Saddle-type electric vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9327586-B2
Application number	US-201414533485-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 5, 2014
Priority date	Nov 6, 2013
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle includes an electric motor disposed downward of a battery. The vehicle is provided with a motor control unit configured to receive electrical power from the battery and to supply the electrical power of the battery to the electric motor, and a case that accommodates the motor control unit. The case is positioned downward of the battery and forward of the electric motor, and is arranged in a posture in which the length in the front-rear direction of an accommodating portion in the case is less than the vertical height thereof in a side view of the vehicle body. Accordingly, a compact longitudinal layout of the electric motor and the motor control unit that controls the electric motor is achieved.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A saddle-type electric vehicle comprising:
a rear wheel;
a rear arm supporting the rear wheel;
a battery;
an electric motor disposed below the battery such that a rotary shaft of the electric motor extends in a lateral direction of the vehicle, the electric motor being configured to drive the rear wheel;
a motor control unit configured to receive electrical power from the battery and to supply the electrical power of the battery to the electric motor; and
an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the motor control unit; wherein
the accommodating portion is positioned below the battery and forward of the electric motor, and is arranged in a posture in which a length in the front-rear direction of the accommodating portion is less than a vertical height of the accommodating portion in a side view of the vehicle; and
the battery is accommodated in a battery case, the electric motor is accommodated in a motor case, and the motor case is directly fixed to the battery case.

2. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the accommodating portion is obliquely arranged such that a lower portion of the accommodating portion is positioned farther rearward than an upper portion of the accommodating portion.

3. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a front portion of the battery includes a connector configured to be electrically connected to a connector provided on the vehicle.

4. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a motor accommodating portion configured to accommodate the electric motor, wherein the motor accommodating portion is disposed below a vehicle body frame and attached to a lower side of the vehicle body frame.

5. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising an output shaft disposed below the battery and rearward of the electric motor, the output shaft being configured to be rotated by the drive of the electric motor; wherein
a center of the output shaft is positioned below or above a straight line that passes through a center of the rotary shaft of the electric motor and extends along a lower surface of the battery in a side view of the vehicle.

6. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein a front surface of the accommodating portion includes a plurality of heat radiating fins.

7. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of heat radiating fins are aligned in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

8. A saddle-type electric vehicle comprising:
a battery;
an electric motor disposed below the battery such that a rotary shaft of the electric motor extends in a lateral direction of the vehicle, the electric motor being configured to drive a drive wheel;
a motor control unit configured to receive electrical power from the battery and to supply the electrical power of the battery to the electric motor;
an accommodating portion configured to accommodate the motor control unit; and
an output shaft disposed below the battery and rearward of the electric motor, the output shaft being configured to be rotated by the drive of the electric motor; wherein
the accommodating portion is positioned below the battery and forward of the electric motor, and is arranged in a posture in which a length in the front-rear direction of the accommodating portion is less than a vertical height of the accommodating portion in a side view of the vehicle; and
a center of the output shaft is positioned below or above a straight line that passes through a center of the rotary shaft of the electric motor and extends along a lower surface of the battery in a side view of the vehicle.

9. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein the accommodating portion is obliquely arranged such that a lower portion of the accommodating portion is positioned farther rearward than an upper portion of the accommodating portion.

10. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein a front portion of the battery includes a connector configured to be electrically connected to a connector provided on the vehicle.

11. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 8 , further comprising a motor accommodating portion configured to accommodate the electric motor, wherein the motor accommodating portion is disposed below a vehicle body frame and attached to a lower side of the vehicle body frame.

12. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 8 , wherein a front surface of the accommodating portion includes a plurality of heat radiating fins.

13. The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of heat radiating fins are aligned in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Miyashiro Shidehiko

Classifications

• B62J43/20

  characterised by the mounting · CPC title

• B62K2204/00

  Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor · CPC title

• B62K11/04

  characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels · CPC title

• B60K1/04 Primary

  of the electric storage means for propulsion · CPC title

• B62K2208/00

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic