Patent Publication Number: US-2020283085-A1

Title: Battery storage device of vehicle

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a battery storage device of a vehicle storing a battery in an attachable/detachable manner. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In some electric motorcycles and the like, a battery is mounted in a vehicle in an attachable/detachable manner such that the battery can be detached from a vehicle body at the time of charging or the like of the battery. 
     Regarding battery storage devices employed in vehicles of this kind, battery storage devices in which a terminal portion is formed to protrude in a bottom portion of a battery case and a battery and a terminal are connected to each other at the same time as the battery is inserted are known. In such battery storage devices, the terminal protrudes upward, and therefore a structure having a floating terminal portion is adopted sometimes, in order to protect the terminal when a battery is inserted. 
     However, depending on the way of inserting a battery, (for example, when a speed of inserting a battery is high, or the like) it may not be possible to say that protection is sufficient. 
     CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     [Patent Literature 1] 
     PCT International Patent Application, Publication No. WO2015/068753 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     A problem to be resolved is to improve protection of a terminal portion. 
     Solution to Problem 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a battery storage device of a vehicle including a battery case ( 42 ) that has an inserting/removing port ( 136 ) for inserting and removing a battery ( 62 A or  62 B), a case side connection terminal ( 43 ) that protrudes upward below the battery case ( 42 ) and is connected to a terminal portion ( 41 ) of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) inserted into the battery case ( 42 ), and a lid member ( 8 ) that is capable of opening and closing an upper part of the battery case ( 42 ). The battery storage device of a vehicle further includes a lock mechanism ( 133 ) that is capable of fixing the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) stored in the battery case ( 42 ) to the battery case ( 42 ) below the lid member ( 8 ), and an operation member ( 44 ) that is capable of operating the lock mechanism ( 133 ). The operation member ( 44 ) is constituted such that at least a part thereof overlaps the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) on an upper side in a view in an insertion direction of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) in a state at a lock operation position. 
     According to the foregoing constitution, when the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) is mounted in a vehicle, the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) is inserted into the battery case ( 42 ) through the inserting/removing port ( 126 ), and a worker operates the operation member ( 44 ) to the lock operation position in the state thereof. Accordingly, the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) is fixed to the battery case ( 42 ). In addition, when the operation member ( 44 ) is operated to the lock operation position, a part of the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) is covered by the operation member ( 44 ). For this reason, even if the operation member ( 44 ) is operated to the lock operation position when the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) is in a non-insertion state, insertion of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) into the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) is hindered by the operation member ( 44 ) in the state thereof. Therefore, when this form is employed, the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) can be prevented from being erroneously inserted into the battery case ( 42 ) in a state where the case side connection terminal ( 43 ) protrudes upward from a bottom portion of the battery case ( 42 ). 
     In the battery storage device of a vehicle according to the aspect of the present invention, the operation member ( 44 ) is constituted to be deviated from above the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) in a view in the insertion direction of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) in a state at an unlock operation position. 
     In addition, according to the aspect of the present invention, the battery storage device of a vehicle further includes a terminal displacement mechanism ( 45 ) that causes the case side connection terminal ( 43 ) to be displaced between a connection position (P 1 ) protruding upward from a bottom portion of the battery case ( 42 ) and a retreat position (P 2 ) retreated downward from the connection position (P 1 ). The operation member ( 44 ) is also capable of operating the terminal displacement mechanism ( 45 ). The operation member ( 44 ) is constituted such that at least a part thereof overlaps the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) on the upper side in a view in the insertion direction of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) in a state at a connection operation position where the case side connection terminal ( 43 ) is displaced to the connection position (P 1 ). 
     In this case, a part of the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) is covered by the operation member ( 44 ) when the case side connection terminal ( 43 ) is operated to the connection position (P 1 ). For this reason, even if the operation member ( 44 ) is operated to the connection operation position when the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) is in the non-insertion state, insertion of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) into the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) is hindered by the operation member ( 44 ) in the state thereof. Therefore, when this form is employed, the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) can be prevented from being erroneously inserted into the battery case ( 42 ) in a state where the case side connection terminal ( 43 ) protrudes upward from the bottom portion of the battery case ( 42 ). 
     In the battery storage device of a vehicle according to the aspect of the present invention, the operation member ( 44 ) is constituted to be deviated from above the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) in a view in the insertion direction of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) in a state at a separation operation position where the case side connection terminal ( 43 ) is displaced to the retreat position (P 2 ). 
     In addition, in the battery storage device of a vehicle according to the aspect of the present invention, the lock mechanism ( 133 ) has a movable block ( 160 ) which is able to be displaced between a lock position where displacement of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) inserted into the battery case ( 42 ) in a releasing direction is restricted and an unlock position where the restriction is canceled. The movable block ( 160 ) is able to be operated by the operation member ( 44 ). 
     In this case, the movable block ( 160 ) of the lock mechanism ( 133 ) fixing the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) to the battery case ( 42 ) and the terminal displacement mechanism ( 45 ) causing the terminal portion ( 41 ) of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) to be displaced such that it can be connected to the case side connection terminal ( 43 ) can be operated by the common operation member ( 44 ). For this reason, when this form is employed, operability at the time of attaching the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) to the battery case ( 42 ) is enhanced. 
     In the battery storage device of a vehicle according to the aspect of the present invention, the movable block ( 160 ) is constituted such that at least a part thereof overlaps the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) on the upper side in a view in the insertion direction of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) in a state where the operation member ( 44 ) is at the lock operation position, and such that the movable block ( 160 ) is deviated from above the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) in a view in the insertion direction of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) in a state where the operation member ( 44 ) is at the separation operation position. 
     In this case, the movable block ( 160 ) of the lock mechanism ( 133 ) closes at least a part of the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) in a state where the operation member ( 44 ) is at the lock operation position. For this reason, even if the operation member ( 44 ) is operated to the lock operation position when the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) is in the non-insertion state, insertion of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) into the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) is also hindered by the movable block ( 160 ) of the lock mechanism ( 133 ) in the state thereof. In addition, since the upper part of the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) is not closed by the movable block ( 160 ) in a state where the operation member ( 44 ) is operated to the lock operation position, insertion of the battery ( 62 A or  62 B) with respect to the inserting/removing port ( 136 ) is allowed. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     In the battery storage device of a vehicle of the present invention, even if the operation member is operated to the lock operation position when a battery is in a non-insertion state, insertion of the battery to the inserting/removing port can be hindered by the operation member in the state thereof. For this reason, it is possible to curb acting of a significant load on the terminal portion of the battery and the case side connection terminal due to the inserted battery in a state where the case side connection terminal protrudes upward from the bottom portion of the battery case. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a left side view of a saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a left side view of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment from which some parts are removed. 
         FIG. 3  is a left side view of a vehicle body frame of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the vehicle body frame of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of the vehicle body frame of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment cut along line VI-VI in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a main arm according to the embodiment viewed from above in front on the left side. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged side view illustrating a part of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment cut along line X-X in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment cut along line XI-XI in  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a battery support frame of the saddle-type electric vehicle according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a battery storage device according to the embodiment at the time of a non-battery-fixed state. 
         FIG. 14  is a side view of a part of the battery storage device according to the embodiment at the time of the non-battery-fixed state. 
         FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the battery storage device according to the embodiment at the time of a battery-fixed state. 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of a part of the battery storage device according to the embodiment at the time of the battery-fixed state. 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the battery storage device according to the embodiment cut along line XVII-XVII in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view illustrating a terminal support portion of the battery storage device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view illustrating a battery fixing portion of the battery storage device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic side view of a part of the battery storage device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic top view of a part of the battery storage device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 22  is a schematic side view of a part of the battery storage device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 23  is a schematic top view of a part of the battery storage device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 24  is a combined view including a side view (a), a perspective view (b), and a top view (c) of the battery storage device according to the embodiment when a battery is inserted thereinto. 
         FIG. 25  is a perspective view illustrating the battery fixing portion of the battery storage device according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 26  is a combined view including a side view (a), a perspective view (b), and a top view (c) of the battery storage device according to the embodiment at the time of locking operation of the battery. 
         FIG. 27  is a cross-sectional view of the battery storage device according to the embodiment similar to that of  FIG. 17  at the time of locking operation of the battery. 
         FIG. 28  is combined view including a side view (a), a perspective view (b), and a top view (c) of the battery storage device according to the embodiment at the time of locking operation of the battery. 
         FIG. 29  is a cross-sectional view of the battery storage device according to the embodiment similar to that of  FIG. 17  at the time of locking operation of the battery. 
