Vehicles may be composed of a relatively few number of “modules” that are assembled together during a final assembly process. An example vehicle may include a body module, a first drive module coupled to a first end of the body module, and a second drive module coupled to a second end of the body module. One or both of the drive modules may include a pair of wheels, a battery, an electric drive motor, and/or a heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. One or both of the drive modules may also include a crash structure to absorb impacts. If a component of a drive module fails or is damaged, the drive module can be quickly and easily replaced with a new drive module, minimizing vehicle down time.

The invention relates to a method for checking whether the usage of a rolling chassis, which is comprised by a motor vehicle and on which a vehicle body is arranged, is permissible, comprising the following steps: receiving first specification signals representing a first specification of the rolling chassis, wherein the first specification comprises permissible usage information of the rolling chassis in a motor vehicle; receiving motor vehicle status signals representing a motor vehicle status; checking, based on the first specification and the motor vehicle status, whether the rolling chassis is being used according to the permissible usage information; generating result signals representing a result of this check; and outputting the generated result signals. The invention also relates to a device, a computer program, a machine-readable storage medium, a rolling chassis, a vehicle body and a motor vehicle.

Presented are embodiments of a modular transport robot for transporting consignments. The transport robot includes at least one base element for the structure of the transport robot, at least two expansion modules for the technical equipping of the transport robot, at least one consignment box for receiving consignments, and at least one control device. The base element and each of the expansion modules have corresponding connecting elements and are electrically connected to one another by an electrical connection. The base element has at least one wiring harness for electrically connecting the connecting elements of the base element to one another, and the base element and the expansion modules are designed correspondingly to one another such that the connecting elements of the expansion modules are selectively connectable directly to at least two connecting elements provided at different points, so as to form one common connection to the base element.

Vehicle platforms, and systems, subsystems, and components thereof are described. A self-contained vehicle platform or chassis incorporating substantially all of the functional systems, subsystems and components (e.g., mechanical, electrical, structural, etc.) necessary for an operative vehicle. Functional components may include at least energy storage/conversion, propulsion, suspension and wheels, steering, crash protection, and braking systems. Functional components are standardized such that vehicle platforms may be interconnected with a variety of vehicle body designs (also referred to in the art as “top hats”) with minimal or no modification to the functional linkages (e.g., mechanical, structural, electrical, etc.) therebetween. Configurations of functional components are incorporated within the vehicle platform such that there is minimal or no physical overlap between the functional components and the area defined by the vehicle body. Specific functional components of such vehicle platforms, and the relative placement of the various functional components, to allow for implementation of a self-contained vehicle platform are also provided.

Land vehicles, modular systems for forming monocoques of land vehicles, and methods of forming monocoques of land vehicles using modular systems are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the land vehicles are provided as delivery vehicles and/or utility vehicles. A land vehicle includes a monocoque supporting a plurality of wheels to permit movement of the vehicle relative to an underlying surface in use of the land vehicle.

Land vehicles, powertrain units for land vehicles, and methods of using land vehicles are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the land vehicles are provided as delivery vehicles and/or utility vehicles. A land vehicle includes a frame structure having a front cage that defines an operator cabin and a rear floor positioned rearward of the front cage. The frame structure supports a plurality of wheels to permit movement of the vehicle relative to an underlying surface in use of the land vehicle. An underside of the frame structure is disposed in confronting relation with the underlying surface.

A variable wheel drive electric vehicle comprises a chassis; a first axle disposed on the chassis comprising: a pair of opposed first axle ends; a pair of first axle hubs attached to the first ends, a pair of motive wheels configured for rotatable disposition on the first hubs, and a pair of electric hub motors each comprising a stator and a rotor, the rotors configured for reversible motive rotation of the motive wheels by and about the stators; a second axle disposed on the chassis comprising: a pair of opposed second axle ends; a pair of second axle hubs attached to the second ends; a pair of non-motive wheels configured for rotatable disposition on the second hubs; and a pair of hub motor blanks each comprising a stator blank and rotor blank, the rotor blanks configured for reversible non-motive rotation of the non-motive wheels by and about the stator blanks.

Land vehicles, modular systems for forming monocoques of land vehicles, and methods of forming monocoques of land vehicles using modular systems are disclosed. In certain embodiments, the land vehicles are provided as delivery vehicles and/or utility vehicles. A land vehicle includes a monocoque supporting a plurality of wheels to permit movement of the vehicle relative to an underlying surface in use of the land vehicle.

A military vehicle including a chassis, an engine, a motor/generator, and an energy storage system. The chassis including a passenger capsule and a rear module coupled to the passenger capsule. The passenger capsule includes a rear subframe assembly, a left rear wheel well, a right rear wheel well, and a bed. The engine is coupled to the chassis for providing mechanical power to the military vehicle and the motor/generator is coupled to the engine. The energy storage system including a battery coupled to the rear module between the left rear wheel well and the right rear wheel well, the energy storage system electrically coupled to the chassis and electrically coupled to the motor/generator. The military vehicle is operable in a silent mobility mode with the engine inactive and the energy storage system providing power to the motor/generator to operate the military vehicle.

A driveline including a motor/generator configured to receive power from an engine and output power to at least one of a tractive element or an accessory, an energy storage system including a battery configured to be supported by a rear module of a vehicle, the energy storage system electrically coupled to the motor/generator to selectively receive electrical power from the motor/generator and provide electrical power to the motor/generator, wherein the driveline is operable in a silent mobility mode with the energy storage system providing power to the motor/generator to operate the vehicle.