Power supply system, control device, and control method for a power supply system

Abstract

Provided is a power supply system, a control device, and a control method for a power supply system. The power supply system includes a vehicle equipped with a battery, a power supply device, and a control device for controlling power supply from the power supply device to the vehicle. The vehicle includes an engine and a motor that generates a travel driving force using power supplied from the battery. When power supply by the power supply device is requested from the vehicle, the control device (a) acquires a fuel remaining amount for the engine from the vehicle, (b) outputs an instruction to the vehicle to urge a reduction in charging time when the fuel remaining amount is greater than a reference value, and (c) sets at least one of a power unit price of charging power and a fuel unit price to be lower than when the instruction is not accepted, when a response to acceptance of the instruction is received from the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to power supply systems, control devices, and control methods for power supply systems, and more particularly to techniques for effectively utilizing power supply equipment for charging batteries mounted in vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] In recent years, the number of vehicles that can use external power sources to charge their batteries, such as electric vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), has been increasing. Along with this, power supply facilities (charging stations) for charging electric vehicles at their destinations have become increasingly widespread.

[0003] In hybrid vehicles equipped with both an engine and a motor, the vehicle can still operate and generate electricity by powering the engine, even when the battery charge is low. In contrast, electric vehicles lack an engine; therefore, they become unable to operate when the battery power is depleted due to the inability to be externally charged. In other words, external charging is more crucial for electric vehicles than for hybrid vehicles.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-064342 discloses a configuration whereby, for hybrid vehicles with high remaining fuel, the charging power in the power supply is set higher than that for electric vehicles. In this configuration, since charging costs become high for hybrid vehicles with high remaining fuel, users of such vehicles are given an incentive to use gasoline instead of charging at the power supply. This alleviates congestion at power supply facilities, prioritizes external charging for electric vehicles, and thus effectively utilizes the power supply. Summary of the Invention

[0005] On the other hand, in the charging system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-064342, in the case of hybrid vehicles, it is impossible to charge the battery in the power supply device, or a high charging fee is required, which may impair the convenience of users.

[0006] This disclosure was made to solve such a problem, with the aim of enabling the efficient use of power supply equipment that can provide external power without compromising the convenience of users of hybrid vehicles.

[0007] The first aspect of this disclosure relates to a power supply system comprising: a vehicle equipped with a battery capable of being charged using external power; a power supply device that supplies power to the vehicle; and a control device for controlling the power supply from the power supply device to the vehicle. The vehicle includes: an engine; and a motor that receives power from the battery to generate driving force. When the vehicle requests power from the power supply device, the control device (i) obtains the remaining fuel amount for the engine from the vehicle, (ii) if the remaining fuel amount is greater than a reference value, outputs an instruction to the vehicle urging a reduction in charging time, and (iii) if the vehicle receives a response agreeing to the instruction, sets at least one of the unit price of the charging power and the unit price of the fuel to be lower than if the instruction were not agreed to.

[0008] According to the power supply system disclosed herein, when a demand for external power is generated from a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and motor, and the remaining fuel level is higher than a reference value, an instruction is sent to the vehicle urging a reduction in charging time. Furthermore, when the vehicle user agrees to this instruction, subsequent charging opportunities for the electric vehicle increase, and a discount is applied to the electricity price and / or fuel price of the hybrid vehicle. Therefore, the power supply equipment can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of the hybrid vehicle user.

[0009] In one embodiment, the above instruction includes information suggesting a charge amount less than the battery's required charge amount.

[0010] By configuring it in this way, it is possible to suggest to users to reduce the amount of charging and urge them to shorten the charging time.

[0011] In one embodiment, the above instruction includes information suggesting a charging time that is less than the battery's required charging time.

[0012] By configuring it in this way, users can be encouraged to shorten charging time.

[0013] The second aspect of this disclosure relates to a power supply system comprising: a vehicle equipped with a battery capable of being charged using external power; a power supply device including a power supply unit for supplying power to the vehicle; and a control device for controlling the power supply to the vehicle in the power supply device. The power supply device includes an AC power supply unit and a DC power supply unit. The vehicle includes: an engine; and a motor that receives power supplied from the battery to generate driving force. The vehicle is configured to perform both AC charging using alternating current from the AC power supply unit and DC fast charging using direct current from the DC power supply unit. When the control device is requested by the vehicle to supply power via the DC power supply unit, (i) obtains the remaining fuel amount for the engine from the vehicle, (ii) if the remaining fuel amount is greater than a reference value, outputs an instruction to the vehicle urging power supply via the AC power supply unit, and (iii) if the vehicle receives a response agreeing to the instruction, sets at least one of the unit price of the charging power and the unit price of the fuel to be lower than if the instruction was not agreed to.

[0014] According to the power supply system disclosed herein, when a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and motor requests external power from a power supply unit having both AC and DC power supply devices, and the remaining fuel level is higher than a reference value, an instruction is sent to the vehicle urging power supply via the AC power supply device. Furthermore, when the vehicle user agrees to this instruction, the electricity unit price and / or fuel unit price are discounted. Therefore, the power supply equipment can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of the hybrid vehicle user.

[0015] In one embodiment, the power supply system also includes a camera for detecting the status of the power supply devices. The control device outputs the aforementioned instruction if it determines, based on the camera's image, that the power supply devices are congested.

[0016] By configuring the system in this way, it can instruct users to reduce the amount of electricity charged or change the charging method only when the power supply is congested based on camera images. Therefore, it can perform charging according to the user's request when priority for electric vehicle use is not required. Thus, the power supply can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of hybrid vehicle users.