         FIG. 30  is a cross-sectional view of the battery storage device according to the embodiment similar to that of  FIG. 17  when locking of the battery is completed. 
         FIG. 31  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the battery storage device according to the embodiment and a seat when locking of the battery is incomplete. 
         FIG. 32  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the battery storage device according to the embodiment and the seat when locking of the battery is completed. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT 
     Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified in the following description, directions to the front, the rear, the left, the right, and the like are the same as directions in a vehicle, which will be described below. In addition, an arrow FR indicating the front side of the vehicle, an arrow LH indicating the left side of the vehicle, and an arrow UP indicating the upper side of the vehicle are marked in suitable places in the diagrams used in the following description. 
       FIG. 1  is view illustrating a left side surface of an electric motorcycle  1  which is a form of a saddle-type electric vehicle. The motorcycle  1  of the present embodiment is a scooter-type vehicle having step floors  9  on which a rider sitting on a seat  8  puts soles of his/her feet. 
     The motorcycle  1  includes a front wheel  3  which serves as a steered wheel and a rear wheel  4  which serves as a driving wheel. The front wheel  3  is rotatably supported by a pair of left and right front forks  6 . In addition, the front wheel  3  can be steered by a steering bar handle  2 . A front fender  50 F covering an upper side of the front wheel  3  is supported by the front forks  6 . 
     The rear wheel  4  is supported by a rear portion of a swing arm  20  which is oscillatably supported by a vehicle body frame F. The motorcycle  1  of the present embodiment is a unit swing-type motorcycle. An electric motor  30  for driving the vehicle and a deceleration mechanism  35  (refer to  FIG. 6 ) for decelerating a driving force of the electric motor  30  and transmitting it to a rear wheel axle  4   a  are mounted in the swing arm  20 . A rear fender  50 R covering an upper rear portion of the rear wheel  4  is supported by a rear end portion of the swing arm  20  with fender support arms  40  therebetween. Lower end portions of rear cushions  7  (suspension components on the rear side) are joined to the fender support arms  40 . 
     In addition, the motorcycle  1  includes a pair of left and right step floors  9  on which a rider sitting on the seat  8  puts soles of his/her feet, and a center tunnel  10  which extends in a vehicle front-rear direction between the left and right step floors  9 . The center tunnel  10  is formed to be lower than the seat  8  on the front side of the seat  8 . A space portion of the center tunnel  10  on the upper side forms a straddling space between the steering bar handle  2  and the seat  8  for a rider straddling a vehicle body. 
       FIG. 2  is a left side view of the motorcycle  1  from which the seat  8  and covers are removed.  FIG. 3  is a view of the vehicle body frame F of the motorcycle  1  viewed from the left side, and  FIG. 4  is a view of the vehicle body frame F viewed from above in front on the left. In addition,  FIG. 5  is a view of the vehicle body frame F viewed from above. 
     The vehicle body frame F is formed by integrally interlinking steel bodies of a plurality of kinds through welding or the like. The vehicle body frame F includes a head pipe  12  in a front end portion. The head pipe  12  holds the front wheel  3  in a steerable manner with a steering stem  11  (refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and the left and right front forks  6  therebetween. 
     The vehicle body frame F further includes a pair of left and right upper frames  13  which extend obliquely downward to the rear from a substantially intermediate region of the head pipe  12  in an up-down direction, a pair of left and right lower frames  14  which extend to the rear of the vehicle body after extending downward from a lower portion region of the head pipe  12  and extend upward in a state of inclining slightly rearward from the rear end portion thereof, and a pair of left and right seat frames  15  which extend obliquely upward to the rear from substantially intermediate positions in the left and right upper frames  13  in a front-rear direction. The lower frame  14  has a down frame portion  14   a  which extends downward to the rear from the head pipe  12 , and a rear frame portion  14   b  extending upward from the rear portion of the down frame portion  14   a.    
     An upper end portion of each of the left and right rear frame portions  14   b  is coupled to the corresponding left or right seat frame  15  at a substantially intermediate position in the front-rear direction. The seat  8  on which an occupant sits is attached to upper portions of the left and right seat frames  15 . The seat  8  can be opened upward and closed downward using a front end side as a hinge pivot point. 
     In addition, rear end portions of the left and right upper frames  13  are coupled to parts in the vicinity of lower ends of the corresponding left and right rear frame portions  14   b.    
     In each of the left and right lower frames  14 , an upper portion region of a downward extending portion  14   a - 1  and a rear portion region of a rearward extending portion  14   a - 2  of the down frame portion  14   a  are joined to each other by a middle frame  16 . The downward extending portions  14   a - 1  of the left and right down frame portions  14   a  are joined to each other by a front cross member  18 . In addition, front end regions of the rearward extending portions  14   a - 2  of the left and right down frame portions  14   a  are joined to each other by a lower front cross member  19 . Rear end regions of the rearward extending portions  14   a - 2  of the left and right down frame portions  14   a  are joined to each other by a cross frame  51 . The front cross member  18  and the lower front cross member  19  are formed of round steel tubes having smaller diameters than the lower frames  14 . The front cross member  18  extends linearly in a vehicle width direction, and the lower front cross member  19  extends in a curved shape projecting forward. The cross frame  51  extends linearly in the vehicle width direction and is formed of a round steel tube having substantially the same diameter as those of the lower frames  14 . 
     In the left and right seat frames  15 , front portion regions are joined to each other by a center cross member  52 , and rear end portions are joined to each other by a rear cross member  53  and a rear cross plate  54 . The center cross member  52  extends in a curved shape projecting upward to the front, and the rear cross member  53  extends linearly in the vehicle width direction. The center cross member  52  is formed of a round steel tube having a smaller diameter than the seat frames  15 , and the rear cross member  53  is formed of a round steel tube having substantially the same diameter as those of the seat frames  15 . 
     In addition, the rear frame portion  14   b  of each of the left and right lower frames  14  and the rear portion region of the corresponding left or right seat frame  15  are joined to each other by a support frame  17 . The rear portion regions of the left and right support frames  17  are joined to each other by a rear cross member  55 . The rear cross member  55  extends in a curved shape projecting downward. The rear cross member  55  is formed of a round steel tube having substantially the same diameter as those of the support frames  17 . 
       FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a cross section of the motorcycle  1  cut along line VI-VI in  FIG. 1 . 
     The swing arm  20  includes a main arm  21  which extends toward the left side of the rear wheel  4  from the front side of the rear wheel  4 , and a sub-arm  22  which extends while being curved inward in the vehicle width direction toward the right side of the rear wheel  4  from a front right side portion of the main arm  21 . In the diagram, the reference sign CL indicates a center line of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. 
     A motor accommodation portion  23  for accommodating the electric motor  30  and a deceleration mechanism accommodation portion  24  for accommodating the deceleration mechanism  35  are provided in the main arm  21 . 
     The motor accommodation portion  23  includes an inner cover  23   a  which covers the electric motor  30  from the inward side in the vehicle width direction, and an outer cover  23   b  which covers the electric motor  30  from the outward side in the vehicle width direction. 
     The inner cover  23   a  exhibits a box shape opening outward in the vehicle width direction. The inner cover  23   a  is formed integrally with an arm main body portion  21   a  of the main arm  21 . The outer cover  23   b  is coupled to the inner cover  23   a  using fastening members such as bolts. 
       FIG. 7  is a view of the main arm  21  viewed from above in front on the left side. As illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the main arm  21  has an arm base portion  21   c  which extends in the vehicle width direction in front of the rear wheel  4 , and the arm main body portion  21   a  which extends toward the rear side of the vehicle body from an end portion of the arm base portion  21   c  on the left side. The sub-arm  22  is coupled to a right side surface of the arm base portion  21   c . Extending pieces  21   b  extending forward protrude in both left and right end portions of the arm base portion  21   c . Insertion holes  56  are formed to penetrate the left and right extending pieces  21   b  in the vehicle width direction. A pivot  57  (which will be described below in detail) is turnably held in the insertion holes  56 . An upper surface from the left and right extending pieces  21   b  to the arm base portion  21   c  extends in a manner of inclining upward to the rear. This part is an upward inclination portion  58  extending in a manner of inclining upward to the rear from a joint portion with respect to the pivot  57 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the electric motor  30  is held by the main arm  21  of the swing arm  20  and is disposed on the left side of the rear wheel  4 . The electric motor  30  is an inner rotor-type motor and includes an inner rotor  32  having a motor output shaft  31 , and a stator  33 . The electric motor  30  is disposed in a rear portion region of the main arm  21  of the swing arm  20 . 
     The motor output shaft  31  is pivotally supported by the main arm  21  in the vehicle width direction. The motor output shaft  31  has an axis Cm 1  (which will hereinafter be referred to as “a motor axis Cm 1 ”) parallel to a rear wheel axis CR (axis of the rear wheel axle  4   a ). The reference signs  34   a  to  34   c  in  FIG. 6  indicate bearings rotatably supporting the motor output shaft  31 . 
     The inner rotor  32  includes an inner rotor main body  32   a  which has a tubular shape, and a magnet  32   b  which is provided on an outer circumferential surface of the inner rotor main body  32   a . A central portion of the inner rotor main body  32   a  in a radial direction is spline-coupled to the motor output shaft  31 . A detection object  32   c  is attached to the outer circumferential surface of an inner end portion of the inner rotor main body  32   a  in the vehicle width direction. 
     The stator  33  includes an annular stator yoke  33   a  which is fixed to an outer circumferential wall of the inner cover  23   a , a plurality of teeth  33   b  which are interlinked to the stator yoke  33   a  and are provided radially with respect to the motor axis Cm 1 , and coils  33   c  which are wound around the respective teeth  33   b . A rotor sensor  33   d  detecting a rotation position of the inner rotor  32  by detecting the passing detection object  32   c  is attached to the stator yoke  33   a.    
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged view illustrating a part near a support portion of the swing arm  20  in  FIG. 2 . 
     As illustrated in the same diagram, an electric cable  60  is connected to the electric motor  30 . The electric cable  60  is a cable for electrically connecting a power supply unit on the vehicle body frame F side and three-phase coils  33   c  of the electric motor  30  to each other, and a bundle of three-phase electric wires  60   u ,  60   v , and  60   w  is surrounded and covered by a protective material  61  (refer to  FIG. 11 ). The electric cable  60  has a thickness which is sufficiently thick, and the largest outer diameter of the protective material  61  is larger than an outer diameter of the pivot  57 . The electric cable  60  connected to the electric motor  30  is drawn out forward along a side surface of the arm main body portion  21   a  of the swing arm  20  on the outward side in the vehicle width direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a wiring portion of the electric cable  60  on a side of the arm main body portion  21   a  is covered by an arm cover  39  attached to the arm main body portion  21   a.    
     Here, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the power supply unit for the electric motor  30  has a pair of batteries  62 A and  62 B which store power, and a power drive unit (PDU)  63  which converts DC power of these batteries  62 A and  62 B into AC power. The three-phase electric wires  60   u ,  60   v , and  60   w  of the electric cable  60  are connected to the power drive unit  63 . In addition, the batteries  62 A and  62 B and the power drive unit  63  are connected to each other through different electric cables (not illustrated). 
     The power drive unit  63  is disposed in a region surrounded by the left and right down frame portions  14   a  of the lower frames  14  and the left and right upper frames  13  of the vehicle body frame F, and it is positioned in an inward region between the left and right middle frames  16  in the vehicle width direction. The power drive unit  63  is disposed in a space portion below the center tunnel  10  in a state of inclining slightly forward. 
     The batteries  62 A and  62 B are disposed side by side in the front-rear direction inside a battery storage device  64  provided below the seat  8 . Both the batteries  62 A and  62 B are formed to have substantially rectangular parallelepiped shapes and have the same constitutions. The batteries  62 A and  62 B are wired in series, so that a predetermined high voltage (for example, 48 V to 72 V) can be obtained. For example, the batteries  62 A and  62 B are constituted of lithium-ion batteries as energy storages capable of charging and discharging. 
     In addition, the electric motor  30  is controlled by a control unit (not illustrated). The control unit receives information from a throttle opening sensor and the like (not illustrated) and outputs a predetermined control signal to a driver of the electric motor  30  in accordance with operation intention of a rider, traveling conditions, and the like. 
     In addition, the deceleration mechanism  35  illustrated in  FIG. 6  includes a transmission shaft  36  which is pivotally supported parallel to the motor output shaft  31  and the rear wheel axle  4   a , a pair of first gears  37   a  and  37   b  which are respectively provided in an inner end portion of the motor output shaft  31  in the vehicle width direction and an inward portion of the transmission shaft  36  in the vehicle width direction, and a pair of second gears  38   a  and  38   b  which are respectively provided in an outward portion of the transmission shaft  36  in the vehicle width direction and a left end portion of the rear wheel axle  4   a . The reference signs  4   b  to  4   d  in  FIG. 6  indicate bearings rotatably supporting the rear wheel axle  4   a.    
     The motor output shaft  31 , the transmission shaft  36 , and the rear wheel axle  4   a  are disposed at intervals in the front-rear direction in order from the front side. The transmission shaft  36  has an axis Ct 1  (which will hereinafter be referred to as “a transmission axis Ct 1 ”) parallel to the motor axis Cm 1 . The reference signs  39   a  and  39   b  in  FIG. 6  indicate bearings rotatably supporting the transmission shaft  36 . Due to the foregoing constitution of the deceleration mechanism  35 , rotation of the motor output shaft  31  is decelerated at a predetermined deceleration rate and is transmitted to the rear wheel axle  4   a.    
       FIG. 9  is a view of a part near the support portion of the swing arm  20  viewed from below the vehicle. In addition,  FIG. 10  is a view illustrating a cross section cut along line X-X in  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 11  is a view illustrating a cross section cut along line XI-XI in  FIG. 9 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8  and these diagrams, an arm support member  65  protruding toward the rear of the vehicle is attached to lower portion regions of the rear frame portions  14   b  of the left and right lower frames  14 . The pivot  57  oscillatably supporting a front portion of the swing arm  20  is held in the vicinity of a rear end portion of the arm support member  65 . The arm support member  65 , of which a detailed constitution will be described below, is formed to have substantially a triangle shape in a side view in which one vertex sandwiched between two sides protrudes to the rear side of the vehicle. The pivot  57  is held near the vertex protruding to the rear of the vehicle. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 10 , battery support stays  66  for supporting the battery storage device  64  are coupled to the respective left and right rear frame portions  14   b  of the vehicle body frame F at substantially intermediate positions in the up-down direction. The battery support stays  66  extend toward the rear side of the vehicle body from the rear frame portions  14   b . In addition, sub-stays  67  extending upward to the rear are attached at positions slightly below coupling portions of the battery support stays  66  with respect to the left and right rear frame portions  14   b . Rear end portions of the sub-stays  67  are coupled to rear portion regions of the battery support stays  66  from below. 
     A first support bracket  68   a  and a second support bracket  68   b  constituted of metal plates are attached to the lower portion region of each of the left and right rear frame portions  14   b  and the corresponding left or right sub-stay  67 . The first support bracket  68   a  is interlinked to the rear frame portion  14   b  and an outward region of the sub-stay  67  in the vehicle width direction, and the second support bracket  68   b  is interlinked to the rear frame portion  14   b  and an inward region of the sub-stay  67  in the vehicle width direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , upper portion regions of the first support bracket  68   a  and the second support bracket  68   b  are separated from each other with a predetermined distance therebetween, and a bush  69  is disposed inside a space portion of the separation therebetween. Regarding the bush  69 , an elastic rubber body (not illustrated) is attached inside a metal tube, and a metal shaft portion  69   a  is attached to a shaft center portion of the elastic rubber body. The shaft portion  69   a  penetrates the bush  69  in an axial direction, and the left and right end portions thereof are fastened and fixed to the upper portion regions of the first support bracket  68   a  and the second support bracket  68   b . In addition, an upper support arm  70  extending in a manner of inclining obliquely downward to the rear is joined to an outer surface of the bush  69 . As illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the upper support arm  70  is formed to have substantially a distorted U-shaped cross section and inclines inward in the vehicle width direction toward the rear side of the vehicle body. 
     The upper support arms  70  integrally coupled to the bushes  69  are provided symmetrically on both sides of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. End portions of rear portions of the left and right upper support arms  70  are coupled to the respective left and right end portions of a joint rod  71  extending linearly in the vehicle width direction. 
     In addition, in the first support bracket  68   a  and the second support bracket  68   b , lower portion regions of both thereof are interlinked to each other below the respective left and right rear frame portions  14   b . Hereinafter, interlink portions of the lower portion regions will be referred to as “lower interlink portions of the support brackets  68   a  and  68   b ”. Both end portions of the cross frame  51  extending linearly in the vehicle width direction are coupled to the lower interlink portions of the support brackets  68   a  and  68   b  on both sides in the vehicle width direction. The cross frame  51  is formed of a round steel tube having substantially the same diameter as those of the rear frame portions  14   b.    
