Group of Motor Vehicles

Abstract

In a group of motor vehicles of one vehicle type with three different drive concepts (“internal combustion drive”, “electric drive” or “hybrid drive”), the architecture of the motor vehicles having an electric drive is used to produce the motor vehicles of all three drive concepts. Irrespective of the drive concept, two variations of an elevated floor panel assembly are used, each of the two floor panel assemblies having a frame-like supporting structure. The first floor panel assembly is provided for the vehicles having an electric drive. Here, the battery is used as a supporting structural component and significantly takes over the reinforcement of the frame-like floor panel assembly. A second floor panel assembly is provided for the vehicles having a hybrid drive and having an internal combustion drive. In the second floor panel assembly, at least one reinforcing additional component is provided in order to provide sufficient structural rigidity.

Claims

1.-11. (canceled)

12. A motor vehicle group of a vehicle type, the group comprising: motor vehicles with three different drive concepts, wherein the three different drive concepts comprise an internal combustion engine (“combustion drive”) or an electric motor (“electric drive”) or a combination of an internal combustion engine and at least one electric motor (“hybrid drive”), wherein a uniform front end assembly with front longitudinal members is provided for all three different drive concepts, two floor panel assemblies are provided, a height of which is identical in an installation position in the motor vehicle, body-in-white structures of the “electric drive” motor vehicles have a first of the two floor panel assemblies, body-in-white structures of the “internal combustion engine” motor vehicles and the “hybrid drive” motor vehicles have a second of the two floor panel assemblies, the motor vehicles with “electric drive” and the motor vehicles with “hybrid drive” have at least one battery arranged over a large area under the floor panel assembly, both of the two floor panel assemblies are of frame-like construction, comprising two side longitudinal members, a front cross member connecting front end portions of the side longitudinal members, a rear cross member connecting rear end regions of the side longitudinal members, and at least one middle cross member connecting the two side longitudinal members, which middle cross member is arranged between the front and rear cross members so as to form at least two frame portions delimited by the side longitudinal members and the cross members, wherein the front cross member and its connecting region with the front longitudinal members are formed in such a way that forces are introduced from the front longitudinal members into the front cross member without further extension of the connecting region on the underside of the floor panel assemblies, in the first floor panel assembly, in the installed position in the motor vehicle, all frame portions are stiffened by the at least one battery, whereas in the second floor panel assembly, at least one frame portion is provided with a stiffening add-on component.

13. The motor vehicle group according to claim 12, wherein, the stiffening add-on component is connected to the longitudinal and/or transverse members by bolting.

14. The motor vehicle group according to claim 12, wherein, a flat closure component is positioned in at least one frame portion of the floor panel assemblies.

15. The motor vehicle group according to claim 12, wherein, in the case of the motor vehicles with the “hybrid drive” and/or with the “electric drive”, the at least one battery is connected to the floor panel assembly by bolting.

16. The motor vehicle group according to claim 15, wherein, the side longitudinal members and/or the cross members have a hole pattern with a plurality of bolting points which is configured for bolting together different batteries, wherein the bolting points for connecting the different batteries are at least partially identical.

17. The motor vehicle group according to claim 12, wherein, in the case of the motor vehicles with the “combustion drive” and in the case of the motor vehicles with the “hybrid drive”, at least one fuel tank is provided on the underside of the floor panel assembly.

18. The motor vehicle group according to claim 12, wherein, in the case of the “hybrid drive” motor vehicles, the fuel tank and the battery extend over virtually the entire width of the floor panel assembly and are arranged one behind the other as viewed in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

19. The motor vehicle group according to claim 12, wherein, in the “hybrid drive” motor vehicles, the fuel tank and the battery extend only over part of a width of the floor panel assembly and are arranged side by side as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle.

20. The motor vehicle group according to claim 19, wherein, a free space for at least one component of an exhaust system is provided between the fuel tank and the battery.

21. The motor vehicle group according to claim 17, wherein, the fuel tank and/or the battery, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, extend into a region below rear seats of the motor vehicle and/or into a region of a rear axle of the motor vehicle and have a greater overall height in this rear region than in their front region.

