Battery control device, battery control method, operation management system, and method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a battery control device, a battery control method, an operation management system, and an operation management method. The battery control device includes: a charge / discharge control unit; an external air temperature acquisition unit; and an upper limit state-of-charge setting unit. When the acquired external air temperature is lower than a specified temperature, the upper limit value of the state-of-charge management range, that is, the upper limit state-of-charge, is set to the upper limit state-of-charge at low temperature, and the upper limit state-of-charge at low temperature is lower than the upper limit state-of-charge when the external air temperature is higher than the specified temperature. The battery control device further includes a lower limit state-of-charge setting unit. When the acquired external air temperature is lower than the specified temperature, the lower limit state-of-charge setting unit sets the lower limit value of the state-of-charge management range, that is, the lower limit state-of-charge, to the lower limit state-of-charge at low temperature, and the lower limit state-of-charge at low temperature is lower than the lower limit state-of-charge when the external air temperature is higher than the specified temperature.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to battery control and operation management of electric vehicles. Background Art

[0002] An electric vehicle stores electric power in a mounted battery and drives a motor by means of the electric power to travel. The characteristics of the battery change according to its temperature. There is known a technique for changing the charge / discharge control according to the change in characteristics caused by the temperature change of the battery. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-81300 discloses a technique for changing the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the input / output voltage to a battery according to the temperature of the battery in the control of the battery of a hybrid vehicle.

[0003] The battery has a tendency that the charging time becomes longer when the temperature becomes lower. Especially in commercial vehicles such as route buses and taxis, the long charging time will result in a decrease in the operation rate of the vehicle. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to shorten the charging time at low temperatures.

[0005] A battery control device according to the present invention controls the charge and discharge of a power battery for a commercial electric vehicle, and includes: a charge / discharge control unit that controls the charge and discharge so that the stored power of the battery falls within a specified management range; an outside air temperature acquisition unit that acquires the outside air temperature; and an upper limit stored power setting unit that, when the acquired outside air temperature is lower than a specified temperature, sets the upper limit value of the management range of the stored power, that is, the upper limit stored power, to an upper limit stored power at low temperatures, which is lower than the upper limit stored power when the outside air temperature is higher than the specified temperature.

[0006] If charging is performed in a state where the stored power is low, the battery generates more heat and the temperature of the battery rises compared to the case where the stored power is high. When the outside air temperature is low and the battery temperature is likely to decrease, by setting the upper limit stored power low, the charging opportunity at a low stored power increases, and the battery temperature can be increased. In a state where the battery temperature is high, the charging efficiency is better than in a state where the battery temperature is low, and charging is completed in a shorter time.

[0007] In addition, the battery control device may include a lower limit stored power setting unit that, when the outside air temperature is lower than a specified temperature, sets the lower limit value of the management range of the stored power, that is, the lower limit stored power, to a lower limit stored power at low temperatures, which is lower than the lower limit stored power when the outside air temperature is higher than the specified temperature. Thereby, charging can be performed in a state where the stored power is even lower, and the battery temperature can be increased.

[0008] Further, the lower limit state of charge setting unit can set the lower limit state of charge at low temperatures in such a way that the range of the state of charge management when the outside air temperature is lower than the specified temperature is the same as the range when the outside air temperature is higher than the specified temperature. Thereby, it is possible to ensure the same state of charge as when the outside air temperature is high.

[0009] Furthermore, the battery control device can include a next driving distance acquisition unit that acquires the driving distance of the commercial electric vehicle to be charged until the next charge, and the upper limit state of charge setting unit can change the upper limit state of charge at low temperatures according to the driving distance until the next charge. Thereby, it is possible to ensure the state of charge corresponding to the next driving distance.

[0010] Furthermore, the battery control device can include a start time of operation acquisition unit that acquires the next start time of operation of the commercial electric vehicle to be charged. When the upper limit state of charge is set to the upper limit state of charge at low temperatures, the charge and discharge control unit can control the charge to end immediately before the start time of operation. Thereby, it is possible to suppress the decrease in the battery temperature during the period until the start of operation after charging and maintain the battery in a high-temperature state.

[0011] Furthermore, the battery control device can include an outside air temperature forecast acquisition unit that acquires a forecast of the outside air temperature. When the forecast outside air temperature is lower than the specified temperature, the upper limit state of charge setting unit can set the upper limit state of charge to the upper limit state of charge at low temperatures. It is possible to pre-heat the battery temperature before the outside air temperature drops.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is an operation management system for managing the operation of a commercial electric vehicle, which includes: a battery control device that controls the charge and discharge of the power battery of the commercial electric vehicle; and a route selection unit that selects the operation route of the commercial electric vehicle. The battery control device includes: a charge and discharge control unit that controls the charge and discharge to make the state of charge of the battery within a specified management range; an outside air temperature acquisition unit that acquires the outside air temperature; and an upper limit state of charge setting unit that, when the acquired outside air temperature is lower than the specified temperature, sets the upper limit value of the state of charge management, that is, the upper limit state of charge, to the upper limit state of charge at low temperatures, which is lower than the upper limit state of charge when the outside air temperature is higher than the specified temperature. The route selection unit selects an operation route corresponding to the driving distance corresponding to the upper limit state of charge at low temperatures as the operation route of the commercial electric vehicle whose upper limit state of charge is set to the upper limit state of charge at low temperatures. It is possible to select an operation route corresponding to the driving distance of a vehicle with a suppressed upper limit state of charge and a reduced state of charge.

[0013] Another aspect of the present invention is an operation management system for managing the operation of commercial electric vehicles, which includes: any one of the above battery control devices that controls the charging and discharging of the power battery for commercial electric vehicles; a vehicle allocation unit that determines the allocation of each commercial electric vehicle to each trip of the operation plan; a battery temperature acquisition unit that acquires the battery temperature; and a passenger prediction information acquisition unit that acquires the predicted information of the passengers for each trip. The vehicle allocation unit allocates the commercial electric vehicle with a lower acquired battery temperature among the multiple commercial electric vehicles to the trip with more passengers based on the acquired predicted information of the passengers. By allocating to the trip with more passengers, the reduction of the battery charge can be accelerated, and charging in a state of low battery charge can be promoted.

