Electric vehicle battery enclosure

Abstract

A battery enclosure for use in an electric vehicle where the structural support members of the battery enclosure are multi-functional and act to provide support for internally positioned batteries as well as provide additional strength to the framework of the electric vehicle. Furthermore, the structural elements can provide impact resistance to prevent unwanted intrusion into the battery enclosure.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A vehicle platform comprising:
 a framework comprising:
 left and right longitudinal side rails, each longitudinal side rail configured to provide structural support to the framework; 
 forward and rear cross members connecting the longitudinal side rails, the longitudinal side rails and the cross members defining a battery enclosure; and 
 multiple lateral support members and multiple longitudinal support members positioned between the longitudinal side rails and between the cross members, the lateral support members and the longitudinal support members dividing the battery enclosure into multiple spaces, the lateral support members and the longitudinal support members configured to provide structural support to the framework; and 
   multiple battery modules removably disposed within the multiple spaces and supported by the framework;   wherein each battery module comprises one or more integrated cooling elements, each cooling element comprising an elongated rigid body.   
     
     
         22 . The vehicle platform of  claim 21 , wherein the multiple battery modules comprise:
 multiple first battery modules each having a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the framework, the first battery modules connected to the forward cross member;   multiple second battery modules each having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the framework, the second battery modules connected to the rear cross member;   multiple third battery modules each having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the framework, the third battery modules connected to the left longitudinal side rail; and   multiple fourth battery modules each having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the framework, the fourth battery modules connected to the right longitudinal side rail.   
     
     
         23 . The vehicle platform of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the integrated cooling elements of the first and second battery modules extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the framework; and   the integrated cooling elements of the third and fourth battery modules extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the framework.   
     
     
         24 . The vehicle platform of  claim 22 , further comprising one or more of:
 at least one of one or more wires or one or more buses positioned at least partially between the first battery modules;   at least one battery support system positioned at least partially between the first battery modules; and   at least one battery support system positioned at least partially between the second battery modules.   
     
     
         25 . The vehicle platform of  claim 21 , wherein the integrated cooling elements of the battery modules are configured to transfer heat from the battery modules to one or more other elements of a vehicle for use. 
     
     
         26 . The vehicle platform of  claim 25 , wherein the integrated cooling elements of the battery modules are configured to transfer the heat from the battery modules to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the vehicle. 
     
     
         27 . The vehicle platform of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated rigid body of each integrated cooling element is configured to provide structural support to the framework. 
     
     
         28 . The vehicle platform of  claim 21 , wherein the elongated rigid body of each integrated cooling element comprises one or more channels and one or more heat plates. 
     
     
         29 . The vehicle platform of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 first brackets each connecting one or more of the battery modules to one of the left longitudinal side rail, the right longitudinal side rail, the forward cross member, or the rear cross member; and   second brackets each connecting two or more adjacent ones of the battery modules to one of the lateral support members or one of the longitudinal support members.   
     
     
         30 . The vehicle platform of  claim 21 , wherein the lateral support members and the longitudinal support members comprise openings configured to allow interconnection components to be run to or from the battery modules. 
     
     
         31 . The vehicle platform of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 one or more top plates and one or more bottom plates sealing the multiple spaces and configured to provide structural support to the framework.   
     
     
         32 . The vehicle platform of  claim 31 , wherein the one or more bottom plates comprise a sacrificial layer configured to shear off when the one or more bottom plates are impacted. 
     
     
         33 . The vehicle platform of  claim 21 , wherein the framework further comprises multiple attachment points configured to be connected to a vehicle body. 
     
     
         34 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle body; and   a vehicle platform coupled to the vehicle body, the vehicle platform comprising:
 a framework comprising:
 left and right longitudinal side rails, each longitudinal side rail configured to provide structural support to the framework; 
 forward and rear cross members connecting the longitudinal side rails, the longitudinal side rails and the cross members defining a battery enclosure; and 
 multiple lateral support members and multiple longitudinal support members positioned between the longitudinal side rails and between the cross members, the lateral support members and the longitudinal support members dividing the battery enclosure into multiple spaces, the lateral support members and the longitudinal support members configured to provide structural support to the framework; and 
 
 multiple battery modules removably disposed within the multiple spaces and supported by the framework; 
 wherein each battery module comprises one or more integrated cooling elements, each cooling element comprising an elongated rigid body. 
   
     
     
         35 . The vehicle of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the multiple battery modules comprise:
 multiple first battery modules each having a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the framework, the first battery modules connected to the forward cross member; 
 multiple second battery modules each having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the framework, the second battery modules connected to the rear cross member; 
 multiple third battery modules each having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the framework, the third battery modules connected to the left longitudinal side rail; and 
 multiple fourth battery modules each having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the framework, the fourth battery modules connected to the right longitudinal side rail; 
   the integrated cooling elements of the first and second battery modules extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the framework; and   the integrated cooling elements of the third and fourth battery modules extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the framework.   
     
     
         36 . The vehicle of  claim 34 , wherein the integrated cooling elements of the battery modules are configured to transfer heat from the battery modules to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the vehicle. 
     
     
         37 . The vehicle of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the elongated rigid body of each integrated cooling element is configured to provide structural support to the framework; and   the elongated rigid body of each integrated cooling element comprises one or more channels and one or more heat plates.   
     
     
         38 . The vehicle of  claim 34 , wherein the vehicle platform further comprises:
 first brackets each connecting one or more of the battery modules to one of the left longitudinal side rail, the right longitudinal side rail, the forward cross member, or the rear cross member; and   second brackets each connecting two or more adjacent ones of the battery modules to one of the lateral support members or one of the longitudinal support members.   
     
     
         39 . The vehicle of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the vehicle platform further comprises one or more top plates and one or more bottom plates sealing the multiple spaces and configured to provide structural support to the framework; and   the one or more bottom plates comprise a sacrificial layer configured to shear off when the one or more bottom plates are impacted.   
     
     
         40 . A vehicle platform comprising:
 a framework comprising:
 left and right longitudinal side rails, each longitudinal side rail configured to provide structural support to the framework; 
 forward and rear cross members connecting the longitudinal side rails, the longitudinal side rails and the cross members defining a battery enclosure; and 
 multiple lateral support members and multiple longitudinal support members positioned between the longitudinal side rails and between the cross members, the lateral support members and the longitudinal support members dividing the battery enclosure into multiple spaces, the lateral support members and the longitudinal support members configured to provide structural support to the framework; and 
   multiple battery modules removably disposed within the multiple spaces and supported by the framework;   wherein each battery module comprises one or more integrated cooling elements, each cooling element comprising an elongated rigid body;   wherein the multiple battery modules comprise (i) multiple first battery modules each having a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the framework, the first battery modules connected to the forward cross member, (ii) multiple second battery modules each having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the framework, the second battery modules connected to the rear cross member, (iii) multiple third battery modules each having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the framework, the third battery modules connected to the left longitudinal side rail, and (iv) multiple fourth battery modules each having a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the framework, the fourth battery modules connected to the right longitudinal side rail; and   wherein the framework further comprises (i) first brackets each connecting one or more of the battery modules to one of the left longitudinal side rail, the right longitudinal side rail, the forward cross member, or the rear cross member and (ii) second brackets each connecting two or more adjacent ones of the battery modules to one of the lateral support members or one of the longitudinal support members.