A ZERO EMISSION VEHICLE WITH A SKATEBOARD PLATFORM OR SKATEBOARD CHASSIS AND A BODY

1 . An automotive vehicle with a skateboard platform or skateboard chassis and a vehicle body that is attached to the skateboard platform or chassis, in which the sides of the vehicle body are formed using a structural frame, made up of multiple structural sub-frames that give structural integrity to the sides of the vehicle body and to which body panels arc attached: and in which each structural sub-frame is directly attached to the skateboard platform or chassis.

2 - 4 . (canceled)

5 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which the frame is at least one of:

attached to an outward-facing side of the skateboard platform or chassis;

permanently attached to an outward-facing edge of the skateboard platform or chassis;

permanently attached to an outward-facing side or edge of the skateboard platform or chassis using a robotic system; or

attached to an upwards facing side and an outward-facing side of the skateboard platform or chassis.

6 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which at least one of:

the frame is made up of a series of inverted, substantially ‘U’ shaped, structural sub-frames;

the frame includes substantially horizontal bars or members, attached to adjacent ‘U’ shaped, structural sub-frames; or

the frame includes pillars or legs that form the sides of the body, and a base or foot of each pillar or leg is directly attached to the top and to the side of the skateboard platform or chassis.

7 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which each inverted, substantially ‘U’ shaped, structural sub-frame includes (i) a pair of substantially vertical pillars or legs, defining the left and the right side of the cargo body, each pillar or leg terminating in a foot that is configured to be attached directly to the skateboard platform or chassis and (ii) a roof bar or member joining the pair of substantially vertical legs.

12 . (canceled)

13 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which the structural sub-frame is configured so that the attachment position on the skateboard platform or chassis is determined when designing the vehicle and there is no pre-set attachment position that applies to all body types.

14 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which the skateboard platform or chassis includes a feature, such as a ridge or depression, configured for a structural sub-frame to fit against.

15 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which each inverted, substantially ‘U’ shaped, structural sub-frame at least one of:

is configured to be assembled and then moved into position on the skateboard platform or chassis and then attached to the skateboard platform or chassis;

is configured to be moved into position and then directly attached to the skateboard platform or chassis using a robobtic system;

is configured to be attached to the platform of chassis using an open joint system;

is configured to be directly attached to the platform of chassis using an open joint system in which an adhesive is applied to an open surface of the joint using a robot with a glue injection or glue spreading end effector;

is attached to the platform of chassis using a self-aligning fixture; or

is directly attached to the platform of chassis using one or more: fixing screws, flow-drill screw s, fasteners, adhesives, each adapted for robotic handling.

19 - 21 . (canceled)

22 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which structural sub-frames do not provide a base for the vehicle body.

23 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which the vertical pillars or legs are extrusions.

24 - 30 . (canceled)

31 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which each foot at least one of:

is a single casting;

includes a self-aligning feature;

is configured to be attached to a vertical pillar or leg;

is configured to be attached to the skateboard platform or chassis using an open joint;

has a flat section configured to lie against a top or upwards-facing surface of the skateboard platform or chassis;

has a flat section configured to lie against a side our outwards-facing surface of the skateboard platform or chassis,

has an ‘L’ shaped lower surface designed to abut against the side and top if the skateboard platform or chassis;

is attached to the skateboard platform or chassis using adhesive and multiple flow-drill screws; or

is attached to the skateboard platform or chassis using an open joint system and an adhesive is applied to an open surface of the joint using a robot with a glue injection or glue spreading end-effector.

32 . (canceled)

33 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which the attachment position of at least one foot on the skateboard platform or chassis is determined when designing the vehicle and there is no pre-set attachment position that applies to all body types.

34 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which the skateboard platform or chassis includes a feature, such as a ridge or depression, configured for a foot to fit against.

35 . (canceled)

36 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which the body can be one of a number of different designs, shapes or types of body, all configured to attach to the skateboard platform or chassis in which each structural sub-frame is directly attached to the skateboard platform or chassis.

37 . (canceled)

38 . (canceled)

39 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which the vehicle body is or includes.

the cargo area of a van;

the passenger area of a bus; or

the passenger area of a car.

40 . (canceled)

41 . (canceled)

42 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which, at least one of:

individual body panel are configured to attach to the structural sub-flames;

the body panels include at least a portion of a structural sub-frame; or

at least some of the body panels that individually attach to the structural sub-frames are made of composite material.

43 . (canceled)

44 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which at least one of:

the skateboard platform or chassis has one or more substantially flat-topped sections that each also have flat sides, and the structural sub-frames attach to the skateboard platform or chassis at these sections;

the skateboard platform or chassis has a substantially flat-topped central section that contains rechargeable battery modules;

the skateboard platform or chassis has a substantially flat-topped section that extends at least between the vehicle axles;

the top surface of the skateboard platform or chassis is substantially flat and extends over one or more electric traction motors; or

the skateboard platform or chassis has extruded metal side members or beams, and the structural sub-frames attach directly to these side members or beams.

45 - 49 . (canceled)

50 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which the vehicle includes two or more inverted, substantially ‘U’ shaped, structural sub-frames.

51 . (canceled)

52 . The vehicle of claim 1 in which at least one of:

the height of the vehicle body is determined by the height of the inverted, substantially ‘U’ shaped, structural sub-frames and different body types, with different heights, can be attached to the same type of skateboard platform or chassis; or

the length of the vehicle body is determined by the number of substantially ‘U’ shaped, structural sub-frames used and different body types, with different lengths can be attached to skateboard platforms or chassis with different lengths.

53 . (canceled)

54 . An electric vehicle with a skateboard platform or chassis and a body, in which the sides of the vehicle body are formed using a structural frame to which body panels for the body are attached;

and in which the structural frame is directly attached to the skateboard platform or chassis.

55 . A method of assembling a vehicle with a skateboard platform or chassis and a body, in which the sides of the body are formed using a structural frame made up of multiple structural sub-frames to which body panels are attached; comprising the steps of:

(i) assembling one or more structural sub-frames;

(ii) positioning each structural sub-frame on the skateboard platform or chassis and attaching each directly to the skateboard platform or chassis;

(iii) attaching the panels to the structural sub-frames.