Abstract: An underframe structure for a motor vehicle, the underframe structure comprising a floor (12), and at least two longitudinal side members (14) respectively disposed on each side of the floor (12); the floor (12) is divided into at least one front unit (16) and one rear unit (18) fixed to a transverse heel board (24). The underframe structure also comprises a lateral reinforcement part (26) which comprises at least one elongate body extending from the heel board towards the closest side member, the lateral reinforcement part is fixed on one side to the heel board (24), and on the other side to the front unit (16) of the floor (12) or to a side member (14) in the region of the front unit (16) of the floor.

Abstract: Described herein are battery modules and methods of fabricating thereof. In some examples, a battery module comprises an enclosure, separated into two enclosure portions and a thermal portion, positioned between the two enclosure portions. Two enclosure portions are in part defined by side walls, which can be tapered. The thermal portion comprises two thermal walls, which are operable as the bottoms of the two enclosure portions and form a thermal cavity between these thermal walls. In some examples, the enclosure is a monolithically cast component. Alternatively, the enclosure can be partially cast with one thermal wall welded thereafter to a cast subassembly. The battery module also comprises two sets of batteries, each positioned into a corresponding enclosure portion. Each battery set is interconnected with an interconnecting assembly, positioned between the battery set and the corresponding cover, for this enclosure portion.

Abstract: A structure of an electric or hybrid vehicle includes a floor, a battery container secured beneath the floor, and a compressed foam plate arranged between the battery container and the floor.

Abstract: An actuator whose total length can be reduced is provided. An actuator (2) includes: a casing (7); a hollow shaft (8) rotatably supported by the casing (7) via a bearing (9a, 9b), the hollow shaft (8) including a bottom portion (8b); a screw shaft (14) coupled to the bottom portion (8b) of the hollow shaft (8), the screw shaft (14) sharing a common center line with the hollow shaft (8); and a nut (15) threadedly connected to the screw shaft (14). The nut (15) is capable of moving in an axial direction of the screw shaft (14) to enter between the hollow shaft (8) and the screw shaft (14).

Abstract: The present invention provides an electric power dispatching system and an electric power dispatching method. The electric power dispatching system has a plurality of accommodating spaces, a DC bus, an AC/DC power conversion device, and an energy control center. The swappable battery pack in each accommodating space is coupled to the DC bus, and the AC/DC power conversion device is coupled between the DC bus and a power grid. The electric power dispatching method includes centrally storing a plurality of swappable battery packs from different electric vehicles; and controlling the AC/DC power conversion device and each swappable battery pack located in each accommodating space by an energy control center to designate a part of the swappable battery packs located in the accommodating spaces to participate in a first power dispatch task so as to provide power dispatch to the power grid.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a modular front drivetrain comprising a single assembly that may be installed onto and removed from a vehicle. The modular front drivetrain comprises a modular chassis supporting a transaxle, a front differential, and a steering gear for operating front wheels of the vehicle. The transaxle, the front differential and drive axles convey torque from an engine onboard the vehicle to the front wheels. A spindle assembly is coupled with each front wheel of the vehicle and pivotally joined with the modular chassis by way of a front suspension system. Steering rods coupled with the spindle assemblies horizontally rotate the front wheels according to operation of a steering wheel onboard the vehicle. The modular front drivetrain advantageously facilitates replacing an entire drivetrain and suspension assembly quickly and easily in the event of a part failure during racing applications.

Abstract: An embodiment battery-mounting structure includes a side sill, a mounting bracket connected to the side sill, the mounting bracket being deformable by external force, a connecting member coupled to the mounting bracket and spaced apart from the side sill by a predetermined distance, and a battery assembly including a side flange coupled to the connecting member, the battery assembly being configured to receive a high-voltage battery.

Abstract: A power battery pack includes: a pack body; a plurality of cells, disposed in the pack body; the cell having a length L0, a width H0, and a thickness D0, where at least one cell meets: L0>H0?D0, a length direction of the cell is arranged along a width direction of a vehicle body of the electric vehicle, and in the width direction of the electric vehicle, the length L0 of the cell and a size W of the vehicle body of the electric vehicle in the width direction meet: 46%?L0/W?76%; or at least one cell meets: L0>H0?D0, a length direction of the cell is arranged along a length direction of a vehicle body of the electric vehicle, and in the length direction of the electric vehicle, the length L0 of the cell and a size X of the vehicle body of the electric vehicle in the length direction meet: 40%?L0/W?76%.

Abstract: A battery carrier having a trough formed from shaped sheet metal, which has at least one trough side wall and a trough bottom connected to the trough side wall, a plurality of support profiles provided in the trough and affixed to the trough, at least one battery pack, which is affixed to at least two support profiles extending adjacent to the battery pack, a lid, which is detachably connected to said trough, and a heat exchanger, which is thermally connected to the battery pack and has at least one flow channel for a liquid. In order to enable a simple design and simple assembly and maintenance, it is proposed for the lid to form the heat exchanger, wherein the battery pack is arranged at a distance from the trough bottom and the trough bottom is permanently connected to the trough side wall or embodied of one piece with it.

