Trunk as stiffening element

Abstract

A stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle includes a first longitudinal support beam and a second longitudinal support beam. A trunk of the electric vehicle is positioned between the first longitudinal support beam and the second longitudinal support beam. The trunk is positioned between a front bumper and a firewall of the electric vehicle. The trunk includes a trunk base forming a floor of the trunk. The trunk base includes one or more stiffening elements positioned across one or both of a width or length of the trunk base.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle, comprising:
 a crash cross beam;   a first crash beam coupled with and extending rearward from the crash cross beam;   a second crash beam coupled with and extending rearward from the crash cross beam; and   a trunk positioned between the first crash beam and the second crash beam, the trunk being positioned inward of the crash cross beam, wherein the trunk comprises a support beam that extends across a width of the trunk.   
     
     
         3 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein:
 each of the first crash beam and the second crash beam comprise at least one dimple that is configured to cause the respective crash beam to crumple in an accordion-like manner in an event of a frontal impact.   
     
     
         4 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the crash cross beam comprises a medial portion, a first end, and a second end; and   the first end and the second end are bent reward relative to the medial portion.   
     
     
         5 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the support beam is positioned adjacent a rear wall of the trunk.   
     
     
         6 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a firewall positioned rearward of the trunk and coupled with rear ends of the first crash beam and the second crash beam.   
     
     
         7 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the firewall is coupled with the rear ends of the first crash beam and the second crash beam via one or more crash elements.   
     
     
         8 . A stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle, comprising:
 a first crash beam coupled positioned on a first lateral side of the electric vehicle;   a second crash beam coupled positioned on a second lateral side of the electric vehicle; and   a trunk positioned between the first crash beam and the second crash beam, the trunk comprises a support beam that extends across a width of the trunk, wherein the support beam is positioned proximate a rear wall of the trunk.   
     
     
         9 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the trunk further comprises a shelf that extends from a rear wall of the trunk.   
     
     
         10 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the shelf comprises the support beam.   
     
     
         11 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the support beam comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, and a bottom wall.   
     
     
         12 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the support beam comprises a rib that extends from a front of the top wall to a rear of the bottom wall.   
     
     
         13 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the support beam comprises a trapezoidal cross section; and   the rear wall slopes rearward from a bottom of the rear wall to a top of the rear wall.   
     
     
         14 . The stiffening element to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the support beam is positioned within an interior of the trunk.   
     
     
         15 . A method of stiffening an electric vehicle to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle, the method comprising:
 positioning a trunk between a first crash beam and a second crash beam of the electric vehicle, the trunk defining a storage compartment inward of a crash cross beam of the electric vehicle; and   positioning a trunk support beam across a width of the trunk, the trunk support beam being configured to stiffen the trunk in an event of a side impact, wherein the trunk support beam is positioned proximate a rear wall of the trunk.   
     
     
         16 . The method of stiffening an electric vehicle to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein:
 positioning the trunk support beam comprises securing or forming the trunk support beam against a trunk shelf extending from a rear wall of the trunk.   
     
     
         17 . The method of stiffening an electric vehicle to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the support beam comprises a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and   a rib that extends from the top wall to the bottom wall.   
     
     
         18 . The method of stiffening an electric vehicle to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the crash cross beam comprises a generally rectangular cross section and includes at least one rib formed within an interior of the crash cross beam.   
     
     
         19 . The method of stiffening an electric vehicle to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first crash beam and the second crash beam are coupled with a firewall of the electrical vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of stiffening an electric vehicle to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the trunk is formed between the crash cross beam and the firewall.   
     
     
         21 . The method of stiffening an electric vehicle to protect against a side or frontal impact for an electric vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the trunk is formed in a portion of the electric vehicle that is forward of a passenger compartment of the electric vehicle.