IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,151,567
Granted Patent B2
US 12,151,567 · App. 18/406,589 · Granted Nov 26, 2024

Electric vehicle battery frame assembly

Inventors: Cory Borghi (Phoenix, AZ); Saeid Emami (Phoenix, AZ); Umran Ashraf (La Mesa, CA); Philipp Konold (Ulm, DE); Matthias Morath (Ulm, DE); Cihan Dere (Ulm, DE); Christian Krug (Ulm, DE)
Assignee: Nikola Corporation
B60L50/66
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,151,567
App. No.
18/406,589
Filed
Jan 8, 2024
Granted
Nov 26, 2024
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3614
USPC
180/68.5
Abstract

The present disclosure provides an electric vehicle comprising a chassis, a front axle and a rear axle spaced apart and coupled to the chassis, and a battery frame assembly coupled to the chassis between the front axle and the rear axle. The battery frame assembly comprises a plurality of transversely extending members and a plurality of longitudinally extending members, wherein the plurality of transversely extending members and the plurality of longitudinally extending members define a matrix of battery pack receptacles configured to receive at least one battery pack. The battery frame assembly is configured to deflect torsionally in response to torsional deflection of the front axle relative to the rear axle.

Claims (38)

1. An electric vehicle, comprising:

a chassis comprising a first side member and a second side member;

a front axle and a rear axle spaced apart and coupled to the chassis;

a battery frame assembly coupled to the chassis between the front axle and the rear axle, the battery frame assembly comprising a plurality of transversely extending members and a plurality of longitudinally extending members, wherein the plurality of transversely extending members and the plurality of longitudinally extending members define a matrix of battery pack receptacles configured to receive at least one battery pack; and

a battery pack positioned in a battery pack receptacle of the matrix of battery pack receptacles,

wherein the battery frame assembly is configured to deflect torsionally in response to torsional deflection of the front axle relative to the rear axle.

2. The electric vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the battery frame assembly comprises a 3×3 matrix comprising a first column of three battery pack receptacles outboard of the first side member, a second column of three battery pack receptacles between the first side member and the second side member, and a third column of three battery pack receptacles outboard of the second side member.

3. The electric vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the battery frame assembly comprises a first front bracket assembly coupled to the first side member and a second front bracket assembly coupled to the second side member.

4. The electric vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the battery frame assembly further comprises a first intermediate bracket assembly positioned rearward of the first front bracket assembly and the second front bracket assembly and a second intermediate bracket assembly positioned rearward of the first intermediate bracket assembly.

5. The electric vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the first intermediate bracket assembly and the second intermediate bracket assembly are each coupled to the first side member and the second side member.

6. The electric vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the battery frame assembly further comprises a first rear bracket assembly positioned rearward of the second intermediate bracket assembly and coupled to the first side member and a second rear bracket assembly positioned rearward of the second intermediate bracket assembly and coupled to the second side member.

7. An electric vehicle, comprising:

a chassis comprising a first side member and a second side member,

a battery frame assembly coupled to the chassis, the battery frame assembly comprising:

a first intermediate bracket assembly coupled to the first side member and the second side member;

a second intermediate bracket assembly coupled to the first side member and the second side member,

wherein the first side member, the second side member, the first intermediate bracket assembly, and the second intermediate bracket assembly define a first column of battery pack receptacles configured to receive at least one battery pack; and

a battery pack positioned in a battery pack receptacle of the first column of battery pack receptacles.

8. The electric vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the first column of battery pack receptacles is positioned between the first side member and the second side member.

9. The electric vehicle of claim 7 , wherein a majority of the battery pack is positioned below the first side member and the second side member when the battery pack is coupled to the battery frame assembly.

10. The electric vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the battery frame assembly further comprises a second column of battery pack receptacles outboard of the first side member.

11. The electric vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the battery frame assembly further comprises a third row of battery pack receptacles outboard of the second side member.

12. The electric vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the first column of battery pack receptacles, the second column of battery pack receptacles, and the third column of battery pack receptacles each contain at least three battery pack receptacles.

13. An electric vehicle, comprising:

a chassis comprising a first side member and a second side member;

a battery frame assembly coupled to the chassis, the battery frame assembly comprising:

a first front bracket assembly;

a second front bracket assembly opposite the first front bracket assembly; and

a first intermediate bracket assembly spaced apart and rearward of the first front bracket assembly and the second front bracket assembly,

wherein the first front bracket assembly, the second front bracket assembly, and the first intermediate bracket assembly define a row of battery pack receptacles configured to receive at least one battery pack; and

a battery pack positioned in a battery pack receptacle of the row of battery pack receptacles.

14. The electric vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the row of battery pack receptacles is further defined by the first side member and the second side member.

15. The electric vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the row of battery pack receptacles comprises three battery pack receptacles.

16. The electric vehicle of claim 13 , wherein a first battery pack receptacle of the row of battery pack receptacles is outboard of the second side member.

17. The electric vehicle of claim 16 , wherein a second battery pack receptacle of the row of battery pack receptacles is outboard of the second side member.

18. The electric vehicle of claim 17 , wherein a third battery pack receptacle of the row of battery pack receptacles is between the first side member and the second side member.

19. The electric vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the battery frame assembly is coupled to the chassis such that a majority of the battery frame assembly is positioned below the first side member and the second side member.

20. The electric vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the first front bracket assembly is coupled to the first side member, the second front bracket assembly is coupled to the second side member, and the first intermediate bracket assembly is coupled to the first side member and the second side member.