Patent ID: 8585066

Claim:
A frame structure for a land vehicle having wheels to engage a surface over which the vehicle moves, an electric motor enabling the vehicle to be moved along the surface, the frame structure providing support for a vehicle body, where at least a portion of the frame structure permanently changes shape in response to impact of the frame structure with another body, the frame structure adapted to absorb energy from frontal impacts, the frame structure extending under a front portion of the vehicle body, the improvement of the frame structure comprising: a front sub-frame and a rear sub-frame located below and in front of a pair of side frame under-members; and an inverter protection brace extending between the front sub-frame and the rear sub-frame, the inverter protection brace having a gusset at a front end to strongly connect to the front sub-frame to load a beam section without overloading attaching bolts, and a bolted connection at a rear end to the rear sub-frame for transferring energy during frontal impacts.