Electric Vehicle

The electric vehicle includes a body; an electric motor, a front wheel and a rear wheel each drivable by motive power from the electric motor, and a plurality of batteries each configured to feed electric power to the electric motor, the plurality of batteries including at least two batteries arranged side by side in the left-right direction with the electric motor in between.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-133495 filed Aug. 18, 2023, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electric vehicle configured to travel as driven by an electric motor operable with electric power from batteries.

Description of Related Art

Electrically operated utility vehicles travel as driven by an electric motor operable with electric power from a battery. Such a battery, as disclosed in JP 2018-154191 A (Patent Literature 1), typically lies laterally under a seat. Utility vehicles (that is, electric vehicles) are required to include a battery with a large charging capacity, that is, a large-sized battery, for an extended travelable distance.

Patent Literature 1

JP 2018-154191 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Utility vehicles include axles extending in the front-back direction of the body, which makes it difficult to orient a large-sized battery laterally under a seat. Spreading battery cells on the floor may be an option, but will more likely let the battery be damaged, as utility vehicles may travel on rough terrain.

The present invention has an object of providing an electric vehicle including efficiently positioned large-capacity batteries.

In order to attain the above object, an electric vehicle as an embodiment of the present invention includes: a body; an electric motor; a front wheel and a rear wheel each drivable by motive power from the electric motor; and a plurality of batteries each configured to feed electric power to the electric motor, the plurality of batteries including at least two batteries arranged side by side in the left-right direction with the electric motor in between.

Electric vehicles are required to include a battery with a large charging capacity for an extended travelable distance. A battery with a large charging capacity needs to be physically large. The vehicle body is, however, provided with a large number of components such as an electric motor and axles other than a battery. This makes it difficult to mount a large battery in the body.

The above configuration involves a plurality of batteries that are not large to constitute a battery system with an increased charging capacity. The batteries, which are not large, may be positioned efficiently in the body, meaning that a battery system with a large charging capacity may be mounted efficiently in the body.

An electric motor, which supplies motive power in the front-back direction of the body, is usually in or near a laterally central area of the body. Further, an electric motor is relatively large.

The above configuration ensures a space for an electric motor and allows the electric motor to be positioned appropriately. The above configuration also allows batteries to be disposed in an area where the electric motor is absent, meaning that a battery system with a large charging capacity may be mounted efficiently in the body.

The electric vehicle may be further configured such that the at least two batteries are symmetrical to each other with respect to a direction in which the electric vehicle travels.

An electric motor, which supplies motive power in the front-back direction of the body, is usually in or near a laterally central area of the body. Further, an electric motor is relatively large.

The above configuration allows the electric motor to be positioned suitably and allows the batteries to be disposed in the body in a balanced manner, meaning that a battery system with a large charging capacity may be mounted efficiently in the body.

The electric vehicle may be further configured such that the at least two batteries are of an identical model.

Arranging two batteries in the body symmetrically to each other as above allows the weight balance of the body to be suitable.

The electric vehicle may further include: a front axle extending forward from the electric motor and configured to transmit the motive power from the electric motor to the front wheel; and a rear axle extending backward from the electric motor and configured to transmit the motive power from the electric motor to the rear wheel, wherein at least either the front axle or the rear axle is between the at least two batteries.

The above configuration ensures a space for the axles, which extend in the front-back direction of the body, and allows the batteries to be positioned efficiently, meaning that a battery system with a large charging capacity may be mounted efficiently in the body.

The electric vehicle may be further configured such that the at least two batteries are oblique in a plan view relative to a direction in which the electric vehicle travels.

The above configuration allows large (long) batteries to be disposed in an area of the body in which area various other components are absent. This allows efficient use of a large battery system, meaning that a battery system with a large charging capacity may be mounted efficiently in the body.

The electric vehicle may be further configured such that the at least two batteries are oblique such that respective portions further backward relative to the body are closer to each other.

Rear wheels, which are at a back portion of the body, may laterally narrow and limit a space for a battery at a back portion of the body. The above configuration positions the batteries across the electric motor and orients the batteries obliquely such that they are in an area where the electric motor is absent and that their respective portions backward relative to the body, where the available space is small, are close to each other. This allows use of long batteries and also allows two batteries to be positioned efficiently, meaning that a battery system with a large charging capacity may be mounted efficiently in the body.