[0014] Another aspect of the present invention is an operation management system for managing the operation of commercial electric vehicles, which includes: any one of the above battery control devices that controls the charging and discharging of the power battery for commercial electric vehicles; a vehicle allocation unit that determines the allocation of each commercial electric vehicle to each trip of the operation plan; a battery temperature acquisition unit that acquires the battery temperature; and a congestion prediction information acquisition unit that acquires the predicted information of congestion for each trip. The vehicle allocation unit allocates the commercial electric vehicle with a lower acquired battery temperature among the multiple commercial electric vehicles to the trip predicted to encounter congestion based on the acquired predicted information of congestion. By allocating to the trip predicted to have congestion, the reduction of the battery charge can be accelerated, and charging in a state of low battery charge can be promoted.

[0015] Another aspect of the present invention is an operation management system for managing the operation of commercial electric vehicles, which includes: any one of the above battery control devices that controls the charging and discharging of the power battery for commercial electric vehicles; a vehicle allocation unit that determines the allocation of each commercial electric vehicle to each trip of the operation plan; a battery temperature acquisition unit that acquires the battery temperature; and a driving distance acquisition unit that acquires the driving distance for each trip. The vehicle allocation unit allocates the commercial electric vehicle with a lower acquired battery temperature among the multiple commercial electric vehicles to the trip with a longer driving distance based on the acquired driving distance. By allocating to the trip with a longer driving distance, the reduction of the battery charge can be accelerated, and charging in a state of low battery charge can be promoted.

[0016] Other aspects of the present invention relate to a battery control method for controlling the charging and discharging of a battery for powering a commercial electric vehicle. In this method, the battery control is such that the state of charge of the battery is within a specified management range. When the external temperature is lower than a specified temperature, the upper limit value of the management range of the state of charge, i.e., the upper limit state of charge, is set to the upper limit state of charge at low temperature, which is lower than the upper limit state of charge when the external temperature is higher than the specified temperature. Additionally, when the external temperature is lower than the specified temperature, in addition to the upper limit state of charge, the lower limit value of the management range of the state of charge, i.e., the lower limit state of charge, can be set to the lower limit state of charge at low temperature, which is lower than the lower limit state of charge when the external temperature is higher than the specified temperature. At this time, the lower limit state of charge can be set in such a way that the range of the management range of the state of charge remains unchanged.

[0017] Moreover, other aspects of the present invention relate to a battery control method for controlling the charging and discharging of a battery for powering a commercial electric vehicle. In this method, the battery control is such that the state of charge of the battery is within a specified management range. During a specified period in winter, the upper limit value of the management range of the state of charge, i.e., the upper limit state of charge, is set to the upper limit state of charge in winter, which is lower than the upper limit state of charge during periods other than the specified period in winter. Additionally, during the specified period in winter, in addition to the upper limit state of charge, the lower limit value of the management range of the state of charge, i.e., the lower limit state of charge, can be set to the lower limit state of charge in winter, which is lower than the lower limit state of charge during periods other than the specified period in winter. At this time, the lower limit state of charge can be set in such a way that the range of the management range of the state of charge remains unchanged. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the features, advantages, technology, and industrial importance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described. In the drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same components, where:

[0019] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the brief structure of the operation system according to this embodiment.

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the brief structure of the vehicle according to this embodiment.

[0021] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the functions of the operation management device and the battery control device according to this embodiment.

[0022] Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the control flow related to the setting of the upper limit state of charge according to this embodiment.

[0023] Figure 5It is a diagram showing an example of a control flow related to the setting of the upper limit and lower limit of the stored electricity in this embodiment.

[0024] Figure 6 It is a graph showing the simulation results of the changes in the stored electricity and the battery temperature when the upper and lower limits of the stored electricity are set to the values at normal temperature.

[0025] Figure 7 It is a graph showing the simulation results of the changes in the stored electricity and the battery temperature when the upper and lower limits of the stored electricity are set to the values at low temperature.

[0026] Figure 8 It is a block diagram showing the functions of the battery control device of other embodiments. Detailed Embodiment

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 It is a diagram briefly showing the operation system 10 of regular - route buses. The vehicle 12 of the regular - route bus travels along the determined path (route) 14 according to the operation plan, and there are stop stations 16 provided at multiple positions in the middle of the path 14. The operation system 10 has two paths 14, namely a circuit route 14A and a round - trip route 14B. The path can be only either the circuit route or the round - trip route, or there can be more paths. The vehicle 12 stops at each stop station 16 or the required stop stations 16, circles in one direction along the circuit route 14A, and makes a round - trip on the round - trip route 14B. The vehicle 12 is an electric vehicle that travels by the power of the battery mounted on it. A charging station 18 is provided adjacent to the path 14, and the vehicle 12 charges the battery at the charging station 18. A charging pile 20 is provided at the charging station 18, and the plug equipped on the vehicle 12 is connected to the socket of the charging pile 20 for charging. The operation of the vehicle 12 is managed by the operation management center 22. In the operation management center 22, based on the information determined in advance such as the distance of each path 14, the operation plan, etc., and the operation status such as the stored electricity of the battery of each vehicle 12, the number of passengers, etc., which change each time, and the external conditions such as the outside temperature and congestion information, each vehicle 12 is assigned to each train number determined by the operation plan. An operation management device 24 is provided in the operation management center 22, and the operation management device 24 manages all or part of the operation of each vehicle 12. Part of the operation management can also be executed by the operators in the operation management center 22. The operation plan can include information related to the train number defined as the operation of one vehicle from the charging station 18 and back to the charging station 18 again (the driving distance of this train number, the departure / arrival times of each stop station, etc.), and the assignment of each vehicle 12 to each train number.

[0028] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the schematic structure of the vehicle 12. As described above, the vehicle 12 is an electric vehicle driven by an electric motor 30. Hereinafter, the electric motor 30 will be simply referred to as the motor 30. The vehicle 12 is equipped with a battery 32 that stores the power supplied to the motor 30, and a battery control device 34 that controls the battery 32. The battery control device 34 controls the power supplied from the battery 32 to the motor 30 according to the requested power, and also controls the charging of the regenerative power of the motor 30 to the battery 32. In addition, during charging, it controls the charging of the power from the outside, such as the charging pile 20, to the battery 32. And the vehicle 12 is equipped with an outside air temperature sensor 36 that measures the outside air temperature and a battery temperature sensor 38 that measures the temperature of the battery 32.

