# US 11,440,606 B2 · Straddle-type electric vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,440,606 B2 - Document ID: US11440606B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/013,007 - Filed: 2020-09-04 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-29 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yudai Hirose; Naoya Ishimatsu; Hiroshi Tamura; Ryo Kubota - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440606B2 ## CPC - B62J 41/00: Arrangements of radiators, coolant hoses or pipes on cycles - H02K 7/006: {Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle} - B62J 43/16: on motorcycles or the like - B62K 11/04: characterised by the engine being between front and rear wheels - B62K 25/283: {for cycles without a pedal crank, e.g. motorcycles} - B62M 7/02: with engine between front and rear wheels - H02K 9/19: for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil - H02K 9/193: with provision for replenishing the cooling medium; with means for preventing leakage of the cooling medium - H02K 11/0094: {Structural association with other electrical or electronic devices} - H02K 11/33: Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics (H02K11/38 takes precedence) - B62K 25/28: with pivoted chain-stay - B62K 2204/00: Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor - Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility - B62J: CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - B62M: RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR {SINGLE-TRACK} CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of transmissions in vehicles in general B60K; transmission elements per se F16) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A straddle-type electric vehicle including a main frame extending in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, a pivot frame extending downward from a rear portion of the main frame, and a swing arm which is supported by the pivot frame and by which a rear wheel is swingably supported, the straddle-type electric vehicle, further comprising a battery supported by the main frame, a motor unit configured to be coolable by circulation of a cooling medium, a control apparatus that controls the motor unit based on electric power of the battery, and a heat exchanger connected to the motor unit via a pipe that forms a flow path for the cooling medium, wherein the control apparatus and the heat exchanger are arranged anterior to the battery in alignment with each other. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A straddle-type electric vehicle including a main frame that is installed so as to extend in a longitudinal direction of a vehicle body, a pivot frame that is installed so as to extend downward from a rear portion of the main frame, and a swing arm which is supported by the pivot frame and by which a rear wheel is swingably supported, the straddle-type electric vehicle further comprising: a battery supported by the main frame; a motor unit configured to be coolable by circulation of a cooling medium; a control apparatus that controls the motor unit based on electric power of the battery; and a heat exchanger connected to the motor unit via a pipe that forms a flow path for the cooling medium, wherein the control apparatus and the heat exchanger are exposed and arranged anterior to the battery in alignment with each other, such that a traveling wind hits front surfaces of both the control apparatus and the heat exchanger. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of heat dissipation fins are installed on a front surface of the control apparatus, and exposed in a front view to be hit by the traveling wind. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the motor unit is fixed with respect to the pivot frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of heat dissipation fins are provided on a front surface of the control apparatus, the plurality of heat dissipation fins being installed so as to extend in an up-and-down direction of the vehicle body in a front view. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the motor unit is provided with a pump unit for circulating the cooling medium, the pump unit pressure-feeds the cooling medium that has cooled the motor unit to the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger and the control apparatus are connected by a second pipe so that the cooling medium that has passed through the heat exchanger passes through the control apparatus, and the control apparatus and the motor unit are connected by a third pipe so that the cooling medium that has passed through the control apparatus returns to the motor unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is arranged below the heat exchanger in a front view. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a pair of left and right down frames that is installed below the main frame so as to extend toward a lower rear portion of the vehicle body, wherein the control apparatus and the heat exchanger are both fixed while straddling the pair of left and right down frames in a front view. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising: a down frame that is installed below the main frame so as to extend toward a lower rear portion of the vehicle body; and a pair of left and right shrouds that is disposed on outer sides of the down frame in a vehicle width direction, wherein the pair of left and right shrouds is installed so as to extend in an up-and-down direction of the vehicle body in such a manner that each shroud overlaps at least both of the control apparatus and the heat exchanger in a horizontal direction of the vehicle body. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the pair of left and right shrouds is disposed on left and right sides of the control apparatus and the heat exchanger in a front view, and front edge portions of the pair of left and right shrouds are arranged anterior to the control apparatus and the heat exchanger so as to guide traveling wind to the control apparatus and the heat exchanger. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the pair of left and right shrouds is fixed in such a manner that a distance therebetween in the front edge portions is longer than a distance therebetween in rear edge portions. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control apparatus and the heat exchanger are arranged in alignment with each other in a vehicle width direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising a pair of left and right down frames that is installed below the main frame so as to extend toward a lower rear portion of the vehicle body, wherein the control apparatus is fixed with respect to one of the pair of left and right down frames, and the heat exchanger is fixed with respect to the other of the pair of left and right down frames. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 12, wherein in a front view, the motor unit is disposed while being displaced from a center of the vehicle body toward one side, and the control apparatus is fixed with respect to one of the pair of left and right down frames on the one side. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the control apparatus is arranged posterior to the heat exchanger so that a part thereof overlaps the heat exchanger in a front view. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein an upper end portion of the control apparatus is positioned above a lower end portion of the heat exchanger. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The straddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein a lower end portion of the control apparatus is positioned above a lower end portion of the motor unit.