MOTOR GUIDANCE COMPONENT CONFIGURED TO DIRECT MOVEMENT OF A DISLODGED ELECTRIC MOTOR OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE IN RESPONSE TO CRASH FORCES
In an embodiment, a motor guidance component is configured to guide a dislodged electric motor away from one or more protected areas of the electric vehicle in response to crash forces. In a further embodiment, the motor guidance component may be configured to guide the one dislodged electric motor in an upwards direction (e.g., above the one or more protected areas) or in a downwards direction (e.g., below the one or more protected areas).
1 . A motor guidance component for an electric vehicle, comprising:
a bottom bar arranged beneath an electric motor of the electric vehicle and configured to be secured to a chassis of the electric vehicle; and
a set of angled bars that are joined with the bottom bar, the set of angled bars being angled upwards from the bottom bar and configured to be secured to a higher part of the chassis of the electric vehicle than the bottom bar,
wherein, in response to the electric motor becoming dislodged, the bottom bar and the set of angled bars are configured to guide the dislodged electric motor upwards and away from one or more protected areas of the electric vehicle.
2 . The motor guidance component of claim 1 ,
wherein the electric motor is positioned at a rear of the electric vehicle, and
wherein the bottom bar and the set of angled bars are configured to guide the dislodged electric motor upwards and away from the one or more protected areas of the electric vehicle in response to a crash caused by impact to a rear of the electric vehicle.
3 . The motor guidance component of claim 1 ,
wherein the electric motor is positioned at a front of the electric vehicle, and
wherein the bottom bar and the set of angled bars are configured to guide the dislodged electric motor upwards and away from the one or more protected areas of the electric vehicle in response to a crash caused by impact to a front of the electric vehicle.
4 . The motor guidance component of 1 , wherein the one or more protected areas include a battery housing of the electric vehicle.
5 . The motor guidance component of claim 1 , wherein, in response to the electric motor becoming dislodged, the bottom bar and the set of angled bars are configured to stop the dislodged electric motor from damaging the battery housing by guiding the electric motor above the battery housing.
6 . The motor guidance component of claim 1 , wherein the top bar and the set of angled bars are formed from sheet metal, forging, die-casting or any combination thereof.
7 . The motor guidance component of claim 1 , wherein the top bar and the set of angled bars are integrated as part of the chassis of the electric vehicle.
8 . The motor guidance component of claim 1 , wherein the top bar and the set of angled bars separate from the chassis of the electric vehicle.