[0029] Figure 3 This is a functional block diagram showing the functions of the operation management device 24 and the battery control device 34. The operation management device 24 and the battery control device 34 are configured to implement the specified functions by the processing device executing the specified program.

[0030] The battery control device 34 has a charge and discharge control unit 40 that controls the charge and discharge of the battery 32. The charge and discharge control unit 40 controls the power supplied to the motor 30 and the power regenerated from the motor 30. In addition, the charge and discharge control unit 40 controls the charge amount of the battery 32 within the management range between the specified upper limit charge amount and the lower limit charge amount. During charging, the charge and discharge control unit 40 monitors the charge amount of the battery 32 and ends the charging when it reaches the upper limit charge amount. In addition, during the operation of the vehicle 12, if the charge amount of the battery 32 reaches the lower limit charge amount or approaches the lower limit charge amount, it can report this and prompt for charging. Considering durability, the charge amount of the battery 32 is managed in the intermediate range so that it is not 100% or 0%, and usually the charge amount of the battery 32 is managed in the range of 40% - 80%. As will be described later, in the vehicle 12 or the battery control device 34, the upper limit charge amount is changed according to the information related to the outside air temperature. In addition, the lower limit charge amount can be changed according to the information related to the outside air temperature in addition to the upper limit charge amount. The battery control device 34 includes an upper limit charge amount setting unit 42 and a lower limit charge amount setting unit 44 that set the upper and lower limit charge amounts.

[0031] The battery control device 34 has an outside air temperature acquisition unit 46. The outside air temperature acquisition unit 46 acquires the outside air temperature around the vehicle at that moment based on a signal from the outside air temperature sensor 36 equipped on the vehicle 12. Additionally, the outside air temperature sensor can be set at one or more positions near the path 14, and the vehicle 12 can directly or via the operation management center 22 acquire information from these outside air temperature sensors. The outside air temperature sensor can also be set in the operation management center 22. Moreover, the outside air temperature acquisition unit 46 can directly receive weather information sent by public institutions such as meteorological bureaus or private service institutions, or acquire weather information via the operation management center 22, and acquire the air temperature of the area including the path 14 as the outside air temperature. Information from the operation management center 22 is acquired through wired or wireless means. In the case of acquiring information via wire, for example, in the charging station 18, a wired connection is made during charging to acquire information.

[0032] The battery control device 34 also has an outside air temperature forecast acquisition unit 48. The outside air temperature forecast acquisition unit 48 acquires weather forecasts sent by public institutions such as meteorological bureaus or private service institutions, and acquires the air temperature within a specified time or after a specified time, or the minimum air temperature in the next morning. The outside air temperature forecast acquisition unit 48 can acquire the outside air temperature forecast via the operation management center 22 through wired or wireless means, and additionally, can also directly acquire it via the Internet or the like.

[0033] The battery control device 34 also includes a next driving distance acquisition unit 50. The next driving distance acquisition unit 50 acquires the driving distance of the vehicle 12 during the next operation based on the operation plan. The driving distance during the next operation can be acquired from the operation management center 22 when the vehicle 12 is parked at the charging station 18. Or, it can be acquired from the operation management center 22 while the vehicle 12 is in operation. The battery control device 34 also includes an operation start time acquisition unit 52. The operation start time acquisition unit 52 acquires the start time of the next operation of the vehicle 12 based on the operation plan. The start time of the next operation can be acquired from the operation management center 22 when the vehicle 12 is parked at the charging station 18. The battery control device 34 includes a charging time limit unit 53 that limits the charging time for the battery 32 once.

[0034] The operation management device 24 includes a storage unit 58 that stores basic information 54 related to routes, such as the distances and required times between each route 14 and each stop 16, and the operation plans 56 of each train number. The operation plan 56 includes information on the route 14 of each train number, the departure and arrival times at the charging station 18, and the departure times at each stop 16, and also includes information on the vehicle 12 assigned to each train number. The operation management device 24 includes a vehicle allocation unit 60 that allocates the vehicle 12 to each train number. The vehicle allocation unit 60 allocates the vehicle 12 to each train number based on the basic information 54, the states of each vehicle 12, and external information.

[0035] The operation management device 24 includes a route selection unit 62 that selects an operation route corresponding to a certain vehicle 12. For example, the route selection unit 62 selects an operation route or train number that can be traveled with the limited battery charge for a vehicle with a limited battery charge.

[0036] The operation management device 24 includes a battery temperature acquisition unit 64 that acquires the temperature of the battery 32 of each vehicle 12. The battery temperature acquisition unit 64 acquires the battery temperature based on signals from the battery temperature sensors 38 installed in each vehicle 12. The battery temperature can be acquired wirelessly or wired during charging. By identifying a vehicle 12 with a low battery temperature and allocating the vehicle 12 to a train number with a heavy load, the reduction of the battery charge of the battery 32 of the vehicle 12 can be promoted. In order to select a train number with a heavy load, the operation management device 24 is provided with a passenger prediction information acquisition unit 66, a congestion prediction information acquisition unit 68, and a travel distance information acquisition unit 70. The passenger prediction information acquisition unit 66 acquires the passenger prediction for a certain train number based on past operation records and using the requests of the reservationists. The congestion prediction information acquisition unit 68 acquires the congestion information on the route 14 based on past operation records, according to the communication information providing service, or according to the currently running vehicles. The travel distance information acquisition unit 70 acquires the travel distance of each train number based on the information stored in the storage unit 58.

[0037] Generally, the charging efficiency of a battery tends to deteriorate and the charging time becomes longer when its temperature is low. In commercial vehicles such as route buses, if the charging time becomes longer, the available running time becomes shorter and the operation rate of the vehicle decreases. In order to shorten the charging time, it is only necessary to ensure a high temperature of the battery during charging. In this operation system 10, when charging is performed in a state where the battery charge is low, the high heat generation of the battery is utilized to ensure a high battery temperature and suppress the lengthening of the charging time.

