Straddle type electric vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11420709-B2
Application number	US-202017026865-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 21, 2020
Priority date	Mar 29, 2018
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A straddle type electric vehicle comprises a vehicle body frame, a motor unit including an electric motor, a battery that supplies power to the motor unit, and a control unit that executes drive control of the motor unit. The vehicle body frame includes a main frame extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The motor unit, the battery, and the control unit are supported by the main frame between the front wheel and the rear wheel, and in a vehicle side view. The motor unit and the control unit are disposed overlapping one another.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A straddle type electric vehicle comprising:
a front wheel and a rear wheel;
a vehicle body frame that supports a steering mechanism for steering the front wheel;
a motor unit including an electric motor that outputs a driving force to rotate the rear wheel;
a battery that supplies power to the motor unit; and
a control unit that executes drive control of the motor unit,
wherein the vehicle body frame includes a main frame extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction;
the motor unit, the battery, and the control unit are supported by the main frame between the front wheel and the rear wheel;
in a vehicle side view, the motor unit and the control unit are disposed overlapping one another; and
the motor unit and the control unit are disposed in a vehicle width direction so that traveling winds pass between the motor unit and the control unit.

2. The straddle type electric vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the main frame includes a left frame portion extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction and a right frame portion extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction; and
in a vehicle top view, the motor unit and the control unit are disposed between the left frame portion and the right frame portion.

3. The straddle type electric vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein an upper portion of the motor unit and an upper portion of the control unit are connected via a bus bar.

4. The straddle type electric vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat exchanger disposed frontward of the motor unit and the control unit in the vehicle longitudinal direction; and
a circulation path for circulating a cooling medium,
wherein the circulation path is formed to circulate the cooling medium in order from the heat exchanger, the control unit, the motor unit, and the heat exchanger.

5. The straddle type electric vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the motor unit includes a resolver and a connection terminal for connecting the resolver to the control unit, and
the connection terminal is disposed orientated toward the control unit.

6. The straddle type electric vehicle according to claim 4 ,
wherein the vehicle body frame further includes a down frame extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction downward from the main frame,
a rear end portion of the main frame and a rear end portion of the down frame are connected, and
the heat exchanger, the motor unit, and the control unit are fixed to the down frame.

7. The straddle type electric vehicle according to claim 6 ,
wherein the down frame includes a left down frame portion and a right down frame portion,
the motor unit and the control unit each include a through-hole extending therethrough in the vehicle width direction,
a fixing member is provided that extends through the through-holes and spans between the motor unit and the control unit in the vehicle width direction, and
the motor unit and the control unit are fixed to the left down frame portion and the right down frame portion via the fixing member.

8. The straddle type electric vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the motor unit further includes a deceleration portion, and
in a vehicle side view, the electric motor, the deceleration portion, and the control unit are disposed overlapping one another.

9. The straddle type electric vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the control unit includes a drive circuit board for supplying power to the electric motor and a control circuit board that transmits a control signal to the drive circuit board,
the drive circuit board and the control circuit board are disposed side by side in the vehicle width direction, and
the drive circuit board is disposed outward of the control circuit board in the vehicle width direction.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Shirasuna Takamori
• Fujikubo Makoto
• Atsumi Kazuya
• Nomura Yoshihiro

Classifications

• B62J43/16

  on motorcycles or the like · CPC title

• B62J45/00

  Electrical equipment arrangements specially adapted for use as accessories on cycles, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B62J41/00

  Arrangements of radiators, coolant hoses or pipes on cycles · CPC title

• B62K2204/00

  Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor · CPC title

• B62M7/02 Primary

  with engine between front and rear wheels · CPC title