The electric vehicle may be further configured such that in a front view, the at least two batteries have respective front end portions apart from the electric motor and respective back end portions overlapping with the electric motor.

The above configuration allows two batteries to be positioned efficiently in an area where the electric motor is absent.

The electric vehicle may be further configured such that the electric motor is within an area of the at least two batteries in a side view.

The above configuration allows the batteries to be laterally outward of the electric motor and positioned at the same height as the electric motor. This reduces a space for the batteries and the electric motor in the height direction, and allows the batteries and the electric motor to be mounted efficiently in the body.

The electric vehicle may further include: a driver's seat for an occupant to sit on, wherein the at least two batteries have respective back end portions backward of a back end portion of the driver's seat in a plan view.

The above configuration allows the batteries, which extend backward from under the seat, to be positioned efficiently.

The electric vehicle may be further configured such that the at least two batteries have respective back end portions overlapping with the rear wheel in a side view.

The above configuration allows batteries with a large front-back dimension to be mounted.

The electric vehicle may be further configured such that the at least two batteries each have a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape.

The above configuration allows general-purpose batteries to constitute a battery system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The description below deals with a utility vehicle as an example of the electric vehicle of the present invention with reference to drawings. The description below refers toFIG.1, which shows arrow F to indicate the forward side of the body, arrow B to indicate the backward side of the body, arrow U to indicate the upward side of the body, and arrow D to indicate the downward side of the body. The front side ofFIG.1corresponds to the leftward side of the body, whereas the back side ofFIG.1corresponds to the rightward side of the body. The left-right direction of the body corresponds to the width direction of the body.

Overall Configuration of Utility Vehicle

FIG.1illustrates a utility vehicle for multiple purposes such as cargo transport and recreation. The utility vehicle includes a pair of left and right front wheels1as a travel device, a pair of left and right rear wheels2as a travel device, and a body3provided with the front and rear wheels1and2. The front wheels1are turnable and drivable, whereas the rear wheels2are drivable.

The utility vehicle includes a driver section4disposed at a front portion of the body3and configured to accommodate an occupant such as a driver. The utility vehicle includes in the driver section4a driver's seat5for an occupant to sit on, a steering wheel6for use to change the direction of the front wheels1, and a roll-over protective structure (ROPS)7that defines a driver space.

The utility vehicle includes a cargo box8backward of the driver section4and a body frame9holding the cargo box8. The cargo box8is swingable up and down about a coupling axis P for the cargo box8and the body frame9. The cargo box8is capable of being lifted into a dumping orientation and lowered into a travel orientation.

Driving Travel Device

As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the utility vehicle includes an electric motor12, an inverter13, and two batteries14to drive the front and rear wheels1and2. The electric motor12may be replaced with an e-Axle further including a transmission mechanism. The inverter13may be included in the e-Axle.

The batteries14feed electric power to the inverter13, which then converts it into alternating-current electricity. The inverter13supplies the alternating-current electricity to the electric motor12to drive the electric motor12. The utility vehicle includes a rear-wheel differential mechanism15(differential gear), a front-wheel differential mechanism16(differential gear), a rear axle17, and a front axle18. The electric motor12transmits motive power through the rear axle17and the rear-wheel differential mechanism15to the rear wheels2, The electric motor12also transmits motive power through the front axle18and the front-wheel differential mechanism16to the front wheels1.

Arrangement of Components

As illustrated inFIGS.1to3, the body frame9includes a pair of left and right lateral frame members9A, a front frame member9B, a back frame member9C, a pair of left and right back lateral frame members9D, and an intermediate frame member9E relative to the driver section4. The utility vehicle includes an underguard21disposed at a bottom portion of the body3and configured to protect the body3from, for example, stone and rock.

The lateral frame members9A lie at the opposite lateral sides of the driver section4and extend from a front portion of the driver section4through a lower portion thereof to a back portion thereof. The front frame member9B lies at the front side of the driver section4and extends laterally from one lateral frame member9A to the other. The back frame member9C lies at the back side of the driver section4and extends laterally from one lateral frame member9A to the other. The back lateral frame members9D extend from the respective lateral frame members9A toward the back end of the body3.

