A method for joining a drivetrain to a vehicle body, includes the steps of: transferring the drivetrain and the vehicle body into a joining position, arranging an electrical connecting element on a chassis part of the drivetrain, and joining the drivetrain to the vehicle body, wherein the drivetrain and the vehicle body are connected together at predetermined points via fasteners.

An electric vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis extending along a longitudinal axis and a rotatable vehicle drive axle disposed along a transverse axis and having opposed ends that are configured for attachment to a pair of opposed drive wheels. The electric vehicle also comprises a selectively movable electric propulsion motor comprising a rotatable motor shaft rotatable about a motor axis, the electric propulsion motor configured to be mounted within the vehicle chassis and operatively coupled to the rotatable vehicle drive axle and opposed drive wheels, the motor axis configured to be oriented in a substantially vertical direction.

An electric vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis extending along a longitudinal axis and a rotatable vehicle drive axle disposed along a transverse axis and having opposed ends that are configured for attachment to a pair of opposed drive wheels. The electric vehicle also comprises a selectively movable electric propulsion motor comprising a rotatable motor shaft rotatable about a motor axis, the electric propulsion motor configured to be mounted within the vehicle chassis and operatively coupled to the rotatable vehicle drive axle and opposed drive wheels, the motor axis configured to be oriented in a substantially vertical direction.

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.

An off-highway vehicle may include an off-highway vehicle frame and a motor carried by the off-highway vehicle frame. The off-highway vehicle may also include wheel assemblies rotatably coupled to the off-highway vehicle frame without an intervening vehicle suspension and at least some of the wheel assemblies being driven by the motor. Each of the wheel assemblies may include an inner rim coupled to the hub, an outer rim surrounding the inner rim, and gas springs coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner and outer rims.

A sub-frame arranged to be mounted on a chassis of a car and to have the rear wheels of the car mounted thereon is arranged to receive an electric drivetrain arranged to drive the car. The sub-frame includes a cage including bars arranged to form an upper perimeter and a lower perimeter and a plurality of struts extending between the upper and lower perimeters; a pair of rear wheel suspension mounts, each rear wheel suspension mount being arranged to have one of the rear wheels of the car mounted thereon; and a plurality of brackets located on the cage and arranged to facilitate connection of the sub-frame to the chassis of the car and/or to the electric drivetrain. A frame and vehicle including such a sub-frame and a method of installing such a sub-frame are also disclosed.

A sub-frame arranged to be mounted on a chassis of a car and to have the rear wheels of the car mounted thereon is arranged to receive an electric drivetrain arranged to drive the car. The sub-frame includes a cage including bars arranged to form an upper perimeter and a lower perimeter and a plurality of struts extending between the upper and lower perimeters; a pair of rear wheel suspension mounts, each rear wheel suspension mount being arranged to have one of the rear wheels of the car mounted thereon; and a plurality of brackets located on the cage and arranged to facilitate connection of the sub-frame to the chassis of the car and/or to the electric drivetrain. A frame and vehicle including such a sub-frame and a method of installing such a sub-frame are also disclosed.

An electric motor drive retrofit system (EMDRS) comprises a power system, an energy storage system (ESS), a cooling system, a vehicle control unit (VCU), and a user interface device (UID). A non-hybrid combustion engine drive vehicle with tight space constraints is retrofittable with the EMDRS to provide hybrid drive functionality. EMDRS includes a motor generator unit (MGU) coupled to a motor control unit that transfers charge between MGU and ESS. During retrofit, the MGU is coupled between a transmission and an internal combustion engine (ICE) of the vehicle without extending a powertrain length by more than five inches. VCU does not interfere with any pre-existing vehicle electronics. The VCU controls the EMDRS to add torque (discharging ESS) or to remove torque (charging the ESS) based on a selected operating mode and vehicle sensor information (for example, brake and throttle pressure). Operating modes are selected by driver via the UID.

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.

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.