Abstract: An embodiment vehicle body for an electric vehicle includes a fender apron upper part and an A pillar part positioned at a rear portion of the fender apron upper part, wherein a first load path is formed in a length direction of the vehicle body on an upper part of the fender apron upper part, wherein a second load path is formed in a vertical direction of the vehicle body along a connection portion of the fender apron upper part and the A pillar part, wherein a third load path connecting the first load path and the second load path is obliquely formed in a lower part of the fender apron upper part, and wherein a charging hole is formed between the first, second, and third load paths.

Abstract: A battery box for an electric vehicle includes an Al casting that extends between and joins to a BIW or chassis rails of the electric vehicle. The Al casting includes a bottom wall, a side wall with a pair of rails that are securely attached to the BIW or chassis rails of the vehicle, and a plurality of cross members. The bottom wall, the side wall, and the plurality of cross members define a structural enclosure with a plurality of battery compartments and at least one crush zone, and the structural enclosure is load bearing member of the electric vehicle.

Abstract: An electric-vehicle frame includes a mid-section and an end section. The mid-section has first and second frame rails spaced from each other by a first distance along a cross-vehicle axis defining a battery compartment therebetween. The end-section has first and second frame rails spaced from each other by a second distance along the cross-vehicle axis smaller than the first distance. A first connector is fixed to the first frame rail of the mid-section and to the first frame rail of the end-section. A second connector is fixed to the second frame rail of the mid-section and to the second frame rail of the end-section.

Abstract: An energy management system for a towed vehicle includes an energy harvesting system for harvesting electrical energy from the energy of the towed vehicle, an energy storage system for storing the harvested electrical energy, and a computer controller for controlling the release of the stored electrical energy to one or more components of the towed vehicle for operating the towed vehicle.

Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a floor panel formed with a floor tunnel; a transmission; a transmission support member; an inverter attached to a case of the transmission; a battery unit disposed behind the transmission and on an outer side in a vehicle width direction of the floor tunnel; and a harness disposed such that an intermediate portion between a first end portion connected to the inverter and a second end portion connected to a front end portion of the battery unit 4 extends across the floor tunnel from inside to outside thereof. The battery unit has a substantially rectangular shape in a bottom view, and a corner on the floor tunnel side of a front end portion of the battery unit is cut out to form a free space between the front end portion of the battery unit and a portion of the floor tunnel behind the transmission support member.

Abstract: Described herein are battery packs and electric vehicles using these packs. In some examples, a battery pack comprises two portions/covers and a set of battery modules positioned within the enclosed cavity formed by these portions. A battery pack may comprise a set of pressure-relief valves positioned in and protruding through a wall of at least one portion. Each valve can be coaxial with a corresponding gap provided between two adjacent modules. The valve is configured to provide a fluid path (to the exterior of the battery pack) when the pressure inside the pack exceeds a set threshold. In some examples, the battery pack comprises an inlet tube fluidically coupled to the inlet port of each module and an outlet tube fluidically coupled to the outlet port of each module. A set of specially configured orifices or controllable valves is positioned on the fluid path through each module.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body including a roof and a pillar. The vehicle includes a track supported by the roof and elongated along a cross-vehicle axis. The vehicle includes a headliner slideable along the track from a stowed position to a deployed position. The headliner in the stowed position extends along the roof and in the deployed position extends along the pillar.

Abstract: An assembly for a vehicle includes a front subframe having two frame rails and a control arm connector on each frame rail. The assembly includes a panel supported on the frame rails and spaced vehicle-rearward of the control arm connector. The panel extends cross-vehicle from one of the frame rails to the other of the frame rails. The panel includes a channel elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. The assembly includes a vehicle component spaced vehicle-rearward of the panel. The channel is aimed at the vehicle component.

Abstract: A patient transport apparatus transports a patient over a floor surface. The patient transport apparatus comprises a support structure and support wheels coupled to the support structure. An auxiliary wheel is coupled to the support structure to influence motion of the patient transport apparatus over the floor surface to assist users. An actuator is operatively coupled to the auxiliary wheel and operable to move the auxiliary wheel relative to the support structure from a retracted position to a deployed position. A user interface sensor is operatively connected to the actuator and configured to generate signals responsive to the user touching the user interface. A controller is operatively coupled to the user interface sensor and the actuator to operate the actuator in response to detection of signals.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system may include a vehicle chassis, a centerless wheel which may include a wheel rim and a tire, and a natural active suspension assembly which may operably couple the centerless wheel to the vehicle chassis via the wheel rim. The natural active suspension assembly may support the vehicle chassis at a substantially constant distance away from a ground plane by generating reactive torque to counteract displacement of the centerless wheel normal to the ground plane by moving a support location between the natural active suspension assembly and the wheel rim.

Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle is provided. A linear regenerative suspension system that converts mechanical energy into storable electrical energy is also provided. The system utilizes pistons, one on each side of the vehicle, engaged with a vehicle body at a distal end and having a fluid chamber at the proximal end. The system further has a central chamber having a rod freely laterally moving therein. A fluid communicates between the central chamber and each piston fluid chamber. Upon nonlinear forces applied to the vehicle, the rod is urged in one direction or another. This urging applies force to the fluid in the central chamber, and in turn, to the piston in the corresponding side of the vehicle, urging the piston up and in turn urging the vehicle body up.