ELECTRIC VEHICLE WITH MOTOR MOUNTED BELOW BATTERY ENCLOSURE
An electric vehicle and a powertrain for an electric vehicle are disclosed. According to an embodiment, an electric vehicle includes a chassis with a rear portion and a front portion, and a suspension system having a front suspension coupled to the front portion of the chassis and a rear suspension coupled to the rear portion of the chassis. A battery pack is mounted at least partially on top of the rear portion of the chassis and an electric motor, powered by the battery pack, is mounted below the battery pack and between the rear portion of the chassis and a front end of the electric vehicle.
1 . An electric vehicle, comprising:
a chassis comprising a rear portion and a front portion;
a suspension system comprising a front suspension coupled to the front portion of the chassis and a rear suspension coupled to the rear portion of the chassis;
a battery pack mounted at least partially on top of the rear portion of the chassis; and
an electric motor, powered by the battery pack, mounted below the battery pack and between the rear portion of the chassis and a front end of the electric vehicle.
2 . The electric vehicle of claim 1 , comprising a transmission mounted to the rear portion of the chassis and coupled to the electric motor.
3 . The electric vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the electric motor is positioned substantially horizontally relative to the transmission.
4 . The electric vehicle of claim 2 , comprising a drive linkage to couple the transmission to the electric motor.
5 . The electric vehicle of claim 4 , wherein an angle of a portion of the drive linkage extending between the electric motor and the transmission with respect to a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of the electric vehicle is between 11.3 degrees and −11.3 degrees.
6 . The electric vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the drive linkage comprises a drive belt or a drive chain.
7 . The electric vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the rear portion of the chassis comprises a rear tunnel and the front portion of the chassis comprises a front brace structure;
the electric vehicle comprises a transmission plate coupled to the electric motor; and
a first end of the transmission plate is connected to the rear tunnel and a second end of the transmission plate is connected to the front brace structure.
8 . The electric vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the first end and the second end of the transmission plate are spaced apart along a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of the electric vehicle.
9 . The electric vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the transmission plate comprises a slot extending downwards from a top side of the transmission plate, and a drive shaft of the electric motor extends through the slot of the transmission plate.
10 . The electric vehicle of claim 1 , comprising a straddle-seat coupled to the battery pack.
11 . The electric vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the electric vehicle is a snowmobile.
12 . An electric snowmobile, comprising:
a chassis comprising a rear tunnel;
a battery pack mounted to the rear tunnel; and
an electric motor, powered by the battery pack, mounted below the battery pack and adjacent to a front side of the rear tunnel.
13 . The electric snowmobile of claim 12 , wherein the chassis comprises a mid-bay and a front brace structure, the mid-bay being located between the rear tunnel and the front brace structure, wherein the electric motor is positioned within the mid-bay.
14 . The electric snowmobile of claim 13 , wherein:
the electric vehicle comprises a transmission plate coupled to the electric motor; and
a first end of the transmission plate is connected to the rear tunnel and a second end of the transmission plate is connected to the front brace structure.
15 . The electric snowmobile of claim 14 , wherein the first end and the second end of the transmission plate are spaced apart along a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of the electric snowmobile.
16 . The electric snowmobile of claim 14 , wherein the transmission plate comprises a slot extending downwards from a top side of the transmission plate, and a drive shaft of the electric motor extends through the slot of the transmission plate.
17 . The electric snowmobile of claim 12 , comprising a transmission mounted to the rear tunnel of the chassis and coupled to the electric motor.
18 . The electric snowmobile of claim 17 , wherein the electric motor is positioned substantially horizontally relative to the transmission.
19 . The electric snowmobile of claim 17 , comprising a drive linkage to couple the transmission to the electric motor.
20 . The electric snowmobile of claim 19 , wherein an angle of a portion of the drive linkage extending between the electric motor and the transmission with respect to a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of the electric vehicle is between 11.3 degrees and −11.3 degrees.
21 . An electric snowmobile, comprising:
a chassis comprising a rear tunnel;
a transmission mounted within an interior of a rear tunnel;
a battery pack mounted to the rear tunnel; and
an electric motor, powered by the battery pack, mounted adjacent to a front side of the rear tunnel and substantially horizontally relative to the transmission.