[0017] The third aspect of this disclosure relates to a power supply system comprising: a vehicle equipped with a battery capable of being charged using external power; a power supply device including a power supply unit for supplying power to the vehicle; a camera for detecting the status of the power supply unit; and a control device for controlling the power supply from the power supply unit to the vehicle. The vehicle includes: an engine; a motor that receives power from the battery to generate driving force; and a communication device for wirelessly communicating with the power supply unit. When the control device is reserved by the vehicle for power supply via the power supply unit and, based on the camera image, determines that the power supply unit is congested, (i) obtains the remaining fuel amount for the engine from the vehicle; (ii) if the remaining fuel amount is greater than a reference value, outputs an instruction to the vehicle urging it to move to another power supply unit; and (iii) if the vehicle receives a response agreeing to the instruction, sets at least one of the unit price of the charging power and the unit price of the fuel to be lower than if the instruction were not agreed to.

[0018] According to the power supply system disclosed herein, when a power supply reservation is made from the hybrid vehicle and the power supply equipment is congested, an instruction urging the vehicle to move to another power supply equipment is output when the remaining fuel level is higher than a reference value. Furthermore, when the vehicle user agrees to this instruction, the electricity unit price and / or fuel unit price are discounted. Because the vehicle is instructed to move to another power supply equipment when a charging reservation is made, unnecessary movement to that power supply equipment can be prevented. Therefore, the power supply equipment can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of the hybrid vehicle user.

[0019] In one embodiment, the control device is located within the power supply device.

[0020] By configuring it in this way, processing can be performed in the power supply device.

[0021] In one embodiment, the control device is a server capable of communicating with the power supply device.

[0022] By configuring it in this way, processing can be performed in a unary manner via a remote server.

[0023] The fourth aspect of this disclosure relates to a control device for controlling a power supply system that uses electricity from a power supply device to charge a battery mounted in a vehicle with an engine. The control device includes: a processor; and a memory storing a program executed by the processor. When the processor is requested from the vehicle to supply power via the power supply device, (i) it obtains the remaining fuel amount for the engine from the vehicle; (ii) if the remaining fuel amount is greater than a reference value, it outputs an instruction to the vehicle urging a reduction in charging time; and (iii) if it receives a response from the vehicle agreeing to the instruction, it sets at least one of the unit price of the charging power and the unit price of the fuel to be lower than if the instruction were not agreed to.

[0024] According to the control device disclosed herein, when a demand for external power is generated from a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and motor, and the remaining fuel level is higher than a reference value, an instruction is output to the vehicle urging a reduction in charging time. Furthermore, when the vehicle user agrees to this instruction, the electricity unit price and / or fuel unit price are discounted. Therefore, the power supply equipment can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of the hybrid vehicle user.

[0025] The fifth aspect of this disclosure relates to a method for controlling a power supply system that uses electricity from a power supply device to charge a battery mounted in a vehicle with an engine. The method includes: (i) determining whether a request for power supply via the power supply device has been made from the vehicle; (ii) obtaining the remaining fuel quantity for the engine from the vehicle; (iii) if a request for power supply via the power supply device has been made and the remaining fuel quantity is greater than a reference value, outputting an instruction to the vehicle urging a reduction in charging time; and (iv) if a response from the vehicle agreeing to the instruction is received, setting at least one of the unit price of the charging electricity and the unit price of the fuel to a lower value than if the instruction had not been agreed to.

[0026] According to the control method of the power supply system disclosed herein, when a demand for external power supply arises from a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and motor, and the remaining fuel level is higher than a reference value, an instruction is issued to the vehicle urging a reduction in charging time. Furthermore, when the vehicle user agrees to this instruction, the electricity unit price and / or fuel unit price are discounted. Therefore, the power supply equipment can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of the hybrid vehicle user.

[0027] According to the power supply system disclosed herein, when a demand for external power is generated from a hybrid vehicle equipped with an engine and motor, and the remaining fuel level is higher than a reference value, an instruction is sent to the vehicle urging a reduction in charging time. Furthermore, when the vehicle user agrees to this instruction, the electricity unit price and / or fuel unit price are discounted. Therefore, the power supply equipment can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of the hybrid vehicle user. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall power supply system involved in Implementation Method 1.

[0030] Figure 2 It is used for Figure 1 The functional block diagram provides a detailed explanation of the vehicles and power supply equipment.

[0031] Figure 3 It is used for in Figure 1 The flowchart describes the control operations performed in the power supply system.

[0032] Figure 4 This is a functional block diagram of the vehicle and power supply equipment in the power supply system involved in Implementation Method 2.

[0033] Figure 5 It is used for in Figure 4 The flowchart describes the control operations performed in the power supply system.

[0034] Figure 6 This is a flowchart used to explain the control performed in the power supply system according to Embodiment 3. Detailed Implementation

[0035] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, identical or equivalent parts will be assigned the same reference numerals in the drawings and will not be described repeatedly.

[0036] [Implementation Method 1]

[0037] (System Overview)

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the power supply system 10 involved in this embodiment. (Refer to...) Figure 1 The power supply system 10 includes a vehicle 100, a power supply unit 200 configured in the power supply equipment 50, and a server 300. Furthermore, in Figure 1Only one power supply device 200 is shown, but the power supply equipment 50 may also include two or more power supply devices 200.

