Vehicle with structural battery pack

摘要

In an aspect, the invention is directed to a vehicle chassis for a vehicle that is at least partly driven by an electric motor, wherein the vehicle chassis incorporates a battery pack that acts as a structural member of the chassis.

主权项

1. A combination of a vehicle chassis and a battery pack for a vehicle that is at least partly driven by an electric motor, the combination comprising:
a vehicle chassis including a floor pan, a first rail and a second rail, wherein the first and second rails extend longitudinally and are spaced apart laterally from each other, wherein each of the rails has a bottom, an inboard side and an outboard side; and a battery pack, including a plurality of cells supported by a housing, wherein the battery pack is generally rectangular and is mounted to the bottom of each of the first and second rails at a plurality of lower points that are longitudinally spaced apart, wherein the battery pack has a first lateral side and a second lateral side which support the inboard sides of the first and second rails against laterally inwardly directed forces, and wherein the battery pack has a top that is mounted to the floorpan at a plurality of upper points that are longitudinally spaced apart.