Patent Description:
As disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature <NUM>, a battery for supplying electric power to a traveling motor is below a floor panel in an electric vehicle in some cases. In <CIT>, a lower frame is provided at a lower portion of a vehicle body. The lower frame includes a front cross member extending in the vehicle width direction at a vehicle-body front portion, a center member extending on the vehicle rear side from a vehicle-width-direction central portion of the front cross member, and a pair of right and left lockers extending on the vehicle rear side from respective end portions of the front cross member in the vehicle width direction. The battery is housed in a space surrounded by the front cross member, the lockers, and the center member.

<CIT> discloses a vehicle body structure of an electric automobile with a battery casing arranged below a floor panel, wherein frame members extend along right and left sides battery housing. Furthermore, <CIT> discloses a body structure of an electric automobile having a battery frame divided into several battery receiving compartments arranged one after the other along the vehicle front rear direction. A further body structure of an electric automobile having a battery frame is known from <CIT>.

When the lower frame and the battery are arranged entirely below the floor panel as in <CIT>, the height of the floor panel is high throughout due to the lower frame and the battery, and comfortability of a vehicle cabin potentially degrades. This can be handled by a method of increasing the overall height of an automobile, but the method of increasing the overall height cannot be employed in some cases due to problems with design of the automobile and influence of the overall height on car parks.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problem and has an objective to provide a vehicle-body structure that can increase comfortability inside a vehicle cabin and improve vehicle-body stiffness.

To achieve the above-described objective, a vehicle-body structure according to the independent claim <NUM> is provided. Further optional features are contained in the subject-matter of the dependent claims.

As described above, since a battery housing portion and a battery non-housing portion are provided below a vehicle cabin and a second frame portion disposed at the battery non-housing portion is larger in width than a first frame portion disposed at the battery housing portion in the vehicle width direction, comfortability inside the vehicle cabin can be increased and vehicle-body stiffness can be improved.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description of the preferable embodiment is merely exemplary in essence and not intended to limit the present invention, its application, nor its usage.

<FIG> is a side view of an automobile <NUM> including a vehicle-body structure A according to the embodiment of the present invention when viewed from left. In description of the embodiment, a vehicle front-rear direction is simply referred to as a "front-rear direction", a vehicle front side is simply referred to as a "front side", and a vehicle "rear side" is simply referred to as a "rear side". In addition, a vehicle width direction is the right-left direction of the vehicle, a vehicle left side is simply referred to as a "left side", and a vehicle right side is simply referred to as a "right side".

The automobile <NUM> is a passenger automobile, and an occupant space R1 in which a passenger boards is provided at a front-rear direction intermediate portion of the automobile <NUM>. The occupant space R1 includes front seats (front-row seats) FS included in a front row, and rear seats (rear-row seats) RS included in a rear row. The front seats FS include a driver seat arranged on the right side (or the left side) in the occupant space R1, and a front passenger seat arranged on the left side (or the right side) in the occupant space R1. The rear seats RS are arranged on the right and left sides, respectively, in the occupant space R1. Although not illustrated, third-row seats may be arranged on the rear side of the rear seats RS. The rear seats RS are not essential and may be omitted.

A front door FD and a rear door RD are disposed on each of the left and right sides of the occupant space R1. The rear door RD may be omitted in a case of the automobile <NUM> including no rear seats RS.

A front-side space R2 is provided on the front side of the occupant space R1 in the automobile <NUM>. A powertrain PT can be mounted in the front-side space R2 as necessary. When the powertrain PT is mounted in the front-side space R2, the front-side space R2 may be called, for example, a powertrain storage room, a motor room, or an engine room. A bonnet hood BF is provided at an upper portion of the front-side space R2.

A trunk space R3 in which a package or the like can be housed is provided on the rear side of the occupant space R1 in the automobile <NUM>. The trunk space R3 can be opened and closed by a trunk lid TR. A rear-side space R4 is provided on the rear side of the occupant space R1 and at a position lower than the trunk space R3 in the automobile <NUM>. The powertrain PT that generates power for the automobile <NUM> can be mounted in the rear-side space R4 as necessary. When the powertrain PT is mounted in the rear-side space R4, the rear-side space R4 may be called, for example, a powertrain storage room, a motor room, or an engine room.

The powertrain PT may be mounted in each of the front-side space R2 and the rear-side space R4 or the powertrain PT may be mounted in one of them. A front-wheel-drive vehicle in which only front wheels FT are driven by the powertrain PT is achieved when the powertrain PT is mounted only in the front-side space R2, or a rear-wheel-drive vehicle in which only rear wheels RT are driven by the powertrain PT is achieved when the powertrain PT is mounted only in the rear-side space R4. Alternatively, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is achieved when the front wheels FT and the rear wheels RT are driven by the powertrains PT mounted in both the front-side space R2 and the rear-side space R4.

Each powertrain PT includes at least a traveling motor M (illustrated in <FIG>) for driving a drive wheel and also includes a speed reducer, a transmission, or the like as necessary. Thus, the automobile <NUM> is an electric vehicle. The traveling motor M is disposed such that the rotation center or rotation axis thereof extends in the right-left direction. The powertrain PT may include, for example, a controller in addition to the traveling motor M. The powertrain PT may include an internal combustion engine. A battery unit Y (also illustrated in <FIG>) for supplying electric power to the traveling motor M is mounted at a lower portion of the automobile <NUM>. For example, the battery unit Y may be charged by using power generated by the internal combustion engine, and either the front wheels FT or the rear wheels RT or both may be driven by power generated by the internal combustion engine.

The type of the automobile <NUM> does not necessarily need to be a four-door vehicle as exemplarily illustrated in <FIG> and may be, for example, an automobile including no rear doors RD. Although not illustrated, the present invention is also applicable to an automobile, such as a hatchback vehicle, in which the rear-side space R4 can be opened and closed by a tail gate.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the automobile <NUM> includes a lower-portion structural body <NUM> and an upper-portion structural body <NUM>, and the vehicle-body structure A is constituted by the lower-portion structural body <NUM> and the upper-portion structural body <NUM>. <FIG> illustrates a state in which the doors FD and RD, the bonnet hood BF, a fender, window glasses, a roof, a center pillar, a rear pillar, a bumper, front and rear lighting devices, an instrument panel, the front and rear seats, and the like, which are included in the upper-portion structural body <NUM> in reality, are removed. <FIG> also illustrates a state in which the front wheels FT, the rear wheels RT, a suspension device, and the like, which are included in the lower-portion structural body <NUM> in reality, are removed.

The lower-portion structural body <NUM> includes the battery unit Y. The battery unit Y includes a front-side battery FB, a rear-side battery RB, and a rack frame <NUM> surrounding the front-side battery FB and the rear-side battery RB. The lower-portion structural body <NUM> also includes a front support frame <NUM> extending from a front portion of the rack frame <NUM> toward the front side, and a rear support frame <NUM> extending from a rear portion of the rack frame <NUM> toward the rear side.

Although not illustrated, in a typical electric automobile, a battery unit is often detachably attached as a separated body from a vehicle body under a floor, but in the present embodiment, not only the batteries FB and RB but also the front support frame <NUM> and the rear support frame <NUM> are integrated with the rack frame <NUM> surrounding the batteries FB and RB, and the front support frame <NUM> and the rear support frame <NUM> are detachably attached to the upper-portion structural body <NUM> together with the batteries FB and RB.

Specifically, the automobile <NUM> of the present embodiment is configured to be able to be divided in the up-down direction into the lower-portion structural body <NUM> including the batteries FB and RB, and the upper-portion structural body <NUM> in which the occupant space R1 and the trunk space R3 are formed. Being able to be divided in the up-down direction means integration of the lower-portion structural body <NUM> with the upper-portion structural body <NUM> by using fastening members such as bolts and nuts, screws, and the like without using welding, bonding, and the like. Accordingly, the lower-portion structural body <NUM> can be separated from the upper-portion structural body <NUM> as necessary when maintenance and repair are performed after the automobile <NUM> is handed over to a user, and thus maintainability is excellent.

A vehicle-body structure of a ladder frame type is known as the vehicle-body structure of an automobile. In a case of the vehicle-body structure of the ladder frame type, division into a ladder frame and a cabin in the up-down direction is possible, but the ladder frame continuously extends in the front-rear direction and thus mainly receives a collision load at front collision and rear collision. At side collision, the ladder frame only supplementarily receives a collision load, and the collision load is mainly received by the cabin. In this manner, in the vehicle-body structure of the ladder frame type, it is normal that a member that receives a collision load is different between front or rear collision and side collision.

However, in a case of the automobile <NUM> of the present embodiment, the lower-portion structural body <NUM>, which includes the front support frame <NUM> and the rear support frame <NUM>, and the upper-portion structural body <NUM> can be divided from each other, but its technical idea is largely different from that of the conventional vehicle-body structure of the ladder frame type in that a collision load is received by the lower-portion structural body <NUM> and the upper-portion structural body <NUM> in both cases of front or rear collision and side collision and thus the collision load can be dispersed to and absorbed by the structural bodies <NUM> and <NUM>. Hereinafter, the structures of the lower-portion structural body <NUM> and the upper-portion structural body <NUM> will be sequentially described.

First, the lower-portion structural body <NUM> will be described below. The lower-portion structural body <NUM> includes the powertrain PT, the front wheels FT, the rear wheels RT, and front-side suspension devices SP1 and SP2 and rear-side suspension devices SP3 and SP4, which are illustrated with virtual lines in <FIG>, in addition to the batteries FB and RB, the rack frame <NUM>, the front support frame <NUM>, and the rear support frame <NUM>. The formats of the front-side suspension devices SP1 and SP2 and the rear-side suspension devices SP3 and SP4 are not particularly limited, and the vehicle-body structure may be changed in accordance with the formats of the front-side suspension devices SP1 and SP2 and the rear-side suspension devices SP3 and SP4.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the rack frame <NUM> as a framework of the battery unit Y is a member for surrounding and protecting the front-side battery FB, the rear-side battery RB, harnesses, and the like. The rack frame <NUM> is formed in such a large size that, on the lower side of an occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> to be described later, the rack frame <NUM> extends from the vicinity of a left end portion of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> to the vicinity of a right end portion thereof and extends from the vicinity of a front end portion of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> to the vicinity of a rear end portion thereof. In this manner, since the rack frame <NUM> is provided in a large part of a region on the lower side of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, the batteries FB and RB having large capacities can be mounted on the automobile <NUM>. The batteries FB and RB may be, for example, lithium-ion batteries or all-solid-state batteries or may be any other secondary batteries. Alternatively, the batteries FB and RB may be what is called battery cells or may be battery packs in which a plurality of battery cells are housed.

The rack frame <NUM> includes a left-side member <NUM>, a right-side member <NUM>, a front-side member <NUM>, and a rear-side member <NUM>. The left-side member <NUM>, the right-side member <NUM>, the front-side member <NUM>, and the rear-side member <NUM> are formed of, for example, an extruded material made of an aluminum alloy, but may be formed of a press-formed material such as an aluminum alloy plate material or a steel plate. In description below, an "extruded material" is an extruded material made of an aluminum alloy, and a "press-formed material" is a press-formed material such as an aluminum alloy plate material or a steel plate. Alternatively, each member may be formed of, for example, cast metal or die cast.

A cross-sectional shape of each of the left-side member <NUM>, the right-side member <NUM>, the front-side member <NUM>, and the rear-side member <NUM> in a direction orthogonal to its longitudinal direction is a rectangular shape. The left-side member <NUM>, the right-side member <NUM>, the front-side member <NUM>, and the rear-side member <NUM> are all arranged at the same height and substantially horizontally extend. When the lower-portion structural body <NUM> is to be connected to the upper-portion structural body <NUM>, the front-side member <NUM> is fastened and fixed to a lower portion of a dash panel <NUM> by a fastening member, and the left-side member <NUM> and the right-side member <NUM> are fastened and fixed to right and left side sills <NUM>, respectively, by fastening members. The rear-side member <NUM> is fastened and fixed to a connection panel <NUM>, which will be described later, by a fastening member.