     A pair of rearward-extending rods  73  extending toward the rear side of the vehicle body are coupled to the cross frame  51 . The rearward-extending rods  73  are coupled to a rear side surface of the cross frame  51  at two positions separated from each other on the left and right. A support pipe  74  extending linearly in the vehicle width direction is coupled to the rear end portions of the left and right rearward-extending rods  73 . The pivot  57  is turnably inserted through the support pipe  74 . Both end portions of the pivot  57  are supported by the left and right extending pieces  21   b  at the front end of the swing arm  20 . Therefore, the front end portion of the swing arm  20  is oscillatably supported by the support pipe  74 . In the diagram, the reference sign of indicates an axis of the pivot  57  in the vehicle width direction. 
     In addition, the joint rod  71  to which the rear end portions of the left and right upper support arms  70  are joined is coupled to rear-sided intermediate regions of the left and right rearward-extending rods  73 . Therefore, the intermediate regions of the left and right rearward-extending rods  73  are supported by the left and right rear frame portions  14   b  with a pair of upper support arms  70  extending in a manner of inclining obliquely upward to the front side of the vehicle body therebetween. In the case of the present embodiment, the left and right upper support arms  70  constitute downward-inclining portions extending in a manner of inclining downward to the rear from the rear frame portions  14   b.    
     The arm support member  65  in present embodiment is constituted of the cross frame  51 , the rearward-extending rods  73 , the support pipe  74 , the upper support arms  70 , the joint rod  71 , and the like which have been described above. 
     Here, a routing space  75  for routing the electric cable  60  is secured above a region straddling the front portion regions of the arm support member  65  and the swing arm  20 . This routing space  75  is a space surrounded by the arm support member  65 , the swing arm  20 , and the battery storage device  64 . In addition, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 11 , the upper support arms  70  (downward-inclining portions) of the arm support member  65  and the upward inclination portion  58  of the front portion region of the swing arm  20  form a recessed portion  76  having substantially a V shape in a side view. This recessed portion  76  constitutes a part of the routing space  75 , such that at least a part of the electric cable  60  is routed therein. 
     In the arm main body portion  21   a  of the swing arm  20  on the left side, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 to 11 , the electric cable  60  drawn out forward from a connection portion with respect to the electric motor  30  is bent to the right side from a position on the left side in the vehicle width direction near a part above the left side portion of the pivot  57  and is drawn out forward at a position on the right side in the vehicle width direction. The electric cable  60  drawn out forward is connected to the power drive unit  63  in the space portion between the rear frame portions  14   b  on the front side. As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , in a region of the electric cable  60  bent to the right side from the left side in the vehicle width direction on the front portion side of the swing arm  20 , at least a part is disposed in the routing space  75  such that it overlaps the axis of of the pivot  57  in a top view. 
     In addition, a part of a region of the electric cable  60  bent to the right side from the left side in the vehicle width direction on the front portion side of the swing arm  20  is supported by a lower end of a battery support frame  110  constituting a skeleton portion of the battery storage device  64 . Specifically, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 to 11 , in a straddling part of the electric cable  60  below the battery storage device  64  from the left to the right, a clamp component  130  for holding the electric cable  60  is attached, and the clamp component  130  is fastened and fixed to a cable support bracket  131  (cable support portion) provided at a lower end of the battery support frame  110 . 
       FIG. 12  is a view of the battery support frame  110  viewed from above in front on the left. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , resin case portions  132 F and  132 R for accommodating the batteries  62 A and  62 B in an attachable/detachable manner are attached to the inward side of the battery support frame  110 . The resin case portions  132 F and  132 R are disposed side by side in the front-rear direction inside the battery support frame  110 . Each of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R has an inserting/removing port  136  (refer to  FIGS. 13 and 15 ) opening upward. A battery accommodation portion inside each of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R inclines obliquely downward to the front. The batteries  62 A and  62 B are set inside the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R when they obliquely slide into the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R through the inserting/removing ports  136 . The batteries  62 A and  62 B are obliquely inserted into and removed from the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R, weights of the batteries  62 A and  62 B are partially supported by wall portions of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R. 
     The batteries  62 A and  62 B set inside the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R are fixed to the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R and the battery support frame  110  by lock mechanisms  133  (battery fixing means) illustrated in  FIG. 8 , and terminal portions  41  (refer to  FIG. 17 , which will be described below) are connected to case side connection terminals  43  (refer to  FIG. 17 ) inside each of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the battery support frame  110  includes a first support frame  111  for supporting the resin case portion  132 F (refer to  FIG. 8 ) on the front side, a second support frame  112  for supporting the resin case portion  132 R (refer to  FIG. 8 ) on the rear side, and a joint frame  113  for joining the first support frame  111  and the second support frame  112  to each other. 
     The first support frame  111  has a pair of left and right side frame portions  115 L and  115 R which extend vertically in a manner of inclining slightly in the front-rear direction along an inclined posture (refer to  FIG. 8 ) of the resin case portion  132 F on the front side, a cross pipe  116  which joins the lower end portions of the left and right side frame portions  115 L and  115 R to each other, and a front frame portion  117  of which both side portions are coupled to the lower portion regions of the left and right side frame portions  115 L and  115 R. The front frame portion  117  extends in the vehicle width direction in a curved shape projecting forward. The front frame portion  117  is disposed in the front portion region of the resin case portion  132 F on the front side. 
     The left and right side frame portions  115 L and  115 R extend in a longitudinal direction (substantially in the up-down direction) with a hat-shaped cross section opening on the inward side in the vehicle width direction. Attachment brackets  118  for attaching the battery support frame  110  to the vehicle body frame F (refer to  FIG. 8 ) are provided in upper end portions of the side frame portions  115 L and  115 R. A female screw portion  118   a  to which a bolt can be screwed is provided in the attachment bracket  118 . The attachment bracket  118  is fastened and fixed to a fixing bracket  105  (refer to  FIG. 8  and the like) provided in the corresponding left or right seat frame  15  in front of the rear frame portion  14   b  of the vehicle body frame F. 
     A female screw portion  116   a  to which a bolt can be screwed is provided in both end portions of the cross pipe  116 . The cable support bracket  131  described above is coupled to the cross pipe  116 . The electric cable  60  is held by the cross pipe  116  of the battery support frame  110  with the cable support bracket  131  therebetween. Both end portions of the cross pipe  116  are fastened and fixed to fixing brackets  106  (refer to  FIG. 8  and the like) provided in the corresponding left and right rear frame portions  14   b  of the vehicle body frame F. 
     The second support frame  112  has a pair of left and right side frame portions  121 L and  121 R which extend vertically in a manner of inclining slightly in the front-rear direction along an inclined posture (refer to  FIG. 8 ) of the resin case portion  132 R on the rear side, a cross pipe  122  which joins the lower end portions of the left and right side frame portions  121 L and  121 R to each other, and a rear frame portion  123  of which both side portions are coupled to central regions of the left and right side frame portions  121 L and  121 R in the up-down direction. The rear frame portions  123  extend in the vehicle width direction in a curved shape projecting rearward. The rear frame portions  123  are disposed in the rear portion regions of the resin case portion  132 R on the rear side. 
     The left and right side frame portions  121 L and  121 R extend in the longitudinal direction (substantially in the up-down direction) with a hat-shaped cross section opening on the inward side in the vehicle width direction. Attachment brackets  124  for attaching the battery support frame  110  to the vehicle body frame F (refer to  FIG. 8 ) are provided in upper end portions of the side frame portions  121 L and  121 R. A female screw portion  124   a  to which a bolt can be screwed is provided in the attachment bracket  124 . The attachment bracket  124  is fastened and fixed to a fixing bracket  107  (refer to  FIG. 8  and the like) provided in the corresponding left or right support frame  17  of the vehicle body frame F. 
     A female screw portion  122   a  to which a bolt can be screwed is provided in both end portions of the cross pipe  122 . Both end portions of the cross pipe  122  are fastened and fixed to a fixing bracket  108  (refer to  FIG. 8  and the like) provided in the corresponding left or right battery support stay  66  of the vehicle body frame F. 
