Chassis for electric vehicle
An electronic vehicle is disclosed with a vehicle body having a cab portion and a rear cargo portion. The rear cargo portion includes a floor comprising a plurality of floor planks. The vehicle includes a chassis with a first rail and a second rail extend along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body. There are one or more connection points between the first rail, second rail, and the floor such that at least a portion of the first and second rail are adjacent the floor without any interposed structure therebetween.
1 . An electronic vehicle comprising:
a vehicle body comprising a cab portion and a rear cargo portion, wherein at least the rear cargo portion includes a floor comprising a plurality of elongated floor planks each with a base portion and an opposing tread portion;
a bulkhead door separating the cab portion and the rear cargo portion, wherein the bulkhead door is movable between an open position that allows access between the cab portion and the rear cargo portion and a closed position that prevents access between the cab portion and the rear cargo portion;
a chassis comprising a first rail with a top flange and a second rail with a top flange, wherein the first rail and the second rail both extend along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle body, wherein the plurality of elongated floor planks extend approximately transversely to the first rail and the second rail, wherein the top flange of the first rail and the top flange of the second rail are adjacent to the base portion of the plurality of elongated floor planks without any interposed structure therebetween;
a plurality of connectors connecting the first rail and/or the second rail to the plurality of elongated floor planks, wherein the plurality of connectors extend through: (i) the top flange of the first rail and/or the top flange of the second rail; and (ii) the base portion of a respective floor plank of the plurality of floor planks; and
wherein the plurality of connectors have a distal end captured within respective floor planks of the plurality of floor planks and the distal end does not extend through the tread portion.
2 . The electronic vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of connectors comprise pin and collar type connectors.
3 . The electronic vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the pin and collar type connectors include a shank portion extending from a head and a collar to capture the shank portion.
4 . The electronic vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the shank portion extends through the top flange and the base portion.
5 . The electronic vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the head is adjacent to the top flange.
6 . The electronic vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the collar is between the base portion and the opposing tread portion.
7 . The electronic vehicle of claim 6 , further comprising a battery and an electronic drive system configured to draw power from the battery to drive at least a portion of a plurality of wheels.
8 . The electronic vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the battery and electronic drive system is completely between the first rail and the second rail.
9 . A method of assembling a chassis for an electronic vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a vehicle body comprising a cab portion and a rear cargo portion, wherein at least the rear cargo portion includes a floor comprising a plurality of floor planks, wherein at least a portion of the floor planks include a base portion and an opposing tread portion;
providing a chassis rail with a flange;
aligning an opening in the flange of the chassis rail with an opening in a floor plank of the plurality of floor planks;
connecting the chassis rail directly to at least a portion of the plurality of floor planks without any intervening structure between the chassis rail and the plurality of floor planks; and
wherein connecting the chassis rail to at least a portion of the plurality of floor planks comprises: inserting a shank portion of the connector from underneath the chassis rail through the opening in the flange and into an opening in the base portion of a floor plank of the plurality of floor planks such that a head of the shank portion is adjacent to the flange and at least a portion of the connector is captured within the floor plank without extending through the tread portion.