DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION:
The present invention relates in general to the field of electric automobiles and particularly to electrically driven three-wheeled vehicles with light weight, corrosion free and cost-effective arrangement adapted to provide comfort to the driver and passengers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
In developing countries, motor operated three-wheelers, also known as autorickshaws, are popular mode of public transport and form an integral part of the urban transportation system. These not only accommodate several passengers but have added advantage in the form of roofs for driver and passengers. Moreover, these three-wheelers play a significant role in meeting the needs of daily commuters for short and medium-distance segments in a city and are the best mode to ferry passengers and goods in narrow lanes of small townships.
To promote electric mobility in third world countries, three-wheeled vehicles can play a vital role as front-runners and can become an excellent alternative to three wheeled vehicles operating on petroleum. These three wheeled electric vehicles, also known as E-rickshaw have made major technical strides since they were first introduced and have become increasingly popular in recent years. Instead of conventional source of energy, such as petroleum and gasoline, these E-vehicles run on electricity and operate on electric motors powered by electrochemical cells and mainly use built-in battery packs. The most obvious advantage of electric vehicles is that these have lower emission rate and hence easier on environment than conventional vehicles.
Although, the electric three wheeled vehicles are definitely the best substitute for fuel driven vehicles, their main disadvantage is that they are slower as compared to the conventional three wheelers and cannot move fast through congested streets. This slow speed might be because of the material it is crafted with. Numerous electric three wheelers, making use of plastic parts, have been disclosed in the prior art. For example: Omnexus, the material selection platform (Details available at: https://omnexus.specialchem.com/) explains the preferred use of engineering plastics such as acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) when it comes to manufacturing automotive parts. Technical specifications of electric three wheelers such as Deltic Star, Deltic Vista (Details available at: https://deltic.co/commercial.php) provide details about mild steel tubular heavy duty chassis for making frame and chassis and use of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene is limited to the roof of the vehicle. On the other hand, technical specifications of Mahindra Treo (Details available at: https://www.mahindraelectric.com/vehicles/treo-electric-auto/) reveal the use of weather resistant flex canopy for covering the roof of three wheeled electric vehicle. Patent document CN104231529A disclosed use of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene plastic for making automobile interior decorations. The materials which are used in constructing major body parts of the above cited vehicles mainly include fibreglass and metal. Moreover, use of plastic is limited to interior decorations. Thus, making these vehicles complex, heavier and less swift. Additionally, this material is extremely prone to recombining with oxygen in the environment and cannot stand up against rust and corrosion. Moreover, these battery-operated vehicles are robust and strong enough, these lack safety features such as efficient breaks when driven on high speed.
Another patent document USRE36457E revealed molded automobile exterior body parts formed of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene polymer. To render it light weight, automobile exterior body parts are made from plastic wherein the molded exterior body parts are manufactured by injection molding technique. Although injection molding is efficient in processing large volumes of small parts of automobiles, very large sized parts become a problem to make due to injection molding process. Additionally, it is a time-consuming process with high tooling costs.
But till date there are no unique physical finding that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks. Hence, there exists a need to overcome the drawbacks associated with existing prior arts. In these respects, the exterior provided to the electric three-wheeler according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art. The present invention provides thermoplastic exterior panels for electric three-wheeler primarily developed for the purpose of making the vehicle light weighted and eliminate technical problems identified in the state of the art. The inventor of present invention has mitigated the drawbacks related to gradeability, vehicle toppling, poor breaking and chassis breakdown, by incorporating light weight large body parts, light weight panels and light weight interiors to develop a unique electric three-wheeler.
These and other advantages will be more readily understood by referring to the following detailed description disclosed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing and which are generally applicable to other three wheeled electric vehicles.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:
The primary object of the present invention is to develop an improved, light weight and electrically driven three-wheeled vehicle.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electric three wheeled vehicle in order to provide to minimize noise and eliminate rust.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved electric three wheeled vehicle which is cost-effective and easily available for regular conveyance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
Accordingly present invention provides a technical solution to the deficiencies in the prior art. The present invention provides an improved, light weight electrically driven vehicle wherein the body panels of the electric vehicle are made from thermoplastic material.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the inventor provides an electric three-wheeler vehicle having a body and exterior cladding panels. The exterior cladding panels include a main body panel and a plurality of integrally vacuum formed panels.
In the further embodiment of the proposed invention, the electric three-wheeler comprises of exterior design panels which would include front fascia, front mudguard, roof structure, doors, left hand side panel, right hand side panel, rear panel.
The embodiment of the proposed invention encompasses the exterior panel assembly for the electric vehicle and further comprises of passenger chassis, dashboard, headlight housing, taillight housing, seats, mudguards, mirror assembly, bumper. Further, the dimensions of the embodiments of the proposed invention comprises length- 2.6 to 2.7 mtr, height- 1.6 to 1.8 mtr, width- 1 mtr (995 mm Outer to Outer).
The embodiments of the proposed invention comprising the exterior panel assembly for the electric vehicle wherein the exterior panel assembly is made up of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene using vacuum forming process. The vacuum forming reduces the time to production, lowers the tooling costs compared to injection molding and leads to quick and accurate production of the prototypes. Furthermore, the body panels make the vehicle light weighted which not only help in efficiency of vehicle mileage but also helps the vehicle body to be rust proof. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene panels provide an aesthetic look to the vehicle, eliminates the process of painting the vehicle and makes it scratch proof.
