Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body including a front pillar and a rear pillar spaced from the front pillar. The vehicle body includes a rocker extending from the front pillar to the rear pillar. The vehicle includes a step bar supported by the rocker. The step bar extends from a first end aligned with the front pillar to a second end aligned with the rear pillar. The step bar is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the step bar overlaps the rocker in a vehicle-outboard direction. The step bar extends upwardly above the rocker.

Abstract: This disclosure details rigid linkages for mounting traction battery packs to portions of a vehicle frame. The rigid linkages are designed to allow the traction battery pack to articulate away from deforming structures of the vehicle frame as part of an energy distribution system. During the articulation, the rigid linkage is capable of conserving its integrity to push the traction battery pack away from the deforming structures, thereby preventing the deforming structures from contacting the traction battery pack.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a first pillar and a second pillar spaced from the first pillar along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. A rotational actuator is disposed at the first pillar. The rotational actuator is fixed relative to the first pillar. A cable is engaged with the rotational actuator and is elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis to the second pillar. The cable is moveable to a deployed position by the rotational actuator and is under tension in the deployed position.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery pack supported by at least one vehicle frame member, a side frame member positioned adjacent to an edge of the battery pack, and a cross-member extending away from the side frame member and above the battery pack. The cross-member is spaced from the battery pack by a gap. At least one bracket is mounted to at least one of the side frame member and cross-member within the gap such that in response to an impact load, the bracket prevents the cross-member from direct contact with the battery pack.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a first pillar and a second pillar spaced from the first pillar along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. A rotational actuator is disposed at the first pillar. The rotational actuator is fixed relative to the first pillar. A cable is engaged with the rotational actuator and is elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis to the second pillar. The cable is moveable to a deployed position by the rotational actuator and is under tension in the deployed position.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a vehicle body including a front pillar and a rear pillar spaced from the front pillar. The vehicle body includes a rocker extending from the front pillar to the rear pillar. The vehicle includes a step bar supported by the rocker. The step bar extends from a first end aligned with the front pillar to a second end aligned with the rear pillar. The step bar is movable between a raised position and a lowered position. In the raised position, the step bar overlaps the rocker in a vehicle-outboard direction. The step bar extends upwardly above the rocker.

Abstract: This disclosure details rigid linkages for mounting traction battery packs to portions of a vehicle frame. The rigid linkages are designed to allow the traction battery pack to articulate away from deforming structures of the vehicle frame as part of an energy distribution system. During the articulation, the rigid linkage is capable of conserving its integrity to push the traction battery pack away from the deforming structures, thereby preventing the deforming structures from contacting the traction battery pack.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a battery pack supported by at least one vehicle frame member, a side frame member positioned adjacent to an edge of the battery pack, and a cross-member extending away from the side frame member and above the battery pack. The cross-member is spaced from the battery pack by a gap. At least one bracket is mounted to at least one of the side frame member and cross-member within the gap such that in response to an impact load, the bracket prevents the cross-member from direct contact with the battery pack.

Abstract: A battery pack attachment assembly includes, among other things, a first bracket configured to be secured directly to a vehicle underbody, and a second bracket. The first bracket extends vertically above the first bracket such that the second bracket is spaced from the vehicle underbody when the first bracket is secured directly to the vehicle underbody.

Abstract: An assembly includes a subframe, a rocker, a battery cage supported by the rocker, and a battery supported by the battery cage. The assembly includes a reinforcement bolted to the rocker and positioned to be along a load path through the subframe resulting from a vehicle frontal impact.

Abstract: A battery pack attachment assembly includes, among other things, a first bracket configured to be secured directly to a vehicle underbody, and a second bracket. The first bracket extends vertically above the first bracket such that the second bracket is spaced from the vehicle underbody when the first bracket is secured directly to the vehicle underbody.

Abstract: A connected assembly can include, among other things, first and second side rails of a battery pack of an electrified vehicle. The battery pack including a plurality of battery arrays disposed between the first and second side rails within an enclosure assembly. The connected assembly further includes a lateral rail extending from the first side rail to the second side rail, and a bracket assembly directly connected to the first side rail and the lateral rail. A battery pack connection method can include, among other things, directly connecting a bracket assembly to a horizontally facing side of a lateral rail, and directly connecting the bracket assembly to a horizontally facing side of a first side rail of an enclosure assembly that holds a battery pack of an electrified vehicle between the first side rail and a second side rail.

Abstract: A connected assembly can include, among other things, first and second side rails of a battery pack of an electrified vehicle. The battery pack including a plurality of battery arrays disposed between the first and second side rails within an enclosure assembly. The connected assembly further includes a lateral rail extending from the first side rail to the second side rail, and a bracket assembly directly connected to the first side rail and the lateral rail. A battery pack connection method can include, among other things, directly connecting a bracket assembly to a horizontally facing side of a lateral rail, and directly connecting the bracket assembly to a horizontally facing side of a first side rail of an enclosure assembly that holds a battery pack of an electrified vehicle between the first side rail and a second side rail.

Abstract: An assembly includes a subframe, a rocker, a battery cage supported by the rocker, and a battery supported by the battery cage. The assembly includes a reinforcement bolted to the rocker and positioned to be along a load path through the subframe resulting from a vehicle frontal impact.

Abstract: An assembly includes a subframe, a rocker, a battery cage supported by the rocker, and a battery supported by the battery cage. The assembly includes a reinforcement bolted to the rocker and positioned to be along a load path through the subframe resulting from a vehicle frontal impact.

Abstract: An assembly includes a subframe, a rocker, a battery cage supported by the rocker, and a battery supported by the battery cage. The assembly includes a reinforcement bolted to the rocker and positioned to be along a load path through the subframe resulting from a vehicle frontal impact.

Abstract: A battery pack according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a tray, a cover mounted to the tray and a beam system including a first beam attached to the tray and a second beam attached to the cover.

Abstract: A vehicle body includes a roof rail elongated along a longitudinal axis, and first and second bows each connected to the roof rail. A brace includes a base, a first arm and a second arm. The base is elongated along the longitudinal axis, with the first arm extending from the base along the first bow and fixed to the first bow, and the second arm spaced from the first arm and extending from the base along the second bow and fixed to the second bow.

Abstract: A battery pack according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a tray, a cover mounted to the tray and a beam system including a first beam attached to the tray and a second beam attached to the cover.

Abstract: A vehicle sill reinforcement includes a first elongate member and a second elongate member. Each of the first elongate member and the second elongate member includes steps and walls disposed in alternating arrangement along an axis. The walls of the first elongate member are fixed to the walls of the second elongate member. The steps of the first elongate member and the steps of the second elongate member are aligned along the axis and define cavities therebetween. The steps and walls of the sill reinforcement resist buckling in response to both vertical and horizontal components of impact force applied to the sill reinforcement.