30are viewed in a plan view, cooling box30overlaps with center line O1.

Cooling box30is disposed on the front surface36side with respect to passenger compartment20. Specifically, peripheral wall51of housing27includes a front-side wall located on the front surface36side, and cooling box30is disposed on the front-side wall.

Cooling box30includes a main body31and lids32and33. A refrigerating compartment34and a freezing compartment35are formed in main body31.

Although cooling box30has both the refrigerating function and the freezing function in the present embodiment, cooling box30may include one of the refrigerating function and the freezing function. Refrigerating compartment34and freezing compartment35are both formed so as to be open upwardly. Lid32is provided on main body31so as to open and close an opening of refrigerating compartment34. Lid33is provided on main body31so as to open and close an opening of freezing compartment35.

FIG. 6is a plan view showing cooling circuit40. Cooling circuit40includes a condenser41, a gas-liquid separator42, an expansion valve43, an evaporator44, a blower45, an evaporator46, a blower47, a compressor48, a refrigerant pipe49, and a refrigerant W.

Condenser41cools refrigerant W using the outdoor air. Gas-liquid separator42separates refrigerant W flowing through refrigerant pipe49into refrigerant W in a gas state and refrigerant W in a liquid state, and supplies refrigerant W in a liquid state to expansion valve43. Expansion valve43adiabatically expands refrigerant W and supplies refrigerant W in a mist state to evaporators44and46.

Blower45blows the air in passenger compartment20on evaporator44to thereby cool the air. The cooled air is supplied into passenger compartment20.

Blower47blows the air in cooling box30on evaporator46to thereby cool the air in cooling box30. The cooled air in cooling box30passes through ducts and returns to cooling box30. Specifically, the ducts are connected to both refrigerating compartment34and freezing compartment35, and the air cooled by evaporator46is supplied to refrigerating compartment34and freezing compartment35through the respective ducts. A damper is provided in each duct, and ECU9adjusts the degree of opening of each damper, thereby adjusting the temperature in refrigerating compartment34and the temperature in freezing compartment35.

Refrigerant W having flown through evaporators44and46is supplied to compressor48. In compressor48, refrigerant W compresses to high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant. Refrigerant W is supplied from compressor48to condenser41and cooled in condenser41.

In the example shown inFIG. 6, cooling circuit40cools both the air in passenger compartment20and the air in cooling box30. Therefore, the overall size of the cooling circuit can be reduced, as compared with the case of separately providing a cooling circuit for cooling the air in passenger compartment20and a cooling circuit for cooling the air in cooling box30.

When cooling circuit40and front accommodation compartment21are viewed in a plan view, a plurality of devices forming cooling circuit40are disposed on the lower side of front accommodation compartment21. Therefore, a distance between cooling box30provided in cooling circuit40and cooling circuit40is short, and thus, the air in cooling box30can be efficiently cooled. Specifically, when front accommodation compartment21and cooling circuit40are viewed in a plan view, gas-liquid separator42, evaporator46and compressor48are located on the lower side of front accommodation compartment21.

FIG. 7is a plan view showing a state in which electric vehicle1is parked in a parking lot. In the state shown inFIG. 7, electric vehicle1and vehicles61and62are parked in a parking lot60.

Electric vehicle1and vehicles61and62are all parked reversely. Parking lot60is provided with a wall63and a wall64. Wall63is disposed on the rear side of electric vehicle1and vehicles61and62, and wall64is disposed so as to be adjacent to electric vehicle1.

When a user65of electric vehicle1puts refrigerated food66and frozen food67into cooling box30, user65opens roof13. Since roof13and front accommodation compartment21are located on the front side of passenger compartment20, user65can easily open roof13.

As a result, user65can easily put refrigerated food66and frozen food67into cooling box30. As described above, even when there is an obstacle such as another vehicle or a wall on the right and left side and on the rear side of electric vehicle1, refrigerated food66and frozen food67can be easily put into cooling box30.

Particularly, cooling box30is disposed on the front surface36side, and thus, user65can easily put food and the like into cooling box30.

In electric vehicle1according to the first embodiment described above, cooling box30is provided more frontward than passenger compartment20and battery5. Therefore, when electric vehicle1receives front collision, cooling box30can function as an impact absorbing member to thereby reduce the impact force applied to front accommodation compartment21and battery5.

Since cooling box30is disposed at the center in the width direction of electric vehicle1, disturbance of the weight balance of electric vehicle1in the right and left direction is suppressed.

Second Embodiment

An electric vehicle1A according to a second embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9.FIG. 8is a plan view schematically showing a cooling box30A and front accommodation compartment21.FIG. 9is a perspective view schematically showing cooling box30A and front accommodation compartment21.

In electric vehicle1A, cooling box30A is accommodated in sub accommodation compartment55of front accommodation compartment21. Cooling box30A is disposed between left front wheel3L and right front wheel3R. Therefore, for example, even when electric vehicle1A receives side collision, damage of cooling box30A can be suppressed. Cooling box30A is located closer to passenger compartment20than front surface36of electric vehicle1A.

FIG. 10is a perspective view schematically showing cooling box30A. Cooling box30A includes a main body70and doors71,72,73,74,78, and79. A refrigerating compartment75and a freezing compartment76are formed in main body70.

Doors71and72are located in front accommodation compartment21, and doors73and74are located in passenger compartment20. Doors73and74are provided on a portion of a perimeter surface of cooling box30A located on the passenger compartment20side. Doors73and74are disposed in passenger compartment20.