The left-side member <NUM> is provided at a left end portion of the lower-portion structural body <NUM> and extends in the front-rear direction. The right-side member <NUM> is provided at a right end portion of the lower-portion structural body <NUM> and extends in the front-rear direction. The left-side member <NUM> and the right-side member <NUM> are arranged on a vehicle-width-direction inner side of the right and left side sills <NUM>, respectively, to be described later. As illustrated in, for example, <FIG>, the front-side member <NUM> is provided at a front portion of the battery unit Y and extends in the right-left direction from a front end portion of the left-side member <NUM> to a front end portion of the right-side member <NUM>. A left end portion of the front-side member <NUM> and the front end portion of the left-side member <NUM> are connected to each other, and a right end portion of the front-side member <NUM> and the front end portion of the right-side member <NUM> are connected to each other. The rear-side member <NUM> is provided at a rear portion of the battery unit Y and extends in the right-left direction from a rear end portion of the left-side member <NUM> to a rear end portion of the right-side member <NUM>. A left end portion of the rear-side member <NUM> and the rear end portion of the left-side member <NUM> are connected to each other, and a right end portion of the rear-side member <NUM> and the rear end portion of the right-side member <NUM> are connected to each other.

A cover member <NUM> as a bottom plate is attached to a lower portion of the rack frame <NUM>. The rack frame <NUM> is blocked or closed from the lower side by the cover member <NUM>. The cover member <NUM> substantially horizontally extends and is fixed to lower surfaces of the left-side member <NUM>, the right-side member <NUM>, the front-side member <NUM>, and the rear-side member <NUM> and also fixed to the side sills <NUM> as described later. Note that an upper portion of the rack frame <NUM> may be blocked or closed by a non-illustrated lid or may be blocked or closed by the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> to be described later. Note that electric power of the batteries FB and RB housed in the rack frame <NUM> is supplied to the traveling motor M through a non-illustrated traveling control circuit. The batteries FB and RB can be charged through a non-illustrated charging socket.

As illustrated in <FIG>, part of the front side inside the rack frame <NUM> is referred to as a front-side battery housing portion <NUM> in which the front-side battery FB is housed, and part of the rear side inside the rack frame <NUM> is referred to as a rear-side battery housing portion <NUM> in which the rear-side battery RB is housed. A part between the front-side battery housing portion <NUM> and the rear-side battery housing portion <NUM> is a part in which no battery is housed, and this part in which no battery is housed is referred to as a battery non-housing portion <NUM>. In other words, the front-side battery housing portion <NUM>, the battery non-housing portion <NUM>, and the rear-side battery housing portion <NUM> are provided alongside in the front-rear direction.

<FIG> illustrates a cross-section of a right-left direction central portion of the vehicle-body structure A. As illustrated in <FIG>, first to third battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C formed as hollow members are provided inside the rack frame <NUM> as reinforcement members extending in the right-left direction. The heights of the first to third battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C are all the same and are the same as the heights of the front-side member <NUM> and the rear-side member <NUM>. The first to third battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C may be formed of extruded materials or may be formed of press-formed materials. In the present embodiment, the three battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C are provided, but the number of the battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C may be increased or decreased in accordance with dimensions of the rack frame <NUM> in the front-rear direction.

The first to third battery-side cross members battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C are arranged at an interval from each other in the front-rear direction, the first battery-side cross member 10A is positioned farthest on the front side, and the third battery-side cross member 10C is positioned farthest on the rear side. Lower portions of the battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C are fixed to an upper surface of the cover member <NUM>. Left end portions of the battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C are fixed to an inner surface (right-side surface) of the left-side member <NUM>, and right end portions of the battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C are fixed to an inner surface (left-side surface) of the right-side member <NUM>. In other words, the battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C are members connecting the left-side member <NUM> and the right-side member <NUM>.

A front-portion central member <NUM> and first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> as hollow reinforcement members extending in the front-rear direction are provided inside the rack frame <NUM>. The front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> may be referred to as a battery frame extending in the front-rear direction, and the battery unit Y has a structure including the battery frame constituted by the front-portion central member <NUM>, the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM>, and the like. The left-side member <NUM>, the right-side member <NUM>, the front-side member <NUM>, and the rear-side member <NUM> may be included in the battery frame.

The front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> are arranged at substantially same heights and provided at a right-left direction center of the rack frame <NUM>. Lower end portions of the front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> are attached to the upper surface of the cover member <NUM>. The front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> extend from the front-side member <NUM> to the rear-side member <NUM>.

The front-portion central member <NUM> is a front-side first frame portion disposed at the front-side battery housing portion <NUM> and is arranged between the front-side member <NUM> and the first battery-side cross member 10A. A front end portion of the front-portion central member <NUM> is fixed to a right-left direction central portion of the front-side member <NUM>, and a rear end portion of the front-portion central member <NUM> is fixed to a right-left direction central portion of the first battery-side cross member 10A. Accordingly, the front-side member <NUM> is a member extending to connect the front end portions of the left-side member <NUM> and the right-side member <NUM> to the front end portion of the front-portion central member <NUM>.

The first rear-portion central member <NUM> is a front-side first frame portion disposed at the front-side battery housing portion <NUM> on the rear side of the front-portion central member <NUM> and is arranged between the first battery-side cross member 10A and the second battery-side cross member 10B. A front end portion of the first rear-portion central member <NUM> is fixed to the right-left direction central portion of the first battery-side cross member 10A, and a rear end portion of the first rear-portion central member <NUM> is fixed to a right-left direction central portion of the second battery-side cross member 10B.

The second rear-portion central member <NUM> is a second frame portion disposed at the battery non-housing portion <NUM> on the rear side of the first rear-portion central member <NUM> and is arranged between the second battery-side cross member 10B and the third battery-side cross member 10C. A front end portion of the second rear-portion central member <NUM> is fixed to the right-left direction central portion of the second battery-side cross member 10B, and a rear end portion of the second rear-portion central member <NUM> is fixed to a right-left direction central portion of the third battery-side cross member 10C.