22. The motor vehicle group according to claim 18, wherein, the fuel tank and/or the battery, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, extend into a region below rear seats of the motor vehicle and/or into a region of a rear axle of the motor vehicle and have a greater overall height in this rear region than in their front region.

23. The motor vehicle group according to claim 19, wherein, the fuel tank and/or the battery, as viewed in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, extend into a region below rear seats of the motor vehicle and/or into a region of a rear axle of the motor vehicle and have a greater overall height in this rear region than in their front region.

24. The motor vehicle group according to claim 12, wherein in the case of the motor vehicles with the “combustion drive”, at least one housing and/or a fastening device for at least one component of the motor vehicle is provided on the underside of the floor panel assembly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0091] FIG. 1a shows a perspective view of a first floor panel assembly of motor vehicles of a motor vehicle group according to the invention, including front longitudinal members of a front end assembly.

[0092] FIG. 1b shows a view of a second floor panel assembly corresponding to FIG. 1a.

[0093] FIG. 2a shows a sectional view along the line of section 1-1 in FIG. 1a.

[0094] FIG. 2b shows a sectional view along the line of section II-II in FIG. 1b.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along the line of section III-III in FIG. 1a.

[0096] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the drive train and power supply of a motor vehicle of a motor vehicle group according to the invention, with the “electric drive” drive concept.

[0097] FIG. 5 shows a view of a motor vehicle with “combustion drive” corresponding to FIG. 4.

[0098] FIGS. 6 to 8 show views corresponding to FIG. 4 of motor vehicles with “hybrid drive”.

[0099] The coordinate system shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b with the vehicle longitudinal direction X (corresponding to the direction of travel FR), the vehicle transverse direction Y and the vehicle vertical direction Z is valid for all figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0100] FIGS. 1a and 1b and FIGS. 2 and 3 show a floor panel assembly B1a/B1b. The differences between the two floor panel assemblies B1a and B1b are explained in more detail below.

[0101] The floor panel assemblies B1a/B1b have the following structure in common.

[0102] The floor panel assemblies B1a and B1b are of frame-like design. They consist of two side longitudinal members ST, a front cross member QT1, a rear cross member QT2, and at least one center cross member QT3. In the present embodiment, two center cross members QT3 are provided. The rear cross member QT2 is covered by an installation space BR. The frame portions bounded by the side longitudinal members ST and the cross members QT1 to QT3 are denoted A. In the present exemplary embodiment, three frame portions A are formed.

[0103] The front cross member QT1 has the task of absorbing forces that are transmitted from a front end assembly VO1′ via its front longitudinal members L into the floor panel assembly B1a/B1b. As can be seen in particular from the sectional views of FIGS. 2a and 2b, the end portions E of the front longitudinal members L are enlarged to ensure large-area force introduction into the front cross member QT1 and/or to compensate for an offset between front longitudinal members L and the front cross member QT1 in the vertical direction Z and/or in the transverse direction Y. In its interior, the front cross member QT1 is stiffened by a reinforcement profile VP1.

[0104] The region of the front cross member QT1 is formed as a uniform interface between the floor panel assembly B1a/B1b and a uniform front end assembly VO1′ arranged in front of it (see FIGS. 4 to 8). This allows the floor panel assembly B1a and the floor panel assembly B1b to be connected equally to the front end assembly VO1′.

[0105] Similarly, the region of the rear cross member QT2 is formed as a uniform interface between the floor panel assembly B1a/B1b and a luggage compartment floor assembly G1 or G2 arranged behind it (see FIGS. 4 to 8). This allows the floor panel assembly B1a and the floor panel assembly B1b to be equally connected to either the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 or the luggage compartment floor assembly G2.

[0106] FIGS. 1a and 1b show the schematic cuboid installation space BR in the region of the rear cross member QT2, in which a battery or a portion of a battery, a fuel tank or a portion of a fuel tank and/or, extending further, an electric motor etc. can be arranged.

[0107] The side longitudinal members ST are, by their very nature, part of the load-bearing structure of the floor panel assembly B1a/B1b and thus of the body-in-white structure of the motor vehicles belonging to the motor vehicle group according to the invention.