The advantage of embodiments is that light weight and easy reconfiguration of exterior panels is achieved. The embodiments of the present invention impart an improved battery efficiency, driving range, braking system, performance efficiency and safety of the vehicle. The embodiments of the present invention significantly reduce issues related to vehicle topping and gradeability further minimizing vehicle and chassis breakdown. Additionally, the embodiments of the present invention lead to improved impact, corrosion and heat resistance further needs minimal maintenance making the vehicle economic and cost- effective as compared to currently used three-wheeled vehicles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
The present invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, in which:
FIG.1: is a schematic perspective view of an electric three wheeled vehicle 100, with the reconfigurable body exterior panel assembly removed.
FIG.2: is a schematic view showing a front panel or front fascia 101 of the electric three wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.1.
FIG.3: is a schematic view showing a roof panel or roof assembly 102 of the electric three wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.1.
FIG.4: is a schematic view showing a left-hand side panel 103 of the electric three wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.1.
FIG.5: is a schematic view showing a right-hand side panel 104 of the electric three wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.1.
FIG.6: is a schematic view showing a rear panel 105 of the electric three wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
With continued reference to FIG. 1, a schematic perspective view of an electric three wheeled vehicle 100, with the reconfigurable body exterior panel assembly removed. The electric three wheeled vehicle 100 includes a body and reconfigurable body exterior panel assembly. In the embodiment shown in FIG.1, the exterior panel assembly of the electric three wheeled autorickshaw 100, includes a front panel or front fascia 101, a roof panel or roof assembly 102, a left-hand side panel 103, a right-hand side panel 104, rear panel 105 wherein the embodiments of the exterior body assembly are configured together for making a complete vehicle 100.
With continued reference to FIG. 2, a schematic view showing a front panel or front fascia 101 of the electric three wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.1.The front panel or front fascia 101 is the front body of the vehicle 100, located directly ahead of a vehicle’s driver. The front panel or front fascia 101 is appropriately designed to ensure maximum aerodynamic efficiency of the vehicle 100 and extends upwards to support a roof panel or roof assembly 102 of the vehicle 100. The front panel or front fascia 101 defines the anterior part of the driver cabin that ensures protection to the driver from the external elements with dimensions of 972mm X 563mm X 1375mm. The front panel or front fascia 101 encompasses the windshield, front wheel housing, headlight housing and other accessories. The front panel or front fascia 101 is made from thermoplastic like material which makes it lighter in weight, durable, tough and rustproof. The front fascia 101 is made up of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene using vacuum forming process.
With continued reference to FIG. 3, a schematic view showing a roof panel or roof assembly 102 of the electric three wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.1. The roof panel or the roof assembly 102 is a rigid unitary structure that comprises hard top roof of the vehicle 100. The roof panel or the roof assembly 102 with dimensions of 1914mm X 978mm X 220mm ensures protection to the driver and the passengers from the external elements such as sunlight, rainwater etc. The roof panel or the roof assembly 102 is preferably constructed from thermoplastic like material that makes it lighter in weight, durable, tough and rustproof. The roof assembly or roof panel 102 is made up of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene using vacuum forming process.
With continued reference to FIG. 4, a schematic view showing a left-hand side panel 103 of the electric three wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.1. The left-hand side panel 103 of the vehicle 100 defines a passenger cabin in an interior providing access to the interior of the vehicle. The left-hand side panel 103 is a rigid unitary structure that comprises and extends upwards to support a roof panel or roof assembly 102 of the vehicle 100 and comprises hard left panel with dimensions of 1333mm X 688mm X 53mm that ensures protection to the passengers from the external elements such as sunlight, rainwater etc. The left-hand side panel 103 encompasses side window, left rear wheel housing and other accessories. The left-hand side panel 103 is preferably constructed from thermoplastic like material that makes it lighter in weight, durable, tough and rustproof. The left-hand side panel 103 is made up of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene using vacuum forming process.
With continued reference to FIG. 5, a schematic view showing a right-hand side panel 104 of the electric three wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.1. The right-hand side panel 104 of the vehicle 100 defines a passenger cabin in an interior providing access to the interior of the vehicle. The right-hand side panel 104 is a rigid unitary structure that comprises and extends upwards to support a roof panel or roof assembly 102 of the vehicle 100 and comprises hard right panel with dimensions of 1333mm X 688mm X 53mm that ensures protection to the passengers from the external elements such as sunlight, rainwater etc. The right-hand side panel 103 encompasses side window, right rear wheel housing and other accessories. The right-hand side panel 104 is preferably constructed from thermoplastic like material that makes it lighter in weight, durable, tough and rustproof. The right-hand side panel 104 is made up of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene using vacuum forming process.
With continued reference to FIG. 6, a schematic view showing a rear panel 105 of the electric three wheeled vehicle shown in FIG.1. The rear panel 105 is located directly behind of passenger’s seat. The rear panel 105 extends upwards to support a roof panel or roof assembly 102 of the vehicle 100. The rear panel 105 defines the posterior part of the passenger’s seat with dimensions of 939mm X 1401mm X 381mm that ensures protection to the passengers from the external elements such as sunlight, rainwater etc. The rear panel 105 encompasses the rear window, tail-light housing and other accessories. The rear panel 105 is made from thermoplastic like material which makes it lighter in weight, durable, tough and rustproof. The rear panel 105 is made up of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene using vacuum forming process.
,CLAIMS:We claim:
1. An ABS(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) Plastic Body Panels For Electric Three-Wheeler consisting of:
a. a front fascia 101,
b. a roof panel 102,
c. a left-hand side panel 103,
d. a right-hand side panel 104,
e. a rear panel 105,
characterized by said panels are part of the exterior body assembly and are configured together for making a complete vehicle 100.

