# US 11,299,208 B1 · Land vehicles incorporating monocoques and modular mold systems for making the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,208 B1 - Document ID: US11299208B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/552,718 - Filed: 2021-12-16 - Published: 2022-04-07 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2020-01-06 - Assignees: Workhorse Group Inc. - Applicants: Workhorse Group Inc. - Inventors: Robert Willison - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299208B1 ## CPC - B62D 23/00: Combined superstructure and frame, i.e. monocoque constructions ({having impact absorbing means B62D21/15; } superstructure {or monocoque structure} sub-units {or parts or details thereof} B62D25/00 {; characterised by the material thereof B62D29/00}) - B29C 69/02: of moulding techniques only - B29C 70/28: Shaping operations therefor - B60K 1/02: comprising more than one electric motor - B62D 21/09: Means for mounting load bearing surfaces - B62D 23/005: {with integrated chassis in the whole shell, e.g. meshwork, tubes, or the like (B62D33/044 takes precedence)} - B62D 25/20: Floors or bottom sub-units {(sub-frames for mounting engine or suspensions B62D21/11; drip trays F16N31/006)} - B62D 25/2054: {Load carrying floors for commercial vehicles} - B62D 29/02: predominantly of wood - B62D 29/043: {Superstructures (B62D25/161 takes precedence)} - B62D 29/046: {Combined superstructure and frame, i.e. monocoque constructions} - B62D 33/06: Drivers' cabs {(overhead guards, e.g. against loads falling down B60R21/11; roll-over protection B60R21/13)} - B62D 63/025: {Modular vehicles (superstructures for busses having modular sections B62D31/025)} - B62D 65/10: the sub-units or components being engines, clutches or transmissions - B29K 2309/08: Glass - B29K 2311/14: Wood, e.g. woodboard or fibreboard - B29L 2031/30: Vehicles, e.g. ships or aircraft, or body parts thereof {(vanes or blades B29L2031/08, air bags B29L2022/027)} - B29L 2031/3055: {Cars} - B60K 1/00: Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract Land vehicles, modular systems for forming monocoques of land vehicles, and methods of forming monocoques of land vehicles using modular systems are disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the land vehicles are provided as delivery vehicles and/or utility vehicles. A land vehicle includes a monocoque supporting a plurality of wheels to permit movement of the vehicle relative to an underlying surface in use of the land vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electric vehicle comprising: a monocoque supporting a plurality of wheels, wherein: the monocoque includes a front cage defining an operator cabin, a rear floor positioned rearward of the front cage, and an intermediate section disposed between the front cage and the rear floor having a single fixed length, the vehicle includes a stowage compartment at least partially defined by the intermediate section and the rear floor that has a plurality of sidewalls and a ceiling, and the intermediate section, the plurality of sidewalls, and the ceiling at least partially cooperate to define an interior space of the stowage compartment that is closed off from one or more locations outside the vehicle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein the monocoque has a composite construction such that each of the front cage and the rear floor are formed from one or more composite materials. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electric vehicle of claim 2, wherein each of the intermediate section, the plurality of sidewalls, and the ceiling is formed from one or more composite materials. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein: the monocoque does not include metallic material, the monocoque includes a core and a shell that at least partially surrounds the core, the core includes balsa wood and one or more of the following: fiberglass, polyparaphenylene terephthalamide, carbon fiber, or plastic, and the shell is formed from resin and fiberglass. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The electric vehicle of claim 4, wherein the monocoque includes a laminate layer that at least partially covers the shell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein each of the intermediate section, the plurality of sidewalls, and the ceiling does not include metallic material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The electric vehicle of claim 6, wherein the stowage compartment has a volume of 650 cubic feet, 1000 cubic feet, or 1200 cubic feet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The electric vehicle of claim 6, wherein the vehicle has a weight limit of between 10,001 pounds and 14,000 pounds. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The electric vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a refrigeration unit at least partially housed by the stowage compartment that is configured to cool the stowage compartment. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electric vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle does not include an internal combustion engine, and wherein movement of the vehicle is driven by one or more electric motors. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The electric vehicle of claim 10, wherein a height of the rear floor above an underlying surface is between 22 inches and 28 inches. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The electric vehicle of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of sidewalls is formed without an opening extending therethrough. ### Claim 13 An electric vehicle comprising: a monocoque supporting a plurality of wheels, wherein: the monocoque includes a front cage defining an operator cabin, a rear floor positioned rearward of the front cage, and an intermediate section disposed between the front cage and the rear floor having a single fixed length, the vehicle includes a stowage compartment at least partially defined by the intermediate section and the rear floor that has a plurality of sidewalls and a ceiling, each of the plurality of sidewalls is formed without an opening extending therethrough, and movement of the vehicle is driven by one or more electric motors. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electric vehicle of claim 13, wherein the intermediate section, the plurality of sidewalls, and the ceiling at least partially cooperate to define an interior space of the stowage compartment that is closed off from one or more locations outside the vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electric vehicle of claim 14, wherein the monocoque includes a core formed from polyparaphenylene terephthalamide and a shell formed from resin and fiberglass that at least partially surrounds the core. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electric vehicle of claim 15, wherein the core includes carbon fiber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The electric vehicle of claim 16, the monocoque includes a laminate layer that at least partially covers the shell. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The electric vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a refrigeration unit at least partially housed by the stowage compartment that is configured to cool the stowage compartment. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The electric vehicle of claim 18, wherein the refrigeration unit is mounted in the stowage compartment along a corner at which one of the plurality of sidewalls and the ceiling intersect. ### Claim 20 An electric vehicle comprising: a monocoque supporting a plurality of wheels, wherein: the monocoque includes a front cage defining an operator cabin, a rear floor positioned rearward of the front cage, and an intermediate section disposed between the front cage and the rear floor having a single fixed length, the vehicle includes a stowage compartment at least partially defined by the intermediate section and the rear floor that has a plurality of sidewalls and a ceiling, the intermediate section, the plurality of sidewalls, and the ceiling at least partially cooperate to define an interior space of the stowage compartment that is closed off from one or more locations outside the vehicle, and each of the plurality of sidewalls is formed without an opening extending therethrough.