[0108] FIGS. 1a, 2a and 3 illustrate the floor panel assembly B1a for a motor vehicle with “electric drive”. In the floor panel assembly B1a, the side longitudinal members ST are formed in such a way that at least one battery 62 for a motor vehicle with “electric drive” extending over almost the entire underside of the floor panel assembly B1a can be fastened to the underside of a fastening flange F2. The fastening flange F2 extends over the entire length of the side longitudinal member ST. At the level of the fastening flange F2, a reinforcing profile VP2 is provided inside the side longitudinal member ST. In the present embodiment, the reinforcing profile VP2 is formed by a flat-lying two-chamber hollow profile, for example an extruded profile. The side longitudinal members ST are preferably sheet metal components, but can also be formed by extruded profiles depending on the geometry.

[0109] The combination of side longitudinal members ST with internal reinforcement profile VP2 and the fastening flange F2 for connecting the battery 62 ensures extremely stable integration of the battery 62 in the body-in-white structure of the motor vehicle. In the event of a lateral collision, the side longitudinal members ST are capable of dissipating a high level of crash energy, resulting in safe protection of the battery 62 “inside” the side longitudinal members ST.

[0110] Preferably, the connection between the fastening flange F2 of the side longitudinal members ST and a fastening flange F3 of the battery 62 is made by bolting (bolts S) at a plurality of bolting points V. In addition, the contact surface between the upper side of the fastening flange F3 of the battery 62 and the lower side of the fastening flange F2 of the side longitudinal members ST can be used for bonding.

[0111] Analogously, the battery 62 is attached to its front end portion by bolting the front attachment flange F3 of the battery 62 to an attachment flange F1 disposed at the rear of the front cross member QT1, via bolts S at a plurality of bolting points V.

[0112] Fastening flanges, not shown, are also provided on the rear cross member QT2.

[0113] The fastening flange F1 on the front cross member QT1, the fastening flanges F2 on the longitudinal members ST, and the fastening flange on the rear cross member QT2 form an annular connecting surface running in a horizontal plane. The underside of the middle cross member QT3 also runs in this plane.

[0114] This circumferential connection means that the battery 62 is not only securely integrated into the body-in-white structure of the motor vehicle. Rather, the battery 62 with its three-dimensional, trough-shaped housing, including a cover 63a, is a load-bearing structural component of the body-in-white structure. The plurality of bolts S, possibly in conjunction with circumferential bonding, ensures extremely rigid integration of the battery 62 into the body-in-white structure. Preferably, stiffening elements are provided inside the battery 62 to connect the lid 63a of the battery 62 to its base 63b and thus stiffen the housing of the battery 62.

[0115] The side longitudinal members ST and the cross members QT1, QT2 and QT3 form a ladder-shaped frame which, in the present embodiment, delimits a total of three frame portions A with two middle cross members QT3. These window-like openings in the frame portions A, without the battery 62 mounted below the frame, are closed by flat closure components VB. This achieves a hermetic separation between the interior and the exterior of the motor vehicle. However, the comparatively thin plate-like closure components VB do not make any appreciable contribution to the stiffening of the individual frame portions A and thus of the entire frame of the floor panel assembly B1a. Rather, the battery housing 62 has the task of significantly stiffening the frame-shaped floor panel assembly B1a.

[0116] It is advantageous here if the hole patterns for the bolting points V are formed in such a way that they are suitable for fastening different batteries.

[0117] FIGS. 1b and 2b show the floor panel assembly B1b for a motor vehicle with a “hybrid drive” or with a “combustion drive”. The floor panel assembly B1b is formed as an identical part to the floor panel assembly B1a. The main difference between the two floor panel assemblies B1a and B1b is at least one stiffening add-on component ZB, which the floor panel assembly B1b has as an additional component.

[0118] The stiffening add-on component ZB is used to stiffen at least one frame cutout A that is not already stiffened by a battery. In the present embodiment, this is the front frame portion A. This front frame portion A is not occupied by a battery in a motor vehicle with a “hybrid drive”, for example, since batteries for motor vehicles with a “hybrid drive” usually have smaller batteries that do not extend over the entire length of the floor panel assembly B1b. Motor vehicles with “combustion drive”, by their nature, do not have a battery on the underside of floor panel assembly B1b that could stiffen one or more frame cutouts A.

