Arrangement of a drive unit in an electric vehicle

US5641031A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Daimler-Benz AG · DE

Inventors

• Bernd Riemer · Stuttgart, DE
• Thomas Klaiber · Waiblingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 12, 1995
• Grant date: Jun 24, 1997
• Expiry date: Apr 12, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T90/40
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An arrangement of a drive unit in a vehicle, having at least an electric traction motor, a fuel cell and a fuel tank. Two longitudinal beams situated at a distance from one another serve as supporting structure for the fuel-cell stack, which is mounted between the longitudinal beams in the underfloor region of the vehicle. Two transverse beams which extend at least over the region between the longitudinal beams may also be mounted at a distance from one another, so that a safety region is formed in which sensitive components of the drive unit can be protected against damage. The arrangement of individual components of the fuel-cell system in the underfloor region of the vehicle additionally provides the advantage that the passenger compartment or loading compartment can be of flat design.