Energy storage device protection apparatus

1. A protection apparatus for a battery having an energy storage device arranged between two wheelhouses comprising:

a U-beam protective element external to the battery, spanning between the wheelhouses, secured to a floor panel via flanges, defining a continuous surface and a beam width substantially equal to a battery fore-aft width relative to opposing rolling directions of wheels; and

a plurality of supports secured to the wheelhouses to retain and orient the U-beam above the battery.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , having a rear-located luggage compartment, wherein the energy storage device is arranged in the region of the luggage compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the U-beam protective element is fixed with regard to its vertical position relative to the wheelhouses.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the U-beam protective element does not have a force-transmitting connection to the wheelhouses between which it is arranged.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the U-beam protective element is connected by at least one angle section to the wheelhouses between which it is arranged.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the U-beam protective element is a sandwich panel.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the sandwich panel further comprises of two face sheets with a core made of rigid foam.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the sandwich panel further comprises two face sheets with a core made of corrugated sheet metal, wherein a corrugation line of the core extends transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the sandwich panel.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the U-beam protective element is a homogenous profile section which has high resistance to buckling.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the U-beam protective element has a profile section selected from a group consisting of a closed profile section, an open profile section, or a profile section with closed and open profile regions.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a central region between two vertical U components of the U-beam protective element is fixed by separate support arms.

12. A battery protection assembly for a battery disposed in a rear storage compartment of a vehicle having an electrically powered motor, the assembly comprising:

a floor panel of the rear storage compartment, wherein the battery is disposed on the floor panel;

first and second wheelhouses of the vehicle that are disposed on opposite sides of the battery; and

a sandwich panel protective member including two face sheets with a core therebetween, extending between the wheelhouses, secured to the floor panel via flanges, defining a continuous surface and a beam width substantially equal to a battery fore-aft width relative to opposing rolling directions of wheels, and disposed above the battery to inhibit displacement of the wheelhouses toward the battery in the event of a lateral load being applied to a side of the vehicle in a collision event.

13. A vehicle battery comprising:

a rear storage compartment including a floor;

a pair of wheelhouses disposed on opposite sides of the compartment;

a battery housing disposed between the wheelhouses;

an energy storage device disposed within the battery housing; and

a U-beam spanning between, defining a continuous surface and a beam width substantially equal to a battery fore-aft width relative to opposing rolling directions of wheels, and secured to the wheelhouses with the battery housing being further disposed between the floor and the U-beam, wherein a central region between two vertical U components of the U-beam is fastened to the battery housing.

14. The vehicle battery of claim 13 , wherein the U-beam is a sandwich panel comprising two face sheets and a core of corrugated sheet metal therebetween.