A method and vehicle control system for controlling stiffness of at least one support structure of a vehicle includes at least one of an acceleration sensor, a braking sensor and a corner sensor for providing a driving condition of the vehicle. A controller obtains information from the sensors to determine the driving condition and control the stiffness of a support structure of the vehicle. A magnetic field generator provides a magnetic field to control the stiffness of the support structure having a magnetorheological fluid or elastomer. An electrical source provides electrical current to a support structure including an electrorheological fluid or a support structure including a meta-material. When a vehicle collision is predicted no energy is provided to the support structure to minimize the stiffness and maximize energy absorbance by the support structure in a collision.

A bodywork structure for a body for a public transport vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle or a road transport vehicle, for example a guided road transport vehicle, including a wall extending in a longitudinal direction, the wall including at least one cavity extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the cavity forms a passage for a fluid under pressure, for example a gas under pressure.

A node to panel interface structure for use in a transport structure such as a vehicle is disclosed. In an aspect, the node includes a base, first and second sides protruding from the base to form a recess for receiving a panel, ports for adhesive injection and/or vacuum generation, one or more adhesive regions disposed on a surface of each side adjacent the panel, and at least one channel coupled between the first and second ports and configured to fill the adhesive regions with an adhesive, the adhesive being cured to form a node-panel interface. The node may be additively manufactured. In an exemplary embodiment, the node may use sealant features for including sealants that border and define the adhesive regions, and that may hermetically seal the region before and after adhesive injection. In another embodiment, the node may include isolation features for including isolators for inhibiting galvanic corrosion. In another aspect, adhesive may be filled serially on the adhesive regions on the first side and then on the adhesive regions on the second side. Adhesive may alternatively may be filled in parallel, or concurrently, on the adhesive regions of both sides.

A single-piece, lightweight, energy-absorbing, and impact resistant battery tray for a battery enclosure for a vehicle includes a lower floor including an impact resisting structure, upwardly sloping side walls integrally formed with the lower floor, and a peripheral flange integrally formed with the upwardly sloping side walls and including an energy absorbing structure.

A single-piece, lightweight, energy-absorbing, and impact resistant battery tray for a battery enclosure for a vehicle includes a lower floor including an impact resisting structure, upwardly sloping side walls integrally formed with the lower floor, and a peripheral flange integrally formed with the upwardly sloping side walls and including an energy absorbing structure.

Structural element for a motor vehicle, in particular a frame part for a chassis or a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, having at least a first and a second fiber layer forming a rigid fiber composite, the fiber layers being laminated to one another at least in sections, and at least one electrical flat conductor arranged between the fiber layers and laminated to the fiber layers. The flat conductor has a relief structure on at least one surface facing at least one fiber layer.

Structural element for a motor vehicle, in particular a frame part for a chassis or a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, having at least a first and a second fiber layer forming a rigid fiber composite, the fiber layers being laminated to one another at least in sections, and at least one electrical flat conductor arranged between the fiber layers and laminated to the fiber layers. The flat conductor has a relief structure on at least one surface facing at least one fiber layer.

A vehicle chassis is designed to contain at least one electricity storage cells' module. The chassis comprises a bottom panel and at least one housing for the at least one electricity storage cells' module, each housing comprising a cover, the bottom panel supporting the housing in at least one region of contact with the housing. The chassis also comprises a cooling circuit of the at least one electricity storage cells' module. The cooling circuit is a closed circuit designed to guide a heat transfer fluid. The cooling circuit extends into the bottom panel and is set back from the contact region. The bottom panel comprises at least two flat plates and an embossed plate extending between the two flat plates.

A vehicle chassis is designed to contain at least one electricity storage cells' module. The chassis comprises a bottom panel and at least one housing for the at least one electricity storage cells' module, each housing comprising a cover, the bottom panel supporting the housing in at least one region of contact with the housing. The chassis also comprises a cooling circuit of the at least one electricity storage cells' module. The cooling circuit is a closed circuit designed to guide a heat transfer fluid. The cooling circuit extends into the bottom panel and is set back from the contact region. The bottom panel comprises at least two flat plates and an embossed plate extending between the two flat plates.

A motor vehicle with a scalable frame that may be used with an internal combustion engine or with an electric drive. The vehicle has at least four wheels and a frame with a central support bounded by a front transverse section, a rear transverse section and two longitudinal side profiles. The front and rear transverse sections are formed of cast metal with mechanical connector parts attached respectively to a front frame structure and a rear frame structure. The front transverse section includes cooling duct connector parts adapted to be connected to cooling fluid ducts and electrical connector parts adapted to be connected to conductors of an electric motor, the rear transverse section including electrical connector parts adapted to be connected to an electrical connector, such as a charging terminal.