[0038] When the outside air temperature is low, compared with the normal temperature, the battery control device 34 sets the upper limit of the stored electricity amount low so as to perform charging with a low stored electricity amount. The upper limit stored electricity amount setting unit 42 sets the upper limit value of the stored electricity amount to, for example, 80% at normal temperature. If the outside air temperature acquisition unit 46 acquires that the outside air temperature is below a specified temperature (for example, 5°C), the upper limit stored electricity amount setting unit 42 sets the upper limit value of the stored electricity amount to a low-temperature upper limit stored electricity amount (for example, 70%) lower than that at normal temperature.

[0039] Figure 4 This is an example of a flowchart related to the control of setting and changing the upper limit of the stored electricity amount according to the outside air temperature. The outside air temperature T is acquired (S100), and it is determined whether the acquired outside air temperature T exceeds a specified temperature (for example, 5°C) (S102). If it exceeds the specified temperature, the upper limit of the stored electricity amount is set to the upper limit of the stored electricity amount at normal temperature (for example, 80%) (S104). On the other hand, in step S102, when the outside air temperature T is below the specified temperature, the upper limit of the stored electricity amount is set to the upper limit of the stored electricity amount at low temperature (for example, 70%) (S106).

[0040] By reducing the upper limit of the stored electricity amount, the opportunity to charge in a state with a low stored electricity amount increases. The upper limit value of the stored electricity amount at normal temperature is set to 80%, and the lower limit value is set to 40%. When the stored electricity amount of the vehicle 12 decreases by 15% when it makes one round around the loop path 14A, if it makes 3 rounds, the stored electricity amount becomes 35% (= 80% - 15% × 3), which is lower than the lower limit value of 40%. Therefore, when the vehicle 12 travels on the loop path 14A, it is necessary to return to the charging station 18 every 2 rounds. If the stored electricity amount is 80% at the departure time, the stored electricity amount becomes 50% after 2 rounds. If charging is performed from this state, for each charging, it is charged in the range of the stored electricity amount from 50% to 80%. By setting the upper limit of the stored electricity amount to the upper limit of the stored electricity amount at low temperature of 70%, the stored electricity amount at the departure time is 70%, and the stored electricity amount after 2 rounds becomes 40%. Charging is performed in the range of the stored electricity amount from 40% to 50%, which is a lower range than that in the setting at normal temperature, and the heat generation amount increases, so that the temperature of the battery 32 can be increased.

[0041] When the outside air temperature is low, compared with the normal temperature, the battery control device 34 sets the lower limit of the stored electricity to a lower value so as to perform charging with a lower stored electricity. The lower limit stored electricity setting unit 44 sets the lower limit value of the stored electricity to, for example, 40% at normal temperature. If the outside air temperature acquisition unit 46 acquires that the outside air temperature is below a specified temperature (for example, 5°C), the lower limit stored electricity setting unit 44 sets the lower limit value of the stored electricity to a lower limit stored electricity at low temperature (for example, 30%) that is lower than that at normal temperature. The change range of the lower limit stored electricity can be determined independently of the change range of the upper limit stored electricity. For example, when the upper limit stored electricity is changed from 80% to 65%, the lower limit stored electricity can be changed from 40% to 30%. In addition, it can be changed by the same range as the change range of the upper limit stored electricity. For example, when the upper limit stored electricity is changed from 80% to 65%, the lower limit stored electricity can be changed from 40% to 25%. By making the change ranges of the upper limit stored electricity and the lower limit stored electricity equal, the effective stored electricity does not change, and there is no need to change the operation plan created assuming the outside air temperature is normal in terms of the driving distance. When the upper limit value of the stored electricity at normal temperature is set to 80% and the lower limit value is set to 40%, and if the vehicle 12 reciprocates once on the reciprocating path 14B, the stored electricity decreases by 20%, then if it reciprocates twice, the stored electricity becomes the lower limit value of 40% (= 80% - 20% × 2). That is, the vehicle 12 can reciprocate twice on the reciprocating path 14B at normal temperature. At low temperature, when the upper limit stored electricity is 65% and the lower limit stored electricity is 30%, the stored electricity management range defined by the upper limit stored electricity and the lower limit stored electricity is narrowed to 35%, and the effective stored electricity is less than that at normal temperature, and the vehicle 12 cannot reciprocate twice on the reciprocating path 14B. In this case, it is necessary to reconsider the operation plan, but if the change ranges of the upper limit stored electricity and the lower limit stored electricity are the same and the stored electricity management range is maintained, it is possible to achieve two reciprocations without changing the operation plan.

[0042] Figure 5 This is an example of a flowchart related to control in which, in addition to the upper limit of the stored electricity, the lower limit of the stored electricity is also set and changed according to the outside air temperature. For the same steps as the flowchart shown in Figure 4 the same reference numerals are assigned and their descriptions are omitted. In step S102, if the acquired outside air temperature T exceeds the specified temperature, the lower limit of the stored electricity is set to the lower limit of the stored electricity at normal temperature (for example, 40%) (S108). On the other hand, in step S102, when the outside air temperature T is below the specified temperature, the lower limit of the stored electricity is set to the lower limit of the stored electricity at low temperature (for example, 30%) (S110).

[0043] The battery control device 34 may also change the upper limit of the stored electricity at low temperatures according to the driving distance until the next charging. The next driving distance acquisition unit 50 acquires the driving distance of the next trip assigned to the vehicle 12 based on the operation plan. The next driving distance can be acquired from the operation management device 24 each time the vehicle returns to the charging station 18. In addition, in the vehicle 12, the operation plan for a specified period (e.g., one day) can be acquired at once, the driving distances of each trip within this period can be stored, and the acquisition can be performed accordingly. As a specific example, the vehicle 12 that is alternately assigned in the operation plan to make two rounds on the loop path 14A and make one round trip on the reciprocating path 14B will be described. According to the above example, the upper limit value of the stored electricity at normal temperature is set to 80%, the lower limit value is set to 40%, one round on the loop path 14A consumes 15% of the stored electricity, and one round trip on the reciprocating path 14B consumes 20% of the stored electricity. When assuming that the upper limit of the stored electricity at low temperatures is set according to the trip that requires more stored electricity and makes two rounds on the loop path 14A, the upper limit of the stored electricity at low temperatures becomes 70%. The lower limit of the stored electricity is not changed. In this case, the stored electricity after making one round trip on the reciprocating path 14B becomes 50% (=70% - 20%), and the subsequent charging is performed with a stored electricity of 50% - 70%. On the other hand, by changing the upper limit of the stored electricity according to the driving distance of the next operation, charging in a lower range (e.g., 50% or less) can be achieved. For example, the upper limit of the stored electricity at low temperatures is set to 70% during the charging before driving on the loop path 14A, and the upper limit of the stored electricity at low temperatures is set to 60% during the charging before driving on the reciprocating path 14B. If charging is performed according to this upper limit of the stored electricity, 30% of the effective stored electricity required for the trip that makes two rounds on the loop path 14A can be ensured, and 20% of the effective stored electricity required for the trip that makes one round trip on the reciprocating path 14B can be ensured. When the stored electricity becomes 40% after the operation of the trip that makes one round trip on the reciprocating path 14B, in the subsequent charging, charging is performed in the range where the stored electricity is 40% - 70%. Compared with the case where the upper limit of the stored electricity at low temperatures is not changed, the chargers in the range where the stored electricity is 40 - 50% increase, and charging is performed at a lower stored electricity.

