This disclosure details systems and methods for supporting and protecting vehicle underbody-mounted battery packs. An exemplary electrified vehicle may include a frame, a battery support structure mounted to the frame, and a battery pack. The battery pack is supported relative to the frame by the battery support structure but is not itself directly coupled to the frame. The battery support structure may be configured to provide an under-frame mounting configuration, cross member positioning, skid plate positioning for battery pack protection, weight optimized sub-components, unique shapes for ground clearances, etc.

A vehicle underbody structure includes a pair of rockers that are provided on both vehicle width direction sides of a vehicle underbody and extend in a vehicle front-rear direction, a battery that is disposed centrally in a vehicle width direction center between the pair of rockers and is disposed above a vehicle floor and on the lower side of a seat, a fuel tank that is disposed in the vehicle width direction center between the pair of rockers and is disposed under the vehicle floor and further toward a rear side of the vehicle than the battery, and a waste pipe that is coupled to a drive unit provided at a vehicle front side of the battery and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction between the battery and one of the rockers.

A vehicle underbody structure includes a pair of rockers that are provided on both vehicle width direction sides of a vehicle underbody and extend in a vehicle front-rear direction, a battery that is disposed centrally in a vehicle width direction center between the pair of rockers and is disposed above a vehicle floor and on the lower side of a seat, a fuel tank that is disposed in the vehicle width direction center between the pair of rockers and is disposed under the vehicle floor and further toward a rear side of the vehicle than the battery, and a waste pipe that is coupled to a drive unit provided at a vehicle front side of the battery and extends in the vehicle front-rear direction between the battery and one of the rockers.

Land vehicles and methods of operating land vehicles are disclosed. A land vehicle includes a frame structure, a plurality of wheels, and a brake system. The frame structure includes a front cage that at least partially defines an operator cabin and a rear compartment positioned rearward of the front cage in a longitudinal direction. The plurality of wheels are supported by the frame structure. Each of plurality of wheels is sized to permit direct integration of an electric motor therein.

The invention provides for a high occupancy or heavy-duty vehicle with a battery propulsion power source, which may include lithium titanate batteries. The vehicle may be all-battery or may be a hybrid, and may have a composite body. The vehicle battery system may be housed within the floor of the vehicle and may have different groupings and arrangements.

The invention provides for a high occupancy or heavy-duty vehicle with a battery propulsion power source, which may include lithium titanate batteries. The vehicle may be all-battery or may be a hybrid, and may have a composite body. The vehicle battery system may be housed within the floor of the vehicle and may have different groupings and arrangements.

A battery module for a system for the storage of electrical energy for an electric drive vehicle. The battery module has: a group of chemical batteries arranged parallel to and beside one another; at least two connection plates which rest against opposite ends of the group of chemical batteries so as to electrically connect the poles of the chemical batteries to one another; two support bodies coupled to opposite ends of the group of chemical batteries so as to provide the chemical batteries with a stable mechanical support; two lids, which are coupled to the support bodies so as to create respective collecting chambers having at least one draining opening; and at least two tie rods, which are arranged on opposite sides of the battery module and tie together the lids and the support bodies in a packed manner.

A vehicle includes a refrigerant system having a chiller and a coolant system having a chiller loop and a radiator loop. The chiller loop is arranged to circulate coolant through the chiller, and the radiator loop is arranged to circulate coolant through a battery, a radiator, and a bypass valve connected to a bypass conduit. A controller is configured to, in response to an ambient-air temperature exceeding a battery-coolant temperature, actuate the valve to circulate coolant to the bypass conduit to skip the radiator.

An axle subassembly of a trailer of a vehicle includes a wheel bearing having an outer ring mechanically connected to a shaft and an electric drive/generator operably connected to the shaft, wherein the electric drive/generator in a first state is configured to generate electricity from a rotation of the shaft and wherein the electric drive/generator in a second state is configured to drive the shaft, and a controller configured to shift the electric drive/generator unit into the first state and into the second state.

An axle subassembly of a trailer of a vehicle includes a wheel bearing having an outer ring mechanically connected to a shaft and an electric drive/generator operably connected to the shaft, wherein the electric drive/generator in a first state is configured to generate electricity from a rotation of the shaft and wherein the electric drive/generator in a second state is configured to drive the shaft, and a controller configured to shift the electric drive/generator unit into the first state and into the second state.