An axle assembly for a low floor vehicle is described herein. The axle assembly includes an axle housing and a drive unit for driving a wheel assembly. The drive unit includes an axle shaft, a wheel end assembly, an electric machine, and a transmission unit. The axle shaft extends along an axle centerline axis between a first axle end and a second axle end. The wheel end assembly is coupled to the first axle end. The electric machine is positioned within the axle housing and includes a rotor shaft, a drive pinion coupled to the rotor shaft, and an electric motor for rotating the rotor shaft. The rotor shaft extends along a rotor shaft centerline axis that is orientated parallel to the axle centerline axis. The transmission unit is positioned within the axle housing and is configured to transfer torque from the electric machine to the axle shaft.

A low floor road vehicle, in the form for example of a passenger bus, includes a front module that includes the front load-carrying axle at its front, a rear module including the rear load-carrying axle, a central module having a flat floor and lateral side walls that longitudinally extend beyond both longitudinal ends of the flat floor so as to define front and back module attaching portions, and a roof mounted to both lateral side walls so as to extend beyond the floor both towards the front and back, which brings rigidity to the overall structure. The vehicle being modular, the central module can be configured to a specific application, for example by varying the length thereof, while same configurations of the front and rear modules can be used in all applications. Also, the front axle being located at the front of the front module, the access to the passenger area defined by the flat floor is improved.

Provided is a vehicle lower-part structure including: a pair of center side members; a main battery that is arranged between the pair of center side members; a support cross member connecting the pair of center side members and supporting a front end of the main battery from below; a pair of support brackets that protrude toward a center in a vehicle width direction from the pair of center side members at positions closer to a rear other end with respect to the support cross member, and support the main battery; and a cable drawn out from the main battery.

An axle assembly for a low floor vehicle is described herein. The axle assembly includes an axle housing and a drive unit for driving a wheel assembly. The axle housing including a first gearbox, a second gearbox and a cradle assembly coupling the first gear box to the second gear box. The axle assembly includes first and second hub assemblies that form a first axis of rotation. The first gearbox includes an electric motor that is coupled to a transmission used to rotate an output shaft. The first gearbox also includes a differential mounted for rotation with the transmission and a first drop box mounted for rotation with the differential. The axle assembly also includes a portal axle mounted for rotation with the first drop box and extends from the first gearbox to the second gearbox wherein the portal axle forms a second axis of rotation that is offset from the first axis of rotation of the hub assemblies. The second gearbox includes a second drop box mounted for rotation with the portal axle and is adapted to drive the second hub assembly.

An electric vehicle includes a vehicle cabin, a battery, a drive unit, and an end doorway. The vehicle cabin is provided with a floor having a flat floor surface, and configured such that an occupant is able to be in the vehicle cabin in any one of a seated position and a standing position. The battery is accommodated under the floor of the vehicle cabin. The drive unit is provided on one of a front side and a rear side with respect to the battery in a vehicle longitudinal direction. The end doorway is provided in a longitudinally-end wall of the vehicle cabin, and provided on the other one of the front side and the rear side with respect to the battery in the vehicle longitudinal direction. The end doorway is configured such that the occupant is able to get on and off the electric vehicle through the end doorway.

A vehicle base structure includes first and second structural members extending along a vehicle front-rear direction and disposed respectively at first and second sides of a vehicle base in a vehicle width direction, a battery unit disposed between the first and second structural members, and a bracket including a first wall portion fixed to a lower surface of one of the first and second structural members, a second wall portion extending inward in the vehicle width direction from an inner end portion of the first wall portion and inclined downward in a vehicle-height direction from the inner end portion of the first wall portion, and a third wall portion extending inward in the vehicle width direction from an inner end portion of the second wall portion inward in the vehicle width direction and being fixed to a lower surface of a battery case.

There is provided an electric automobile including: a battery installed beneath a floor of a vehicle cabin; a driving unit provided at either one side, in a vehicle longitudinal direction, with respect to the battery; a high-voltage part disposed at the one side with respect to the battery and further toward a vehicle longitudinal direction inner side than an end portion at the one side of the driving unit and electrically connected to the driving unit; a control unit disposed at the one side with respect to the battery and further toward the vehicle longitudinal direction inner side than the end portion of the driving unit, and that controls autonomous driving of the vehicle; and an accessory part disposed further toward a vehicle longitudinal direction outer side than the end portion of the driving unit and independent from a control system that relates to traveling.

The invention relates to an assembly (1) of a frame member (2) for an electric vehicle comprising a transverse member (14) with at each end a housing (10,10) connected to the transverse member (14) and two in-wheel motors (3,3) connected to a respective housing. Each motor comprises a brake drum (35) connected to a rotor (24), extending coaxially within the housing (10,10) near an inner surface a circumferential wall (8) of the housing. A brake shoe assembly (51,52,55,56) is movable in a radial direction R against the brake drum (35), and an actuator (18,18) is placed on an outer surface (17,17) of the circumferential wall (8,8) of the housing (10,10), connected to the brake shoe assembly (51,52,55,56). The assembly provides a low-floor portal frame member, with two in-wheel motors and a brake system that has relatively small axial dimensions and provides a reduced space envelope at the vehicle side.

A low-floor electric axle assembly including: an axle housing, hub motors, planetary gear reducers, hubs, a brake system, C-shaped beams, and a suspension system. Mechanical mounting of the suspension system is compatible with a conventional axle, and arrangement manners of the brake system, the hub motors, and the planetary gear reducers are capable of expanding a width of a coach aisle. Each of the hub motors is arranged coaxially with a rim; a first-stage cylindrical gear drive, bevel gear drive, or hypoid gear drive is removed; an unconventional-structure planetary gear reducer is provided to ensure a high transmission ratio and transmission efficiency; the brake system is arranged at two ends of the axle and at inner sides of the motors, thereby making full use of space at the two ends of the axle, and forming the low-floor electric axle assembly.

Provided is a vehicle lower-part structure including: a pair of center side members; a main battery that is arranged between the pair of center side members; a support cross member connecting the pair of center side members and supporting a front end of the main battery from below; a pair of support brackets that protrude toward a center in a vehicle width direction from the pair of center side members at positions closer to a rear other end with respect to the support cross member, and support the main battery; and a cable drawn out from the main battery.