[0044] When the upper limit of the charge storage amount is set to the upper limit of the charge storage amount at low temperature, the battery control device 34 can perform charging in such a way that it ends immediately before the start time of the next operation. The operation start time acquisition unit 52 acquires the start time of the next train number assigned to the vehicle 12 based on the operation plan. The start time of the next operation can be acquired from the operation management device 24 each time the vehicle returns to the charging station 18. Additionally, in the vehicle 12, the operation plan for a specified period (e.g., one day) can be acquired at once, and the start times of each train number within this period can be stored, and thus acquired. The charging start time is calculated by counting backward from the operation start time. The battery temperature can be associated with and stored in advance the time required for charging up to the set upper limit of the charge storage amount at low temperature. Based on this association, the time required for charging is acquired, and the charging start time is calculated. By not leaving a time gap between charging and operation, the battery temperature that rises during charging does not decrease before the start of operation. Thus, the regenerative power during operation can be charged effectively.

[0045] The battery control device 34 can acquire a forecast of the outside air temperature and set the upper limit of the charge storage amount lower than that at normal temperature before the outside air temperature drops. In addition to changing the upper limit of the charge storage amount, the lower limit of the charge storage amount can also be set lower than that at normal temperature. Alternatively, the lower limit of the charge storage amount can be set in such a way that the charge storage management range is the same as that at normal temperature. Even if the current outside air temperature is high, the battery can be pre-heated before the outside air temperature drops. The outside air temperature forecast acquisition unit 48 acquires the outside air temperature forecast for tonight, tomorrow morning, after a specified time, or before a specified time. Additionally, the outside air temperature forecast acquisition unit 48 can also acquire the forecast of the minimum outside air temperature for tomorrow. When it is determined in the outside air temperature forecast that the outside air temperature is lower than a specified temperature, the upper limit charge storage amount setting unit 42 sets the upper limit of the charge storage amount to the upper limit of the charge storage amount at low temperature before the outside air temperature drops to the specified temperature based on the acquired outside air temperature forecast. Additionally, the lower limit charge storage amount setting unit 44 can be set to the charge storage amount at low temperature together with the upper limit charge storage amount setting unit 42, that is, the lower limit of the charge storage amount is set to the lower limit of the charge storage amount at low temperature. The time for setting the upper limit of the charge storage amount at low temperature and the lower limit of the charge storage amount at low temperature can be a time that is a specified time, e.g., 5 hours, earlier than the time when the outside air temperature is forecast to be lower than the specified air temperature. Additionally, the predetermined time can be, for example, 0:00 in the early morning.

[0046] The outside air temperature prediction acquisition unit 48 can acquire predictions for several days such as a weekly weather forecast. When low temperatures are anticipated based on the predictions for this period, the upper limit charge amount setting unit 42 sets the upper limit charge amount to the charge amount at low temperatures during this period. Additionally, the lower limit charge amount setting unit 44 can be set to the charge amount at low temperatures together with the upper limit charge amount setting unit 42, that is, the lower limit charge amount is set to the lower limit charge amount at low temperatures. For the determination of low temperatures within the period, for example, it can be determined based on the number of days when the minimum air temperature is lower than a specified air temperature reaching a specified number of days within the period. For example, when the minimum air temperature on 3 days out of 7 days is lower than the specified air temperature, the upper limit charge amount and the lower limit charge amount can be set to the upper limit charge amount at low temperatures and the lower limit charge amount at low temperatures during this period.

[0047] When the outside air temperature is lower than a specified temperature, or when it is considered that the outside air temperature is lower than the specified temperature based on the prediction, the battery control device 34 can limit the charging time for one time. As a result, the chance of using the battery 32 in a state with a low charge amount increases, and charging is also performed in a state with a low charge amount. The charging time limiting unit 53 sets the charging time for one time to a short time based on the information that the outside air temperature is low or becoming low through the outside air temperature acquisition unit 46 or the outside air temperature prediction acquisition unit 48. For the set time, the battery temperature can be associated with the time until the upper limit charge amount is reached when charging is performed at this battery temperature in advance, and a time shorter than this time can be set. The battery temperature can be acquired from the battery temperature sensor 38.

[0048] The operation management device 24 can select a path corresponding to the driving distance corresponding to the upper limit of the stored electricity amount at low temperature for the vehicle 12 whose upper limit of the stored electricity amount is set to the upper limit of the stored electricity amount at low temperature. When the upper limit of the stored electricity amount is set to the upper limit of the stored electricity amount at low temperature and the effective stored electricity amount decreases, a short operation path is selected accordingly. For example, an operation path that makes one round in the loop path 14A and an operation path that makes two rounds, an operation path that reciprocates once in the reciprocating path 14B and an operation path that reciprocates twice, and an operation path that makes one round in the loop path 14A and reciprocates once in the reciprocating path 14B are preset. Suppose that the operation path that makes one round in the loop path 14A reduces the stored electricity amount by 15%, and the operation path that reciprocates once in the reciprocating path 14B reduces the stored electricity amount by 20%. At this time, in the operation path that makes two rounds in the loop path 14A, the stored electricity amount is reduced by 30%, in the operation path that reciprocates twice in the reciprocating path 14B, the stored electricity amount is reduced by 40%, and in the path that travels once in each of the loop path 14A and the reciprocating path 14B, the stored electricity amount is reduced by 35%. If the upper limit of the stored electricity amount at normal temperature is 80% and the lower limit is 40%, any of the above operation paths can be selected. When the upper limit of the stored electricity amount is reduced at low temperature or the lower limit of the stored electricity amount is also reduced on this basis and the effective stored electricity amount decreases, an operation path that can be traveled through this stored electricity amount is selected from the above. For example, when the upper limit of the stored electricity amount is set to 65% and the lower limit of the stored electricity amount remains unchanged, an operation path with a reduced stored electricity amount of 25% or less, that is, an operation path that makes one round in the loop path 14A and an operation path that reciprocates once in the reciprocating path 14B are selected. When the upper limit of the stored electricity amount is set to 65% and the lower limit of the stored electricity amount is set to 30%, operation paths other than the operation path that reciprocates twice in the reciprocating path 14B among the above operation paths are selected. An operation plan is created according to the restricted operation path.