The third rear-portion central member <NUM> is a rear-side first frame portion disposed at the rear-side battery housing portion <NUM> on the rear side of the second rear-portion central member <NUM> and is arranged between the third battery-side cross member 10C and the rear-side member <NUM>. A front end portion of the third rear-portion central member <NUM> is fixed to the right-left direction central portion of the third battery-side cross member 10C, and a rear end portion of the third rear-portion central member <NUM> is fixed to a right-left direction central portion of the rear-side member <NUM>.

Accordingly, the first to third battery-side cross members 10A, 10B, and 10C and the front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> are disposed in a lattice shape and connected to each other inside the rack frame <NUM>, which further increases the effect of reinforcing the rack frame <NUM> and thus the effect of reinforcing the lower-portion structural body <NUM>.

When a virtual straight line extending in the front-rear direction in a plan view is assumed, the positions of the front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> in the right-left direction are set such that the members are arranged on the virtual line. In other words, the members are provided such that the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> are positioned on a virtual extended line from the front-portion central member <NUM> on the rear side.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional diagram along line A-A in <FIG> and illustrates a section corresponding to the front-side battery housing portion <NUM>. The front-side battery FB is housed on each of the right and left sides of the first rear-portion central member <NUM> provided in the rack frame <NUM>. A first harness <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction is disposed below the first rear-portion central member <NUM>. The first harness <NUM> extends from the front portion of the rack frame <NUM> to the rear portion thereof, and accordingly, is disposed extending in the front-rear direction through the lower side of the front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM>. In the present embodiment, two first harnesses <NUM> are disposed alongside in the vehicle width direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto and one first harness <NUM> may be provided or three or more first harnesses <NUM> may be provided.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional diagram along line B-B in <FIG> and illustrates a section corresponding to the battery non-housing portion <NUM>. The second rear-portion central member <NUM> is provided at the battery non-housing portion <NUM>. The second rear-portion central member <NUM> is larger in width than the first rear-portion central member <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the dimension of the second rear-portion central member <NUM> in the vehicle width direction is set to be longer than the dimension of the first rear-portion central member <NUM> in the vehicle width direction, the first rear-portion central member <NUM> and the second rear-portion central member <NUM> are arranged such that a left end portion of the second rear-portion central member <NUM> protrudes on the left side of a left end portion of the first rear-portion central member <NUM> and a right end portion of the second rear-portion central member <NUM> protrudes on the right side of a right end portion of the first rear-portion central member <NUM> when viewed in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the width of a space <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) directly below the second rear-portion central member <NUM> is larger than the width of a space <NUM> (illustrated in <FIG>) directly below the first rear-portion central member <NUM>. Stiffness is likely to decrease at a part where the front-side battery FB and the rear-side battery RB are not positioned in some cases, but the second rear-portion central member <NUM> having a large width is provided at the part where the front-side battery FB and the rear-side battery RB are not positioned, and thus stiffness decrease can be suppressed. Note that the first rear-portion central member <NUM> and the second rear-portion central member <NUM> are arranged at the same height, and accordingly, the dimensions of the space <NUM> and the space <NUM> in the up-down direction are substantially equal.

A second harness <NUM> for a bus bar is disposed in addition to the first harness <NUM> below the second rear-portion central member <NUM>. The second harness <NUM> for a bus bar is a harness for connecting the front-side battery FB and the rear-side battery RB and thus extends in the front-rear direction, but is not provided at the front-side battery housing portion <NUM> and the rear-side battery housing portion <NUM> and passes through the battery non-housing portion <NUM>. The second harness <NUM> is positioned on each of the right and left sides of the first harness <NUM>. Accordingly, a larger number of harnesses <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed in the space <NUM> below the second rear-portion central member <NUM> than in the space <NUM> below the first rear-portion central member <NUM>, but the disposition of a large number of harnesses <NUM> and <NUM> causes no problem since the width of the space <NUM> is relatively large. The first harnesses <NUM> and the second harnesses <NUM> are not limited to the illustrated arrangement but may be optionally arranged.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a pair of right and left front support frames <NUM> are provided and connected to the front-side member <NUM> of the rack frame <NUM>. The front-side powertrain PT is attached to each front support frame <NUM> through a non-illustrated mounting member. In the lower-portion structural body <NUM>, drive shafts S1 through which output from the powertrain PT (rotational force of the traveling motor M) is transferred to the right and left front wheels FT, respectively, are provided on the right and left sides.

Similarly to the front support frames <NUM>, a pair of right and left rear support frames <NUM> are provided and connected to the rear-side member <NUM> of the rack frame <NUM>. The rear-side powertrain PT is attached to each rear support frame <NUM> through a non-illustrated mounting member. In the lower-portion structural body <NUM>, drive shafts S2 through which output from the powertrain PT (rotational force of the traveling motor M) is transferred to the right and left rear wheels, respectively, are provided on the right and left sides.

Subsequently, the upper-portion structural body <NUM> will be described below. The upper-portion structural body <NUM> includes a floor member <NUM>, the dash panel <NUM>, and the pair of right and left side sills <NUM>. The floor member <NUM> is a member arranged at a higher position than the rack frame <NUM> and the rear support frames <NUM> of the lower-portion structural body <NUM>. The floor member <NUM> includes the occupant-space-side floor panel (first floor panel) <NUM> constituting a floor of the occupant space R1 including the front seats FS and the rear seats RS (illustrated in <FIG>) on which passengers sits, a trunk-space-side floor panel (second floor panel) <NUM> constituting a floor of the trunk space R3, and the connection panel <NUM> connecting a rear portion of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> and a front portion of the trunk-space-side floor panel <NUM>.

The floor member <NUM> may be formed of, for example, a member shaped by pressing a steel plate or the like. The occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, the trunk-space-side floor panel <NUM>, and the connection panel <NUM> may be integrally formed or may be separately formed and then connected. In the present embodiment, description is made with the three divided portions of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, the trunk-space-side floor panel <NUM>, and the connection panel <NUM>, but the floor member <NUM> including the panels <NUM> to <NUM> may be referred to as a floor panel. Alternatively, only the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> may be referred to as a floor panel.

The occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> extends from a front portion of the occupant space R1 to a rear portion thereof and from a left-side portion of the occupant space R1 to a right-side portion thereof. The occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> according to the present embodiment has a floor tunnel-less structure including no tunnel portion. Specifically, a floor panel of a conventional automobile is typically provided with a tunnel portion largely bulging upward and extending in the front-rear direction. The tunnel portion is a portion for allowing, for example, insertion of an exhaust pipe extending toward a rear side from an engine mounted in an engine room at a vehicle front portion and insertion of a propeller shaft through which output from the engine is transferred to rear wheels. The diameters of the exhaust pipe and the propeller shaft are often, for example, equal to or larger than <NUM>, and furthermore, a gap of at least several centimeters or larger needs to be provided between each of the exhaust pipe and the propeller shaft and the floor panel to prevent interference of the exhaust pipe or the propeller shaft with the floor panel. In addition, for example, an insulator is disposed on an inner surface of the tunnel portion in some cases. With these factors, the height of the tunnel portion from the floor panel is, for example, equal to or larger than <NUM> or equal to or larger than <NUM> in some cases, and as for a positional relation with a seat, an upper end of the tunnel portion is higher than a lower end of a seat cushion on a seat rail or an up-down direction central portion of the seat cushion. A structure without such a tunnel portion largely bulging upward is a tunnel-less structure. More generally, the floor panel <NUM> may have a substantially flat center portion when considering the vehicle's width direction or left-right direction. Such substantially flat center portion may be positioned between left and right seat spaces, wherein substantially flat may mean there are no heightenings or cavities with a height/depth of more than <NUM> or more than <NUM> or more than <NUM>.

The occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> includes no tunnel portion having a height equal to or larger than <NUM> or equal to or larger than <NUM> from an upper surface of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> as described above, but may include, for example, a bulging portion having a low height equal to or smaller than <NUM> or equal to or smaller than <NUM> from the upper surface of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. In a case of such a bulging portion having a low height, neither exhaust pipe nor a propeller shaft can be inserted inside the bulging portion, and thus the bulging portion does not function as a tunnel portion. Thus, the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, which includes a bulging portion having a low height equal to or smaller than <NUM> or equal to or smaller than <NUM> from the upper surface of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, is a floor panel of a tunnel-less structure.

In the present embodiment, since each powertrain PT includes the traveling motor M, no internal combustion engine needs to be mounted in the front side space R2 and thus no exhaust pipe needs to be guided to the vehicle rear side. When a powertrain PT is mounted in the rear-side space R4, the rear wheels RT can be driven by the powertrain PT and a propeller shaft can be omitted. Accordingly, the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> can have a tunnel-less structure.

As illustrated in <FIG> as well, a recessed portion 41a formed bulging downward is formed at a front-rear direction intermediate portion of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. Specifically, the recessed portion 41a on which the feet of a passenger can be placed is formed at part of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, which corresponds to the battery non-housing portion <NUM>. The recessed portion 41a has a bottom surface 41b on which the feet of a rear-seat passenger sitting on a rear seat RS can be placed. The bottom surface 41b is substantially horizontally formed. A front-side part of the recessed portion 41a is formed to be gradually deeper toward the rear side. The recessed portion 41a may be continuously formed from a left side portion of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> to a right side portion thereof. The bottom surface 41b has a height substantially same as that of a lower portion of the corresponding side sill <NUM> to be described later, and accordingly, the height of the bottom surface 41b is sufficiently low. Accordingly, a passenger staying space can be expanded by using the battery non-housing portion <NUM> of the lower-portion structural body <NUM>.

The positional relation between the recessed portion 41a and a seat cushion of each rear seat RS in the front-rear direction is set such that the feet of a rear-seat passenger sitting on the rear seat RS are naturally placed on the bottom surface 41b when the feet are held directly downward. The position of a front portion of the recessed portion 41a is set such that the feet of a rear-seat passenger sitting on the rear seat RS are placed on the bottom surface 41b when the feet are moved obliquely forward. The position of the recessed portion 41a and the dimension thereof in the front-rear direction are set such that the feet of a rear-seat passenger can be placed on the bottom surface 41b even when the feet are moved somehow in the front-rear direction.

A floor frame 41c extending in the front-rear direction is provided at a right-left direction central portion of the recessed portion 41a. The floor frame 41c is formed surrounding the second rear-portion central member <NUM> of the lower-portion structural body <NUM> from the upper side and the right and left sides, and the second rear-portion central member <NUM> is housed inside the floor frame 41c from the lower side of the floor frame 41c when the lower-portion structural body <NUM> and the upper-portion structural body <NUM> are integrated. A part at which the recessed portion 41a is formed is reinforced since the floor frame 41c is provided.

The trunk-space-side floor panel <NUM> is positioned higher than the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. The rear-side space R4 is positioned lower than the trunk-space-side floor panel <NUM>. In other words, the trunk-space-side floor panel <NUM> is arranged to separate the trunk space R3 from the rear-side space R4. Since the trunk-space-side floor panel <NUM> is arranged at a higher position than the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, the connection panel <NUM> extends in the up-down direction. The connection panel <NUM> may be vertical or may be tilted such that the connection panel <NUM> is positioned farther on the rear side at a position farther on the upper side.