[0039] Vehicle 100 includes an engine 120, a motor 130, and a battery 150. Vehicle 100 is a so-called hybrid vehicle capable of operating using driving force generated by the engine 120 and / or the motor 130. The motor 130 is driven by electricity from the battery 150. The battery 150 can be charged by power supplied from an external power supply device 200 via a power cable 205. That is, vehicle 100 is a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

[0040] The power supply unit 200 converts the AC power received from the system power supply into AC or DC power suitable for the voltage of the vehicle 100 and supplies it to the vehicle 100. The power supply unit 200 can communicate with the vehicle 100 via a wired connection by connecting a connector 206 located at the end of the power supply cable 205 to an interface in the vehicle 100. Alternatively, the power supply unit 200 can also be configured to communicate with the vehicle 100 wirelessly.

[0041] The power supply unit 200 and the server 300 are configured to communicate with each other via a communication network 400 such as the Internet. The communication between the server 300 and the communication network 400 can be either wired or wireless.

[0042] Server 300 includes processor 310, memory 320, and communication device 330. Processor 310, memory 320, and communication device 330 are interconnected via a shared bus 340, enabling them to exchange information.

[0043] The processor 310, for example, is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), configured to execute predetermined arithmetic operations as described in the program. The memory 320 includes ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory). The ROM stores the program executed by the processor 310. The RAM temporarily stores data generated by executing the program in the processor 310 and data input via the communication device 330. The RAM also functions as a temporary data storage device used as a working area.

[0044] Communication device 330 is a communication interface used for data exchange between communication network 400 and power supply device 200. As described above, communication between server 300 and communication network 400 is conducted via wired or wireless means.

[0045] (Composition of vehicles and power supply units)

[0046] Next, use Figure 2 The detailed configuration of the vehicle 100 and the power supply unit 200 is described below. (Refer to...) Figure 2 First, the composition of vehicle 100 will be described. In addition to engine 120, motor 130 and battery 150, vehicle 100 also includes ECU (Electronic Control unit) 110 as a control device, PCU (Power Control Unit) 140 as a drive device, charger 160, interface 170, communication device 180 and navigation device (Navi) 190.

[0047] A connector 206 is connected to the power supply cable 205 of the power supply device 200 at the interface 170. The power supply cable 205 includes power lines for power transmission and control lines for control signal transmission. Power supplied from the power supply device 200 via the power supply cable 205 is transmitted to the charger 160. In addition, control signals supplied from the power supply device 200 are transmitted to the ECU 110.

[0048] Charger 160 is configured, for example, to include an AC / DC converter or rectifier. Controlled by ECU 110, charger 160 converts AC power transmitted from power supply unit 200 via power cable 205 and inlet 170 into DC power suitable for charging battery 150. Battery 150 is a battery pack comprising multiple cells, each cell being a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery. Furthermore, battery 150 can also be charged using electricity generated by regenerative braking, such as when motor 130 decelerates, and electricity generated by motor 130 driving engine 120.

[0049] PCU140 is configured, for example, to include a DC / DC converter and an alternator. PCU140 converts DC power from battery 150 into AC power to drive motor 130. Vehicle 100 travels by the driving force generated by motor 130 and / or by the driving force generated by engine 120.

[0050] The communication device 180 is a communication interface for wirelessly transmitting and receiving signals with external devices. The communication device 180 can communicate with external devices via the communication network 400. Furthermore, the communication device 180 is configured to also communicate with the communication device 230 of the power supply device 200.

[0051] The navigation device 190 includes a touch panel (not shown) that provides guidance by suggesting a driving route to a user-specified destination. The navigation device 190 sends the user-inputted destination information to an external server via a communication device 180, receives candidate driving routes to that destination searched by the external server, and displays them on the touch panel. When the user selects a desired driving route from the displayed candidates, the navigation device 190 guides the user based on the selected route.

[0052] Although not illustrated, the ECU 110 is configured to include a CPU and a memory, and comprehensively controls the various devices included in the vehicle 100. When driving, the ECU 110 controls the engine 120 and PCU 140 based on the user's operation of the accelerator, steering wheel, and brakes, etc., to make the vehicle 100 move.

[0053] Additionally, when the battery 150 is charging, the ECU 110 sends vehicle information to the power supply unit 200 when the connector 206 of the power supply cable 205 is connected. Furthermore, when power is supplied from the power supply unit 200, the charger 160 is controlled to charge the battery 150.

[0054] Next, the configuration of the power supply device 200 will be described. The power supply device 200 includes a charging device 210, a control device 220, and a communication device 230. Furthermore, when the power supply equipment 50 includes multiple power supply devices, the control device 220 and the communication device 230 may also be provided as shared devices for the multiple power supply devices.

[0055] The charging device 210 is connected to an AC power source 260 located outside the power supply device 200. According to the instructions from the control device 220, the charging device 210 converts the AC power received from the AC power source 260 into AC power of a predetermined frequency and supplies it to the vehicle 100 via the power supply cable 205.

[0056] Although not shown in the figures, the control device 220 is configured to include a CPU and a memory, and comprehensively controls other devices within the power supply device 200. Specifically, the control device 220 controls the charging device 210 and adjusts the power supplied to the vehicle 100 based on information received from the vehicle 100 via the power supply cable 205 or the communication device 230.

[0057] In addition, the control device 220 receives images from the camera 250 disposed on the power supply equipment 50 and determines the congestion status of the power supply equipment 50 based on the image information.

[0058] The communication device 230 is a communication interface used to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle 100 and the communication network 400. The control device 220 receives charging reservation information from the vehicle 100 and sends congestion information from the power supply equipment 50 via the communication device 230.

[0059] Furthermore, the vehicles that can be supplied with electricity from the power supply unit 200 are not limited to hybrid vehicles with engines as described above, but can also supply electricity to electric vehicles that drive using only the driving force of a motor.

