# US 8,783,405 B2 · Saddle-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 8,783,405 B2 - Document ID: US8783405B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/290,266 - Filed: 2011-11-07 - Published: 2012-05-10 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-10 - Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Takafumi Irie; Masayoshi Hori; Yoshinori Koyama; Tomoyasu Motojima - Inventors: Takafumi Irie; Masayoshi Hori; Yoshinori Koyama; Tomoyasu Motojima - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783405B2 ## CPC - 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 7/04: below the frame - B62K 2204/00: Adaptations for driving cycles by electric motor - 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) ## Abstract A saddle-type electric vehicle is provided with a drive battery and an effectively placed motor unit. The drive battery is mounted directly under a main frame section of a vehicle frame, and the motor unit is fixedly supported to the vehicle frame. The motor unit includes a motor body disposed below a pivot connection of a rear swing arm, and at least a part of the motor body is disposed rearwardly of the pivot connection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A saddle-type electric vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame comprising a main frame section and a down tube attached to and extending downwardly from a front end of the main frame section; a rear swing arm which is pivotally attached to the vehicle frame at a pivot connection; a drive battery unit comprising a battery case and a battery housed inside of the battery case, the drive battery unit operatively attached to the down tube and situated under the main frame section of the vehicle frame; and a drive motor unit operatively attached to the vehicle frame; wherein the drive motor unit comprises a motor body disposed behind the drive battery unit and entirely below the pivot connection of the rear swing arm, and wherein at least part of the motor body is disposed rearwardly of the pivot connection. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a drive axis of the motor body is disposed rearwardly of the pivot connection. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 2, wherein: the drive motor unit comprises a driven element which receives a drive force of the motor body; the motor body is disposed offset on a first side of a vehicle lateral center in the right-left direction, and the driven element is disposed on a second side of the vehicle lateral center in the right-left direction, and substantially opposite to the motor body. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the entire motor body is disposed rearwardly of the pivot connection. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 4, wherein: the drive motor unit comprises a driven element which receives a drive force of the motor body; the motor body is disposed offset on a first side of a vehicle lateral center in the right-left direction, and the driven element is disposed on a second side of the vehicle lateral center in the right-left direction, and substantially opposite to the motor body. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: the drive motor unit comprises a driven element which receives a drive force of the motor body; the motor body is disposed offset on a first side of a vehicle lateral center in the right-left direction, and the driven element is disposed on a second side of the vehicle lateral center in the right-left direction, and substantially opposite to the motor body. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the driven element comprises an output shaft which is disposed rearwardly of a drive shaft of the motor body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the output shaft is disposed rearwardly of the pivot connection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the driven element comprises an output shaft which is disposed rearwardly of the pivot connection. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the drive motor unit comprises a motor casing which interconnects respective rear end portions of the down tube and the main frame section of the vehicle frame, and functions as an integral part of the vehicle frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 6, wherein: the down tube comprises a down tube extension portion; the down tube extension portion and the battery case are each respectively situated in an inclined position, and the battery case is arranged so that an edge portion thereof is substantially parallel to the down tube extension portion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: the down tube is hollow and is configured to feed cooling air to the battery case; and the battery case has an inlet and an outlet formed therein to permit a flow of cooling air therethrough for cooling the battery disposed in the battery case. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: the down tube comprises a down tube extension portion; the down tube extension portion and the battery case are each respectively situated in an inclined position, and the battery case is arranged so that an edge portion thereof is substantially parallel to the down tube extension portion. ### Claim 14 A saddle-type electric vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame comprising a main frame section and a down tube attached to and extending downwardly from a front end of the main frame section; a rear swing arm which is pivotally attached to the vehicle frame at a pivot connection; a drive battery unit comprising a battery case and a battery housed inside of the battery case, the drive battery unit operatively attached to the down tube and situated under the main frame section of the vehicle frame; and a drive motor unit operatively attached to the vehicle frame; wherein the drive motor unit comprises: a motor body disposed below the pivot connection of the rear swing arm, and a motor casing which interconnects respective rear end portions of the down tube and the main frame section of the vehicle frame and functions as an integral part of the vehicle frame; and wherein at least part of the motor body is disposed rearwardly of the pivot connection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein: the drive motor unit comprises a driven element which receives a drive force of the motor body; the motor body is disposed offset on a first side of a vehicle lateral center in the right-left direction, and the driven element is disposed on a second side of the vehicle lateral center in the right-left direction, and substantially opposite to the motor body. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the battery case has an inlet and an outlet formed therein to permit a flow of cooling air therethrough for cooling the battery disposed in the battery case. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 15, wherein: the down tube comprises a down tube extension portion; the down tube extension portion and the battery case are each respectively situated in an inclined position, and the battery case is arranged so that an edge portion thereof is substantially parallel to the down tube extension portion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the battery case has an inlet and an outlet formed therein to permit a flow of cooling air therethrough for cooling the battery. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The saddle-type electric vehicle according to claim 14, wherein: the down tube comprises a down tube extension portion; the down tube extension portion and the battery case are each respectively situated in an inclined position, and the battery case is arranged so that an edge portion thereof is substantially parallel to the down tube extension portion.