As illustrated in <FIG> as well, the dash panel <NUM> is a member as a partition wall between the front side space R2 and the occupant space R1 and extends upward from a front portion of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> and in the right-left direction as well, thereby partitioning the front portion of the occupant space R1.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the right and left side sills <NUM> are disposed extending in the front-rear direction at right and left end portions, respectively, of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. A left end portion of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> is connected to an up-down direction intermediate portion of the left side sill <NUM>. Since the battery unit Y including the batteries FB and RB is disposed at a lower position than the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, such arrangement is made that the lower part of the side sill <NUM> overlaps with the batteries FB and RB in a vehicle side view. Similarly, the right side sill <NUM> is connected to the right end portion of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the upper-portion structural body <NUM> includes a pair of right and left hinge pillars <NUM>. The right hinge pillar <NUM> extends upward from a front end portion of the right side sill <NUM>. The left hinge pillar <NUM> extends upward from a front end portion of the left side sill <NUM>. The right and left front doors FD (illustrated in <FIG>) are rotatably attached to the right and left hinge pillars <NUM>, respectively. A left edge portion of the dash panel <NUM> is connected to a right-side surface of the left hinge pillar <NUM>. A right edge portion of the dash panel <NUM> is connected to a left-side surface of the right hinge pillar <NUM>. Note that, although not illustrated, the upper-portion structural body <NUM> is also provided with a center pillar, a rear pillar, and the like.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a left-side front-wheel suspension support member 51A that supports the suspension device (front suspension device) SP1 (illustrated with virtual lines in <FIG>) for the left front wheel FT is provided on the left side on the front side of the dash panel <NUM> in the upper-portion structural body <NUM>. A right-side front-wheel suspension support member 51B that supports the suspension device (front suspension device) SP2 (illustrated with virtual lines in <FIG>) for the right front wheel FT is provided on the right side on the front side of the dash panel <NUM> in the upper-portion structural body <NUM>. The suspension devices SP1 and SP2 are not limited to a particular format but include suspension arms that freely swingably support the front wheels FT in the up-down direction, shock absorbers, springs, or the like. End portions of the suspension arms on the vehicle body side, upper end portions of the shock absorbers, or the like are attached to the front-wheel suspension support members 51A and 51B. The front-wheel suspension support members 51A and 51B can be made of, for example, aluminum die cast, but are not limited thereto and may be made of a combination of steel plates or the like.

As illustrated in, for example, <FIG>, three left-side fixation frames 52A for fixing the left-side front-wheel suspension support member 51A are provided on the left side on the front side of the dash panel <NUM>. The three left-side fixation frames 52A are arranged at an interval from each other in the up-down direction, and front portions of the three left-side fixation frames 52A are fixed to the front-wheel suspension support member 51A. Rear portions of the left-side fixation frames 52A arranged uppermost and at an up-down direction intermediate position are fixed to the left-side hinge pillar <NUM> and the left side of the dash panel <NUM>. A rear portion of the left-side fixation frame 52A arranged lowermost is fixed to the left side sill <NUM>.

As partially illustrated in <FIG>, three right-side fixation frames 52B for fixing the right-side front-wheel suspension support member 51B are provided on the right side on the front side of the dash panel <NUM>. The three right-side fixation frames 52B are arranged at an interval from each other in the up-down direction, and front portions of the three right-side fixation frames 52B are fixed to the front-wheel suspension support member 51B. Rear portions of the right-side fixation frames 52B arranged uppermost and at an up-down direction intermediate position are fixed to the right-side hinge pillar <NUM> and the right side of the dash panel <NUM>. A rear portion of the right-side fixation frame 52B arranged lowermost is fixed to the right side sill <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a left-side crush can 53A extending toward the front side is fixed to a front portion of the left-side front-wheel suspension support member 51A. A right-side crush can 53B extending toward the front side is fixed to a front portion of the right-side front-wheel suspension support member 51B. A bumper reinforcement <NUM> extending in the right-left direction is attached to a front portion of the left-side crush can 53A and a front portion of the right-side crush can 53B.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the upper-portion structural body <NUM> includes a left-side front frame 54A and a right-side front frame 54B. Specifically, the left-side front frame 54A connecting a front portion of a center frame <NUM> to be described later and the left-side front-wheel suspension support member 51A, and the right-side front frame 54B connecting the front portion of the center frame <NUM> and the right-side front-wheel suspension support member 51B are provided on the front side of the dash panel <NUM>. The left-side front frame 54A is tilted such that the left-side front frame 54A is positioned farther on the left side at a position farther on the front side. The right-side front frame 54B is tilted such that the right-side front frame 54B is positioned farther on the right side at a position farther on the front side.

The occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> includes a front-portion cross member 44A, an intermediate cross member 44B, a recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C, and a recessed-portion rear-side cross member 44D. The front-portion cross member 44A, the intermediate cross member 44B, the recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C, and the recessed-portion rear-side cross member 44D extend in the right-left direction and are fixed to the upper surface of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. Thus, the front-portion cross member 44A, the intermediate cross member 44B, the recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C, and the recessed-portion rear-side cross member 44D are disposed such that the members intersect with the center frame <NUM>, which will be described later, in a plan view in the occupant space R1.

The front-portion cross member 44A is disposed at the front portion of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. A front portion of the front-portion cross member 44A is also joined to the lower portion of the dash panel <NUM>. The intermediate cross member 44B is disposed on the rear side of the front-portion cross member 44A and on the front side of the recessed portion 41a, and a closed cross-section is constituted by the intermediate cross member 44B and the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>.

The recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C is disposed extending in the right-left direction along the front portion of the recessed portion 41a on the rear side of the intermediate cross member 44B. The projecting-portion rear-side cross member 44D is disposed extending in the right-left direction along a rear portion of the recessed portion 41a on the rear side of the recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C. A closed cross-section is constituted by the recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C and the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, and a closed cross-section is constituted by the recessed-portion rear-side cross member 44D and the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. Since the recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C and the recessed-portion rear-side cross member 44D are provided, the part at which the recessed portion 41a is formed can be reinforced. A front portion of the floor frame 41c provided inside the recessed portion 41a is connected to a right-left direction central portion of the recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C, and a rear portion of the floor frame 41c is connected to a right-left direction central portion of the recessed-portion rear-side cross member 44D.

As illustrated in, for example, <FIG>, the upper-portion structural body <NUM> includes the center frame <NUM> continuously extending in the front-rear direction from the dash panel <NUM> to the connection panel <NUM>. The center frame <NUM> is positioned at a right-left direction central portion. Specifically, the disposition positions of the front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> and the center frame <NUM> are set to have a positional relation in which the front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> each overlaps with the center frame <NUM> in a plan view.

The center frame <NUM> is disposed to be higher than and away from the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> at a right-left direction central portion of the occupant space R1. A rear portion of the center frame <NUM> is connected to the connection panel <NUM>. The left-side front seat FS and a rear seat RS are disposed on the left side of the center frame <NUM>, and the right-side front seat FS and a rear seat RS are disposed on the right side of the center frame <NUM>.