[0119] In the present exemplary embodiment, a V-shaped stiffening add-on component ZB is provided, which extends between the front cross member QT1 and the front middle cross member QT3. Here, the free end portions of the legs of the stiffening add-on component ZB are fastened via bolts S at the fastening flange F1 of the front cross member QT1. The tip of the V-shaped stiffening add-on component ZB is also fastened to the cross member QT3 by at least one bolt S. For the bolted connection of the stiffening add-on component ZB, at least a part of those bolting points V is used that is used for the bolted connection of the large-area battery 62 in the floor panel assembly B1a for a motor vehicle with “electric drive”.

[0120] The stiffening add-on component ZB is designed as a strut-shaped hollow profile with an approximately rectangular cross section. It has high rigidity and therefore significantly stiffens the front frame portion A.

[0121] FIGS. 1b and 2b show the stiffening of the front frame portion A as an example. In a corresponding manner, for example, the rear frame cutout A could also be provided with a stiffening add-on component ZB, for example in the case of a motor vehicle with “combustion drive” which has no stiffening battery in this rear region below the floor panel assembly B1b.

[0122] The hole pattern of the bolting points can be matched to the individual batteries to be used across the two floor panel assemblies B1a and B1b, thus achieving a high degree of flexibility within the common part concept. However, it is equally possible to provide different batteries within a drive concept that can be connected via a uniform hole pattern for the bolting points V. In particular, the bolting points V along the fastening flange F2 on the side longitudinal members ST of the “hybrid drive” motor vehicles can be used to attach batteries of different sizes.

[0123] In addition to the batteries mentioned exclusively so far, fuel tanks, component housings and/or components themselves can also be arranged on the underside of the floor panel assembly B1b in the case of the motor vehicles with “combustion drive” which do not have large-area batteries. For example, the bolting points V along the fastening flange F2 on the side longitudinal members ST of the “combustion drive” motor vehicles can be used to mount one or more housings. Such housings are able to use the installation space which, as a result of the invention, is also available for accommodating components on motor vehicles with “combustion drive” due to the use of a “raised” floor panel assembly B1b formed as a common part. Of course, the components can also be arranged directly in the free space on the underside of the floor panel assembly B1b without a housing.

[0124] In addition or as an alternative to the bolting points V with their uniform hole pattern described above, separate fastening devices can be provided for connecting fuel tanks, housings, components and the like, such as fastening brackets.

[0125] In summary, the floor panel assembly B1a is characterized in that all frame portions A are covered by at least one large-area battery 60. What is decisive here is that the at least one battery 60 here stiffens the frames formed by the side longitudinal members ST and the cross members QT1 to QT3 in such a way that the floor panel assembly B1a achieves sufficient rigidity within the body-in-white structure without any significant further stiffening components. In other words, the battery 60 is part of the supporting structure of the motor vehicle. The “co-supporting” battery 60 eliminates the need for separate stiffening components, with advantages in terms of weight and manufacturing costs for the motor vehicle.

[0126] By contrast, at least one frame portion A of the floor panel assembly B1b is provided with a stiffening add-on component Z intended specifically for this purpose. The stiffening add-on component Z is inserted into the frame formed by the side longitudinal members ST and the cross members QT1 to QT3. Preferably, the connection between the stiffening add-on components Z and the side longitudinal members ST and/or the cross members QT1 to QT3 is made by bolting at least at part of the bolting points V for the battery (batteries) 62 of the first floor panel assembly B1a.

[0127] FIGS. 4 to 8 show the basic structure of the motor vehicles from the motor vehicle group with different drive concepts according to the invention, using perspective views of the chassis and the drive system, omitting the components of the body and the equipment. Each of the motor vehicles according to FIGS. 4 to 8 has a drive train with a front axle VA and a rear axle HA, with front and rear wheels VR and HR, respectively.

[0128] The body-in-white structure of the motor vehicles shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 in each case comprises a front end assembly VO1′, a floor panel assembly B1a or B1b and a luggage compartment floor assembly G1 or G2. Instead of different luggage compartment floor assemblies G1 and G2, a uniform luggage compartment floor assembly may also be provided. The described three assemblies themselves are not shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 in order to illustrate the components of the chassis and drive system more clearly.