     The joint frame  113  has joint side frame portions  127 L and  127 R for respectively joining the side frame portions  115 L and  121 L and the side frame portions  115 R and  121 R of the first support frame  111  and the second support frame  112  on the same sides of the left and the right to each other, and a joint cross frame portion  128  for joining substantially central portions of the left and right joint side frame portions  127 L and  127 R in the front-rear direction to each other. The resin case portion  132 F on the front side is disposed on the front side of the joint cross frame portion  128 , and the battery case  132 R on the rear side is disposed on the rear side of the joint cross frame portion  128 . 
     &lt;Battery Storage Device&gt; 
       FIGS. 13 and 15  are views of the battery storage device  64  viewed obliquely from above in front on the left, and  FIGS. 14 and 16  are views of a part of the battery storage device  64  viewed from the left side.  FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate the battery storage device  64  at the time of a non-battery-fixed state, and  FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate the battery storage device  64  at the time of a battery-fixed state. In  FIGS. 14 and 16 , for the sake of convenience of illustration, the resin case portion  132 F is removed.  FIG. 17  is a view illustrating a cross section cut along line XVII-XVII in  FIG. 13 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , each of the batteries  62 A and  62 B has the terminal portions  41  inside a recessed portion on a lower surface thereof. The terminal portions  41  are disposed on the front-sided lower surface of each of the batteries  62 A and  62 B. The terminal portions  41  are electrically connected to the power drive unit  63  and the control unit (not illustrated) through the case side connection terminals  43  provided in the battery storage device  64 . The terminal portions  41  supply battery voltages to the electric motor  30  via the power drive unit  63  (refer to  FIG. 2 ) and output information (information of a voltage, a temperature, and the like) of each of the batteries  62 A and  62 B to the control unit. 
     The battery storage device  64  includes a battery case  42  which stores the batteries  62 A and  62 B, the case side connection terminals  43  which are connected to the terminal portions  41  of the batteries  62 A and  62 B when the batteries  62 A and  62 B are stored, terminal displacement mechanisms  45  which cause the case side connection terminals  43  to be displaced between a connection position P 1  (refer to  FIGS. 17, 25, and 26 ) contact-connected to the terminal portions  41  of the batteries  62 A and  62 B and a retreat position P 2  separated downward from the connection position P 1 , the lock mechanisms  133  which can fix and hold the batteries  62 A and  62 B in the battery case  42 , and operation levers  44  (operation members) which can switch the lock mechanisms  133  between the battery-fixed state and the non-battery-fixed state and can operate the terminal displacement mechanisms  45 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the retreat position P 2  is a position at which the case side connection terminals  43  are away from the terminal portions  41  of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) in an entering direction (downward) of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) when a bottom portion  62 -B of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) abuts a case side abutment portion  42 -B of the battery case  42 . 
     The battery case  42  has the battery support frame  110  which has been described above, support stays  135  (refer to  FIGS. 14 and 16 ) which are fastened and fixed to the respective upper portions of the side frame portions  115 L and  115 R, and  121 L and  121 R at the front and the rear in the battery support frame  110 , and the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R which are disposed at the front and the rear inside the battery support frame  110 . The case side connection terminals  43  and the terminal displacement mechanisms  45  are disposed on the respective lower portion sides of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R at the front and the rear. In addition, the operation levers  44  and the lock mechanisms  133  are provided such that they correspond to the case side connection terminals  43  and the terminal displacement mechanisms  45  on the respective lower portion sides of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R at the front and the rear. The case side connection terminals  43 , the terminal displacement mechanisms  45 , the operation levers  44 , the lock mechanisms  133 , and the like corresponding to the respective resin case portions  132 F and  132 R at the front and the rear have similar constitutions. Hereinafter, regarding details of these, only those corresponding to the resin case portion  132 F on the front side will be described, and description for those corresponding to the resin case portion  132 R on the rear side will be omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the terminal portions  41  of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) have a pair of high voltage terminals  47  for outputting power of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) to the power drive unit  63 , and a plurality of signal terminals  48  for outputting various kinds of information of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) to the control unit. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 15 , the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R have the inserting/removing ports  136  opening upward, and the batteries  62 A and  62 B can be stored and taken out through the inserting/removing ports  136 . Both the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R at the front and the rear incline forward to the lower side. As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a bottom wall of each of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R inclines downward to the rear. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 13 and 15 , a circumferential wall  137   a  of a luggage box  137  is disposed in an upper portion of the battery support frame  110 . The luggage box  137  is a resin box in which a box main body is at the rear of the battery storage device  64  and articles can be stored therein. The circumferential wall  137   a  of the luggage box  137  extends forward from the box main body of the luggage box  137  and surrounds the sides on the left and the right on the upper portion side of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R at the front and the rear in the battery storage device  64  and the front of the resin case portion  132 F on the front side. The upper portion of the circumferential wall  137   a  of the luggage box  137  is closed by the seat  8  (refer to  FIGS. 1, 27, and 28 ) on which an occupant sits. The seat  8  can be opened upward and closed downward using the front end side as a hinge pivot point. Upper portions of the luggage box  137  and the battery storage device  64  are opened and closed by the seat  8  serving as a lid member. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , an opening portion  138  allowing insertion and separation of the case side connection terminals  43  from below is provided in a front-sided bottom wall of the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R). The case side connection terminals  43  and a terminal support block  139  integrally supporting the case side connection terminals  43  are disposed below the opening portion  138  such that they can move upward and downward. 
       FIG. 18  is a view of the case side connection terminals  43  and a support portion thereof viewed obliquely from above. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the case side connection terminals  43  include a pair of high voltage terminal pins  140  which can be fitted and connected to the high voltage terminals  47  on the battery  62 A ( 62 B) side, and a plurality of signal terminal pins  141  which can be fitted and connected to signal terminals  48  on the battery  62 A ( 62 B) side. The high voltage terminal pins  140  and the signal terminal pins  141  are disposed side by side in a row in the vehicle width direction. The high voltage terminal pins  140  are respectively disposed on the outward sides of the plurality of signal terminal pins  141  in the vehicle width direction. In each of the high voltage terminal pins  140  disposed on both sides in the vehicle width direction, the height of the upper end portion is higher than the heights of the upper end portions of the signal terminal pins  141 . For this reason, when the case side connection terminals  43  are displaced integrally with the terminal support block  139  from the retreat position P 2  to the connection position P 1 , the high voltage terminal pins  140  come into contact with the terminal portions  41  on the battery  62 A ( 62 B) side prior to the signal terminal pins  141 . 
     In addition, cable connection walls  143  for connecting power cables  142  (electric wires) to the high voltage terminal pins  140  and signal wire connection portions  145  for connecting signal wires  144  (electric wires) to the signal terminal pins  141  are provided at a lower end of the terminal support block  139 . The cable connection walls  143  are respectively disposed on the outward sides of the signal wire connection portions  145  in the vehicle width direction. Bolts  146  for connecting metal lead wires of the power cables  142  to the high voltage terminal pins  140  are fastened to the cable connection walls  143  from the outward sides in the vehicle width direction. The bolts  146  constitute fixing means for electrically connecting the power cables  142  to the high voltage terminal pins  140  and physically and firmly connecting and fixing the same. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , a cable support bracket  201  is attached to the terminal support block  139 . The power cables  142  and the signal wires  144  bundled by a clamp device  202  are held by the cable support bracket  201 . The cable support bracket  201  is supported by a stay (not illustrated) protruding downward from a one-sided lower end portion of the terminal support block  139  in the vehicle width direction. The cable support bracket  201  is curved substantially in a J-shape in the vehicle width direction such that it lies in a drawing direction of the power cables  142  and the signal wires  144  after extending downward from the terminal support block  139  side. The clamp device  202  is supported on a distal end side of a curved portion of the cable support bracket  201 . A lower end of the cable support bracket  201  and the clamp device  202  are positioned below the cable connection walls  143  and the signal wire connection portions  145  of the terminal support block  139 . 
     A pair of guide projections  147  (case side guide portions) protrude upward at positions on the outward sides of the case side connection terminals  43  of the terminal support block  139  in the vehicle width direction. Each of the guide projections  147  is formed to have substantially a columnar shape in its entirety, and a curved surface having a spherical surface shape or a tapered surface having a tapered shape is provided in a distal end portion thereof. Each of the left and right guide projections  147  protrudes upward beyond the upper end portions of the high voltage terminal pins  140  and the signal terminal pins  141  of the case side connection terminals  43 . 
