In an automobile vehicle body structure, a steering hanger is formed from a metal pipe on one side in a vehicle width direction and a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) pipe on the other side in the vehicle width direction, and a steering column is supported on the metal pipe, for ensuring the strength with which the steering column is supported while minimizing any increase in the weight of the steering hanger. The metal pipe is connected to a CFRP linking member connecting an upper part of a dash panel lower and a center tunnel. The collision load of a frontal collision input is transmitted into the dash panel lower to the high strength center tunnel for preventing the dash panel lower from collapsing to the rear while minimizing any increase in the weight, and for enhancing the stiffness of the steering hanger to prevent vibration of the steering column.

A motor-vehicle frame includes a pair of longitudinal members; a plurality of cross members, which join the longitudinal members to one another; a resting surface, which is supported by the longitudinal members and cross members and defines the surface of the floor of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle; a pair of front uprights; and a front-seat assembly. The frame includes a platform structure, arranged on which is the front-seat assembly, which affords a greater comfort within the passenger compartment and moreover strengthens the overall structure of the motor vehicle.

A reinforcement member disposed at a front portion of a floor panel is disposed angled toward a vehicle width direction inside on progression from a position (input portion on a vehicle width direction outside and vehicle front-rear direction front side of the floor panel toward the vehicle front-rear direction rear side. An outer end portion of the reinforcement member is joined to a rocker, and an inner end portion of the reinforcement member is joined to a floor tunnel portion. When the vehicle is involved in a frontal collision, collision load is input in an oblique direction to the position on the vehicle width direction outside and the vehicle front-rear direction front side of the floor panel.

A firewall for an electric vehicle includes a front cross beam having a left portion, a medial portion, and a right portion. The left portion and the right portion are bent rearward relative to the medial portion. A floor structure includes an upper mounting interface and a lower mounting interface separated by an angled medial section that slopes downward from front to back. The upper mounting interface is coupled with a bottom end of the front cross beam. A subfloor cross beam is positioned underneath the floor structure and coupled with the lower mounting interface such that the subfloor cross beam is spaced laterally rearward of the medial portion of the front cross beam. The firewall is configured to separate a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle from a motor compartment of the electric vehicle.

A power system for an electric vehicle including a firewall positioned between an engine compartment and a passenger compartment of the vehicle. A floor structure of the vehicle is coupled with the firewall and defines an aperture between the firewall and a central support beam of the floor structure. A battery assembly is configured to mount with an underside of the floor structure having a battery and a battery connector housing to house a battery connector. The connector housing defines an electric connector to couple with an electric system of the vehicle. The connector housing is inserted within the aperture of the floor structure such that at least a portion of the battery connector housing extends above the floor structure. A rigid tunnel is coupled with the firewall, the floor structure, and the central support beam to cover the portion of the connector housing that extends above the floor structure.

A passenger compartment support for an electric vehicle includes a front cross beam forming a portion of a firewall configured to separate a passenger compartment of the vehicle from a motor compartment of the vehicle. The cross beam has a left portion, a medial portion, and a right portion. The left and right are bent rearward relative to the medial portion. The left portion is coupled with a left structure of the electric vehicle and the right portion is coupled with a ride structure of the electric vehicle. A right crash beam is coupled with and generally orthogonal to a right medial portion. A left crash beam is coupled with and generally orthogonal to a left medial portion. A floor structure is coupled with a bottom of the cross beam. A rigid tunnel is coupled to a rear of the cross beam and a top of the floor structure.

A front impact system for an electric vehicle includes a front cross beam extending across a front end of the electric vehicle. The front cross beam defines an interior comprising at least one rib extending along a length of the front cross beam. A left crash beam is coupled with a rear surface of the front cross beam. A right crash beam is coupled with the rear surface of the front cross beam. The front cross beam is configured to transfer force from a front collision to one or both of the left crash beam or the right crash beam.

A beam connection system for an electric vehicle includes a longitudinal support beam coupled with a chassis of the electric vehicle and a rear cross beam extending from a right side of a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle to a left side of the passenger compartment. The rear cross beam is generally orthogonal to the longitudinal support beam. A connector is disposed between the longitudinal support beam and the rear cross beam and configured to couple the longitudinal support beam and the rear cross beam with one another. The connector includes a first portion configured to receive an end of the rear cross beam and a second portion configured to receive a medial portion of the longitudinal support beam.

A vehicle body structure having an increased capability to absorb impact in a front end of a tunnel member. The vehicle body structure includes a dash lower panel, a dash cross member and the tunnel member. The dash cross member has a convex shape with a central portion located forward of both ends in the vehicle width direction in plan view. The tunnel member has a tunnel closed cross-sectional portion constituting a part of the central portion of the dash cross member, a front fragile portion provided forward of the tunnel closed cross-sectional portion, and a rear tunnel member provided rearward of the tunnel closed cross-sectional portion. The front fragile portion has a lower compressive strength than that of the rear tunnel member, against a load from the front.

A stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle includes a first longitudinal support beam and a second longitudinal support beam. A trunk of the electric vehicle is positioned between the first longitudinal support beam and the second longitudinal support beam. The trunk is positioned between a front bumper and a firewall of the electric vehicle. The trunk includes a trunk base forming a floor of the trunk. The trunk base includes one or more stiffening elements positioned across one or both of a width or length of the trunk base.