2. The ABS(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) Plastic Body Panels For Electric Three-Wheeler as claimed in claim-1 wherein the front fascia 101 is comprising of the windshield, front wheel housing, headlight housing etc. and is in the dimensions of 972mm X 563mm X 1375mm.

3. The ABS(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) Plastic Body Panels For Electric Three-Wheeler as claimed in claim-1 wherein the roof assembly 102 is with dimensions of 1914mm X 978mm X 220mm.

4. The ABS(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) Plastic Body Panels For Electric Three-Wheeler as claimed in claim-1 wherein the left-hand side panel 103 is with dimensions of 1333mm X 688mm X 53mm.

5. The ABS(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) Plastic Body Panels For Electric Three-Wheeler as claimed in claim-1 wherein the right-hand side panel 104 is with dimensions of 1333mm X 688mm X 53mm.

6. The ABS(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) Plastic Body Panels For Electric Three-Wheeler as claimed in claim-1 wherein the rear panel 105 defines the posterior part of the passenger’s seat with dimensions of 939mm X 1401mm X 381mm and is consisting of the rear window, tail-light housing etc.

7. The ABS(Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) Plastic Body Panels For Electric Three-Wheeler as claimed in claim-1 wherein the of front fascia 101, the roof structure 102, left hand side panel 103, right hand side panel 104 and rear panel 105 are made by Vacuum Forming process.