[0060] (Explanation of congestion mitigation and control)

[0061] Generally speaking, it takes longer to power a battery than to refuel with gasoline or other fuels. In other words, the time required to charge the battery is longer. Therefore, as electric vehicles such as hybrid and electric cars become more widespread and the number of vehicles requiring power increases, the likelihood of congestion in power supply facilities will rise.

[0062] In hybrid vehicles that also utilize an engine, even if the battery's stored power is depleted, the vehicle can continue to operate using the engine's power and / or electricity generated by the engine's power generation, as long as there is remaining fuel. On the other hand, in the case of electric vehicles that rely solely on battery power, the vehicle becomes unable to operate when the battery's power is depleted. In other words, the low charging power in electric vehicles can be a serious problem compared to the low charging power in hybrid vehicles.

[0063] Therefore, especially in situations where power supply facilities are congested, it is preferable to prioritize charging electric vehicles over hybrid vehicles when considering the prevention of electric vehicle power shortages. On the other hand, if charging electric vehicles is always prioritized over hybrid vehicles, it may be impossible to charge them at the desired time, or it may result in a situation where charging is not possible even when fuel is low and the need for charging is high, potentially compromising convenience.

[0064] Therefore, in the power supply system of Embodiment 1, when the power supply equipment is congested, and a hybrid vehicle with a relatively large amount of fuel remaining requests power, a "congestion mitigation control" is implemented to improve the utilization rate of the power supply equipment and facilitate the charging of electric vehicles by suggesting that the user of the hybrid vehicle shorten the power supply time. Furthermore, in the congestion mitigation control of Embodiment 1, for hybrid vehicles corresponding to the request to shorten the power supply time, as a reward for contributing to congestion mitigation, the unit price of electricity used for charging and / or the unit price of fuel are discounted.

[0065] By configuring it in this way, when the necessity for charging in a hybrid vehicle is high, it can be charged with the same priority as an electric vehicle. Furthermore, when the necessity for charging is low, the benefits of lower unit prices for electricity and / or fuel can be obtained. Therefore, the power supply equipment can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of hybrid vehicle users.

[0066] Figure 3 This is a flowchart used to explain the congestion mitigation control performed in the power supply system 10 according to Embodiment 1. Furthermore, the following description explains the case where congestion mitigation control is performed in the vehicle 100 and the power supply unit 200, but some or all of the control of the power supply unit 200 may also be performed in the server 300.

[0067] for Figure 3 The flowchart is executed from the main routine in the ECU 110 of vehicle 100 and the control device 220 of power supply unit 200 when predetermined conditions are met. Each step in the flowchart is implemented by the software of ECU 110 and control device 220, but some or all of the steps can also be implemented by the hardware such as LSI (Large Scale Integration) included in ECU 110 and control device 220.

[0068] Reference Figure 3 First, the control in vehicle 100 will be explained. In step (hereinafter referred to as step S.) 100, when the connector 206 of the power supply cable 205 is connected to the access point 170 of vehicle 100, in S110, vehicle information including vehicle ID, charging allowable power, fuel remaining and SOC is sent to the power supply device 200.

[0069] Then, in S120, ECU110 determines whether a reduction in charging time has been suggested from power supply device 200. If no reduction in charging time has been suggested from power supply device 200 (S120: No), the process proceeds to S140, where ECU110 uses the power supplied from power supply device 200 to perform the charging operation of battery 150.

[0070] On the other hand, if a suggestion to shorten the charging time is generated from the power supply unit 200 (S120: Yes), the process proceeds to S130, where the ECU 110 sends a response to the power supply unit 200 indicating whether the suggestion is approved, based on the user's operation. As described later, if the suggestion to shorten the charging time is approved, the power supply unit 200 sends discount information (e.g., coupons or points) indicating a discount on the charging unit price (or a discount on the fuel unit price). By using this discount information, the user of the vehicle 100 can perform the current or subsequent charging or refueling at a lower unit price than usual.

[0071] Next, the control in the power supply unit 200 will be described. When the control device 220 of the power supply unit 200 receives vehicle information from the vehicle 100 via the power supply cable 205, it determines in S200 whether the vehicle 100 to be charged is a hybrid vehicle. If the vehicle 100 to be charged is not a hybrid electric vehicle (S200: No), the subsequent processing in S210 to S270 is skipped, and the control device 220 starts supplying power in S280 according to the request from the vehicle 100.

[0072] If the vehicle 100 to be charged is a hybrid vehicle (S200: Yes), the process proceeds to S210, where the control device 220 calculates the congestion level of the power supply equipment 50 and the power supply equipment 200 based on the image from the camera 250, and determines whether the congestion level is greater than predetermined. Regarding the congestion level, the judgment can be made, for example, based on the number of vehicles in standby power supply contained in the image from the camera 250. Alternatively, if the power supply equipment allows for scheduled power supply, the congestion level can also be determined based on the current number of scheduled vehicles.

[0073] In cases of low congestion (S210: No), priority charging for electric vehicles is not required; therefore, processing proceeds in S280, and control device 220 begins supplying power to vehicle 100. In cases of high congestion (S210: Yes), processing proceeds to S220, where control device 220 calculates the predicted charging time until completion based on vehicle 100's SOC and allowable charging power. Furthermore, in S230, control device 220 determines whether the predicted charging time calculated in S220 is greater than a threshold Ta. The threshold Ta is, for example, 10 minutes.

