Patent attributes
A battery pack protection system is provided for use with an electric vehicle in which the battery pack is mounted under the car. The system utilizes a debris capture plate mounted in front of the battery pack and positioned such that the leading edge of the mounted capture plate is positioned closer to the underlying road surface than the lowermost battery pack surface. Capture plate stiffeners, which are mounted to the capture plate, use deformation control features (e.g., notches) to promote a preconfigured pattern of capture plate deformation when a piece of debris impacts the plate's leading edge. The deformed capture plate then traps the debris and stops it from passing under the battery pack, thereby preventing the battery pack from possible debris impact damage.