[0049] The operation management device 24 can obtain the battery temperature and allocate the vehicle 12 with a low battery temperature to a trip considered to have a high load. By allocating to a trip with a high load, the stored electricity amount of the vehicle 12 can be further reduced, and charging can be performed in a state of low stored electricity amount during the next charging. Trips with a large number of passengers, trips traveling in congested sections, trips with a long driving distance, etc. have a high load.

[0050] The passenger prediction information acquisition unit 66 predicts the passengers of a certain train trip based on the actual operation results, requests from reservation users, etc. The actual operation results are, for example, the number of passengers on each day of the week and each time period in each route 14. The actual operation results are created by summarizing the number of passengers during past operations by day of the week and time period and stored. In addition, the actual operation results may include information indicating the association between the activities of facilities near the route 14 and the number of passengers. In addition, in the case of a system that stops at the stop 16 in response to a user's request, the number of passengers can be predicted based on this request information. The actual operation results can be stored, for example, in the storage unit 58 of the operation management device 24. The vehicle allocation unit 60 allocates the vehicle 12 with a low battery temperature to a train trip predicted to have more passengers than a specified amount. When the allocation has been determined, changes such as replacing the vehicle 12 are made.

[0051] The congestion prediction information acquisition unit 68 predicts that a certain train trip will encounter congestion based on the actual operation results, information from currently operating vehicles, and congestion information obtained from traffic information providing services such as VICS (registered trademark). The actual operation results are, for example, the time required between stops 16 on each day of the week and each time period in each route 14, and it is possible to predict that congestion will occur during this time period if the required time is longer than other time periods. In addition, congestion information is obtained based on information from currently operating vehicles 12, such as the traveling speed. In the case where the traveling speed of a certain vehicle 12 remains low for a long period of time, and in the case where stopping and starting are frequently repeated, it is determined that congestion has occurred in the section where the vehicle 12 is traveling. In addition, congestion information can also be obtained from traffic information providing services such as VICS (registered trademark). When a certain train trip travels in a congested section, it can be predicted that the train trip will encounter this congestion. The actual operation results can be stored, for example, in the storage unit 58 of the operation management device 24. The vehicle allocation unit 60 allocates the vehicle 12 with a low battery temperature to a train trip predicted to encounter congestion. When the allocation has been determined, changes such as replacing the vehicle 12 are made.

[0052] The travel distance information acquisition unit 70 obtains the travel distance of a train trip based on the operation plan 56 and the basic information 54 stored in the storage unit 58. For the vehicle 12 with a low battery temperature, a train trip with a long travel distance is allocated for the next operation. The vehicle allocation unit 60 allocates the vehicle 12 with a low battery temperature to a train trip with a long travel distance. When the allocation has been determined, changes such as replacing the vehicle 12 are made.

[0053] Figure 6 、 Figure 7 is a graph showing the comparison of the simulation results of the battery power when the upper limit battery power and the lower limit battery power are changed with the battery temperature. Figure 6Shows the changes in the stored electricity and the battery temperature when the upper limit of the stored electricity is set to 80% and the lower limit of the stored electricity is set to 40%. Figure 7 Shows the changes in the stored electricity and the battery temperature when the upper limit of the stored electricity is set to 65% and the lower limit of the stored electricity is set to 25%. For the external air temperature, it is assumed that the lowest is -6°C and the highest is 5°C in winter, and for the daily variation, it is assumed that each day is the same. Vehicle 12 returns to charging station 18 for charging after driving for 73.5 minutes. Charging is carried out until the stored electricity reaches the upper limit of the stored electricity, and after charging is completed, operation starts again. This driving and charging are repeated continuously. In Figure 6 , Figure 7 In the simulation results of, the battery temperature is low at the initial stage of the simulation. Excluding this time period for comparison and research.

[0054] When the management range of the stored electricity is 40% - 80% ( Figure 6 ), the charging time for one time is 85 - 110 minutes, the average value of the battery temperature is 8.4°C, and the average charging power is 10 kW. In contrast, when the management range is 25% - 65% ( Figure 7 ), the charging time for one time is 70 - 85 minutes, the average value of the battery temperature is 11°C, and the average charging power is 13 kW. It can be seen that by reducing the management range of the stored electricity, the battery temperature rises and the charging time is shortened. Thus, by setting the management range to 25% - 65%, the number of daily driving times in the case where the management range of the stored electricity is 40% - 80% is 7 times can be made 8 times.

[0055] In the above embodiment, the case where the battery control device 34 is equipped on the vehicle 12 has been described, but a part of the functions can also be executed by a device such as the operation management center 22 installed on the ground. For example, the external air temperature acquisition unit 46 can be provided on the ground side, and the upper limit stored electricity setting unit 42 changes the setting of the upper limit stored electricity by receiving an instruction to change the upper limit stored electricity from the external air temperature acquisition unit 46.

[0056] A part of the functions of the above battery control device 34 and operation management center 22 can be executed by an operator riding in the vehicle 12 or an operator located in the operation management center 22. For example, a monitor for displaying the external air temperature can be provided on the vehicle 12, and when the external air temperature displayed on the monitor becomes low, the operator manually changes the upper limit stored electricity. In addition, the operator in the operation management center 22 can also remotely change the upper limit stored electricity.

[0057] Figure 8 Is a diagram showing another embodiment, especially a block diagram showing the functions of the battery control device 80. The overall structure of the operation system 10, the structure of the vehicle 12, and the structure of the operation management device 24 can be the same as Figure 1 ,Figure 2 The same applies to the illustrated embodiment. The battery control device 80 has a charge / discharge control unit 40 that controls the charging and discharging of the battery 32. Since the charge / discharge control unit 40 has already been described, its description will be omitted.

[0058] The battery control device 80 sets the management range of the stored electricity amount to a range of stored electricity amount lower than that in other seasons according to the season, especially in winter, and increases the charging opportunity when the stored electricity amount is low to maintain a high battery temperature. When the battery temperature is high, the charging efficiency is good, and an increase in the charging time due to low temperature can be suppressed. The upper limit stored electricity amount setting unit 82 selectively sets a winter upper limit stored electricity amount used in winter and a summer upper limit stored electricity amount used outside winter. The winter upper limit stored electricity amount is a value lower than the summer upper limit stored electricity amount. For example, the summer upper limit stored electricity amount can be set to 80%, and the winter upper limit stored electricity amount can be set to 65%. The lower limit stored electricity amount setting unit 84 selectively sets a winter lower limit stored electricity amount used in winter and a summer lower limit stored electricity amount used outside winter. The winter lower limit stored electricity amount is a value lower than the summer lower limit stored electricity amount. For example, the summer lower limit stored electricity amount can be set to 40%, and the winter upper limit stored electricity amount can be set to 25%. The charge / discharge control unit 40 manages the stored electricity amount with the winter upper limit stored electricity amount as the upper limit and the winter lower limit stored electricity amount as the lower limit in winter, and manages the stored electricity amount with the summer upper limit stored electricity amount as the upper limit and the summer lower limit stored electricity amount as the lower limit outside winter. The upper limit stored electricity amount and the lower limit stored electricity amount are set based on the season setting command 86. An annual schedule for the period designated as winter is stored in advance. When the start date of winter arrives, a season setting command 86 for setting the winter upper limit stored electricity amount and the winter lower limit stored electricity amount is issued. When the end date of winter has passed, a season setting command 86 for setting the summer upper limit stored electricity amount and the summer lower limit stored electricity amount is generated. For example, winter can be defined as from December 1st to the last day of February. In this case, the winter upper limit stored electricity amount and the winter lower limit stored electricity amount are set on December 1st, and the summer upper limit stored electricity amount and the summer lower limit stored electricity amount are set on March 1st. The annual schedule can be stored, for example, in the storage unit 58 of the operation management device 24, and the operation management device 24 can issue a season setting command to each vehicle 12 based on the annual schedule. Alternatively, the annual schedule can be stored in the vehicle 12. In addition, an operator of the operation management center 22, an operator riding in the vehicle 12, or a maintenance worker of the vehicle 12, etc. can manually perform the operation of season setting. Based on this operation, a command is issued to set the winter upper limit stored electricity amount and the winter lower limit stored electricity amount or the summer upper limit stored electricity amount and the summer lower limit stored electricity amount.

[0059] It is possible to change only the upper limit stored electricity amount corresponding to the season. In addition, it is possible to make the change range of the upper limit stored electricity amount equal to the change range of the lower limit stored electricity amount so that the range of the management range remains unchanged. Alternatively, it is also possible to make the change ranges different so that the range of the management range changes.

[0060] In the operating system 10, there is only one charging station 18 provided, but it can also be provided at multiple locations. For example, it can also be provided at the terminal location of the reciprocating path 14B.

[0061] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the upper limit storage capacity and the lower limit storage capacity are set to two each for normal temperature use and low temperature use and changed in two stages, but they can also be set to three stages. In this case, the outside air temperature for changing the upper limit and the lower limit storage capacities also becomes two or more corresponding to the number of stages.

[0062] In addition, for a certain vehicle, when the non-operating time becomes longer, for example, for a vehicle that does not operate from late at night to morning when the number of users decreases, the upper limit value of the storage capacity can also be set to the upper limit value at normal temperature or fully charged (100%) during this period even at low temperatures.

[0063] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the route bus with a determined path has been described. However, for taxis and chartered cars without a determined driving path, according to the present invention, by setting the upper limit storage capacity low and also setting the lower limit storage capacity low in addition to the upper limit storage capacity, it is possible to charge in a state where the storage capacity is low and shorten the charging time.

Claims

1. A battery control device controls charging and discharging of a battery for power of a commercial electric vehicle, wherein, comprising: a charge / discharge control unit that controls charge and discharge so that the stored electricity amount of the battery falls within a specified management range; an outside air temperature acquisition unit that acquires the outside air temperature; an upper limit stored electricity amount setting unit that, when the acquired outside air temperature is higher than a specified temperature, sets the upper limit value of the management range, i.e., the upper limit stored electricity amount, to the upper limit stored electricity amount at normal temperature, and when the acquired outside air temperature is lower than the specified temperature, sets the upper limit value of the management range, i.e., the upper limit stored electricity amount, to the upper limit stored electricity amount at low temperature, and the upper limit stored electricity amount at low temperature is lower than the upper limit stored electricity amount at normal temperature when the outside air temperature is higher than the specified temperature; and a lower limit stored electricity amount setting unit that, when the outside air temperature is higher than the specified temperature, sets the lower limit value of the management range, i.e., the lower limit stored electricity amount, to the lower limit stored electricity amount at normal temperature, and when the outside air temperature is lower than the specified temperature, sets the lower limit value of the management range, i.e., the lower limit stored electricity amount, to the lower limit stored electricity amount at low temperature, and the lower limit stored electricity amount at low temperature is lower than the lower limit stored electricity amount at normal temperature when the outside air temperature is higher than the specified temperature, and controls charge and discharge of the battery so that the stored electricity amount of the battery is between the lower limit stored electricity amount at normal temperature and the upper limit stored electricity amount at normal temperature, or between the lower limit stored electricity amount at low temperature and the upper limit stored electricity amount at low temperature.

2. The battery control device according to claim 1, wherein the lower limit stored electricity amount setting unit sets the lower limit stored electricity amount at low temperature in such a manner that the range of the management range when the outside air temperature is lower than the specified temperature is the same as the range when the outside air temperature is higher than the specified temperature.

3. The battery control device according to claim 1, wherein it further has a next driving distance acquisition unit that acquires the driving distance of the commercial electric vehicle to be charged until the next charge, and the upper limit stored electricity amount setting unit changes the upper limit stored electricity amount at low temperature according to the driving distance until the next charge.

