# US 5,343,973 A · Lightweight electric vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,343,973 A - Document ID: US5343973A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/634,219 - Filed: 1991-02-04 - Granted: 1994-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 1989-06-23 - Inventors: Willi Lanker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5343973A ## CPC - B62D 61/065: {with single rear wheel} - 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 29/046: {Combined superstructure and frame, i.e. monocoque constructions} - B62D 31/003: {compact cars, e.g. city cars} - B62D 63/02: Motor vehicles - B60G 2300/12: Cycles; Motorcycles - B60G 2300/50: Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles - 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) - 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 - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract The lightweight electric vehicle comprising two front wheels and a rear wheel comprises a high-strength load-bearing chassis comprising a base, sides and bulkheads as a safety cell for the driver. A separate lightweight plastics body forms an aerodynamic tear drop-shaped outer skin. Both the body width of about 1 m and the chassis width of about 60 cm are very narrow. This gives high travel performance, minimal weight, air resistance and energy consumption. In addition, increased overall safety, good road holding and a high degree of manoeuvrability are obtained. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lightweight electric vehicle comprising a load-bearing narrow shell-shaped chassis of high-strength rigid construction forming a safety cell for surrounding a driver, said chassis having a pair of coextensive side walls, at least one front transverse connection connected to and between said side walls and one rear transverse connection connected to and between said side walls, each said side wall extending upwardly to maintain the body of a driver between said side walls; a pair of front wheels connected to and situated outside said chassis; at least one rear wheel connected to said chassis; and a separate light-weight plastics body of an aerodynamic slender tear-drop outer shape covering all said wheels and said chassis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said at least one rear wheel is a double wheel. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said chassis has a flat base. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the maximum width of said chassis is not more than 70 cm and the maximum width of the body is not more than 110 cm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said front wheels are disposed at the respective, outermost side edges of said body an dsaid at least one rear wheel is at the outermost edge of said body at the rear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising a roll bar integrated into said chassis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said body is reinforced in at least one part covering said chassis and is connected to said chassis. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by a chassis of high-strength lightweight material selected from one of thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics reinforced with industrial endless fibres. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said chassis consists of a sandwich of two high-strength top layers with an interposed lightweight core. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that said body consists of one of a reinforced thermosetting plastics and a reinforced thermoplastics. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that said body comprises two longitudinally divided lateral halves, a cover and a removable hood. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that said body comprises a tear drop-shaped basic member and a tear drop-shaped hood. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 which further comprises a hood pivotally mounted on said plastic body to provide access to said shell-shaped chassis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) An electric vehicle according to claim 13 which further comprises a cover part pivotally mounted on said chassis to pivot in an upward direction away from said hood. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) An electric vehicle according to claim 13 wherein said hood pivots laterally of said body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 which further comprises wheel guards and body mountings on said body outside said chassis with a lower strength than said chassis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 which further comprises batteries in a space between said front wheels and said front transverse connection. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An electric vehicle according to claim 17 which further comprises a plastic spring between said chassis and at least one of said wheels and between said batteries and said chassis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 which further comprises a plastic spring between said chassis and at least one of said wheels. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 which further comprises a steering means in a bottom of said chassis for disposition under a driver's legs, said steering means being connected to said front wheels. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 which further comprises a drive for driving said rear wheel, a swing arm secured to said chassis and having said drive and said rear wheel mounted thereon, and a spring support connected to and between said chassis and said drive. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) An electric vehicle according to claim 1 which further comprises an infinitely variable automatic torque converter drive connected to said rear wheel. ### Claim 23 A lightweight electric vehicle comprising a narrow load-bearing shell-shaped chassis of high-strength rigid construction for receiving a driver, said chassis having a front bulkhead at a forward end, a rear bulkhead at a rear end for supporting a driver, and a pair of side walls extending between said bulkheads, each said side wall extending upwardly to maintain the body of a driver between said side walls; a pair of front wheels mounted on said chassis near said front bulkhead and located laterally outside said chassis; at least one rear wheel mounted on said chassis near said rear transverse connection; and a lightweight body having an aerodynamic slender tear-drop shape covering at least said front wheels and said rear wheel. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) An electric vehicle as set forth in claim 23 which further comprises a steering means in said chassis connected to said front wheels to steer said front wheels.