Therefore, by opening doors71and72from the front accommodation compartment21side, various types of food and the like can be put into refrigerating compartment75and freezing compartment76, and by opening doors73and74from the passenger compartment20side, various types of food and the like can be taken out from refrigerating compartment75and freezing compartment76. Door78is provided on an upper surface of refrigerating compartment75. Door79is provided on an upper surface of freezing compartment76.

In electric vehicle1A as well, cooling box30A is accommodated in front accommodation compartment21, and thus, user65can easily put refrigerated food66, frozen food67and the like into cooling box30A when electric vehicle1A is parked reversely. Furthermore, cooling box30A is disposed at a center in a width direction of electric vehicle1A, and thus, the weight balance of electric vehicle1A in the right and left direction is kept.

Cooling box30A is configured to be slidable in a front-back direction of electric vehicle1A. Specifically, a rail77is provided on a bottom surface of front accommodation compartment21and cooling box30A can be pulled out along rail77. As a result, when user65puts food and the like into cooling box30A, user65can pull out cooling box30A and then open doors78and79to thereby put food and the like into cooling box30A.

Third Embodiment

Electric vehicles1B and1C according to a third embodiment will be described with reference toFIGS. 11 and 12.FIG. 11is a plan view schematically showing a part of electric vehicle1B. In electric vehicle1B, a cooling box30B is located closer to left side surface37L than a center in a width direction of vehicle main body2.FIG. 12is a plan view schematically showing a part of electric vehicle1C according to a modification. In electric vehicle1C, a cooling box30C is located closer to right side surface37R than a center in a width direction of vehicle main body2. As described above, the cooling box may be disposed on the side surface side of the electric vehicle.

Also in electric vehicles1B and1C configured as described above, cooling boxes30B and30C are disposed in front accommodation compartment21, and thus, refrigerated food, frozen food and the like can be easily put into the cooling box.

Fourth Embodiment

Roof13will be described with reference toFIGS. 13 and 14.FIG. 13is a plan view showing a roof13A and the like provided in an electric vehicle1D according to a fourth embodiment. In the modification shown inFIG. 13, roof13A includes a roof main body80and a divided roof81.

Divided roof81is provided on roof main body80in a pivotable manner. On the other hand, when roof main body80is pivoted, divided roof81rotates together with roof main body80.

Divided roof81is located above cooling box30. Even when divided roof81is opened, a portion of front accommodation compartment21located below roof main body80cannot be accessed.

In the case of using such roof13A, only divided roof81is opened when food and the like are put into cooling box30, and thus, food and the like can be put into cooling box30. Since a weight of divided roof81is lighter than a weight of entire roof13A, divided roof81can be easily opened and the convenience can be improved.

Although divided roof81is provided integrally with roof main body80in the example shown inFIG. 13, divided roof81and roof main body80may be completely independent of each other. In this case, even when roof main body80is opened, divided roof81remains in a closed state.FIG. 14is a plan view showing a roof13B which is a modification of roof13A.

Roof13B includes roof main body80, divided roof81, locking devices83and84, and a communication device85.

Divided roof81is provided independently of roof main body80. Therefore, even when roof main body80is opened, divided roof81remains in a closed state, and even when divided roof81is opened, roof main body80remains in a closed state.

Divided roof81is located above cooling box30, and by opening divided roof81, food and the like can be put into cooling box30. On the other hand, even when divided roof81is opened, a portion of front accommodation compartment21located below roof main body80cannot be accessed.

Based on a command from ECU9, locking device83switches between a state in which roof main body80is locked and a state in which roof main body80is unlocked. Based on a command from ECU9, locking device84switches between a state in which divided roof81is locked and a state in which divided roof81is unlocked.

Communication device85is configured to be capable of communicating with the outside. For example, communication device85is configured to be capable of receiving radio waves having a plurality of frequency bands. For example, communication device85is configured to be capable of receiving a radio wave transmitted from a key carried by user65, and is further configured to be capable of receiving a radio wave having a frequency band such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

Communication device85transmits the received various signals to ECU9. Based on the received signals, ECU9switches the locking state by locking devices83and84.

For example, when determining that the signal transmitted from the key carried by user65has been received, the ECU9unlocks roof main body80and divided roof81.

ECU9also receives authentication information from a not-shown server through communication device17inFIG. 1. The authentication information includes, for example, information indicating an authentication signal that causes release of locking by locking device84.

When determining that communication device85has received the authentication signal, ECU9releases locking by locking device84. As a result, for example, when a deliveryman puts a delivery object such as food into cooling box30, the authentication signal is transmitted from a terminal used by the deliveryman to communication device85, and thus, locking by locking device84can be released and the object such as food can be put into cooling box30.

Furthermore, the deliveryman can access only cooling box30serving as a home delivery box, and cannot open roof main body80. Therefore, for example, user65can store his/her personal items on the roof main body80side to thereby prevent his/her personal items from being seen by the deliveryman.

Fifth Embodiment

FIG. 15is a block diagram schematically showing an electric vehicle1E according to a fifth embodiment. Electric vehicle1E includes a cooling box90provided in rear accommodation compartment22, and a cooling circuit91.

Cooling circuit91is provided separately from cooling circuit40. By opening back hatch16, the user can put various types of food and the like into cooling box90.

Cooling circuit91is configured similarly to cooling circuit40. Cooling circuit91includes a condenser, a gas-liquid separator, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a blower, a compressor, and a refrigerant pipe. Cooling circuit91cools air in cooling box90.