[0074] If the predicted charging time is below the threshold Ta (S230: No), the power supply process will be completed in a relatively short time. Therefore, the process proceeds to S280, and the control device 220 begins to supply power according to the request from the vehicle 100. On the other hand, if the predicted charging time is greater than the threshold Ta (S230: Yes), the waiting time of the vehicle in standby will be longer. Therefore, in S240, the control device 220 determines whether the remaining fuel of the vehicle 100, as contained in the vehicle information, is greater than the reference value α. In other words, the control device 220 determines whether, even if the charge in the battery 150 is depleted, the vehicle can still travel the distance to other nearby power sources using the driving force from the engine 120 or the generated electricity from the engine 120. The reference value α is, for example, 10 liters.

[0075] When the remaining fuel level is below the reference value α (S240: No), the driving range using the engine 120 cannot be sufficiently guaranteed, and the battery 150 needs to be charged. Therefore, the control device 220 initiates processing in S280, starting power supply according to the request from the vehicle 100. On the other hand, when the remaining fuel level is above the reference value α (S240: Yes), a certain driving range can be guaranteed by using the driving force of the engine 120 or driving based on the generated electricity of the engine 120. Therefore, in S250, the control device 220 outputs an instruction to the vehicle 100 urging a reduction in charging time. The instruction to reduce charging time can be either an instruction suggesting a charging time shorter than the required charging time of the battery 150, or an instruction suggesting a charging amount shorter than the required charging amount of the battery 150. Furthermore, the control device 220 outputs information related to a discount on the charging unit price in cases where the instruction to urge a reduction in charging time has been granted, along with the instruction, to the vehicle 100.

[0076] When a response to a suggestion to shorten the charging time is received from vehicle 100, control device 220 determines in S260 whether the user of vehicle 100 has accepted the suggestion. If the charging time reduction is not accepted (S260: No), the user of vehicle 100 requests power from the power supply device 200; therefore, control device 220 initiates processing in S280 to begin power supply according to the request from vehicle 100. On the other hand, if the charging time reduction is accepted (S260: Yes), control device 220, in S270, as a reward for responding to the request for a shorter charging time, discounts (reduces) the charging unit price to begin power supply (S280). Furthermore, although... Figure 3 S280 is skipped if charging in the power supply device 200 is stopped due to a suggestion to shorten the charging time.

[0077] Furthermore, the reduction in charging unit price can lower the electricity unit price for subsequent power supply operations, as well as the electricity unit price for the next power supply operation. Alternatively, it can replace the electricity unit price or, based on the electricity unit price, reduce the fuel unit price during refueling.

[0078] As described above, when a power demand arises from a hybrid vehicle with ample fuel reserves during periods of power supply congestion, instructions to the vehicle urging a reduction in charging time can be sent, thereby improving the turnover efficiency of the power supply equipment and prioritizing power supply to electric vehicles. Furthermore, by reducing the electricity and / or fuel price for hybrid vehicles that achieve shorter charging times, an incentive can be provided for the reduced charging time. Therefore, the power supply equipment can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of hybrid vehicle users.

[0079] [Implementation Method 2]

[0080] As methods of external charging, "AC charging," which uses alternating current (AC) power from a power supply device, and "DC charging," which uses direct current (DC) power from a power supply device, are known. Additionally, power supply devices capable of "DC fast charging" are also known; "DC fast charging" involves supplying more power from the power supply device than AC charging, thereby charging the battery in a shorter time.

[0081] In Embodiment 2, the following configuration will be described: by including an AC power supply device capable of performing the above-described AC charging and a DC power supply device capable of performing DC fast charging, the electric vehicle can preferentially utilize the DC power supply device, thereby effectively utilizing the power supply device.

[0082] Figure 4 This is a functional block diagram of the vehicle 100A and the power supply equipment 50A in the power supply system 10A according to Embodiment 2. Figure 4 In the middle, do not repeat with Figure 2 The description of the repeated parts of the power supply system 10 of Embodiment 1 shown.

[0083] Reference Figure 4 For vehicle 100A, Figure 2 The charger 160 in the vehicle 100 shown is replaced by a charger 160A, and the interface 170 is replaced by an AC charging interface 170AC and a DC fast charging interface 170DC. Additionally, the power supply device 50A includes a power supply unit 200A, in which... Figure 2 The charging device 210 of the power supply device 200 has been replaced with a DC charging device 210A. That is, Figure 2 The power supply device 200 is an AC power supply device. Figure 4The 200A power supply unit is a DC power supply unit. Figure 4 Although not shown, the power supply device 50A includes a power supply device 200 that is an AC power supply device in addition to the power supply device 200A that is a DC power supply device.

[0084] The DC charging device 210A in the power supply unit 200A is configured to include an AC / DC converter or rectifier, converting AC power from an external AC power source 260 into DC power, and supplying it to the vehicle 100A via the power supply cable 205. The power output from the power supply unit 200A is greater than the power output from the power supply unit 200. Therefore, when charging with the same amount of power, DC fast charging using the power supply unit 200A can complete charging in a shorter time than AC charging using the power supply unit 200.

[0085] When AC charging is performed in vehicle 100A, connector 206 of power supply cable 205 is connected to input port 170AC. Conversely, when DC fast charging is performed, connector 206 is connected to input port 170DC. Alternatively, a common connector structure can be configured for both AC and DC power transmission terminals. In this case, the vehicle-side input port also consists of a common input port. AC power received from input port 170AC and DC power received from input port 170DC are transmitted to charger 160A.

[0086] Charger 160A includes an AC / DC converter or a rectifier. When charging battery 150 using AC power from input 170AC, charger 160A converts the AC power into DC power using the aforementioned AC / DC converter or rectifier to charge battery 150. Conversely, when using DC power from input 170DC, charger 160A directly charges battery 150 using the received DC power. Alternatively, charger 160A may include a DC / DC converter, but to reduce losses due to power conversion, it is preferable to directly use DC power from input 170DC.