[0129] The decisive factor in the interaction of the three assemblies is that the front end assembly VO1′ is formed at its rear end portion and the two floor panel assemblies B1a and B1b are formed at their front end portions such that the front end assembly VO1′ is equally connectable to each of the two floor panel assemblies B1a and B1b. In addition, the luggage compartment floor assemblies G1 and G2 can be formed at their front end portions to be equally connectable to correspondingly formed uniform rear end portions of the two floor panel assemblies B1a and B1b.

[0130] The front end assembly VO1′ carries the components of the front axle VA and the steering. The front end assembly VO1′ is equally configured to accommodate an electric motor EV and an internal combustion engine VM (transverse engine) arranged transversely to the direction of travel FR. In addition, the following components, for example, are located on the front end assembly VO1′: components for temperature control of drive units and/or batteries, heating or air conditioning system, electrical and/or electronic components, wiper system, washer fluid reservoir, intake muffler (only for motor vehicles with “combustion drive” and with “hybrid drive”), etc.

[0131] The two floor panel assemblies B1a and B1b are embodied as frame-like identical parts and differ significantly only in the way the frame portions A are stiffened.

[0132] The floor panel assembly B1a is assigned to motor vehicles with the “electric drive” drive concept. On its underside facing a roadway, it offers sufficient installation space for the arrangement of a battery 62, which occupies almost the entire region under the floor panel assembly B1a. Instead of one battery 62, two or more batteries 62 can also occupy almost the entire installation space under the floor panel assembly B1a. The decisive factor here is that the battery 62 (or batteries 62) is (or are) connected to the frame-like floor panel assembly B1a in such a way that the battery 62 (or batteries 62) alone causes (or cause) the decisive stiffening of the frame portions. In other words, no additional stiffening component is provided on the floor panel assembly B1a, since the task of stiffening the frame portions is performed exclusively and significantly by the battery 62 (or batteries 62).

[0133] The floor panel assembly B1b is assigned to motor vehicles with the “hybrid drive” or “internal combustion engine” drive concept. On its underside facing a roadway, it provides installation space for the arrangement of a battery 60a (or several batteries 60a), which occupies a partial region under the floor panel assembly B1b. In addition, at least a portion of a fuel tank 50 is disposed on the underside of the floor panel assembly B1b.

[0134] The luggage compartment floor assemblies G1 and G2 cover the region of a rear axle HA and form the underside of a luggage compartment. If different luggage compartment floor assemblies G1 and G2 are provided, the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 runs higher in its front region than the luggage compartment floor assembly G2. The rear region of the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 has a lower portion compared to the luggage compartment floor assembly G2.

[0135] The individual motor vehicles according to FIGS. 4 to 8 from a motor vehicle group of one vehicle type according to the invention are described in detail below.

[0136] FIG. 4 shows a motor vehicle with “electric drive” from the motor vehicle group according to the invention. It has the abbreviated designation “BEV”. The body-in-white structure of the motor vehicle shown in FIG. 4 is composed of the front end assembly VO1′, the floor panel assembly B1a, and the luggage compartment floor assembly G1.

[0137] In addition to an electric motor EV, the front end assembly VO1′ accommodates other components, such as components for temperature control of the electric motor EV and/or the battery 62, heating or air-conditioning system, electrical and/or electronic components, wiper system, washer fluid reservoir, etc.

[0138] The floor panel assembly B1a accommodates a battery 62 on its underside facing a roadway, which is formed in one piece and extends over almost the entire width of the motor vehicle. The battery 62 may have a bulge 64 in its middle region (drawn with dashed lines), whereby components such as electrical lines and/or coolant lines can be accommodated in this region. If a bulge 64 is provided on the battery 62, the middle cross members QT3 are to be formed in accordance with the bulging shape of the battery 62.

[0139] The luggage compartment floor assembly G1 covers an electric motor EV arranged in the region of the rear axle HA. Consequently, the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 offers a luggage compartment volume that, in its front portion, arranged relatively high, is somewhat reduced at the top. In its rear region, however, the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 has a portion arranged relatively low down, which allows a large loading height in the luggage compartment here.

[0140] A so-called “road-coupled all-wheel drive” is realized by the electric motor EV for driving the front wheels VR and the electric motor EV for driving the rear wheels HR.