The underguard21has a smaller width at a back portion of the body3due to the rear wheels2, which are disposed at a back portion of the body3. This means a smaller space for components at a back portion of the body3than in a central area thereof. The back lateral frame members9D accordingly extend obliquely in a plan view relative to a front-back direction L such that their respective back ends are close to each other in a plan view.

The intermediate frame member9E extends laterally in a central area of the driver section4in its front-back direction. The front frame member9B is above the back frame member9C, which is above the back lateral frame members9D, which is above the intermediate frame member9E.

The electric motor12is below the driver's seat5, in a laterally central area of the body3, and above the underguard21. The electric motor12has a front end within the area of the driver's seat5in a plan view.

The front-wheel differential mechanism16is between the front wheels1and in a laterally central area of the body3. The rear-wheel differential mechanism15is between the front wheels1, in a laterally central area of the body3, and above the underguard21. The inverter13is above the rear-wheel differential mechanism15.

The front and rear axles18and17are in a laterally central area of the body3and above the underguard21, and extend from the electric motor12forward and backward, respectively.

Arrangement of Batteries

As illustrated inFIGS.1to3, the utility vehicle includes two identical batteries14arranged laterally across the electric motor12.

Including two (or more) batteries14allows each battery14to be small-sized. This allows the batteries14to be positioned efficiently while constituting a battery system with a large charging capacity in total. Further, arranging the batteries14laterally to and across the electric motor12allows the electric motor12to be positioned appropriately and the batteries14to be positioned efficiently in an area where the electric motor12is absent.

The two batteries14(which are sandwiching (arranged on opposite sides of) the electric motor12) each preferably have a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape. The batteries14may each be in the form of a general-purpose battery, which typically has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) each extend backward from a position lateral to the electric motor12. The batteries14, in other words, each have a back end portion (that is, a back end face14B) backward of a back end portion of the electric motor12. Such long batteries14each have a large charging capacity.

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) are arranged laterally across the rear axle17. The rear axle17extends backward from the electric motor12(which is in a laterally central area of the body3) through a laterally central area of the body3. Arranging the batteries14laterally to and across the rear axle17allows the rear axle17to be positioned appropriately and the batteries14to be positioned efficiently in an area where the rear axle17is absent.

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) are symmetrical to each other with respect to the front-back direction L, in which the body3travels. This allows the batteries14to be laterally well-balanced, and thereby keeps the weight balance of the body3appropriately.

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) lie obliquely relative to the front-back direction L of the body3in a plan view. The batteries14are, in other words, positioned obliquely in accordance with where the electric motor12is positioned and where the batteries14are placeable in the body3. The batteries14, for instance, lie obliquely such that their respective front portions are far from each other with the electric motor12in-between and that their respective portions further backward relative to the body3are closer to each other. The batteries14preferably lie obliquely as follows: In a front view, their respective front end portions (that is, the respective front end faces14F) are laterally apart from the electric motor12, while their respective back end portions (that is, the respective back end faces14B) at least overlap with the electric motor12.

Orienting the batteries14obliquely allows the electric motor12and other components to be positioned appropriately, regardless of where the electric motor12is positioned and where the batteries14are placeable. It also eliminates the need for specially shaped batteries, and allows general-purpose batteries14with a large front-back dimension and a large charging capacity to be positioned efficiently in an area of the body3in which area the electric motor12and other components are absent. Orienting the batteries14such that their respective portions backward relative to the body3are close to each other allows the batteries14to be positioned efficiently in an open space available for a component (that is, the batteries14) in the body3in particular such that the batteries14extend to an area backward relative to the body3in which area the rear wheels2and other components are disposed.

Specifically, the electric motor12has a front end within the area of the driver's seat5in a plan view. The electric motor12is also entirely within the area of the two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) in a side view. In other words, the batteries14are disposed such that the electric motor12includes a front end portion backward of the respective front end portions of the batteries14(that is, the respective front end faces14F) and a back end portion forward of the respective back end portions of the batteries14(that is, the respective back end faces14B). The batteries14are also disposed such that the electric motor12includes an upper end portion below the respective upper end portions of the batteries14(that is, the respective upper end faces14U).