     Meanwhile, a pair of guide holes  148  which can receive the left and right guide projections  147  on the terminal support block  139  side are provided on the lower surface of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) stored in the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R). The guide holes  148  constitute battery-side guide portions. Here, when the case side connection terminals  43  rise toward the connection position P 1  (refer to  FIGS. 17, 25, and 26 ) in a state where the battery  62 A ( 62 B) is stored inside the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R), the guide projections  147  are inserted into the guide holes  148  before the case side connection terminals  43  are contact-connected to the terminal portions  41  of the battery  62 A ( 62 B). In the case of the present embodiment, when the case side connection terminals  43  are at the retreat position P 2 , the guide projections  147  are set such that a separation distance L 1  between the guide projections  147  and abutment portions of the guide holes  148  is shorter than a separation distance L 2  between the case side connection terminals  43  and the terminal portions  41  of the battery  62 A ( 62 B). As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , upper ends  147   e  of the guide projections  147  which are guide ends of the guide projections  147  in a battery direction are formed on a side (battery side) above upper ends  140   e  of the high voltage terminal pins  140  which are terminal ends of the case side connection terminals  43  in the battery direction. 
     The terminal displacement mechanism  45  includes a terminal holding member  149  for holding the case side connection terminals  43  with the terminal support block  139  therebetween. The terminal holding member  149  is formed of a metal plate material and has a base wall  149   a  which extends in the vehicle width direction and a pair of left and right joint walls  149   b  which are bent and extend to the upper side from both end portions of the base wall  149   a  in the vehicle width direction. An insertion hole  150  having a long hole shape is formed in a central region of the base wall  149   a  in the vehicle width direction. The terminal support block  139  is held on a lower surface side of the base wall  149   a  with joint pins  151  and spring units  152  therebetween. A part of the terminal support block  139  held by the base wall  149   a , and the case side connection terminals  43  protrude to the upper side of the base wall  149   a  through the insertion hole  150 . 
     Insertion holes  153 , through which the joint pins  151  are inserted, are formed in both edge portions of the terminal support block  139  in the vehicle width direction. The inner diameters of the insertion holes  153  are formed to be larger than the outer diameters of the joint pins  151 . The terminal support block  139  can be displaced substantially in a horizontal direction (direction intersecting a connection direction with respect to the terminal portions  41 ) within a range of gaps between the insertion holes  153  and the joint pins  151 . Therefore, the case side connection terminals  43  supported by the terminal support block  139  are held by the terminal holding member  149  such that they can be relatively displaced in a direction intersecting the connection direction with respect to the terminal portions  41 . 
     The joint pins  151  are inserted into support holes  198  provided in the base wall  149   a  of the terminal holding member  149  in a slidable manner. Retaining flanges  151   a  are integrally provided in upper end portions of the joint pins  151 . The joint pins  151  are retained with respect to the base wall  149   a  due to the retaining flanges  151   a  abutting an upper surface of the base wall  149   a.    
     The spring unit  152  has a metal unit case  154  which has a bottomed cylindrical shape, a stopper plate  155  which has a disk shape such that it can abut an opening end of the unit case  154 , and a coil spring  156  which is an elastic member interposed between an inner bottom surface of the unit case  154  and the stopper plate  155 . The spring units  152  are disposed below the base wall  149   a  in a state where outer bottom surfaces of the unit cases  154  abut the lower surface of the base wall  149   a . The joint pins  151  penetrate the bottom walls of the unit cases  154  and are coupled to the stopper plates  155  below the unit cases  154 . In addition, the coil springs  156  are disposed in surrounding areas of the joint pins  151 . 
     The case side connection terminals  43  and the terminal support block  139  are supported by the terminal holding member  149  in a suspended manner with the spring units  152  and the joint pins  151  therebetween. The unit cases  154  and the stopper plates  155  are maintained in a separated state until a pressing load at a predetermined level or higher is input to the case side connection terminals  43  from above. When a pressing load at a predetermined level or higher is input to the case side connection terminals  43  from this state, the terminal support block  139  compresses the coil springs  156  such that they are displaced, and thus the terminal support block  139  is relatively displaced downward with respect to the terminal holding member  149 . In this manner, when the terminal support block  139  is relatively displaced by a predetermined amount or more with respect to the terminal holding member  149 , the stopper plates  155  abut the unit cases  154 . Accordingly, relative displacement of the terminal support block  139  (case side connection terminals  43 ) with respect to the terminal holding member  149  is restricted (refer to  FIG. 26 ). 
     Each of the left and right joint walls  149   b  of the terminal holding member  149  is turnably held by a lower end of a metal link plate  157  in the lower portion region on the outward side of the side portion of the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R). The link plate  157  is a plate member elongated in one direction extending substantially in the up-down direction. The upper end portion of each of the left and right link plates  157  is turnably joined to a distal end of each of the left and right lever pieces  44   a  of the operation lever  44  serving as operation members. The intermediate regions of the left and right lever pieces  44   a  in an extending direction are turnably pivoted by the respective left and right support stays  135  attached to the battery support frame  110 . When the operation lever  44  is turnably operated in one direction (clockwise direction in  FIGS. 14 and 16 ), the respective left and right link plates  157  are pulled up to the upper side. Accordingly, each of the left and right joint walls  149   b  of the terminal holding member  149  is displaced to the upper side. At this time, the case side connection terminals  43  held by the terminal holding member  149  are displaced from the retreat position P 2  to the connection position P 1 . 
     The reference sign  197  in  FIGS. 14 and 16  indicates a reinforced frame which is attached to a part in the vicinity of the lower ends of the left and right support stays  135  and reinforces a surrounding area of the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the lower ends of the respective left and right link plates  157  and the left and right joint walls  149   b  of the terminal holding member  149  are associated with each other with turning pins  158  inserted into long holes  159 . The turning pins  158  are supported by the respective left and right joint walls  149   b , and the long holes  159  are formed in the link plates  157 . For this reason, when the link plates  157  are pulled upward due to operation of the operation lever  44 , the turning pins  158  freely play inside the long holes  159  as much as the amount of a predetermined stroke of the link plates  157 , as illustrated in (I) and (II) of  FIG. 17(B) . As a result, a timing for the terminal holding member  149  starting upward displacement is delayed with respect to start of operation of the operation lever  44 . 
       FIG. 17(B)  is a view illustrating an operation state of the part E in  FIG. 17(A) . 
     In addition, the lock mechanism  133  for fixing the battery  62 A ( 62 B) to the battery case  42  includes a movable block  160 . The movable block  160  is attached to upper end portions of the left and right support stays  135  of the battery case  42  in a turnable (displaceable) manner. When the operation lever  44  is turned from a separation operation position within a predetermined position range, the movable block  160  receives an operation force from the operation lever  44  and is turned in an upper surface direction of the battery case  42 . The movable block  160  is pressed to an upper surface of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) and restricts displacement of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) in a releasing direction. 
       FIG. 19  is a view of the operation lever  44  and the movable block  160  viewed from above in front on the right of the support stay  135  on the left side. 
     The operation lever  44  is turnably supported by the support stay  135  about a first turning shaft  162 . The first turning shaft  162  is a shaft which is pivotally supported by a front-sided part substantially at the center of the support stay  135  in the up-down direction and is disposed in the vehicle width direction of the vehicle. In some diagrams, only the shaft center of of the first turning shaft  162  is illustrated. 
     The movable block  160  of the lock mechanism  133  is turnably supported by the support stay  135  about a second turning shaft  163  orthogonal to the first turning shaft  162 . The second turning shaft  163  is a shaft which is pivotally supported by the upper end portion of the support stay  135  and is disposed in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. 
     In the case of the present embodiment, the first turning shaft  162  is disposed such that the axis of of the first turning shaft  162  overlaps the battery  62 A ( 62 B) stored in the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R) (refer to  FIGS. 24( c ), 26( c ), 28( c ) , and the like). In addition, the second turning shaft  163  is disposed such that an axis o 2  of the second turning shaft  163  is positioned on the outward side of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) stored in the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R) (refer to  FIGS. 24( c ), 26( c ), 28( c ) , and the like). 
     The operation lever  44  has an operation piece  44   b  which extends in the vehicle width direction, and the left and right lever pieces  44   a  which are bent and extend substantially in an orthogonal direction from both end portions of the operation piece  44   b . The intermediate regions of the left and right lever pieces  44   a  in the extending direction are supported by the left and right support stays  135  through the first turning shaft  162 . The left and right lever pieces  44   a  are formed to be bent substantially in an L-shape in a side view (substantially an L-shape in which the distal end portion protrudes forward). Hereinafter, the operation piece  44   b  side beyond a bent portion of the lever piece  44   a  will be referred to as a first extending portion  44   a - 1 , and a side opposite to the operation piece  44   b  beyond the bent portion will be referred to as a second extending piece  44   a - 2 . In the left and right lever pieces  44   a , substantially intermediate positions of the second extending pieces  44   a - 2  in the extending direction are supported by the support stays  135  with the first turning shaft  162  with therebetween. The upper end portions of the link plates  157  are turnably joined to the distal end portions of the second extending pieces  44   a - 2  with joint pins  164  therebetween. 