[0087] As explained in Embodiment 1, from the viewpoint of preventing electric vehicles from running out of power, it is preferable to prioritize the charging of electric vehicles over hybrid vehicles. Therefore, when a power supply system equipped with a DC fast charging device is provided, it is preferable to apply DC fast charging to electric vehicles compared to hybrid vehicles. Thus, in Embodiment 2, when the power supply system is congested, if a request for DC fast charging arises from a hybrid vehicle capable of both AC charging and DC fast charging, control is executed to urge the hybrid vehicle to switch to AC charging based on the AC power supply system. Furthermore, if the hybrid vehicle user agrees to the switch to the AC power supply system, a discount is applied to the electricity unit price and / or fuel unit price as compensation. As a result, electric vehicles can be prioritized for DC fast charging, and the reduction in convenience for hybrid vehicle users can be suppressed, thus enabling efficient use of the power supply system overall.

[0088] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the congestion mitigation control performed in the power supply system 10A of Embodiment 2. Figure 5 The diagram shows a flowchart of the operation performed in the ECU 110 of vehicle 100A and the control device 220 of power supply unit 200A. Furthermore, similar to Embodiment 1, part or all of the control of power supply unit 200A can also be performed in server 300. In the control of vehicle 100A, for... Figure 3 Steps S135 and S136 have been added to the flowchart. Additionally, in the control of the power supply unit 200A... Figure 3 Steps S250 and S260 in the flowchart are replaced with steps S250A and S260A. Figure 5 In the middle, do not repeat with Figure 3 Explanation of repetitive steps.

[0089] Reference Figure 5 First, the control of the power supply unit 200A will be explained. When there is high congestion, the predicted charging time is longer than the threshold Ta, and the remaining fuel is greater than the reference value α, when a DC fast charging request is generated from vehicle 100A to the DC power supply unit (S240: Yes), the process proceeds to S250A, and control unit 220 outputs an instruction to vehicle 100A urging it to move to the AC power supply unit for AC charging. At this time, control unit 220 also outputs information to vehicle 100A regarding the discount on the charging unit price if the instruction to move to the AC power supply unit is accepted.

[0090] When a response is received from vehicle 100A regarding a suggestion to move to the AC power supply, control device 220 determines in S260A whether the user of vehicle 100 has accepted the suggestion. If the move to the AC power supply is not accepted (S260A: No), and the user of vehicle 100A requests DC fast power supply, control device 220 initiates processing in S280 to begin DC fast power supply according to the request from vehicle 100A. On the other hand, if the move to the AC power supply is accepted (S260A: Yes), control device 220 provides vehicle 100A with discount information in S270 as a reward for the response to the request to move to the AC power supply, which can be used in subsequent charging sessions.

[0091] In addition, although Figure 5 Not shown in the diagram, but if the user of vehicle 100A grants a request from control device 220, the vehicle moves from power supply device 200A to power supply device 200, which is an AC power supply device, for AC charging. At this time, by utilizing the aforementioned discount information, the electricity unit price is reduced.

[0092] Next, the control in vehicle 100A will be described. When the connector 206 of the power supply cable 205 of the power supply device 200A, which is a DC power supply device, is connected to the input port 170DC, and vehicle information is sent to the power supply device 200A via the power supply cable 205, in S120A, ECU 110 determines whether an instruction urging movement to the AC power supply device has been suggested from the power supply device 200A. If there is no suggestion from the power supply device 200A to move to the AC power supply device (S120A: No), the process proceeds to S140, and ECU 110 uses the power supplied from the power supply device 200A to perform DC fast power supply to battery 150.

[0093] On the other hand, if there is a suggestion to move from the power supply unit 200A to the AC power supply unit (S120A: Yes), the process proceeds to S130, where the ECU 110 sends a response to the power supply unit 200A indicating whether the suggestion is accepted, according to the user's operation. Furthermore, in S135, the ECU 110 determines whether the response to the power supply unit 200A indicates acceptance of the suggestion to move to the AC power supply unit.

[0094] If movement to the AC power supply is not permitted (S135: No), and the user wishes to charge the power supply unit 200A, the process proceeds to S140, where the ECU 110 uses the power supplied from the power supply unit 200A to perform DC fast charging of the battery 150. On the other hand, if movement to the AC power supply is permitted (S135: Yes), the ECU 110 receives discount information from the power supply unit 200A in S136. Then, the user of vehicle 100A moves to the power supply unit 200 (which serves as the AC power supply unit) or another power supply unit in the power supply equipment 50A to perform charging. At this time, charging is performed based on the reduced charging unit price by utilizing the discount information received from the power supply unit 200A. Furthermore, similar to Embodiment 1, the unit price of electricity can be substituted or reduced based on the unit price of electricity when refueling.

[0095] As described above, by notifying vehicles urging them to move to an AC power source when a demand for DC fast charging arises from a hybrid vehicle with ample fuel reserves during periods of power supply congestion, priority can be given to DC fast charging of electric vehicles. Furthermore, by reducing the electricity and / or fuel price for hybrid vehicles that agree to move to an AC power source, an incentive can be provided for doing so. Therefore, power supply can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of hybrid vehicle users.

[0096] [Implementation Method 3]

[0097] In the power supply systems of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the following configuration is described: When the connector of the power supply cable provided in the power supply device is connected to the vehicle's access point, it is recommended to shorten the charging time or move it to the AC power supply device.