Since the center frame <NUM> is arranged to be higher than and away from the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, components and the like can be disposed in a space between a lower surface of the center frame <NUM> and the upper surface of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. Alternatively, the space between the lower surface of the center frame <NUM> and the upper surface of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> can be used as an object housing unit. As illustrated in <FIG>, the center frame <NUM> according to the present embodiment includes a bend portion 80A that bends in the up-down direction at a front-rear direction intermediate portion. Since the bend portion 80A is provided in the center frame <NUM>, for example, a rear-side part can be positioned lower than a front-side part, and thus comfortability of rear-seat passengers can be improved. Since the front-side part of the center frame <NUM> can be positioned higher than the rear-side part, an object or the like can be arranged at a lower position than the front-side part of the center frame <NUM>. The bend portion 80A is formed at a site on the front side of a front-rear direction central portion of the center frame <NUM>.

Specifically, the center frame <NUM> includes a front-side frame member <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction, a rear-side frame member <NUM> disposed on the vehicle rear side of the front-side frame member <NUM> and extending toward the rear side, and a tubular connection member <NUM> connecting a rear portion of the front-side frame member <NUM> and a front portion of the rear-side frame member <NUM>. The front-side frame member <NUM> and the rear-side frame member <NUM> have hollow shapes, in other words, tubular shapes extending in the front-rear direction and may be formed of, for example, an extruded material. The front-side frame member <NUM> and the rear-side frame member <NUM> having hollow shapes are lightweight and high-stiffness members. Vertical cross-sections of the front-side frame member <NUM> and the rear-side frame member <NUM> in the vehicle width direction have rectangular shapes, and thus the front-side frame member <NUM> and the rear-side frame member <NUM> each include an upper wall portion and a lower wall portion extending in the right-left direction and right and left sidewall portions extending in the up-down direction. Note that the cross-sectional shapes of the front-side frame member <NUM> and the rear-side frame member <NUM> are not limited to rectangular shapes but may be pentagonal shapes or higher polygonal shapes or may be circular shapes or elliptical shapes.

The dimension of the rear-side frame member <NUM> in the longitudinal direction is set to be longer than the dimension of the front-side frame member <NUM> in the longitudinal direction. Accordingly, a connection part between the front-side frame member <NUM> and the rear-side frame member <NUM> is positioned on the front side of a front-rear direction central portion of the occupant space R1. Note that the center frame <NUM> is not limited to the two-division structure of the front-side frame member <NUM> and the rear-side frame member <NUM> but may be formed as one member a front portion to a rear portion or may have a three-division structure.

The front-side frame member <NUM> is tilted at a first tilt angle relative to a horizontal plane and extends straight. The rear-side frame member <NUM> is tilted at a second tilt angle smaller than the first tilt angle relative to the horizontal plane and extends straight. Since the rear-side frame member <NUM> is tilted at a tilt angle different from that of the front-side frame member <NUM>, the bend portion 80A that bends downward is formed at the connection part between the front-side frame member <NUM> and the rear-side frame member <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the rear-side frame member <NUM> is arranged at a downward tilt toward the rear side. Note that the front-side frame member <NUM> and the rear-side frame member <NUM> may have the same tilt angle. In this case, no bend portion 80A is formed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the center frame <NUM> also includes a left-side frame member 84A and a right-side frame member 84B constituting the front portion of the center frame <NUM>, and accordingly, has a shape bifurcated in the right-left direction. The left-side frame member 84A and the right-side frame member 84B are provided at an interval from each other in the right-left direction. A rear portion of the left-side frame member 84A is fixed to a left-side surface of a front-rear direction intermediate portion of the front-side frame member <NUM>. The left-side frame member 84A is tilted from a fixation part to the front-side frame member <NUM> toward the front side in a plan view such that the left-side frame member 84A is positioned farther on the left side at a position farther on the front side. A front portion of the left-side frame member 84A is connected to a part of the dash panel <NUM> higher than and away from the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. A rear portion of the left-side front frame 54A is connected to the front portion of the left-side frame member 84A.

A rear portion of the right-side frame member 84B is fixed to a right-side surface of the front-rear direction intermediate portion of the front-side frame member <NUM>. The right-side frame member 84B is tilted from a fixation part to the front-side frame member <NUM> toward the front side in a plan view such that the right-side frame member 84B is positioned farther on the right side at a position farther on the front side. A front portion of the right-side frame member 84B is connected to the part of the dash panel <NUM> higher than and away from the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. A rear portion of the right-side front frame 54B (illustrated in <FIG>) is connected to the front portion of the right-side frame member 84B.

The upper-portion structural body <NUM> includes first to third connection members <NUM> to <NUM>. The first to third connection members <NUM> to <NUM> are members for connecting the center frame <NUM> to the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, each member extending upward from the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> and having an upper portion fixed to the center frame <NUM>. The first connection member <NUM> is disposed farthest on the front side in the occupant space R1, and the first connection member <NUM> is separated on the rear side from the dash panel <NUM>. A lower portion of the first connection member <NUM> is fixed to a site separated on the rear side from the dash panel <NUM> on the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, and an upper portion of the first connection member <NUM> is fixed to a site separated on the rear side from the dash panel <NUM> on the center frame <NUM>.

As illustrated in, for example, <FIG>, the second connection member <NUM> is separately disposed on the rear side of the first connection member <NUM>. The lower portion of the first connection member <NUM> and a lower portion of the second connection member <NUM> are fixed to sites separated from each other in the front-rear direction on the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>. The upper portion of the first connection member <NUM> and an upper portion of the second connection member <NUM> are fixed to sites separated from each other in the front-rear direction of the center frame <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first connection member <NUM> includes a left-side member (left-side connection member) 101A and a right-side member (right-side connection member) 101B. Lower portions of the left-side member 101A and the right-side member 101B are fixed to the front-portion cross member 44A. The left-side member 101A extends at a tilt in a front view such that the left-side member 101A is positioned farther on the left side at a position farther on the upper side from the front-portion cross member 44A. An upper portion of the left-side member 101A is fixed to the front portion of the left-side frame member 84A of the center frame <NUM>.

