Abstract: During travel of the electric vehicle, the charging arm is extended in the vehicle width direction, a positive electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a positive electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact at the same time that a negative electrode overhead line of the power supply device and a negative electrode power reception unit of the charging arm are brought into contact, and a power storage device for driving the electric vehicle is charged. A charging head that is the tip section of the charging arm is held within a V-shaped groove to which the positive electrode overhead line and the negative electrode overhead line are attached, thereby minimizing the loss of contact even if the charging arm shakes in the vertical direction as a result of the condition of the road surface, brake operation, or the like.

Abstract: Even when a high voltage in electric railways is applied from power lines, an electric automobile makes it possible to apply an appropriate voltage lower than the high voltage to a motor and an inverter that supplies the motor with electric power. The electric automobile includes, a first DC/DC converter that steps up the battery voltage of a high-voltage battery to a level corresponding to an power line feeding voltage, a second converter connected between power line contact terminals, which are brought into contact with power lines to receive electric power from the power lines under the high power line feeding voltage, and the DC terminals of the inverter for energizing the motor. Therefore, even if the high power line feeding voltage is applied from the power lines, the second DC/DC converter functions as an electric damping device to prevent the high voltage from being applied to the inverter.

Abstract: Even when a high voltage in electric railways is applied from power lines, an electric automobile makes it possible to apply an appropriate voltage lower than the high voltage to a motor and an inverter that supplies the motor with electric power. The electric automobile includes, a first DC/DC converter that steps up the battery voltage of a high-voltage battery to a level corresponding to an power line feeding voltage, a second converter connected between power line contact terminals, which are brought into contact with power lines to receive electric power from the power lines under the high power line feeding voltage, and the DC terminals of the inverter for energizing the motor. Therefore, even if the high power line feeding voltage is applied from the power lines, the second DC/DC converter functions as an electric damping device to prevent the high voltage from being applied to the inverter.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus for detecting an operation amount of or an operation state quantity by an operation force on each of two independent operation elements to thereby control a steering unit based on a difference between the operation state quantities so detected.

Abstract: An input device 30A of an electric steering device 1 includes a pair of steering wheels 31A, 31B. When both the steering wheels 31A, 31B or one of the steering wheels 31A, 31B. is operated being rotated, front wheels 9 can be steered. Further, when both the steering wheels 31A, 31B or one of the steering wheels 31A, 31B is slid in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, the front wheels 9 can be steered.

Abstract: An input device 30A of an electric steering device 1 includes a pair of steering wheels 31A, 31B. When both the steering wheels 31A, 31B or one of the steering wheels 31A, 31B. is operated being rotated, front wheels 9 can be steered. Further, when both the steering wheels 31A, 31B or one of the steering wheels 31A, 31B is slid in the longitudinal direction of a vehicle, the front wheels 9 can be steered.

Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus for detecting an operation amount of or an operation state quantity by an operation force on each of two independent operation elements to thereby control a steering unit based on a difference between the operation state quantities so detected.

Abstract: In a steer-by-wire vehicle steering apparatus where a steering operator member is operatively connected to steerable road wheels via an electric wire, a control section controls a steering motor in such a manner that an angle of travel direction of the vehicle and a steering angle of the steering operator agree with each other, and a resistive force generation section generates and imparts a steering resistive force to the steering operator in accordance with an actual steered angle of the steerable road wheels. Thus, the steering apparatus permits the vehicle to be steered with an increased accuracy.

Abstract: In a steer-by-wire vehicle steering apparatus including a communication navigation system capable of obtaining an absolute vehicle position, a control device controls a steering motor in response to detection by a detection section in such a manner that an actual angle of travel direction of the vehicle and steering angle of a steering operator member agree with each other. Calculation section calculates an angle of travel direction of the vehicle on the basis of the absolute vehicle position obtained via the navigation system, so that the drive section can be controlled more accurately on the basis of the calculated angle.