[0098] In Embodiment 3, the following configuration will be described: In a system that can make reservations for the use of power supply equipment from a portable terminal or the like via wireless communication or a communication network, the charging of other power supply equipment is urged for the hybrid vehicle based on the congestion status of the power supply equipment, so that the power supply of the electric vehicle in the power supply equipment can be prioritized.

[0099] The power supply system of Embodiment 3 basically has the same characteristics as that described in Embodiment 1. Figure 2 The power supply system 10 has the same configuration. Furthermore, the power supply device can be either an AC power supply device like the power supply device 200 of Embodiment 1, or a DC power supply device like the power supply device 200A of Embodiment 2.

[0100] In the power supply system of Embodiment 3, it is configured to reserve power supply to the power supply device 200 before the vehicle 100 arrives at the power supply device via communication with the communication device 180 mounted on the vehicle 100 or via communication with a portable terminal, personal computer, etc., through the communication network 400. In a power supply system capable of such power reservation, when a power reservation request is received from a hybrid vehicle while the power supply device is congested, or when the power supply device is congested after the power reservation is received and the vehicle in standby, including an electric vehicle, it is preferable to prioritize the charging of the electric vehicle as described above.

[0101] Therefore, in the power supply system of Embodiment 3, under conditions as described above, users of hybrid vehicles are encouraged to move to nearby power supply facilities with lower congestion levels, making it easier to charge the electric vehicle at those facilities. Furthermore, for hybrid vehicles responding to requests to move to other power supply facilities, the unit price of electricity used for charging and / or the unit price of fuel are discounted as a reward. Thus, the power supply facilities can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of hybrid vehicle users.

[0102] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the control performed in the power supply system according to Embodiment 3. Figure 6 The diagram shows a flowchart of the operation performed in the ECU 110 of the vehicle 100 and the control device 220 of the power supply device 200. Furthermore, similar to Embodiments 1 and 2, some or all of the control of the power supply device 200 can also be performed in the server 300.

[0103] Reference Figure 6 First, the control of the power supply unit 200 will be explained. When the control device 220 of the power supply unit 200 receives vehicle information from the vehicle 100 via the power supply cable 205, in step S400, it determines whether the vehicle 100 to be charged is a hybrid vehicle. If the vehicle 100 to be charged is not a hybrid vehicle but an electric vehicle (S400: No), the subsequent processing in steps S410 to S450 is skipped, and the control device 220 accepts the reservation from the vehicle 100 to end the processing.

[0104] If the vehicle 100 to be charged is a hybrid vehicle (S400: Yes), the process proceeds to S410, where the control device 220 calculates the congestion level of the power supply equipment 50 and the power supply equipment 200 based on the image from the camera 250, and determines whether the congestion level is greater than the predetermined level. The congestion level is determined, for example, based on the number of vehicles in standby power supply included in the image from the camera 250 and the current number of reserved vehicles.

[0105] In cases of low congestion (S410: No), priority charging for electric vehicles is not required; therefore, control device 220 accepts the reservation from vehicle 100 to end the process. In cases of high congestion (S410: Yes), the process proceeds to S420, where control device 220 determines whether the remaining fuel level of vehicle 100, as contained in the vehicle information, is greater than the reference value α.

[0106] When the remaining fuel level is below the reference value α (S420: No), the driving distance using the engine 120 cannot be sufficiently guaranteed, and the battery 150 needs to be charged. Therefore, the control device 220 accepts the reservation from the vehicle 100 to end the process. On the other hand, when the remaining fuel level is above the reference value α (S420: Yes), a certain driving distance can be guaranteed by using the driving force of the engine 120 or driving based on the electricity generated by the engine 120. Therefore, in S430, the control device 220 outputs an instruction to the vehicle 100 urging it to move to a nearby power supply device. In addition, the control device 220 outputs information related to the discount on the charging unit price and the congestion status of the nearby power supply devices along with the instruction to move to other power supply devices to the vehicle 100.

[0107] When the vehicle 100 receives a response to a suggestion to move to another power source, the control device 220 determines in S440 whether the user of the vehicle 100 has accepted the suggestion. If the move to another power source is not accepted (S440: No), the user of the vehicle 100 wishes to receive power from the power source 200, therefore, the control device 220 accepts the reservation from the vehicle 100 and ends the process. On the other hand, if the move to another power source is accepted (S440: Yes), the control device 220 provides the vehicle 100 with discount information that can be used in the next charging session as a reward for responding to the request to move to another power source in S450. Furthermore, similar to Embodiment 1, the fuel price at the time of refueling may be reduced instead of the electricity unit price or based on the electricity unit price.

[0108] Next, the control in vehicle 100 will be explained. When a user of vehicle 100 makes a power supply reservation in power supply device 200, the ECU 110 of vehicle 100 sends reservation information to power supply device 200 via communication device 180 in S300 through wireless communication. The reservation information includes, for example, vehicle ID, power supply start time, SOC, remaining fuel, and allowable charging power.

[0109] Next, in S310, ECU110 determines whether a suggestion has been made to move from power supply device 200 to another power supply device. If no suggestion has been made to move from power supply device 200 to another power supply device (S310: No), ECU110 skips subsequent processing and ends the process. In this case, the reservation in power supply device 200 is maintained, and therefore, power supply based on power supply device 200 can be performed by going to the power supply device at the reserved time.

[0110] On the other hand, if a suggestion is made to move from power supply device 200 to another power supply device (S310: Yes), the process proceeds to S320, whereby ECU 110 sends a response to power supply device 200 indicating whether the suggestion is accepted, based on the user's operation. Furthermore, in S330, ECU 110 determines whether the suggestion to move to another power supply device has been accepted in its response to power supply device 200.