The right-side member 101B extends at a tilt in a front view such that the right-side member 101B is positioned farther on the right side at a position farther on the upper side from the front-portion cross member 44A. An upper portion of the right-side member 101B is fixed to the front portion of the right-side frame member 84B of the center frame <NUM>. Since the front portion of the left-side frame member 84A and the front portion of the right-side frame member 84B are separated from each other in the right-left direction, most parts of the left-side member 101A and the right-side member 101B except for the lower portions thereof are separated from each other in the right-left direction, and accordingly, the interval between the left-side member 101A and the right-side member 101B in the right-left direction is larger at a position farther on the upper side.

A lower portion of the second connection member <NUM> is fixed to the intermediate cross member 44B. The upper portion of the second connection member <NUM> is fixed to the bend portion 80A of the center frame <NUM>. Accordingly, the second connection member <NUM> extends from the bend portion 80A of the center frame <NUM> toward the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>.

A lower portion of the third connection member <NUM> is fixed to the recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C. The recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C is disposed directly above the second rear-portion central member <NUM>, and the right-left direction central portion of the recessed-portion front-side cross member 44C is fixed to a front portion of the second rear-portion central member <NUM>. Accordingly, the lower portion of the third connection member <NUM> is fixed to part of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, which corresponds to the second rear-portion central member <NUM>. An upper portion of the third connection member <NUM> is fixed to the lower wall portion of the rear-side frame member <NUM> of the center frame <NUM>.

Subsequently, a case in which the automobile <NUM> undergoes front collision is assumed. At front collision of the automobile <NUM>, an impact load is input from the bumper reinforcement <NUM> to the left-side crush can 53A and the right-side crush can 53B. The impact load input to the left-side crush can 53A and the right-side crush can 53B is transferred to the right and left front-wheel suspension support members 51A and 51B.

Since the right and left front-wheel suspension support members 51A and 51B are connected to the dash panel <NUM>, the center frame <NUM>, and the front support frames <NUM>, the impact load input to the right and left front-wheel suspension support members 51A and 51B is transferred to the dash panel <NUM>, the center frame <NUM>, and the front support frames <NUM> and absorbed. In addition, since the right and left front-wheel suspension support members 51A and 51B are also connected to the right and left side sills <NUM> and <NUM>, the impact load input to the right and left front-wheel suspension support members 51A and 51B is also transferred to the right and left side sills <NUM> and <NUM> and absorbed.

Furthermore, since the front portion of the center frame <NUM> and the left-side front-wheel suspension support member 51A are connected to each other through the left-side front frame 54A and the front portion of the center frame <NUM> and the right-side front-wheel suspension support member 51B are connected to each other through the right-side front frame 54B, the impact load is also input to the center frame <NUM> and absorbed.

In addition, since a rear portion of each front support frame <NUM> is connected to the rack frame <NUM> included in the battery unit Y, the impact load input to the front support frame <NUM> is also transferred to the rack frame <NUM> and absorbed. In this case, since not only the left-side member <NUM> and the right-side member <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction but also the front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> are provided extending in the front-rear direction in the rack frame <NUM>, the impact load can also be absorbed by these members <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to <NUM>. In addition, similarly to the front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM>, since the floor frame 41c is provided extending in the front-rear direction inside the recessed portion 41a of the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, the impact load can be absorbed by the floor frame 41c as well. A plurality of load paths are provided in this manner, and thus it is possible to maintain the occupant space R1 at collision.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the battery non-housing portion <NUM> is provided below the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM>, the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> can be lowered at the part corresponding to the battery non-housing portion <NUM> to expand a foot space for a front-seat passenger. Accordingly, comfortability of a vehicle cabin improves.

Since no battery is housed in the battery non-housing portion <NUM>, vehicle-body stiffness potentially decreases at that part, but in the present embodiment, not only the front-portion central member <NUM> and the first to third rear-portion central members <NUM> to <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction are disposed below the occupant-space-side floor panel <NUM> but also the second rear-portion central member <NUM> disposed at the battery non-housing portion <NUM> is larger in width than the front-portion central member <NUM> and the third rear-portion central member <NUM> disposed at the battery housing portions <NUM> and <NUM> and has high strength, and accordingly, vehicle-body stiffness of the battery non-housing portion <NUM> can be increased.

Moreover, since the batteries FB and RB are housed in the front-side battery housing portion <NUM> and the rear-side battery housing portion <NUM>, respectively, the number of mounted batteries can be increased, and in this case, comfortability can be improved by using the battery non-housing portion <NUM> positioned between the front-side battery housing portion <NUM> and the rear-side battery housing portion <NUM>.

In addition, since the first harness <NUM> and the second harness <NUM> are disposed alongside in the vehicle width direction below the second rear-portion central member <NUM> having a larger width, the dimension in the up-down direction is shortened so that adverse influence on comfortability is avoided, and both harnesses <NUM> and <NUM> can be collectively disposed.

The above-described embodiment is merely exemplary in any aspects and not to be interpreted in a restrictive manner. Furthermore, modifications and changes belonging to the claims are all included in the scope of the present invention.

Claim 1:
A vehicle-body structure for an electric vehicle (<NUM>) including a traveling motor (M), the vehicle-body structure comprising:
a battery unit (Y) including a battery frame (<NUM>) and a battery (FD, RD) that supplies electric power to the traveling motor, the battery frame being disposed below a vehicle cabin (R1) and extending in a vehicle front-rear direction, wherein
a battery housing portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) in which the battery is housed and a battery non-housing portion (<NUM>) in which the battery is not housed are provided alongside in a vehicle front-rear direction below the vehicle cabin, wherein
the battery housing portion includes a front-side battery housing portion (<NUM>) provided on a vehicle front side of the battery non-housing portion, and a rear-side battery housing portion (<NUM>) provided on a vehicle rear side of the battery non-housing portion (<NUM>), and
the battery frame includes a first frame portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) including front-side and rear-side first frame portions (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed at said front-side and rear-side battery housing portions (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the battery housing portion, and a second frame portion (<NUM>) disposed at the battery non-housing portion, characterized in that
said first frame portion (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes one or more central members (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) extending in the front rear direction inside the battery housing portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) of the battery frame (<NUM>) and said second frame portion (<NUM>) includes a central member extending in the front rear direction inside the battery non-housing portion (<NUM>) of said battery frame (<NUM>), wherein
said central member of the second frame portion is larger in width than said central member (<NUM>) of the first frame portion in a vehicle width direction.