Chassis for electric vehicle
Electric vehicles usually inherit a chassis of a pressed steel construction from a conventional vehicle design. This imposes a substantial weight penalty on the vehicle. We disclose a chassis element for a vehicle, formed of an outer skin material, an inner core material enveloped by the outer skin material, and at least one array of aligned fibres, and comprising a restraint for an electrical battery adapted to locate the battery over the at least one array. There can be multiple arrays of aligned fibres, preferably disposed at a transverse angle relative to each other of less than 90°. We particularly prefer three arrays of aligned fibres, which can be disposed relative to each other at an angle of 60°. The fibres can be disposed within the skin material. The restraint ideally comprises an upstanding wall which will serve to confine the batteries in the event of a collision or other sudden movement, but will allow them to be replaced easily for maintenance purposes or to replace an exhausted set of batteries with a charged set. Alternatively, the restraint can comprise an attachment point for the battery. The core material is preferably less dense than the skin material, thereby allowing the composite element to have a light weight and a high rigidity. The application also relates to a vehicle comprising a chassis, an electric motor, a chassis element as set out above, and electrical connections from the battery to the motor, wherein the chassis element is attached to the chassis via removable fixings extending through the fixing points of the chassis element into corresponding fixing points on the chassis.
1. A chassis element for a vehicle, formed of an outer skin material, an inner core material enveloped by the outer skin material, and at least one array of aligned fibres, and comprising;
an enclosure for an electrical battery; and
a plurality of fixing points provided around the edge of the sheet for removably attaching the element to a chassis.
2. The chassis element according to claim 1 in which the aligned fibres extend from one fixing point to another fixing point.
3. The chassis element according to claim 1 in which there are multiple arrays of aligned fibres.
4. The chassis element according to claim 3 in which the arrays of aligned fibres are disposed relative to each other at a transverse angle.
5. The chassis element according to claim 4 in which the angle is less than 90 degrees.
6. The chassis element according to claim 3 in which there are 3 arrays of aligned fibres.
7. The chassis element according to claim 6 in which the 3 arrays of aligned fibres are disposed relative to each other at an angle of 60°.
8. The chassis element according to claim 1 in which the fibres are disposed within the skin.
9. The chassis element according to claim 1 in which the core is less dense than the skin.
10. The chassis element according to claim 1 , wherein part of the outer skin material is planar as between the plurality of fixing points.
11. The chassis element according to claim 10 , wherein the outer skin material comprises first and second portions on either side of the inner core material, and wherein the first portion is planar as between the plurality of fixing points.
12. The vehicle comprising a chassis, an electric motor, a chassis element according to claim 1 , and electrical connections from the battery to the motor, wherein the chassis element is attached to the chassis via removable fixings extending through the fixing points of the chassis element into corresponding fixing points on the chassis.