     Here, as illustrated in  FIG. 19 , the movable block  160  of the lock mechanism  133  has a pivot portion  160   a , a displacement restriction wall  160   b  (battery restriction portion), an elastic body block  160   c  (battery restriction portion), a holding force receiving wall  160   d  (holding force receiving portion), and a cam wall  160   e . The pivot portion  160   a  is turnably supported by the second turning shaft  163 . The displacement restriction wall  160   b  is continuously connected to the pivot portion  160   a , so that displacement of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) in a rising direction can be restricted when it is displaced to the inward region of the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R). The elastic body block  160   c  is attached to one surface of the displacement restriction wall  160   b  and directly abuts the upper surface of the battery  62 A when the displacement restriction wall  160   b  restricts displacement of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) in the rising direction. At this time, the elastic body block  160   c  is elastically deformed and causes a repulsive force to act on the upper surface of the battery  62 A. 
     The displacement restriction wall  160   b  of the movable block  160  and the elastic body block  160   c  (battery restriction portion) are constituted to be positioned on the outward side of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) in the non-battery-fixed state in a view in an insertion direction of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) with respect to the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R) (refer to  FIG. 24( c ) ) and to overlap the battery  62 A ( 62 B) in the battery-fixed state (refer to  FIGS. 26( c ) and 28( c ) ). 
     The holding force receiving wall  160   d  is continuously connected to the pivot portion  160   a  and extends in a direction in which it is substantially at a right angle to the displacement restriction wall  160   b  around the second turning shaft  163 . The holding force receiving wall  160   d  receives a holding load from the lever pieces  44   a  of the operation lever  44 , and the displacement restriction wall  160   b  and the elastic body block  160   c  maintain a state where displacement of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) in the rising direction is restricted. The cam wall  160   e  is a wall connecting both the displacement restriction wall  160   b  and the holding force receiving wall  160   d  on the front portion side and has a cam surface  160   e - 1  smoothly connected in a direction of a rear surface  160   d - 1  (holding force receiving surface) of the holding force receiving wall  160   d  from the displacement restriction wall  160   b  side. 
     In the case of the present embodiment, the holding force receiving wall  160   d  (holding force receiving portion) is constituted to overlap the lever piece  44   a  of the operation lever  44  in the battery-fixed state in a view in a direction along the first turning shaft  162  (refer to  FIG. 19 ). 
     The movable block  160  of the lock mechanism  133  can be turned between an unlock position at which the displacement restriction wall  160   b  and the elastic body block  160   c  are flipped up in accordance with turning operation of the operation lever  44 , and a lock position at which the displacement restriction wall  160   b  and the elastic body block  160   c  collapse in an inward direction of the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R) by approximately 90°. The lock mechanism  133  is in the non-battery-fixed state when the displacement restriction wall  160   b  and the elastic body block  160   c  are at the unlock position, and it is in the battery-fixed state when the displacement restriction wall  160   b  and the elastic body block  160   c  are at the lock position. Each of the movable blocks  160  is biased at all times in a flip-up direction by a spring (not illustrated). 
     At the time of a non-battery-fixed state, the operation lever  44  falls forward to the maximum, and the case side connection terminals  43  at this time is displaced to the retreat position P 2  via the terminal displacement mechanism  45 . The position of the operation lever  44  at this time will be referred to as the separation operation position. In addition, at the time of the battery-fixed state, the operation lever  44  is raised upward to the rear to the maximum. At this time, the case side connection terminals  43  are displaced to the connection position P 1  via the terminal displacement mechanism  45 . The position of the operation lever  44  at this time will be referred to as the connection operation position. 
     In addition, a cam projection  165  bulging to the rear side is formed in the first extending portion  44   a - 1  of the lever piece  44   a  of the operation lever  44 . When the operation lever  44  is raised upward to the rear side from the separation operation position, the cam projection  165  abuts the cam surface  160   e - 1  of the movable block  160  in a flipped-up state and presses the movable block  160  in a turning direction while it comes into slide contact with the cam surface  160   e - 1 . Accordingly, the movable block  160  is turnably operated toward the lock position from the unlock position. In this manner, when raising operation of the operation lever  44  proceeds and a contact portion of the cam projection  165  reaches a terminal position of the cam surface  160   e - 1 , an inner side surface (surface toward the inward side in the vehicle width direction) of the lever piece  44   a  abuts the rear surface  160   d - 1  of the holding force receiving wall  160   d  of the movable block  160 . This state continues until the operation lever  44  reaches a maximum pulling-up operation position. 
     Incidentally, the lock mechanisms  133  and the terminal displacement mechanism  45  are operated using the common operation lever  44 . Further, the operation state of each of the lock mechanisms  133  and the terminal displacement mechanism  45  is determined depending on a turning operation position of the operation lever  44 . The terminal displacement mechanism  45  and the lock mechanisms  133  are associated with each other such that the lock mechanisms  133  fix the battery  62 A ( 62 B) due to operation of the operation lever  44  and the terminal displacement mechanism  45  causes the case side connection terminals  43  to be displaced to the connection position P 1  in the state thereof. 
       FIG. 20  is a schematic side view of a part of the battery storage device  64  in a state where the operation lever  44  is operated to the separation operation position, and  FIG. 21  is a top view of a part of the battery storage device  64  in a state where the operation lever  44  is operated to the separation operation position. In addition,  FIG. 22  is a schematic side view of a part of the battery storage device  64  in a state where the operation lever  44  is operated to the connection operation position, and  FIG. 23  is a top view of a part of the battery storage device  64  in a state where the operation lever  44  is operated to the connection operation position. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 20 , the operation lever  44  is constituted such that a part of the operation piece  44   b  is detached forward on the upper side with respect to the inserting/removing port  136  of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R (battery case  42 ) in a view in the insertion direction of the batteries  62 A and  62 B in a state where the operation lever  44  is operated to the separation operation position. In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 21 , the movable block  160  of the lock mechanism  133  is constituted such that the displacement restriction wall  160   b  and the elastic body block  160   c  are detached laterally to the outward side on the upper side with respect to the inserting/removing port  136  of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R (battery case  42 ) in a view in the insertion direction of the batteries  62 A and  62 B. 
     In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 22 , the operation lever  44  is constituted such that the operation piece  44   b  part overlaps the inserting/removing port  136  of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R (battery case  42 ) on the upper side in a view in the insertion direction of the batteries  62 A and  62 B in a state where the operation lever  44  is operated to the connection operation position. In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 23 , the movable block  160  of the lock mechanism  133  is constituted such that the displacement restriction wall  160   b  and the elastic body block  160   c  overlap the inserting/removing port  136  of the resin case portions  132 F and  132 R (battery case  42 ) on the upper side in a view in the insertion direction of the batteries  62 A and  62 B in a state where the operation lever  44  is operated to the connection operation position. 
     Next, with reference to  FIGS. 24 to 30 , a series of operations in which the battery  62 A ( 62 B) is fixed to the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R) after the battery  62 A ( 62 B) is inserted into the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R) and the case side connection terminals  43  are connected to the terminal portions  41  of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) will be described. 
     In the state illustrated in  FIG. 24 , the operation lever  44  is at the separation operation position where it falls forward to the maximum. At this time, distal end portions of the lever pieces  44   a  of the operation lever  44  are positioned at lowermost positions, and the link plates  157  and the terminal holding member  149  of the terminal displacement mechanism  45  are also displaced to the lowermost positions. The battery  62 A ( 62 B) is inserted into the resin case portion  132 F ( 132 R) in the state thereof. At this time, as illustrated in  FIG. 17 , the case side connection terminals  43  are positioned at the retreat position P 2 . In addition, the movable blocks  160  of the lock mechanisms  133  are positioned at the unlock position where they are flipped up. 
     When the operation lever  44  is subjected to raising operation from this state, as illustrated in  FIG. 25 , the cam projections  165  of the operation lever  44  abut the cam surfaces  160   e - 1  of the movable blocks  160  and turn the movable blocks  160  in a direction of the lock position while they come into slide contact with the cam surfaces  160   e - 1 . 