Abstract: In a steer-by-wire vehicle steering apparatus where a steering operator member is operatively connected to steerable road wheels via an electric wire, a control section controls a steering motor in such a manner that an angle of travel direction of the vehicle and a steering angle of the steering operator agree with each other, and a resistive force generation section generates and imparts a steering resistive force to the steering operator in accordance with an actual steered angle of the steerable road wheels. Thus, the steering apparatus permits the vehicle to be steered with an increased accuracy.

Abstract: A compact vehicle production line. The production line comprises a floor process of assembling floor constituent parts. Each is an aluminum alloy extrusion die cast product, which has been made, in an extrusion die casting process, by forcing molten aluminum alloy through a mold cavity in a predetermined direction. The assembled floor constituent parts are welded to make a floor structure. In an interior parts mount process, interior parts are to the floor structure to make a floor unit. In a body main process, each of two body side structures are trimmed to make a body side unit. A roof structure is trimmed to make a roof unit. The floor unit, the body side units, and the roof unit are assembled. The assembly is welded to make a body unit. In a running parts mount process, an under running unit is mounted to the body unit. In an exterior parts attachment process, color body panels are attached to the body unit.

Abstract: A compact vehicle production line is disclosed. The production line comprises a floor process of assembling floor constituent parts. Each is an aluminum alloy extrusion die cast product, which has been made, in an extrusion die casting process, by forcing molten aluminum alloy through a mold cavity in a predetermined direction. The assembled floor constituent parts are welded to make a floor structure. In an interior parts mount process, interior parts are to the floor structure to make a floor unit. In a body main process, each of two body side structures are trimmed to make a body side unit. A roof structure is trimmed to make a roof unit. The floor unit, the body side units, and the roof unit are assembled. The assembly is welded to make a body unit. In a running parts mount process, an under running unit is mounted to the body unit. In an exterior parts attachment process, color body panels are attached to the body unit.

Abstract: A compact vehicle production line is disclosed. The production line comprises a floor process of assembling floor constituent parts. Each is an aluminum alloy extrusion die cast product, which has been made, in an extrusion die casting process, by forcing molten aluminum alloy through a mold cavity in a predetermined direction. The assembled floor constituent parts are welded to make a floor structure. In an interior parts mount process, interior parts are to the floor structure to make a floor unit. In a body main process, each of two body side structures are trimmed to make a body side unit. A roof structure is trimmed to make a roof unit. The floor unit, the body side units, and the roof unit are assembled. The assembly is welded to make a body unit. In a running parts mount process, an under running unit is mounted to the body unit. In an exterior parts attachment process, color body panels are attached to the body unit.

Abstract: A compact vehicle production line is disclosed. The production line comprises a floor process of assembling floor constituent parts. Each is an aluminum alloy extrusion die cast product, which has been made, in an extrusion die casting process, by forcing molten aluminum alloy through a mold cavity in a predetermined direction. The assembled floor constituent parts are welded to make a floor structure. In an interior parts mount process, interior parts are to the floor structure to make a floor unit. In a body main process, each of two body side structures are trimmed to make a body side unit. A roof structure is trimmed to make a roof unit. The floor unit, the body side units, and the roof unit are assembled. The assembly is welded to make a body unit. In a running parts mount process, an under running unit is mounted to the body unit. In an exterior parts attachment process, color body panels are attached to the body unit.

Abstract: A compact vehicle production line is disclosed. The production line comprises a floor process of assembling floor constituent parts. Each is an aluminum alloy extrusion die cast product, which has been made, in an extrusion die casting process, by forcing molten aluminum alloy through a mold cavity in a predetermined direction. The assembled floor constituent parts are welded to make a floor structure. In an interior parts mount process, interior parts are to the floor structure to make a floor unit. In a body main process, each of two body side structures are trimmed to make a body side unit. A roof structure is trimmed to make a roof unit. The floor unit, the body side units, and the roof unit are assembled. The assembly is welded to make a body unit. In a running parts mount process, an under running unit is mounted to the body unit. In an exterior parts attachment process, color body panels are attached to the body unit.