[0141] FIG. 5 shows a motor vehicle with “combustion drive” from the motor vehicle group according to the invention. It has the abbreviated designation “ICE”. The body-in-white structure of the motor vehicle shown in FIG. 5 comprises the front end assembly VO1′, the floor panel assembly B1b and the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 or G2.

[0142] The front end assembly VO1′ accommodates an internal combustion engine VM. The internal combustion engine VM is installed in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle and drives the front wheels VR via a transmission and drive shafts. In addition, other components are arranged on the front end assembly VO1′, as mentioned above.

[0143] The floor panel assembly B1b provides an installation space on its underside which is not present in a motor vehicle with a “combustion drive” according to the prior art. At least one housing 60″ for accommodating components of the motor vehicle can be arranged in this installation space. The at least one housing 60″ can also be omitted if there is no need for housing components of the motor vehicle in a housing 60″. In this case, the region below the floor panel assembly B1b is unused. Alternatively, components of the motor vehicle per se, without a housing 60″, can also be arranged in the region below the floor panel assembly B1b. A fuel tank 50 is arranged in the region in front of the rear axle HA, below rear seats of the motor vehicle.

[0144] The options for using the installation space on the underside of the floor panel assembly B1b also depend on the two variants of exhaust systems for the internal combustion engine VM shown in FIG. 5.

[0145] In a first embodiment of the motor vehicle as shown in FIG. 5, the exhaust system ends in the front region of the passenger compartment and has a comparatively short exhaust line AL1 and a rear muffler SD1, the exhaust tailpipe of which is arranged in the region of the side longitudinal member (sill). The elimination of an exhaust system extending to the rear of the vehicle means that the entire width of the region below the floor panel assembly B1b is available for accommodating components. As shown by way of example in FIG. 5, a single housing 60″ extending over almost the entire width of the vehicle can thus be arranged.

[0146] In a second embodiment of the motor vehicle according to FIG. 5, the exhaust system is routed to the rear of the motor vehicle, with an exhaust line AL2 shown with dashed lines to a rear muffler SD2 arranged in the rear of the motor vehicle. The installation space occupied by the exhaust line AL2 in the middle of the floor panel assembly B1b prevents the accommodation of a housing 60″ extending across the width of the vehicle. In this embodiment, for example, two separate housings 60″ can be arranged on the underside of the floor panel assembly B1b.

[0147] As already described in conjunction with FIG. 4, the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 has a front region arranged relatively high and a rear portion arranged relatively low. Thus, in the motor vehicle shown in FIG. 5, the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 can only be used in conjunction with the first variant of the exhaust system, without a rear muffler SD2 in the rear of the vehicle. In the second variant of the exhaust system, with a rear muffler SD2 in the rear of the vehicle, the luggage compartment floor assembly G2 is used, which runs higher in its rear region than the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 and can therefore accommodate the rear muffler SD2 on its underside. With its lower front portion, the luggage compartment floor assembly G2 is adapted to the space requirements of “only” the rear axle HA, without an electric motor EH.

[0148] FIG. 6 shows a first motor vehicle with “hybrid drive” from the motor vehicle group according to the invention. It has the abbreviated designation “PHEV1/HEV1” (with and without the possibility of charging the battery of the motor vehicle with electrical energy from outside the motor vehicle, respectively). The body-in-white structure of the motor vehicle as shown in FIG. 6 is composed of the front body assembly VO1′, the floor panel assembly B1b, and the luggage compartment floor assembly G1.

[0149] As in the motor vehicle shown in FIG. 4, the front end assembly VO1′ accommodates an internal combustion engine VM in the form of a transverse engine which drives the front wheels VR. In the present embodiment, the internal combustion engine VM has a “short” exhaust system with an exhaust line AL1 and a rear muffler SD1. Thus, the installation space under the floor panel assembly B1b is not restricted by a drive shaft to the rear wheels HR or by an exhaust system extending into the rear of the vehicle. Consequently, the entire width of the installation space under the floor panel assembly B1b can be used for the arrangement of a battery 60a. However, the battery 60a does not extend over the entire length of the floor panel assembly B1b, but only approximately the two rear thirds. A fuel tank 50 is provided in the region in front of the rear axle HA.