     At the beginning of start of operation of the operation lever  44 , the link plates  157  are pulled up by the lever pieces  44   a . However, since there is a play between the link plates  157  and the terminal holding member  149  due to the long holes  159  as described above, start of rising displacement of the terminal holding member  149  at this time is delayed. 
     When raising operation of the operation lever  44  proceeds, turning of the movable blocks  160  proceeds as illustrated in  FIG. 26 , and thus the elastic body blocks  160   c  of the movable blocks  160  abut the upper surface of the battery  62 A. At this time, the terminal holding member  149  of the terminal displacement mechanism  45  is pulled up by the operation lever  44  with the link plates  157  therebetween such that it is displaced upward. In addition, at this time, as illustrated in  FIG. 27 , the guide projections  147  of the terminal support block  139  are fitted into the guide holes  148  on the lower surface side of the battery  62 A ( 62 B). Accordingly, the positions of the terminal support block  139  and the case side connection terminals  43  in a direction intersecting a terminal connection direction are subjected to fine adjustment. 
     When raising operation of the operation lever  44  further proceeds, the lever pieces  44   a  of the operation lever  44  turn around and abut rear surface sides of the holding force receiving walls  160   d  of the movable blocks  160 , as illustrated in  FIG. 28 . Accordingly, the displacement restriction walls  160   b  of the movable blocks  160  turn to a predetermined displacement restriction position, thereby restricting displacement of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) in the rising direction with the elastic body blocks  160   c  therebetween. At this time, as illustrated in  FIG. 29 , the terminal holding member  149  of the terminal displacement mechanism  45  is pulled up by the operation lever  44  with the link plates  157  therebetween such that it further rises, and the case side connection terminals  43  are displaced to the connection position P 1 . Accordingly, the case side connection terminals  43  are fitted and connected to the terminal portions  41  of the battery  62 A ( 62 B). 
     When the operation lever  44  is further operated in a raising direction by a predetermined amount from the state illustrated in  FIG. 28 , the terminal holding member  149  is further displaced upward in the terminal displacement mechanism  45 , as illustrated in  FIG. 30 . At this time, the coil springs  156  of the spring units  152  are compressed, and the case side connection terminals  43  are pressed to the terminal portions  41  of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) with a predetermined load. Accordingly, locking of the battery  62 A ( 62 B) by the lock mechanisms  133  and terminal connection by the terminal displacement mechanism  45  are completed. 
     In the case of the present embodiment, a mechanism, which informs an operator of completion of operation by generating click sounds such as tapping sounds when the operation lever  44  is operated to an operation completion position, is provided at an arbitrary place inside the battery storage device  64 . 
       FIG. 31  is a partial cross-sectional side view illustrating the battery storage device  64  and the seat  8  when the operation lever  44  is in a state before operation is completed.  FIG. 32  is a partial cross-sectional side view illustrating the battery storage device  64  and the seat  8  when the operation lever  44  is in a state where operation has been completed. 
     As illustrated in these diagrams, the seat  8  has a hinge axis  170  lying in the vehicle width direction on the front end portion side and is turnably supported by the vehicle body about the hinge axis  170 . In addition, a pair of projections  171 A and  171 B are provided away from each other in the front-rear direction on a rear surface of the seat  8 . The projections  171 A and  171 B protrude downward from the rear surface of the seat  8 . When the operation levers  44  at the front and the rear in the battery storage device  64  are completely operated to the operation completion position (when the operation levers  44  are in a state of being turnably operated to regular positions at which they are in the battery-fixed state) as illustrated in  FIG. 32 , the pair of projections  171 A and  171 B are provided such that they enter spaces in front of the respective operation levers  44  without coming into contact with the operation levers  44 . In addition, when the operation levers  44  at the front and the rear in the battery storage device  64  are in a state before operation is completed (when the operation levers  44  are in a state at half-fixed positions before they arrive at the regular positions) as illustrated in  FIG. 31 , the pair of projections  171 A and  171 B are set such that they abut the upper surfaces of the operation pieces  44   b  of the operation levers  44 . Therefore, when any of the operation levers  44  is not completely operated to the operation completion position, closing of the seat  8  is hindered by the projection  117 A or  117 B. For this reason, a worker can be informed that the operation levers  44  have not reached the operation completion position. 
     Depending on the positions of the operation levers  44 , the projections  171 A and  171 B abut the upper surfaces of the operation pieces  44   b  of the operation levers  44  at the time of closing operation of the seat  8 , and thus the operation levers  44  can be subjected to thrust operation to the operation completion position. 
     In addition, in the case of the present embodiment, when the operation levers  44  at the front and the rear are at the separation operation positions, the projections  117 A and  117 B on the seat  8  side are set such that they do not enter the spaces behind the operation levers  44  and do not come into contact with the operation levers  44 . 
     As described above, in the battery storage device  64  of the present embodiment, the operation lever  44  is constituted such that at least a part thereof overlaps the inserting/removing port  136  on the upper side in a view in the insertion direction of the batteries  62 A and  62 B in a state at the lock operation position. For this reason, even if the operation lever  44  is operated to the lock operation position when the batteries  62 A and  62 B are in the non-insertion state, insertion of the batteries  62 A and  62 B into the inserting/removing port  136  can be hindered by the operation lever  44 . Therefore, it is possible to curb acting of a significant load on the terminal portions  41  of the batteries  62 A and  62 B and the case side connection terminals  43  due to the inserted batteries  62 A and  62 B in a state where the case side connection terminals  43  protrude upward from the bottom portion of the battery case  42 . 
     In the battery storage device  64  of the present embodiment, the operation lever  44  is also capable of operating the terminal displacement mechanism  45  and is constituted such that at least a part thereof overlaps the inserting/removing port  136  on the upper side in a view in the insertion direction of the batteries  62 A and  62 B in a state at the connection operation position where the case side connection terminals  43  are displaced to the connection position P 1 . For this reason, even if the operation lever  44  is operated to the connection operation position when the batteries  62 A and  62 B are in the non-insertion state, insertion of the batteries  62 A and  62 B into the inserting/removing port  136  can be hindered by the operation lever  44 . Therefore, the batteries  62 A and  62 B can be prevented from being erroneously inserted into the battery case  42  in a state where the case side connection terminals  43  protrude upward from the bottom portion of the battery case  42 . 
     Thus, when the battery storage device  64  of the present embodiment is employed, it is possible to curb acting of a significant load on the terminal portions  41  of the batteries  62 A and  62 B and the case side connection terminals  43  due to the inserted batteries  62 A and  62 B in a state where the case side connection terminals  43  protrude upward from the bottom portion of the battery case  42 . 
     In addition, the battery storage device  64  of the present embodiment includes the lock mechanisms ( 133 ) capable of fixing the batteries  62 A and  62 B to the battery case  42  in a state where the batteries  62 A and  62 B are stored in the battery case  42  (resin case portions  132 F and  132 R). Further, the lock mechanisms  133  can be operated by the same operation levers  44  operating the terminal displacement mechanisms  45 . For this reason, when the battery storage device  64  of the present embodiment is employed, operability at the time of attaching the batteries  62 A and  62 B to the battery case  42  can be enhanced. 
     Moreover, in the battery storage device  64  of the present embodiment, at least a part of the movable block  160  of the lock mechanism  133  overlaps the inserting/removing port  136  on the upper side in a view in the insertion direction of the batteries  62 A and  62 B in a state where the operation lever  44  is at the connection operation position, and the movable block  160  of the lock mechanism  133  is constituted to be deviated from above the inserting/removing port  136  in a view in the insertion direction of the batteries  62 A and  62 B in a state where the operation lever  44  is at the separation operation position. For this reason, when the battery storage device  64  of the present embodiment is employed, even if the operation lever  44  is operated to the connection operation position when the batteries  62 A and  62 B are in the non-insertion state, erroneous insertion of the batteries  62 A and  62 B into the inserting/removing port  136  can be hindered by the movable block  160  of the lock mechanism  133  as well. 
     The present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment, and various design changes can be made within a range not departing from the gist thereof. 
     In addition, vehicles employing the battery storage device of the present invention are not limited to motorcycles and can also include saddle-type three-wheel vehicles having two front wheels and one rear wheel, four-wheel vehicles, and the like. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     
         
         
           
               1  Motorcycle (vehicle) 
               8  Seat (lid member) 
               41  Terminal portion 
               42  Battery case 
               43  Case side connection terminal 
               44  Operation lever (operation member) 
               45  Terminal displacement mechanism 
               62 A,  62 B Battery 
               64  Battery storage device 
               133  Lock mechanism 
               136  Inserting/removing port 
               160  Movable block