An energy conversion assembly including an input shaft coupled to a first annular gear through a first direction limiting device configured to allow rotation of the first annular gear in a first direction and substantially inhibit rotation of the first annular gear in a second direction. The input shaft may be coupled to a second annular gear through a second direction limiting device configured to allow rotation of the second annular gear in the second direction and substantially inhibit rotation of the second annular gear in the first direction. The assembly may include a first transmitting gear engaged with the first annular gear, a second transmitting gear engaged with the second annular gear, a conversion gear operatively coupled to the second transmitting gear, and a transmitting shaft coupled to the first transmitting gear and the conversion gear.

A bushing, for use with a control arm, has first and second mating segments that can be mated and assembled to form a central portion to be received within a circular opening in the control arm and the central portion has an outer diameter corresponding to the diameter of the circular opening. Each segment includes a cap or head portion having a diameter dimensioned to abut against one of the surfaces of the control arm and has a central bore. A bushing sleeve has a length equal to a axial length of the assembled bushing and an outer diameter incrementally greater than the diameter of the central bore so that the sleeve can be press fit within the bore to immobilize the segments when they are in contact with the control arm and become resistant to separation.

A vehicle includes a control arm having a first branch portion extended from a second branch portion, the first branch portion and the second branch portion being fixed with a frame of the vehicle, and a third branch portion extended from the second branch portion, and coupled with a wheel. The vehicle also includes a first joint fixing the first branch portion to the frame, and a second joint located behind the first joint along the frame in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and fixing the second branch portion to the frame with a first bracket extending along the frame, outward from the second branch portion in a vehicle lateral direction. The first bracket is fixed to the frame at a first bracket weakened portion, and configured such that the second branch portion separates the first bracket weakened portion from the frame while the first joint remains fixed to the frame.

A front suspension device for a vehicle that, when a collision load acts on a suspension arm, reduces the detachment amount of a subframe mounting portion on the rear side from a vehicle body, absorbs collision load energy, and reduces an input to a rear axially supporting portion for a subframe. The front suspension device for a vehicle includes a subframe; a suspension arm having an outer end on which a front wheel is pivotally supported, and an inner end pivotally supported with respect to the subframe; a subframe mounting portion for mounting the subframe to a vehicle body through a fastener from below on the rear side relative to a front-wheel axially supporting portion of the suspension arm; and an upward bend inducing portion for bending the suspension arm upward when a suspension arm frontal collision load is input via the front wheel to the suspension arm.

A method controls a user interface and an air-conditioning unit of a vehicle. The user interface includes display and operating elements. The method displays a plurality of the elements on the user interface, receives at least two operation parameters of the air-conditioning unit, determines one or more display parameters for a first element from the plurality of elements on the basis of the at least two operation parameters, and displays the first element on the basis of the one or more display parameters.

An electric vehicle includes an electric-vehicle battery tray including a frame member elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The electric vehicle includes a rocker rail elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. The electric vehicle includes a subframe. The electric vehicle includes a bracket connecting the battery tray, the rocker rail, and the subframe.

An electric vehicle includes an electric-vehicle battery tray including a frame member elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis. The electric vehicle includes a rocker rail elongated along the vehicle-longitudinal axis. The electric vehicle includes a subframe. The electric vehicle includes a bracket connecting the battery tray, the rocker rail, and the subframe.

A vehicle includes a control arm having a first branch portion extended from a second branch portion, the first branch portion and the second branch portion being fixed with a frame of the vehicle, and a third branch portion extended from the second branch portion, and coupled with a wheel. The vehicle also includes a first joint fixing the first branch portion to the frame, and a second joint located behind the first joint along the frame in a vehicle longitudinal direction, and fixing the second branch portion to the frame with a first bracket extending along the frame, outward from the second branch portion in a vehicle lateral direction. The first bracket is fixed to the frame at a first bracket weakened portion, and configured such that the second branch portion separates the first bracket weakened portion from the frame while the first joint remains fixed to the frame.

The bushing includes an outer cylinder, an inner cylinder, and an elastic body therebetween. The outer cylinder has a central recess portion recessed from the inner peripheral surface in the radial direction at the central portion in the axial direction, and the thickness of both end portions is thicker than the thickness of the central portion. The central recess portion is formed in a curved shape or having a curved and a straight shape. The inner cylinder has a central convex portion swelling from the outer peripheral surface in the radial direction at a position corresponding to the central recess portion. The maximum outer diameter of the central convex portion is larger than the minimum inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder.

A collar includes a tubular portion and a flange portion extending radially outward from an end portion of the tubular portion, first and second corner portions formed by the tubular portion and the flange portion are provided with first and second curved surface portions formed as concave curved surfaces, an end portion of the trailing arm is provided with a collar through-hole into which the collar is inserted, and an edge portion of the collar through-hole is provided with a through-hole side curved surface portion formed as a convex curved surface coming into contact with the first and second curved surface portions.