[0150] The rear wheels HR of the motor vehicle as shown in FIG. 6 are driven by a second electric motor EH arranged in the region of the rear axle HA (“road-coupled all-wheel drive”). The luggage compartment floor assembly G1 provides the installation space required for the electric motor EH below the front portion of the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 with its higher portion at the front.

[0151] FIG. 7 shows a second motor vehicle with “hybrid drive” from the motor vehicle group according to the invention. It has the abbreviated designation “PHEV2/HEV2”. The body-in-white structure of the motor vehicle shown in FIG. 7 is composed of the front end assembly VO1′, the floor panel assembly B1b, and the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 or G2.

[0152] The motor vehicle according to FIG. 7 has an electric motor EV in the region of the front axle VA instead of the electric motor EH of the motor vehicle according to FIG. 6. The electric motor EV is preferably integrated in a transmission flanged to the internal combustion engine VM. Thus, both the internal combustion engine VM and the electric motor EV drive the front wheels VR. By omitting the electric motor EH, the luggage compartment floor assembly G2, which runs lower in its front region, can be provided.

[0153] Of course, the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 can be used instead.

[0154] In principle, instead of the luggage compartment floor assemblies G1 and G2, a third luggage compartment floor assembly optimized for the installation situation in the motor vehicle as shown in FIG. 7 can be used and runs deeper than the end portions of the luggage compartment floor assemblies G1 and G2 at both its front and rear end regions and thus allows a larger luggage compartment volume, although this is associated with additional costs.

[0155] In all other respects, the motor vehicle according to FIG. 7 corresponds to the motor vehicle according to FIG. 6.

[0156] In the motor vehicles shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the fuel tank 50 and battery 60 are arranged “one behind the other” as viewed in the direction of travel FR. Due to the battery 60a extending over the entire width of the vehicle, this design is only possible in motor vehicles with a “short” exhaust system.

[0157] Alternatively, in the motor vehicles according to FIGS. 6 and 7, the fuel tank 50 may extend also into a region covered by the rear third of the floor panel assembly B1b, in interaction with a battery 60a that uses only the middle third below the floor panel assembly B1b as installation space. Such a fuel tank 50 is formed in its region below the floor panel assembly B1b in the manner of a flat plate. Towards the rear, this flat portion of the fuel tank 50 is followed by an upward extension corresponding to the installation space available in front of the rear axle HA and below rear seats of the motor vehicle (as shown in principle in FIGS. 6 and 7). A fuel tank 50 formed in this way is shown in FIG. 8, but with a width corresponding to only about half the width of the floor panel assembly B1b.

[0158] This embodiment, not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in which the “extended” fuel tank 50 and the battery 60a are arranged “one behind the other” as viewed in the direction of travel FR, allows a comparatively large fuel tank 50.

[0159] FIG. 8 shows a third motor vehicle with “hybrid drive” from the motor vehicle group according to the invention. It has the abbreviated designation “PHEV3/HEV3”. The body-in-white structure of the motor vehicle shown in FIG. 8 is composed of the front body assembly VO1′, the floor panel assembly B1b, and the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 or G2.

[0160] The chassis and drive train of the motor vehicle according to FIG. 8 correspond completely to the motor vehicle according to FIG. 7.

[0161] In contrast to the motor vehicle according to FIG. 7, in the motor vehicle according to FIG. 8 the battery 60a and the fuel tank 50 are arranged “side by side” as viewed in the direction of travel FR, i.e. to the right and left of a longitudinal center plane of the floor panel assembly B1b. Here, both the fuel tank 50 and the battery 60a extend rearwardly beyond the flat region of the floor panel assembly B1b into the region of the rear axle HA and below rear seats of the motor vehicle. A significantly larger installation space is available in this rear region. Thus, on the one hand, a larger number of battery compartments can be accommodated here. On the other hand, the greater overall height is particularly advantageous for the fuel tank 50 in terms of surge behavior and ensuring the fuel supply even when the fuel tank 50 is low.

[0162] In the “parallel” arrangement of fuel tank 50 and battery 60a according to FIG. 8, the fuel tank 50 and battery 60a preferably occupy only about the rear third or rear half of the longitudinal extent of the floor panel assembly B1b as installation space. An extension of the fuel tank 50 to the front is opposed by disadvantages due to the low overall height, particularly with regard to the safe utilization of a small residual volume in the fuel tank 50.

