BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a battery device for a vehicle, and more particularly relates to a battery device for a vehicle, which is mounted in a lower portion of a vehicle.

Background Art

Japanese Patent No. 5776852 describes a high-voltage harness connection structure for an electrically driven vehicle. In an electrically driven vehicle described in Japanese Patent No. 5776852, a battery pack is disposed under a passenger seat, and a high-voltage harness extends from a front end portion of the battery pack and is connected to an inverter, etc. disposed in front of a driver seat. Further, a junction box is incorporated in the front end portion of the battery pack to switch an electrical connection between the battery pack and an externally connected device.

That is, the junction box incorporated in the battery pack is configured to supply, shut off, and distribute high voltage by a relay circuit. The junction box and a power module of the vehicle are connected through a connector terminal and a harness.

Thus, there are a number of ancillary instruments such as the junction box (relay device) needed to be included in a battery device, and providing such instruments causes a problem of an increase in the size of the battery device.

Therefore, the present disclosure provides a battery device for a vehicle, which can be miniaturized while including ancillary instruments such as a relay device.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a battery device for a vehicle. The battery device is mounted in a lower portion of a vehicle and includes a battery case; a plurality of battery modules accommodated in the battery case and arranged such that at least some of the battery modules are stacked in a plurality of levels in a vehicle up-down direction; and a first relay device that switches connection and disconnection between an external electric device and the battery modules. The first relay device is disposed on a side in a vehicle width direction of a portion where the battery modules are stacked in a plurality of levels.

According to the present disclosure thus configured, since the first relay device is disposed on a side in the vehicle width direction of the portion where the battery modules are stacked in a plurality of levels, it is possible to miniaturize the battery device for a vehicle while including the relay device.

In the present disclosure, preferably, the battery device for a vehicle further includes a second relay device for connecting the battery modules and an electric motor mounted on the vehicle, wherein the second relay device is disposed in a front end portion of the battery case in a front-rear direction of the vehicle.

According to the present disclosure thus configured, the battery device for a vehicle includes the second relay device separately from the first relay device, and the second relay device is disposed in the front end portion of the battery case in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to miniaturize individual relay devices, and it is possible to effectively utilize small empty space in the battery case.

In the present disclosure, preferably, the vehicle is provided with a charging device for charging the battery modules, the charging device is disposed on a rear side of the vehicle relative to the battery device for a vehicle, and the first relay device switches connection and disconnection between the charging device and the battery modules.

According to the present disclosure thus configured, since connection and disconnection between the battery modules and the charging device disposed on the rear side of the battery device for a vehicle are switched by the first relay device, a harness that connects the battery modules and the charging device can be shortened, and transmission loss of electric power can be reduced.

In the present disclosure, preferably, the battery device for a vehicle further includes a battery controller for controlling the first relay device, and the battery controller is disposed on an opposite side to the first relay device with respect to the battery modules in a vehicle width direction.

According to the present disclosure thus configured, since the battery controller is disposed on the opposite side to the first relay device with respect to the battery modules in the vehicle width direction, the battery controller can also be compactly accommodated in the battery case.

In the present disclosure, preferably, in a side view of the vehicle, the first relay device is disposed to overlap with the battery modules stacked in a plurality of levels. According to the present disclosure thus configured, in the side view of the vehicle, since the first relay device is disposed to overlap with the battery modules stacked in a plurality of levels, it is possible to reduce the projected area of the battery device for a vehicle in the side view.

In the present disclosure, preferably, in the portion where the battery modules are stacked in a plurality of levels, the battery modules on an upper side are disposed so as to be shifted toward the rear side of the vehicle in the vehicle front-rear direction relative to the battery modules on a lower side, and a wire harness to be connected to the first relay device is disposed in a space produced by shifting the battery modules on the upper side toward the rear side.

According to the present disclosure thus configured, since the wire harness is disposed in the space produced by shifting the battery modules on the upper side toward the rear side, even if the vehicle collides, the wire harness is less likely damaged, and it is possible to protect the wire harness.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to miniaturize a battery device for a vehicle while including ancillary instruments such as a relay device.

