A structural component serves as a container for a vehicle. The structural component comprises a trough-shaped container section, an edge region, and fastening elements that are provided in the edge region. The container section forms a compartment and defines a bottom region and two or more wall regions, which are at least sectionally inclined with respect to the bottom region. The two or more wall regions are arranged between the bottom region and the edge region. The fastening elements are arranged and distributed around the container section. The container section and the edge region are formed of an injection moldable fiber reinforced thermoplastic material. The structural component at least sectionally has a porous internal structure that is formed by foaming the thermoplastic material.

A method of making a polymeric engine hood assembly for use in a vehicle can include applying heat to a first polymeric sheet, applying heat to a second polymeric sheet, stacking the first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet, placing the stacked sheets between a first mold half and a second mold half, closing the first mold half and second mold half, applying vacuum to the space between the first polymeric sheet and the first mold half and between the second polymeric sheet and the second mold half, wherein the first polymeric sheet forms an exterior panel and wherein the second polymeric sheet forms a reinforcing structure; and attaching an exterior panel to a fender skin at a junction surface, wherein the reinforcing structure includes a connecting ridge extending transversely across the reinforcing structure, wherein the connecting ridge is configured to accept the junction surface of the exterior panel and the feeder skin.

A reinforcement element has a carrier having a longitudinal axis and elongate opening extending in the axis direction. The reinforcement element has an insert element having a longitudinal axis constructed to be arranged in the elongate opening. The insert element has first and second portions. The first portions are parallel with a first plane. The insert element longitudinal axis is in this first plane. The second portions are parallel with a second plane. The insert element longitudinal axis is in the second plane. The reinforcement element has a first adhesive which can be arranged on the carrier outer side and on a first group of insert element first portions and to bond the carrier and insert element in the structural element. The reinforcement element has a second adhesive which can be arranged on a second group of insert element first portions and to bond the insert element in the carrier.

The present invention relates to a molding base material (10) with which it is possible to prepare a vehicle exterior material such as an underbody shielding material. As a result of continued investigations, the applicant of the present application found that the objective of the present invention could be achieved by means of a “molding base material including a fiber base material layer (1) and a cover layer (3), wherein the fiber base material layer and the cover layer are integrally bonded to one another by means of a polypropylene-based resin layer (5) present at the interface between the fiber base material layer and the cover layer”, and wherein the fiber base material layer contains sheath-core type composite fibers of which the core portion is a polyester-based resin and the sheath portion is a polypropylene-based resin. That is, it was found, for example, that a vehicle exterior material prepared using a molding base material satisfying this composition does not readily suffer from inter-layer peeling under high-temperature conditions, and has excellent heat resistance.

A plastic composite material panel includes a roof plate portion adhesively bonded to a first bonding portion provided in a vehicle body frame. A roof extension portion extends from an edge of the roof plate portion and is adhesively bonded to a second bonding portion provided in the vehicle body frame.

A composite liftgate system with an inner panel construction having a strengthening channel structure. Structural composite reinforcements are bonded to the inner panel where additional strength is needed to meet predetermined performance requirements. Where the extra structure is needed, no steel or a minimum amounts of steel is used and the structural reinforcements are bonded in place using adhesive prior to application of additional fasteners.

In certain embodiments, an electric vehicle includes a front cage, a rear floor, an intermediate section, a utility cabinet, and a flatbed. In other embodiments, an electric vehicle includes a front cage, a rear floor, an intermediate section, and a flatbed. In some embodiments, the front cage at least partially defines an operator cabin, the rear floor is positioned rearward of the front cage in a longitudinal direction, and the intermediate section is disposed at least partially between the front cage and the rear floor in the longitudinal direction.

A method produces a fiber-reinforced body component for a motor vehicle. The body component has at least one opening, in particular one door opening or one window opening. The method includes at least the following steps: providing the body component; applying a reinforcing element made of fiber composite material having reinforcing fibers embedded in a matrix, in order to stiffen the body component, the matrix being in an uncured state, and the reinforcing element being applied to an opening frame of the opening, which opening frame is formed by the body component.

An assembly for a vehicle includes a vehicle roof and a headliner supported by the vehicle roof. The assembly includes an energy absorber between the headliner and the vehicle roof. The energy absorber includes a wall extending transversely to the headliner and the vehicle roof. The wall includes a lattice structure including a repeating pattern of strips and open cells.

Techniques for providing universal interfaces between parts of a transport structure are disclosed. In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus for joining first and second parts of a transport structure includes an additively manufactured body having first and second surfaces. The first surface may connect to a first part such as, for example, a panel. The second surface may include a fitting for mating with a complementary fitting on a second part.