[0163] With regard to the longitudinal extent of the battery 60 in the direction of the front end portion of the floor panel assembly B1b, there are in principle no restrictions, in contrast to the disadvantages described for the fuel tank 50. However, it may not be necessary to use a correspondingly large (and thus heavy and expensive) battery in a motor vehicle with the “hybrid drive” drive concept.

[0164] The “parallel” arrangement of fuel tank 50 and battery 60a as shown in FIG. 8 allows the use of an exhaust system leading to the rear of the vehicle, with an exhaust line AL2 running in the region of the center of the vehicle and a rear muffler SD2 arranged in the rear of the motor vehicle. The installation space required by the exhaust line AL2 in the center of the floor panel assembly B1b is provided by a free space between the fuel tank 50 and the battery 60a. In this case of a rear muffler SD2 arranged in the rear of the vehicle, only the luggage compartment floor assembly G2 raised in its rear region can be used. Otherwise, the luggage compartment floor assembly G1 can also be used.

[0165] Installation space that is available in the “parallel” arrangement of fuel tank 50 and battery 60a according to FIG. 8 below the front portion of the floor panel assembly B1b, because no fuel tank 50 and/or no battery 60a is installed in this front portion, can be used by other installations, such as a housing 60″ for components of the motor vehicle or by components installed “freely” on the underbody.

[0166] FIG. 8 shows by way of example with dashed lines how the installation space in front of the “parallel” components constituted by fuel tank 50 and battery 60a can be used by a housing 60″ and/or by a further battery 60a. Likewise, this installation space can be occupied by components of the motor vehicle which are arranged directly on the underbody without a housing. The installation space shown in dashed lines can extend over the entire width of the floor panel assembly B1b (in the case of a “short” exhaust system) or can be divided into two parts in the case of an exhaust system extending into the rear of the vehicle (as shown in FIG. 8).

[0167] The invention can be summarized as follows: The core concept of the invention is, for a motor vehicle group of one vehicle type with three different drive concepts (“combustion drive”, “electric drive” or “hybrid drive”), to start from the “architecture” of the motor vehicles with “electric drive” for the provision of the motor vehicles of all three drive concepts. Here, regardless of the drive concept, a “raised” floor panel assembly is used in the two variants B1a and B1b. The two floor panel assemblies B1a and B1b each have a frame-shaped support structure. The first floor panel assembly B1a is provided for the “electric drive” motor vehicles. Here, the battery 62 is used as a “load-bearing structural component” and plays a major role in stiffening the frame-shaped floor panel assembly B1a. The floor panel assembly B1b is provided for the motor vehicles with “hybrid drive” and with “combustion drive”. At least one stiffening add-on component ZB is provided for the floor panel assembly B1b to give it sufficient structural rigidity.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0168] AL1 exhaust line [0169] AL2 exhaust line [0170] B1a floor panel assembly [0171] B1b floor panel assembly [0172] BR installation space [0173] E end portion [0174] EH electric motor [0175] EV electric motor [0176] F1 fastening flange [0177] F2 fastening flange [0178] F3 fastening flange [0179] FR direction of travel [0180] G1 luggage compartment floor assembly [0181] G2 luggage compartment floor assembly [0182] HA rear axle [0183] HR rear wheel [0184] L front longitudinal member [0185] QT1 front cross member [0186] QT2 rear cross member [0187] QT3 middle cross member [0188] R frame portion [0189] s bolt [0190] SD1 rear muffler [0191] SD2 rear muffler [0192] ST side longitudinal member [0193] V bolting point [0194] VB flat closure component [0195] VM internal combustion engine [0196] VO1′ front end assembly [0197] VP1 reinforcement profile [0198] VP2 reinforcement profile [0199] VR front wheel [0200] X longitudinal direction [0201] Y transverse direction [0202] Z height direction [0203] ZB stiffening add-on component [0204] 50 fuel tank [0205] 60″ housing [0206] 60a battery [0207] 62 battery [0208] 63a cover [0209] 63b base [0210] 64 bulge