[0111] If movement to other power supply devices is not permitted (S330: No), and the user wishes to charge the power supply device 200, the ECU 110 skips subsequent processing and ends the process. In this case, the reservation in the power supply device 200 is maintained, so power supply based on the power supply device 200 can be performed by going to the power supply device at the reserved time.

[0112] On the other hand, if permission to move to another power supply device is granted (S330: Yes), ECU110 receives discount information from power supply device 200 in S340. In this case, the reservation in power supply device 200 is cancelled, and therefore, the user of vehicle 100 moves to another power supply device to perform charging. At this time, by utilizing the discount information received from power supply device 200, charging is performed according to the reduced charging unit price.

[0113] In addition, for scheduled operations that were booked by vehicle 100 Figure 6 The control process is described in the flowchart, but once a reservation from vehicle 100 is accepted, during the period up to the scheduled charging start time, if the power supply equipment becomes congested and the standby vehicle includes an electric vehicle, the control device 220 may also request the user of vehicle 100 to move to another power supply equipment after accepting the reservation.

[0114] Alternatively, instead of suggesting moving to other power supply equipment, or based on that suggestion, a request can be made to shorten the charging time, as in Embodiment 1. Or, if the vehicle 100's reservation information indicates a request for DC fast charging using a DC power supply device, a request can be made to switch to AC charging, as in Embodiment 2.

[0115] As described above, when a hybrid vehicle with a large remaining fuel supply makes a reservation to use its power supply, and the reserved charging start time is anticipated to be congested at that power supply location, the vehicle can be notified to move to another power supply location, thus prioritizing power supply to the electric vehicle. Furthermore, by reducing the electricity price and / or fuel price for hybrid vehicles that have agreed to move to other power supply locations, an incentive can be provided for moving to other power supply locations. Therefore, the power supply equipment can be used effectively without compromising the convenience of hybrid vehicle users.

[0116] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is not defined by the description of the embodiments above, but by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

Claims

1. A power supply system, comprising: The vehicle is equipped with a battery that can be charged using external power. A power supply device that supplies power to the vehicle; A control device for controlling the power supply from the power supply device to the vehicle; as well as A camera used to detect the status of the power supply device. The vehicles include: engine; and A motor, which receives power from the battery to generate driving force. The control device, when requested by the vehicle from the power supply device... Obtain the remaining fuel for the engine from the vehicle. If the remaining fuel level is higher than a reference value, and if the power supply is deemed congested based on the camera image, an instruction urging the vehicle to shorten the charging time will be output. If a response is received from the vehicle acknowledging the instruction, at least one of the unit price of the charging power and the unit price of the fuel is set to be lower than if the instruction were not acknowledged.

2. The power supply system according to claim 1, The instruction includes information suggesting a charge amount less than the battery requires.

3. The power supply system according to claim 1, The instruction includes information suggesting a charging time that is less than the required charging time for the battery.

4. A power supply system, comprising: The vehicle is equipped with a battery that can be charged using external power. Power supply equipment, including a power supply device for supplying power to the vehicle; A control device for controlling the power supply to the vehicle in the power supply equipment; as well as A camera used to detect the status of the power supply device. The power supply device includes an AC power supply device and a DC power supply device. The vehicles include: engine; and A motor, which receives power from the battery to generate driving force. The vehicle is capable of both AC charging using AC power from the AC power supply device and DC fast charging using DC power from the DC power supply device. The control device, when requested by the vehicle from the DC power supply device... Obtain the remaining fuel for the engine from the vehicle. If the remaining fuel level is higher than a reference value, and if the power supply is deemed congested based on the camera image, an instruction is output to the vehicle urging power to be supplied via the AC power supply. If a response is received from the vehicle acknowledging the instruction, at least one of the unit price of the charging power and the unit price of the fuel is set to be lower than if the instruction were not acknowledged.

5. A power supply system, comprising: The vehicle is equipped with a battery that can be charged using external power. Power supply equipment, including a power supply device for supplying power to the vehicle; A camera is used to detect the status of the power supply device; as well as A control device for controlling the power supply from the power supply device to the vehicle. The vehicles include: engine; A motor that receives power from the battery to generate driving force; and A communication device that communicates wirelessly with the power supply device. The control device, when it has reserved power supply from the vehicle via the power supply device and determines from the camera image that the power supply device is congested, Obtain the remaining fuel for the engine from the vehicle. If the remaining fuel level is higher than a reference value, the vehicle will be instructed to move to other power sources. If a response is received from the vehicle acknowledging the instruction, at least one of the unit price of the charging power and the unit price of the fuel is set to be lower than if the instruction were not acknowledged.

6. The power supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The control device is located within the power supply unit.

7. The power supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, The control device is a server capable of communicating with the power supply device.

8. A control method for a power supply system, used to control the power supply system, the power supply system using power from a power supply device to charge a battery mounted on a vehicle having an engine, and including a camera for detecting the status of the power supply device, the control method for the power supply system comprising: The step of determining whether the vehicle has requested power from the power supply device; The step of obtaining the remaining fuel for the engine from the vehicle; The step of outputting an instruction to the vehicle urging a reduction in charging time when power is requested to be supplied through the power supply device, the remaining fuel level is greater than a reference value, and the power supply device is congested based on the image from the camera; as well as Upon receiving a response from the vehicle acknowledging the instruction, the step of setting at least one of the unit price of the charging power and the unit price of the fuel to be lower than if the instruction had not been acknowledged.

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