4. The battery control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein it further has an operation start time acquisition unit that acquires the next operation start time of the commercial electric vehicle to be charged, and when the upper limit stored electricity amount is set to the upper limit stored electricity amount at low temperature, the charge / discharge control unit controls so that charging ends immediately before the operation start time.

5. The battery control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein it further has an outside air temperature forecast acquisition unit that acquires a forecast of the outside air temperature, and when the forecast outside air temperature is lower than the specified temperature, the upper limit stored electricity amount setting unit sets the upper limit stored electricity amount to the upper limit stored electricity amount at low temperature.

6. An operation management system for managing the operation of commercial electric vehicles, wherein, comprising: the battery control device according to claim 1; and a route selection unit that selects an operation route of the commercial electric vehicle, wherein the route selection unit selects an operation route corresponding to the driving distance corresponding to the upper limit stored electricity amount at low temperature as the operation route of the commercial electric vehicle when the upper limit stored electricity amount is set to the upper limit stored electricity amount at low temperature.

7. An operation management system manages the operations of multiple commercial electric vehicles, wherein, comprising: A vehicle allocation unit determines the allocation of each of the commercial electric vehicles to each trip of the operation plan; The battery control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5; A battery temperature acquisition unit acquires the temperature of the battery, that is, the battery temperature; And A passenger prediction information acquisition unit acquires the predicted information of the passengers for each trip. The vehicle allocation unit allocates the commercial electric vehicle with the acquired lower battery temperature among the multiple commercial electric vehicles to the trip with more passengers based on the acquired predicted information of the passengers.

8. An operation management system manages the operations of multiple commercial electric vehicles, wherein, Comprising: A vehicle allocation unit determines the allocation of each of the commercial electric vehicles to each trip of the operation plan; The battery control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5; A battery temperature acquisition unit acquires the temperature of the battery, that is, the battery temperature; and A congestion prediction information acquisition unit acquires the predicted information of the congestion for each trip. The vehicle allocation unit allocates the commercial electric vehicle with the acquired lower battery temperature among the multiple commercial electric vehicles to the trip predicted to be congested based on the acquired predicted information of the congestion.

9. An operation management system manages the operations of multiple commercial electric vehicles, wherein, Comprising: A vehicle allocation unit determines the allocation of each of the commercial electric vehicles to each trip of the operation plan; The battery control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5; A battery temperature acquisition unit acquires the temperature of the battery, that is, the battery temperature; and A travel distance acquisition unit acquires the travel distance for each trip. The vehicle allocation unit allocates the commercial electric vehicle with the acquired lower battery temperature among the multiple commercial electric vehicles to the trip with a longer travel distance based on the acquired travel distance.

10. A battery control method controls the charge and discharge of a power battery for a commercial electric vehicle, wherein It is controlled such that the state of charge of the battery is within a specified management range. When the external air temperature is higher than the specified temperature, the upper limit value of the management range, that is, the upper state of charge, is set to the upper state of charge at normal temperature. When the external air temperature is lower than the specified temperature, the upper limit value of the management range, that is, the upper state of charge, is set to the upper state of charge at low temperature, and this upper state of charge at low temperature is lower than the upper state of charge at normal temperature when the external air temperature is higher than the specified temperature. When the external air temperature is higher than the specified temperature, the lower limit value of the management range, that is, the lower state of charge, is set to the lower state of charge at normal temperature. When the external air temperature is lower than the specified temperature, the lower limit value of the management range, that is, the lower state of charge, is set to the lower state of charge at low temperature, and this lower state of charge at low temperature is lower than the lower state of charge at normal temperature when the external air temperature is higher than the specified temperature. The charge and discharge of the battery are controlled so that the state of charge of the battery is between the lower state of charge at normal temperature and the upper state of charge at normal temperature, or between the lower state of charge at low temperature and the upper state of charge at low temperature.

11. According to the battery control method of claim 10, wherein The lower state of charge is set such that the range of the management range when the external air temperature is lower than the specified temperature is the same as the range when the external air temperature is higher than the specified temperature.

12. The battery control method according to claim 10, wherein the upper limit charge amount at low temperature is changed according to the driving distance of the commercial electric vehicle to be charged until the next charge.

13. The battery control method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein when the upper limit charge amount is set to the upper limit charge amount at low temperature, control is performed such that charging ends immediately before the operation time.

14. The battery control method according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein a forecast of the outside air temperature is obtained, and when the forecast outside air temperature is lower than the specified temperature, the upper limit charge amount is preset to the upper limit charge amount at low temperature.

15. An operation management method for managing the operation of a commercial electric vehicle, wherein for a commercial electric vehicle in which the upper limit charge amount is set to the upper limit charge amount at low temperature by the battery control method according to claim 10, a driving route corresponding to the driving distance corresponding to the upper limit charge amount at low temperature is selected as the driving route of the commercial electric vehicle.

16. An operation management method for managing the operation of a plurality of commercial electric vehicles whose stored electricity amounts of the batteries mounted thereon are controlled by the battery control method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the temperature of the battery, i.e., the battery temperature, is obtained, prediction information of the passengers for each trip is obtained, the commercial electric vehicle with the lower battery temperature among the plurality of commercial electric vehicles is assigned to a trip with more passengers based on the obtained prediction information of the passengers.

17. An operation management method for managing the operation of a plurality of commercial electric vehicles whose stored electricity amounts of the batteries mounted thereon are controlled by the battery control method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the temperature of the battery, i.e., the battery temperature, is obtained, prediction information of traffic congestion for each trip is obtained, the commercial electric vehicle with the lower battery temperature among the plurality of commercial electric vehicles is assigned to a trip predicted to be congested based on the obtained prediction information of traffic congestion.

18. An operation management method for managing the operation of a plurality of commercial electric vehicles whose stored electricity amounts of the batteries mounted thereon are controlled by the battery control method according to any one of claims 10 to 15, wherein the temperature of the battery, i.e., the battery temperature, is obtained, the driving distance for each trip is obtained, the commercial electric vehicle with the lower battery temperature among the plurality of commercial electric vehicles is assigned to a trip with a longer driving distance based on the obtained driving distance.

Images