US Patent 7913788 Integrated energy storage and rear suspension assembly

An integrated aerodynamic energy storage and rear suspension assembly includes a rear fuel tank/suspension module, a battery support assembly and a structural joining plate. The rear fuel tank/suspension module includes a rear sandwich panel, a fuel tank assembly mounted on the rear sandwich panel, with the rear fuel tank/suspension module sliding into a rear body cavity. The battery support assembly includes a propulsion battery mounted on a front sandwich plate, with the front sandwich plate having an upper face sheet adjacent to the propulsion battery, a lower face sheet spaced from the upper face sheet and a core connecting the upper face sheet to the lower face sheet, and with the lower face sheet having a smooth lower surface.