Patent ID: 8776925

Claim:
A motor vehicle driven at least partly by electrical energy, the motor vehicle comprising: a rear end; a rear axle in proximity to the rear end; two rear wheels driven by the rear axle; an underbody surface; a receptacle above the underbody surface, forward of the rear axle and at least partly between rear wheels of the motor vehicle; an electrical energy storage device attached to a supporting structure of the motor vehicle and disposed in the receptacle, the electrical energy storage device being operative for supplying the electrical energy for driving the motor vehicle; a maintenance opening in the underbody surface at the receptacle and being configured for accessing the electrical energy storage device in the receptacle for maintenance or installation work; and a maintenance cover pivotally attached to the underbody surface along a hinge line substantially adjacent the maintenance opening and at a side of the maintenance opening farthest from the rear axle and forward of the rear axle, the maintenance cover having a free end opposite the hinge line and disposed forward of the rear axle, the maintenance cover further having side edges extending from the hinge line to the free end, locks being disposed on the side edges of the maintenance cover substantially adjacent the free end and forward of the rear axle for locking the free end of the maintenance cover to the underbody surface, the maintenance cover being repeatedly movable between a closed position where the maintenance cover closes the maintenance opening and an open position where the free end of the maintenance cover is spaced from the maintenance opening for accessing the electrical energy storage device.