IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,391,106
Granted Patent B2
US 12,391,106 · App. 17/790,313 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Modular motor vehicle architecture

Inventors: Richard Eiletz (Deisenhofen, DE); Alexander-Wilhelm Otte (Egenhofen, DE); Christoph Warkotsch (Munich, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
B60K1/04B60K15/07B60K2001/0438B60K2015/0634
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,391,106
App. No.
17/790,313
Granted
Aug 19, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A modular motor vehicle architecture is provided for motor vehicles of different motor vehicle types, in each case having at least one drive machine and at least one energy storage unit paired with the at least one drive machine. The at least one energy storage unit is received in a modularly designed underfloor energy storage unit assembly that has a plurality of energy storage unit modules, at least one outer dimension of which is standardized. Each vehicle type is paired with one underfloor energy storage unit assembly from a plurality of standardized underfloor energy storage unit assemblies. And, each underfloor energy storage unit assembly has a plurality of unit module installation areas, a longitudinal dimension of which extending in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle is standardized and each of which is designed to receive at least one respective standardized energy storage unit module.

Claims (32)

1. A modular motor vehicle architecture for motor vehicles of different motor vehicle types with, in each case, at least one drive unit and at least one energy store assigned to the at least one drive unit, comprising:

a modular designed underfloor energy store assembly that has a plurality of energy store modules which are standardized in terms of at least one external dimension, the at least one energy store being received in the underfloor energy store assembly, wherein

each motor vehicle type is assigned one underfloor energy store assembly from a plurality of standardized underfloor energy store assemblies, and

each underfloor energy store assembly has a plurality of uniform module installation spaces which are standardized in terms of a longitudinal dimension which runs in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, and which are configured to receive, in each case, at least one standardized energy store module;

wherein the underfloor energy store assembly has a further uniform module installation space region with at least one shortened uniform module installation space, the longitudinal dimension, running in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, of the further uniform module installation space region and the longitudinal dimension, running in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, of the shortened uniform module installation space being shorter than those of a regular standardized uniform module installation space region and a regular standardized uniform module installation space, respectively.

2. The modular motor vehicle architecture according to claim 1 , wherein

a plurality of standardized uniform module installation space regions which lie behind one another are provided in the underfloor energy store assembly in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

3. The modular motor vehicle architecture according to claim 2 , wherein

the longitudinal dimension, running in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, of each standardized uniform module installation space region corresponds to the longitudinal dimension of the standardized uniform module installation space.

4. The modular motor vehicle architecture according to claim 2 , wherein

a middle channel extending in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle is provided which divides the respective uniform module installation space region into a left-hand and a right-hand uniform module installation space.

5. The modular motor vehicle architecture according to claim 1 , wherein

at least one energy store module is formed by at least one electric battery module or has at least one electric battery module.

6. The modular motor vehicle architecture according to claim 5 , wherein

at least one energy store peripheral unit is provided, which is configured for being received in a uniform module installation space, and has electric control and/or regulating devices for the at least one of electric battery module.

7. The modular motor vehicle architecture according to claim 1 , wherein

at least one energy store module is formed by at least one liquid fuel tank or has at least one liquid fuel tank.

8. The modular motor vehicle architecture according to claim 7 , wherein

at least one energy store peripheral unit is provided, which is configured for being received in a uniform module installation space, and has control and/or regulating devices for liquid fuel.

9. The modular motor vehicle architecture according to claim 1 , wherein

at least one energy store module is formed by at least one pressure tank for a gaseous fuel or has at least one pressure tank.

10. The modular motor vehicle architecture according to claim 9 , wherein

at least one energy store peripheral unit is provided, which is configured for being received in a uniform module installation space, and has control and/or regulating devices for gaseous fuel.

11. A motor vehicle comprising a modular motor vehicle architecture with a modular underfloor energy store assembly according to claim 1 .

12. A motor vehicle comprising a modular motor vehicle architecture with a modular underfloor energy store assembly according to claim 2 , wherein

the modular underfloor energy store assembly has three or more uniform module installation space regions in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

13. A motor vehicle comprising:

a modular motor vehicle architecture with a modular underfloor energy store assembly comprising a plurality of energy store modules which are standardized in terms of at least one external dimension, at least one energy store being received in the underfloor energy store assembly, wherein:

each motor vehicle type of the modular motor vehicle architecture is assigned one underfloor energy store assembly from a plurality of standardized underfloor energy store assemblies,

each underfloor energy store assembly has a plurality of uniform module installation spaces which are standardized in terms of a longitudinal dimension which runs in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, and which are configured to receive, in each case, at least one standardized energy store module,

at least one energy store module is formed by at least one pressure tank for a gaseous fuel or has at least one pressure tank, and,

at least one uniform module installation space is configured as a footwell recess in at least one of the uniform module installation space regions.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2022
From: EILETZ, RICHARD; OTTE, ALEXANDER-WILHELM; WARKOTSCH, CHRISTOPH
To: BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 060949/0987 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 101 154.7 · Jan 20, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Related Publication 20230039653A1 · Feb 9, 2023
Related Publication 20250178422A2 · Jun 5, 2025
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