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) are disposed such that their respective front end portions (that is, the respective front end faces14F) each at least overlap with the driver's seat5in a plan view. The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) are disposed such that their respective back end portions (that is, the respective back end faces14B) are each at least partially backward of the respective back end portions of the driver's seat5and the electric motor12in a plan view.

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) are disposed such that their respective back end portions (that is, the respective back end faces14B) each overlap the area of the rear wheels2in a side view.

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) have at least respective back end portions below the cargo box8.

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) are disposed such that the back frame member9C is disposed between the front end portions of the batteries14(that is, the respective front end faces14F) and back end portions of the batteries14(that is, the respective back end faces14B) in a plan view. The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) have respective upper end faces14U below the back frame member9C.

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) may lie obliquely in a plan view relative to the front-back direction L at an angle equal to, larger than, or smaller than the angle at which the back lateral frame members9D lie obliquely relative to the center line.

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) may have respective upper end faces14U above or below the back lateral frame members9D. If the batteries14have respective upper end faces14U below the back lateral frame members9D, the batteries14may overlap with the respective back lateral frame members9D in a plan view.

The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) are inward of the respective outermost end portions of the lateral frame members9A in a front view.

Alternative Embodiments

(1) The batteries14, which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12, are not necessarily symmetrical to each other, and may be oriented in any manner.

The batteries14, which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12, lie obliquely relative to the front-back direction L preferably but not necessarily at an equal angle. Further, the batteries14, which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12, do not necessarily both lie obliquely: At least one of the batteries14may lie not obliquely.

The batteries14, which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12, may lie obliquely such that their respective portions further backward relative to the body3are closer to or farther from each other.

(2) The utility vehicle not necessarily includes two batteries14, and may alternatively include three or more batteries14to constitute a battery system. In this case, at least two of those batteries14are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12.

(3) The two batteries14(which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12) are not necessarily of an identical model, and may alternatively be of different models. The batteries14are, however, preferably of an identical model if they are arranged to be symmetrical to each other.

(4) The electric motor12may have a front end portion within the area of, forward of, or backward of the driver's seat5in a plan view. The electric motor12may have any position relative to the driver's seat5.

(5) The batteries14, which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12, may have respective back end portions (that is, the back end faces14B) backward of a back end portion of the electric motor12. The batteries14may have respective back end portions (that is, the back end faces14B) not backward of a back end portion of the electric motor12if the electric motor12is large in the front-back direction or if the batteries14ensure a sufficient charging capacity (that is, if the batteries14may be short).

(6) The batteries14, which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12, may have respective front end portions (that is, the front end faces14F) lateral to the electric motor12and backward of a front end portion of the electric motor12in a plan view. The batteries14may alternatively have respective front end portions (that is, the front end faces14F) protruding forward from a front end portion of the electric motor12. In this case, the front axle18is between the batteries14. Arranging the batteries14laterally to and across the front axle18allows the front axle18to be positioned appropriately and the batteries14to be positioned efficiently in an area where the front axle18is absent.

(7) The batteries14may have respective back end portions (that is, the back end faces14B) within the area of, forward of, or backward of the rear wheels2in a side view.

(8) The batteries14, which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12, are not necessarily below the cargo box8, and may alternatively be forward of the cargo box8in a plan view. The batteries14may have any position relative to the cargo box8.

(9) The batteries14, which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12, may be below the back frame member9C (that is, in a space including a space directly below the back frame member9C), and may alternatively be forward or backward of the back frame member9C in a plan view.

(10) The batteries14may be arranged laterally relative to the body3not across the electric motor12or lie obliquely relative to the front-back direction L of the body3not across the electric motor12.

(11) The batteries14, which are arranged on opposite sides of the electric motor12, may each have a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape or any other outer shape.

(12) The utility vehicle as each of the embodiments above is not necessarily an electric vehicle configured to travel with use of the electric motor12alone, and may alternatively be a hybrid electric vehicle configured to travel with use of the electric motor12and an engine.

(13) The electric vehicle as each of the embodiments above of the present invention is not necessarily a utility vehicle, and may alternatively be a work vehicle provided with an implement for agricultural or other work and configured to perform various types of work while traveling.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to any of various electric vehicles configured to travel with use of an electric motor.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST