System comprising at least one electric propulsion vehicle

Abstract

A system comprises an electric propulsion vehicle (1a-1d) and an electrical conductor (2) extending along a road segment (3), at least one electrical conductor (2) being formed by at least two consecutive conductor segments (2a-2d), where the electric propulsion vehicle (1a-1d) comprises at least one electric motor, an electrical energy storage device and a current collector (4a-4d), where the current collector is adapted to be electrically connected with the electrical conductor; at least two vehicle external charging devices (5a-5d), each of which is connected to the conductor segments (2a-2d); the invention relates to an electric propulsion system (1a-1d) comprising a plurality of electric propulsion vehicles (1a-1d), a plurality of charging devices (5a-5d), and charging device control means (5a '-5d') configured to control the charging devices (5a-5d), the charging device control means being provided with communication means, in which each electric propulsion vehicle (1a-1d) comprises a vehicle control means (1a '-1d') and communication means, the vehicle control means (1a '-1d') being configured to control the charging devices (5a-5d). The communication device is suitable for being connected with a communication device of a charging equipment control device so as to send a charging signal indicating the required charging current to the communication device, and the charging equipment control device (5a '-5d') is configured to respond to the charging signal and command the charging equipment to provide current for the conductor segment connected with the charging equipment. The provided current corresponds to the required charging current.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of providing electrical power to electrically propelled vehicles in order to charge the electrically propelled vehicles and optionally to propel the electrically propelled vehicles. Background Art

[0002] Interest in electric vehicles has grown over time due to concerns about the environmental impact of fossil fuel combustion. Electric vehicles offer a variety of potential benefits compared to vehicles with conventional internal combustion engines, including: a significant reduction in urban air pollution, as electric vehicles do not emit harmful tailpipe pollutants from the on-board power source when in operation; reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the on-board power source, depending on the fuel and technology used to generate electricity and / or charge the batteries, and reduced reliance on fossil fuels, which are increasingly variable in supply and volatile in price.

[0003] Currently, electric vehicles are usually charged at fixed charging stations in parking lots (public places or owners' homes) or rest stops along highways. Although the latest generation of electric vehicles are equipped with high-voltage fast charging technology, it still takes much longer to charge the vehicle than vehicles running on fossil fuels. The long charging time also often leads to queues at charging stations during peak hours, further increasing the total time required to charge the vehicle.

[0004] WO 2011 / 123049 proposes to replenish the battery of an electric vehicle with the power feed of the vehicle while driving. A system for electrically propelling a vehicle along a road is disclosed, the system comprising a guide rail element / structure having a groove in which an electrical conductor is arranged, the electrical conductor can be placed under voltage and is located in a longitudinal track or channel in the road. The vehicle is equipped with a current collector, which allows power to be transferred between the electrical conductor and the vehicle during contact with the electrical conductor to propel the vehicle and charge its battery pack. In order to take into account the different voltages and charging currents required for different vehicles, each vehicle is provided with an on-board charger to control the charging voltage and current of the battery pack. Such on-board chargers increase costs and, typically for trucks weighing hundreds of kilograms, provide sufficient power for trucks / heavy vehicles (while still being unable to provide "fast charging"), thereby reducing the payload of the vehicle. Another disadvantage of such a system is that a large investment in infrastructure is required to provide electrical conductors along a sufficiently large part of the road network. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and method, thereby at least partially solving or at least improving the problems identified in the above background section.

[0006] The invention achieves these and other objects by means of a system and a method according to the independent claims.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a system is provided, the system being used to charge the power storage device of at least one electric propulsion vehicle, and optionally also to provide power to the vehicle to propel the vehicle. The system comprises at least two electrical conductors extending along a road section suitable for vehicle travel, at least one electric propulsion vehicle, at least two vehicle external charging devices and a charging device control device. At least one or each electrical conductor is formed by at least two conductor segments arranged continuously along the longitudinal direction of the road section, and the conductor segments are electrically isolated from each other. At least one electric propulsion vehicle each comprises at least one electric motor for propelling the vehicle, an electric energy storage device (such as a battery pack) electrically connected to at least one electric motor, and a current collector suitable for being electrically connected to the at least two electrical conductors, the current collector being electrically connected to the electric energy storage device. The current collector can be electrically connected to the electric energy storage device through a switching device. The charging device is connected to two or more electrical conductors, thereby providing the electrical conductors with a voltage (usually a DC voltage) suitable for charging the electric energy storage device of at least one electric propulsion vehicle. Each charging device is connected to one or more conductor segments. The charging device control device is configured to control at least one vehicle external charging device, and the charging device control device is provided with a communication device. Each electric propulsion vehicle comprises a vehicle control device and a vehicle communication device, the vehicle communication device being adapted to connect to the communication device of the charging device control device so as to send at least one charging signal thereto, the charging signal indicating at least one charging parameter, the charging parameter including a required charging current for an electrical energy storage device of the vehicle. The charging device control device is configured to command one or at least one of the at least one vehicle charging devices to provide a current to the conductor segment connected thereto in response to the charging signal, the current provided corresponding to the required charging current. At least two or each of the at least two electrical conductors extending along the road segment may be arranged in parallel.

[0008] In other words, the system includes at least two electrical conductors extending along a road section suitable for vehicle travel. One (or more) of the electrical conductors can be connected to the earth potential or can be connected to the earth potential, so the electrical conductor can be called a grounding conductor. One or more or each electrical conductor can be arranged in or on a guide rail element, for example, recessed in a groove of the guide rail element, so the guide rail element can be called a slotted element. The guide rail / slotted element can be fully or partially recessed in the road surface, can also be arranged on the road surface, and can also be suspended above or beside the road surface. Alternatively, the conductor can be suspended above or beside the road surface without being arranged in or on the guide rail element. At least one or each electrical conductor is formed by at least two conductor segments arranged continuously in the longitudinal direction of the road section, and the conductor segments are electrically isolated from each other. In an embodiment in which one or more electrical conductors are grounded, these grounding conductors can be formed by conductor segments, but this is usually not the case. At least two vehicle external charging devices are arranged outside the vehicle in the sense that the charging devices are arranged stationary relative to the road. The current collector of at least one electric propulsion vehicle can be displaced vertically and laterally to be mechanically and electrically connected to at least two electrical conductors. This displacement has been described in the applicant's previous patents and will not be described in detail here.

[0009] In embodiments with two or more segmented electrical conductors, at least one or each charging device may be connected to at least one conductor segment of the two or more electrical conductors, i.e., to two or more conductor segments. Alternatively, if one or more electrical conductors are not segmented, at least one or each charging device may be connected to at least one conductor segment of the one or more electrical conductors and one or more non-segmented electrical conductors. In embodiments with one or more electrical conductors connected to the ground and one or more electrical conductors comprising conductor segments, each charging device may be connected to at least one conductor segment of the one or more electrical conductors and one or more grounding conductors, the one or more electrical conductors comprising a plurality of conductor segments. Thus, each charging device can provide power suitable for charging an electrical energy storage device of at least one electric propulsion vehicle.

[0010] In an embodiment, the system comprises two electrical conductors, wherein the first electrical conductor is a segmented electrical conductor and the second electrical conductor is connected to the earth (ie forms a grounded conductor). The charging device is connected to the grounded conductor and the conductor segments of the first electrical conductor.

[0011] The charging device may comprise a DC-DC converter arranged to provide the required charging current. Such a DC-DC converter is usually powered by a transformer arrangement which is connected to the grid via a rectifier arrangement. The rectifier arrangement and the optional transformer arrangement may be considered as part of the charging device or may be separate from the charging device and connected to several charging devices.

[0012] The charging device may further comprise one or more switch devices connected between the DC-DC converter and one or more conductor segments. The switch devices may be arranged together with the DC-DC converter at dispersed locations along the road segment, or the DC-DC converter may be arranged together with the transformer device and the rectifier device at a plurality of transformer substations arranged far apart from each other, and the switch devices are arranged at the dispersed locations. Alternatively, the switch devices, the DC-DC converter and the transformer device and the rectifier device are arranged at the transformer substation.

[0013] The charging device control device is configured to control at least one vehicle external charging device, and the charging device control device is provided with a communication device. It is understood that the charging device control device may include a centrally arranged control unit (for example, arranged in a substation), and the control unit controls a plurality of charging devices connected to each conductor segment; or the charging device control device may include a distributed control unit, each of which controls one or more charging devices, for example, there is a charging control unit for each charging device, and the charging control unit may be arranged at the dispersed position along the road segment.

[0014] The vehicle control device of the vehicle may include a separate control unit or be formed as a separate control unit, or may be integrated as software in another electronic control unit of the vehicle. The charging device control device is configured to command one of the at least one vehicle charging devices to provide a current to one or more conductor segments connected thereto in response to the charging signal, the current provided corresponding to the required charging current. It will be appreciated that the charging device control device commanding one of the charging devices may include sending a command signal to the charging device, the command signal indicating the required charging current.

[0015] The invention is based on the recognition that by providing a vehicle-external charging device connected to at least two electrical conductors, instead of installing an on-board charger on each vehicle, the charging power can be significantly increased, since the weight, size and cost of the charger are not important. The invention is also based on the recognition that such a higher charging power allows the vehicle to be charged over a shorter driving distance, which means that the electrical conductors extending along the road section only need to cover a smaller part of the road network, thereby reducing costs accordingly. In particular, it is envisaged that the electrical conductors only need to extend along the side lines (turnouts / side roads / roadside parking strips) of highways or other roads, on which vehicles can be driven at a lower speed, so that the vehicle can be charged over a relatively short distance. As a result, the vehicle can be charged quickly while driving.

[0016] In an embodiment, the charging device is configured to provide DC charging at a power of at least 25 kW, preferably at least 50 kW or at least 150 kW. Such power levels may be referred to as "fast charging".

[0017] In an embodiment, the communication device of the charging device control device and the vehicle communication device are both wireless communication devices, such as radio frequency transmitters / receivers using the GSM, 3G, 4G or 5G standard.

[0018] In other embodiments, the communication device of the charging device control device includes a communication interface connected to at least two electrical conductors, and the vehicle communication device includes a communication interface connected to the current collector. Therefore, in these embodiments, the charging device control device communicates with the vehicle control device via the electrical conductor extending along the road section. The communication interface can be configured to send / receive high-frequency signals via the at least two electrical conductors and the current collector.

[0019] In an embodiment, all or a subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices are each connected only to one or more conductor segments, and the one or more conductor segments have corresponding positions in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, in an embodiment with two or more segmented electrical conductors, all charging devices or a subset thereof are each connected only to two or more conductor segments, and the two or more conductor segments have corresponding positions in the longitudinal direction. In an embodiment with only one segmented electrical conductor (i.e., including one or more non-segmented electrical conductors, such as a grounding conductor), all or a subset of the charging devices are each connected only to one or more conductor segments of the non-segmented electrical conductor and the segmented electrical conductor, and the one or more conductor segments of the segmented electrical conductor have corresponding positions in the longitudinal direction. These embodiments may be advantageous because equipping each conductor segment or a pair / group of conductor segments with a corresponding position in the longitudinal direction with a "dedicated" charging device means that the vehicle can be charged from each longitudinal segment, so that the vehicle can also be charged in traffic congestion.

[0020] In an embodiment, a first subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices is each connected only to one or more conductor segments, the one or more conductor segments having corresponding positions in the longitudinal direction (in the above sense), wherein a second subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices is each connected to two or more conductor segments, the two or more conductor segments having different positions in the longitudinal direction, wherein the maximum charging power of the first subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices is different from the maximum charging power of the second subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices. These embodiments may be advantageous because more low-power / low-cost charging devices (first subset) can be set as dedicated chargers for conductor segments only in one longitudinal position, while fewer high-power / high-cost charging devices (second subset) are set to be connected to conductor segments in two or more longitudinal positions. Thus, a large number of vehicles (such as passenger cars) can be charged at a lower power by the first subset of charging devices, while fewer vehicles (such as heavy trucks) can be charged at a higher power by the second subset of charging devices. Thereby, the system can be optimized for a (usually uniform) group of vehicles in terms of charging capacity and cost.

[0021] In an embodiment, each vehicle control device is configured to send an identification signal indicating the identity of the vehicle to the charging device control device. The identity may be a unique identification number of the vehicle, such as a registration number or a chassis number. Alternatively, the identity may be an identification number assigned by the charging device control device to the corresponding vehicle. The identification signal may be used to verify whether the vehicle is allowed to accept charging, or for billing purposes.

[0022] In an embodiment, each current collector is provided with a transmitting device. In addition, at least one conductor segment is also provided with a receiving device, wherein the identification signal is sent from the vehicle control device to the charging device control device via the transmitting device and the receiving device, wherein the receiving device is arranged at a predetermined position of each conductor segment, and wherein the vehicle control device is configured to send a speed signal to the charging device control device via its vehicle communication device, wherein the speed signal is used to indicate the speed of the vehicle, wherein the charging device control device is configured to determine the initial position of the vehicle connected to the at least two electrical conductors according to the corresponding predetermined position of at least one conductor segment, and determine the current position of each vehicle connected to the at least two electrical conductors according to the initial position and the speed signal. It is understood that the longitudinal extension of the receiving device is limited / short in order to accurately determine the initial position. For example, the length of the receiving device can be 20 cm or less. The receiving device can be arranged at the end of the corresponding conductor segment, as seen in the longitudinal direction of the conductor segment. As a result, the system can very accurately determine when the vehicle approaches the subsequent conductor segment.

[0023] The transmitting device may be formed partly by a current collector, and the receiving device may include at least one coil, which is arranged at a predetermined position of the conductor segment so that the induced current in the current collector is induced by the at least one coil. Alternatively, the receiving device may be formed as a sub-segment of the conductor segment, wherein the identification signal is a high-frequency signal superimposed on a DC voltage.

[0024] In other embodiments, the vehicle control device of at least one vehicle or each vehicle is also configured to send a position signal to the charging device control device via its vehicle communication device, and the charging device control device is configured to determine the current position of each vehicle connected to at least two electrical conductors based on the position signal.

[0025] In an embodiment, the system comprises at least two electric propulsion vehicles, wherein the current collector is electrically connected to the electrical energy storage device via a switch device, wherein the charging device control device is configured to:

[0026] - for at least one conductor segment or preferably for each conductor segment, determining as a vehicle to be charged a vehicle whose current position corresponds to the conductor segment and has traveled the farthest distance along the conductor segment;

[0027] - commanding a vehicle charging device connected to the conductor segment to provide a current to the conductor segment, the current corresponding to a charging signal received from a vehicle determined to be subject to charging, and

[0028] -sending an approval signal indicating that power has been provided only to the vehicle communication device of the vehicle determined to be to be charged, wherein the vehicle control device is configured to activate a switching device in response to the approval signal to connect the current collector to the energy storage device so as to charge the energy storage device.

[0029] In other words, the charging device control device is configured to determine, for at least one conductor segment or preferably for each conductor segment, a group of vehicles whose current positions (which can be determined as described above) correspond to the conductor segment, i.e. are located within the longitudinal interval of the conductor segment. The vehicle to be charged in this group of vehicles is determined to be the vehicle that first entered the conductor segment, i.e. the vehicle with the longest travel distance, i.e. the vehicle whose current position is closest to the end of the conductor segment.

[0030] The charging device control device is preferably configured to repeatedly determine, command and send as described above, i.e., repeat these steps at a specific frequency. Therefore, the charging device control device can determine which vehicles are located in each conductor segment at any time, and ensure that one of the vehicles (the first vehicle to enter the conductor segment) receives charging, and when this "first vehicle" leaves the conductor segment, the following vehicles receive charging.

[0031] An approval signal may also be sent indicating or sent together with an additional signal indicating the identification number of a vehicle determined to receive charging so that only that vehicle starts charging.

[0032] In an embodiment, the vehicle control device is further configured to send a charging state signal indicating the current charging state of the electric energy storage device to the charging device control device through its vehicle communication device, wherein the charging device control device is configured to determine a group of vehicles whose current charging state is lower than a predetermined value (e.g., the charging state is 80% or 90%) in response to the charging state signal received from two or more vehicles whose positions correspond to the same conductor segment, wherein the vehicle to be charged is determined to be the vehicle in the group of vehicles that has traveled the farthest distance along the conductor segment. In other words, the vehicle control device is configured to stop charging the vehicle determined to be charged when the current charging state reaches the predetermined value, and start charging the following vehicles instead, that is, charging the second vehicle entering the conductor segment (assuming that its current charging state is lower than the predetermined value, if not, the third vehicle, and so on).

[0033] In a simplified embodiment, the charging device control device is not necessarily configured to determine the initial position and the current position, but is configured to determine that the vehicle is about to enter the subsequent conductor segment based on the identification signal received from the receiving device arranged at the end of the conductor segment, and determine whether another vehicle is currently receiving charging from the subsequent conductor segment. If not, it is determined that the vehicle about to enter the subsequent conductor segment will receive charging, and the vehicle charging device connected to the subsequent conductor segment is commanded to provide current to the conductor segment, the current corresponding to the charging signal received from the vehicle to be charged, and optionally send an approval signal to the vehicle communication device of the vehicle determined to be to be charged, the approval signal is used to indicate that power has been provided, wherein the vehicle control device is configured to open the switching device in response to the approval signal to connect the current collector to the energy storage device, thereby charging the energy storage device.

[0034] In an embodiment, at least one charging device is configured to measure the voltage supplied from said charging device to a conductor segment connected thereto, wherein said charging device control means is configured to command the charging device to reduce the current supplied to the conductor segment connected thereto to a predetermined value if said current supplied from said charging device to said conductor segment is higher than a predetermined value determined as a function of the measured voltage. For example, if the measured (DC) voltage is 800V, the predetermined (maximum) value of the current may be 1200A, and if the measured (DC) voltage is 400V, the predetermined (maximum) value of the current may be 300A. Thus, if a vehicle equipped with a 400V battery pack (with the switching means switched on) accidentally drives into a conductor segment, the charging device of which is mistakenly commanded to supply a current of, for example, 1200A, the voltage is measured as 400V, which means that the predetermined maximum current value is exceeded, and the current is therefore instantaneously reduced to the predetermined value in order to avoid damaging the 400V battery pack.

[0035] In an embodiment, the charging device control device and the vehicle control device of the at least one electrically propelled vehicle are configured such that the at least one electrically propelled vehicle can be charged both while traveling along the road section and during stationary periods.

[0036] In an embodiment, the vehicle control device is configured to send a charging signal corresponding to the sum of the maximum permissible charging current of the electrical energy storage device and the current power required to propel the vehicle. If the vehicle is charged while driving, it is preferred to send such a charging signal so that the electrical energy storage device can be charged to the maximum extent possible in this case as well.

[0037] In an embodiment, the charging device control and the vehicle control are configured to communicate using a standard protocol defined for stationary charging (eg, CCS2).

[0038] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for providing power to at least one electrically propelled road vehicle through at least two electrical conductors extending along a road section suitable for vehicle travel. At least one or each electrical conductor is formed by at least two conductor segments arranged continuously in the longitudinal direction of the road section, and the conductor segments are electrically isolated from each other. At least one electrically propelled vehicle each comprises at least one electric motor for propelling the vehicle, an electric energy storage device electrically connected to the at least one electric motor, and a current collector electrically connected to the electric energy storage device, the current collector being suitable for being electrically connected to the at least two electrical conductors. At least two vehicle external charging devices are respectively connected to two or more conductor segments of at least two segmented electrical conductors, or to one or more conductor segments of a segmented electrical conductor and one or more non-segmented electrical conductors, to provide a voltage thereto, the voltage being suitable for providing power to at least one electrically propelled vehicle (for charging the electric energy storage device, and optionally for propelling the electric energy storage device). The method comprises determining at least one charging parameter, the charging parameter comprising a required charging current for one or more electrically propelled road vehicles in at least one electrically propelled road vehicle; and commanding at least one or one of at least one vehicle charging devices to provide a current corresponding to the required charging current to one or more conductor segments connected thereto.

[0039] In an embodiment of the method, the required charging current is determined as described above with reference to the system according to the first aspect of the invention, i.e. the vehicle sends at least one charging signal (e.g. using a vehicle control device and a communication device adapted to be connected to a communication device of a charging device control device), the charging signal indicating at least one charging parameter, the charging parameter including the required charging current of the electrical energy storage device of the vehicle. Furthermore, commanding one of the at least one vehicle charging devices may comprise commanding one of the at least one vehicle charging devices, using the charging device control device in response to the charging signal, to provide a current corresponding to the required charging current to one or more conductor segments connected thereto.

[0040] The features of the above-described embodiments may be combined in any practical manner to form embodiments having these combinations of features. In addition, all the features and advantages of the embodiments described above with reference to the first aspect of the invention may be applied to the corresponding embodiments of the system according to the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa. It is particularly noted that the method embodiments corresponding to the embodiments of the system may include method steps corresponding to the actions that the vehicle control device and the charging device control device are configured to take in the embodiments of the system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The above discussion and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail using the accompanying drawings, which show currently preferred embodiments of the present invention, in which:

[0042] Figure 1 An embodiment of the system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown, wherein four conductor segments of an electrical conductor and corresponding charging devices are shown;

[0043] Figure 2 An embodiment of a system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown, at least one vehicle is not shown in the figure;

[0044] Figure 3 A prior art system is shown, wherein a vehicle is provided with an on-board charger;

[0045] Figure 4 An embodiment of a system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown, the system being provided with a set of four charging devices, each of which is connected to four (four pairs) of conductor segments via a switching device;

[0046] Figure 5 An embodiment of a system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown, the system being provided with a first subset of charging devices, each of which is connected to only one conductor segment, and a second subset of charging devices comprising charging devices connected to two subsequent conductor segments.

[0047] Figure 6 An embodiment of a system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown, the system being provided with a first subset of charging devices, each of the first subset of charging devices being connected to only one conductor segment, and a second subset of charging devices comprising charging devices connected to a plurality of subsequent conductor segments, the system being shown without at least one vehicle;

[0048] Figure 7 An embodiment of the system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a short conductor segment which is arranged between two longer conductor segments and is used for positioning, and

[0049] Figure 8 An embodiment of the system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown, wherein each electrical conductor comprises one or more coils which are arranged at the end positions of the conductor segments and are used for positioning. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figure 1An embodiment of a system according to the first aspect of the present invention is shown. The system includes a plurality of electric propulsion vehicles, of which vehicles 1a-1d are shown. An electric conductor 2 extends along a road section 3 on which the vehicle is traveling. Each electric conductor 2 is formed by a plurality of conductor segments, of which conductor segments 2a-2d are shown, and the conductor segments 2a-2d are continuously arranged along the longitudinal direction of the road section. These conductor segments are electrically isolated from each other. Each electric propulsion vehicle 1a-1d includes at least one electric motor (not shown in the figure, usually arranged as a wheel hub motor) configured to propel the vehicle, an electric energy storage device in the form of a battery pack electrically connected to at least one electric motor (not shown in the figure, usually arranged in the chassis of the vehicle), and a current collector 4a-4d suitable for being electrically connected to at least one electric conductor 2. The current collector is electrically connected to the electric energy storage device via a switching device.

[0051] The electrical conductors and current collectors can be configured as described in SE543629 (incorporated herein by reference), i.e. the electrical conductors are arranged in grooves of at least one rail element, which is located in or on the section 3. The current collectors 4a-4d can be displaced vertically and laterally and include at least one contact element, which is suitable for mechanically and electrically connecting to the conductor segment. At least one rail element is also provided with an additional electrical conductor (not shown) connected to the ground potential. The grounding conductor can be arranged in a separate groove on the rail element, or in the same groove as the electrical conductor, or on the top of the rail element (as a grounding shield). The current collector includes at least one grounding contact element, each of which is configured to make electrical and mechanical contact with the grounding conductor. In this embodiment, the grounding conductor is not segmented.

[0052] The system also includes multiple vehicle external charging devices, four charging devices 5a-5d are shown in the figure, each charging device is connected to its own conductor segment 2a-2d and the above-mentioned (common) grounding conductor extending parallel to conductor 2 to provide it with a DC voltage suitable for charging the energy storage device of at least one electric propulsion vehicle.

[0053] The charging device control device is provided in the form of a charging device control unit 5a ′- 5d ′ which is arranged to control the respective vehicle-external charging device 5a - 5d . The charging device control device is provided with a communication device connected to the electrical conductor 2 .

[0054] Each electrically propelled vehicle 1a-1d comprises a vehicle control device in the form of a vehicle control unit 1a'-1d' provided with a communication device in the form of an interface to a current collector, the current collector being adapted to be connected by a conductor to the communication device of the charging device control device in order to send thereto at least one charging signal indicating at least one charging parameter including the required charging current for the vehicle's electrical energy storage device. The charging signal may correspond to the sum of the maximum permissible charging current of the electrical energy storage device of the respective vehicle and the current power required to propel the vehicle.

[0055] The charging device control units 5a'-5d' are configured to command the corresponding charging devices 5a-5d to provide currents corresponding to the required charging currents to the conductor segments 2a-2d connected thereto in response to the charging signals.

[0056] like Figure 1 As shown, vehicles 1a, 1b are located at conductor segments 2a, 2c and therefore send respective charging signals to respective charging device control units 5a, 5c (via their current collectors and the conductor segments connected thereto), which then provide the required charging current to their respective conductor segments. However, charging device 5b does not provide any current to conductor segment 2b because no vehicle is present and therefore no charging signal is received. In other embodiments, the charging signal is sent via wireless communication means (e.g., via GSM).

[0057] The vehicle control units 1a'-1d' are also respectively configured to send an identification signal indicating the vehicle's identity (such as a vehicle registration number) to the charging device control device. The charging device control device uses the vehicle's identity to approve or disapprove charging and optionally bill the vehicle owner for the power provided.

[0058] Vehicles 1c and 1d are both located at conductor segment 2d, and thus send respective charging signals to charging device control unit 5d through their current collectors and the conductor segment connected thereto. Charging device control units 5a-5d are configured to set the vehicle to be charged as the vehicle whose current position corresponds to the conductor segment and has traveled the farthest distance along the conductor segment, i.e., the vehicle that first connects to the conductor segment. The current position of the vehicle can be determined based on the position signal sent from vehicle control units 1a'-1d' to the charging device control unit. In other embodiments, the method for determining the position is as follows: Figure 7-8In this example, the vehicle to be charged is determined to be vehicle 1d because the vehicle has traveled the farthest distance along the conductor segment. The charging device control unit 5a'-5d' is also configured to command the vehicle charging device connected to the conductor segment to provide a current to the conductor segment, the current corresponding to the charging signal received from the vehicle determined to be charged (1d in this example), and to send an approval signal to the vehicle communication device (1d' in this example) of the vehicle determined to be charged, the approval signal indicating that power has been provided, wherein the vehicle control device is configured to turn on the switching device in response to the approval signal to connect the current collector to the energy storage device so as to charge the energy storage device.

[0059] Each charging device may also be configured to measure a voltage supplied from the charging device to a conductor segment connected thereto, and its corresponding charging device control device may be configured to command the charging device to reduce the current supplied to the conductor segment connected thereto to a predetermined value if the current supplied from the charging device to the conductor segment is higher than a predetermined value determined as a function of the measured voltage.

[0060] It can be understood that the charging of vehicles 1a, 1b, 1d is performed during driving, that is, the charging device control device and the vehicle control device are configured to charge at least one electric propulsion vehicle during driving along the road section.

[0061] Figure 2 An embodiment of a system according to a first aspect of the invention is shown, at least one vehicle is not shown. Figure 1 The system corresponds to that in which conductor segments 12c and 12d are arranged along the section 13b, each of which has a charging device 15c and 15d. Figure 1 A charging device control device is provided in a corresponding manner. Figure 2 In the embodiment, the additional conductor segments 12a, 12b may be arranged along the road segment 13a from the road segment 13b in the form of a turn-off / side road / roadside parking strip. The road segment 13b may be a highway section or any other type of (low-speed) road segment. The conductor segments 12a, 12b are connected to charging devices 15a, 15b, which are connected to the charging devices 15a, 15b in a manner similar to that of a charging device 15a, 15b. Figure 1 In this embodiment, two parallel conductor segments are shown, one of which can be connected to the ground (such as Figure 1 At least one vehicle in the system ( Figure 2 ) can be used with Figure 1In addition to the conductors 12a-12d and the associated charging equipment, a set of conventional fixed chargers 17 (connectable to the vehicle via cables, e.g. using the CCS2 standard) are provided at the turnout / side road / roadside parking strip. The fixed chargers may also be of the type described in WO2021051233 (incorporated herein by reference), i.e. using the same current collectors as those used for charging from the conductor segments 12a-12d during driving.

[0062] therefore, Figure 2 Vehicles in the medium system can be charged in three different ways:

[0063] 1. When driving along section 13b at normal speed

[0064] 2. When driving at a reduced speed along section 13a

[0065] 3. Stay still when parking on section 13a

[0066] Alternative 2 is particularly advantageous in that, due to the high-powered vehicle-external charging device and the extended charging time due to the reduced speed at road section 13 a , a relatively large amount of electrical energy can be supplied to the vehicle's electrical storage device.

[0067] Figure 3 A prior art system of a similar type described in WO 2011 / 123049 is shown. The system comprises a pair of electrical conductors 22 extending along a section of road 23 along which the vehicle travels. Each electrical conductor is formed from a plurality of conductor segments (eg 22a-22d) in a manner similar to that of Figure 2 The power source 28 (which may be referred to as a substation) is connected to the conductor segment via switches 28a-28d. The power source typically includes a transformer and a rectifier connected to the grid, but does not include a vehicle external charging device. In this prior art system, a vehicle (e.g., 21) is provided with an onboard charging device 21″, which is connected to a current collector (as described above). Figure 1 The on-board charger is connected to the battery pack 26. When the vehicle is located above the conductor segment, the presence of the vehicle and its current collector is detected (for example, in the manner described in the applicant's previous patent application), thereby connecting the switch to the conductor segment to connect the rectified electricity from the power source 28 to the electrical conductor. The on-board charger adjusts the charging voltage and / or current appropriately according to the condition of the battery pack.

[0068] Figure 4 An embodiment of a system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown. Figure 4 The present invention and Figure 3 There are some differences between the prior art systems shown, the main difference being that the present system is provided with a set of vehicle external charging equipment 35 instead of a vehicle-mounted charger. Figure 4As can be seen from FIG. 1 , the conductor 32 and the current collector 34 are formed in the same manner as Figure 3 The power supply 38 is equivalent to Figure 3 28 in the figure. A group of vehicle external charging devices 35 are connected to a power source 38, and the charging devices are in turn connected to four conductor segments (e.g. 32a-32d) via switch devices (e.g. 35a), which can be regarded as part of each charging device. The group of charging devices 35 is provided with a charging device control device 35', which can be in the form of a common charging device control unit for all charging devices or a charging device control unit for each charging device.

[0069] Each electrically propelled vehicle, such as 31, comprises a vehicle control device in the form of a vehicle control unit 31' provided with wireless communication means 31", suitable for connecting, for example via GSM / 3G / 4G / 5G, with communication means of a charging device control device 35' to send thereto at least one charging signal indicating at least one charging parameter including the required charging current of the vehicle's electrical energy storage device 36. The charging signal may correspond to the sum of the maximum allowed charging current of the electrical energy storage device of the respective vehicle and the current power required to propel the vehicle.

[0070] The charging device control device 35 ′ is configured to instruct the corresponding charging device to provide a current corresponding to the required charging current to the conductor segment connected thereto through the corresponding switch in response to the charging signal.

[0071] The vehicle control device 31' of each vehicle may also be configured to send a position signal to the charging device control device 35' via its vehicle communication device 31", and the charging device control device 35' may be configured to use the position signal to determine which conductor segment to command to provide the required charging current. The charging device control device 35' may be configured to determine the current position of each vehicle connected to at least one electrical conductor based on the position signal, as part of the determination. In other embodiments, the position is determined as follows with reference to Figure 7-8 described.

[0072] like Figure 4 As shown, the vehicle 31 and its current collector 34 are located at the conductor segment 32e. According to the charging signal and the optional position signal (or using the position determined in other ways) sent from the vehicle control unit 31' to the charging device control device 35 via the communication device 31", a group of charging devices 35 provide the required charging current to the conductor segment 32e through the switching device 35b (which is also controlled according to the determined position). In this example, no current is provided to other conductor segments.

[0073] The vehicle control unit (eg 31 ') may also be configured as described above with reference to Figure 1 The identification signal is sent in the corresponding manner.

[0074] Figure 5 1 shows an embodiment of a system according to the first aspect of the present invention. In this embodiment, the electrical conductor is schematically represented as comprising two subsequent conductor segments 42a, 42b (which may be pairs of electrical conductor segments, or as Figure 1 A single conductor segment supplemented by a grounding conductor).

[0075] A first subset of vehicle external charging devices (e.g., 45a, 45b) are each connected to only one (a pair) of respective conductor segments 42a, 42b. A second subset of vehicle external charging devices (e.g., 45c) are respectively connected to two or more (two or more pairs) of respective conductor segments (42a, 42b). In this embodiment, the maximum charging power of the second subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices is higher than the maximum charging power of the first subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices. Thus, light vehicles (e.g., 41a) can be charged through each conductor segment, while heavy vehicles (e.g., 41b) cannot be charged through each conductor segment (this is usually not necessary because there are fewer heavy vehicles).

[0076] The vehicle control device 41a' of each vehicle may be further configured to send a position signal to the charging device control device 35' via its vehicle communication device 31", and the charging device control device 35' may be configured to use the position signal to determine which conductor segment to command to provide the required charging current. The charging device control device 45' may be configured to determine the current position of each vehicle connected to at least one electrical conductor based on the position signal, as part of the determination. In other embodiments, the position is determined as follows with reference to Figure 7-8 described.

[0077] like Figure 5 As shown, the vehicle 41a and its current collector are located at the conductor segment 42a. According to the charging signal and the optional position signal (or using the position determined in other ways) sent from the vehicle control unit 41a' to the charging device control device 45 via the communication device 41a", the charging device 45a provides the required charging current to the conductor segment 42a via the switching device 45a' (which is also controlled according to the determined position).

[0078] In addition, the vehicle 41b and its current collector are located on the conductor segment 42b. Based on the charging signal (indicating the required higher charging current) and the optional position signal (or using the position determined in other ways) sent from the vehicle control unit 41b' via the communication device 41b" to the charging device control device 45, the charging device 45c provides the required charging current to the conductor segment 42b via the switching device 45c" (which is also controlled according to the determined position).

[0079] In other embodiments, the charging signal is sent through the current collectors and conductor segments, which makes sending the position signal optional because the charging device control can determine which conductor to accept the charging signal from.

[0080] The vehicle control unit (eg, 41a') may also be configured as described above with reference to Figure 1 The identification signal is sent in the corresponding manner.

[0081] Figure 6 An embodiment of a system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown, the system being provided with a first subset of charging devices 55a-55g, each of which is connected to only one (pair) of conductor segments 52a-52g (arranged along a road section 53) via switch devices 55a'-55g'; and a second subset of charging devices, including one (higher power) charging device 55h, which is connected to subsequent multiple (pairs) of conductor segments 52a-52g via switch devices 55h1-55h7. The system is shown without at least one vehicle. Figure 6 The examples in Figure 5 , but the system is shown on a larger scale. The charging devices 55a-55h are arranged in a substation (indicated by dashed lines), and the substation also includes a transformer 58a and rectifiers 58b-58c connected to the power grid. The substation also includes additional first and second subsets of charging devices connected to the rectifier 58c and the conductor segment of another (subsequent) section (not shown). It will be understood that the system includes a charging device control device in a manner similar to that described above. Figure 5 The method described above corresponds.

[0082] Figure 7 An embodiment of the system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown, wherein the electrical conductor comprises a short conductor segment which is arranged between two longer conductor segments and is used for positioning.

[0083] Figure 8 An embodiment of the system according to the first aspect of the invention is shown, wherein each electrical conductor comprises one or more coils which are arranged at the end positions of the conductor segments and are used for positioning.

[0084] The vehicle control device 61' / 71' of each vehicle (for example 61 / 71) is configured to send an identification signal indicating the identity of the vehicle to the charging device control devices 65a' / 75a' and 65b' / 75b'. The identity can be a unique identification number of the vehicle, such as a registration number or a chassis number. Alternatively, the identity can be an identification number assigned to the corresponding vehicle by the charging device control device. The identification signal can be used to verify whether the vehicle is allowed to accept charging, or for billing purposes. The current collector 64 / 74 is provided with a transmitting device, and at least one conductor segment 62a / 72a is provided with a receiving device. Figure 7 In FIG. 6 , the receiving device is formed by a separate conductor segment 62a′, which is arranged immediately after the conductor segment 62. Figure 8 In the embodiment, the receiving device is formed by one or more coils 79a, which are arranged at the end position of the conductor segment 72a. Therefore, in both cases, the receiving device is arranged at a predetermined position, and in both cases, the length of the receiving device is relatively short compared to the total length of the corresponding conductor segment 62a / 72a.

[0085] The identification signal is sent from the vehicle control device to the charging device control device via the transmitting device and the receiving device. The vehicle control device 61' / 71' is configured to send a speed signal to the charging device control device 65a' / 75a' via its vehicle communication device, the speed signal being used to indicate the speed at which the vehicle is traveling. The charging device control device is configured to determine the initial position of the vehicle connected to the at least two conductor segments based on the respective predetermined positions of the conductor segments 62a' / one or more coils 79a, and to determine the current position of each vehicle connected to the at least two electrical conductors based on the initial position and the speed signal.

[0086] The above description and the accompanying drawings should be regarded as non-limiting examples of the present invention. Those skilled in the art recognize that several changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. In particular, the number of conductors, conductor segments, vehicles, charging devices, and conductor segments connected to each charging device may be different from the exemplary numbers provided in the above embodiments. In addition, in embodiments where the communication between the vehicle control device and the charging device control device is described as wired communication (via electrical conductors), the communication device may be replaced by a wireless communication device, and vice versa.

Claims

1. A system, comprising at least one electrically propelled vehicle (1a-1d; 31; 41a, 41b; 61; 71) and at least two electrical conductors (2; 32; 62; 72), the electrical conductors extending along a road section (3; 13a, 13b; 33; 53) suitable for vehicle travel, wherein at least one of the electrical conductors (2; 32; 62; 72) is formed by at least two conductor segments (2a-2d; 12a-d; 32a-e; 42a, 42b; 52a-52g) arranged continuously in the longitudinal direction of the road section; the conductor segments are electrically isolated from each other, wherein the at least one electrically propelled vehicle (1a-1d; 31; 41a, 41b; 61; 71) comprises at least one electric motor for propelling the vehicle, an electrical energy storage device (36; 46a, 46b) electrically connected to the at least one electric motor, and a current collector (4a-4d; 34; 46a) electrically connected to the at least two electrical conductors. 64； 74), the current collector is electrically connected to the electrical energy storage device, and the system further comprises: - at least two vehicle-external charging devices (5a-5d; 15a-d; 35) connected to two or more of said electrical conductors so as to supply said electrical conductors with a voltage suitable for charging said electrical energy storage device of said at least one electric propulsion vehicle, each charging device being connected to one or more conductor segments (12a-12b, 12c-12d; 32a-32d; 42a-42b), and - a charging device control device (5a'-5d'; 35'; 45'; 65a'-b'; 75a'-75b'), the charging device control device being configured to control the at least one vehicle external charging device (5a-5d; 35; 45a-45c; 65a, 65b; 75a, 75b), the charging device control device being provided with a communication device, wherein said at least one electrically propelled vehicle (1a-1d; 31; 41a, 41b; 61; 71) comprises a vehicle control device (1a'-1d'; 31'; 41a', 41b'; 61'; 71') and a vehicle communication device, said vehicle communication device being adapted to be connected to said communication device of said charging device control device so as to send at least one charging signal thereto, said charging signal indicating at least one charging parameter, said charging parameter comprising a charging current required for said electrical energy storage device of said vehicle, and Wherein, the charging device control device (5a'-5d'; 35'; 45'; 65a', 65b'; 75a', 75b') is configured to command one or more of the at least one vehicle external charging device to provide current to one or more conductor segments connected thereto in response to the charging signal, and the provided current corresponds to the required charging current.

2. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication device of the charging device control device and the vehicle communication device are both wireless communication devices.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device of the charging device control device is connected to the at least two electrical conductors (2), and wherein the vehicle communication device (1a', 1c', 1d') is connected to the current collector (4a, 4c, 4d). 4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein all or a subset of the plurality of external vehicle charging devices are each connected to only one respective conductor segment, the one respective conductor segment having a corresponding position in the longitudinal direction of the road segment.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a first subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices is each connected to only one corresponding conductor segment, the one corresponding conductor segment having a corresponding position in the longitudinal direction of the road segment, and wherein a second subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices is each connected to two or more corresponding conductor segments having different positions in the longitudinal direction, wherein a maximum charging power of the first subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices is different from a maximum charging power of the second subset of the plurality of vehicle external charging devices.

6. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein each vehicle control device is configured to send an identification signal indicative of the identity of the vehicle to the charging device control device.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein each current collector is provided with a transmitting device, and wherein at least one conductor segment is provided with a receiving device, wherein the identification signal is transmitted from the vehicle control device to the charging device control device via the transmitting device and the receiving device, wherein the receiving device is arranged at a predetermined position relative to the conductor segment, and wherein the vehicle control device is configured to transmit a speed signal to the charging device control device via its vehicle communication device, wherein the speed signal is used to indicate the speed at which the vehicle is traveling, wherein the charging device control device is configured to determine the initial position of the vehicles connected to the at least two electrical conductors according to the corresponding predetermined position, and to determine the current position of each vehicle connected to the at least two electrical conductors according to the initial position and the speed signal.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle control device of each vehicle is further configured to send a position signal to the charging device control device through its vehicle communication device, and the charging device control device is configured to determine the current position of each vehicle connected to the at least two electrical conductors based on the position signal.

9. A system according to claim 7 or 8, comprising at least two electric propulsion vehicles, wherein: The current collector is electrically connected to the electrical energy storage device via a switch device, wherein the charging device control device is configured to: - for each conductor segment, determining a vehicle whose current position corresponds to the conductor segment and has traveled the farthest distance along the conductor segment as a vehicle to be charged; - commanding a vehicle external charging device connected to the conductor segment to supply a current to the conductor segment, the current corresponding to a charging signal received from the vehicle determined to be subject to charging, and -sending an approval signal indicating that power has been provided to the vehicle communication device of the vehicle determined to be to be charged, wherein the vehicle control device is configured to open the switching device in response to the approval signal to connect the current collector to the energy storage device so as to charge the energy storage device.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle control device is further configured to send a charging state signal to the charging device control device through its vehicle communication device, the charging state signal being used to indicate the current charging state of the electric energy storage device, and wherein the charging device control device is configured to determine a group of vehicles whose current charging states are lower than a predetermined value in response to charging state signals received from two or more vehicles whose positions correspond to the same conductor segment, wherein The vehicle in the group of vehicles that has traveled the farthest distance along the conductor segment is determined as the vehicle to be charged.

11. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each charging device is configured to measure the voltage supplied therefrom to a conductor segment to which it is connected, and wherein the charging device control means is configured to, if the current supplied from the charging device to the conductor segment is higher than a predetermined value determined as a function of the measured voltage, command the charging device to reduce the current supplied to the conductor segment to which it is connected to the predetermined value.

12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle control device is configured to send a charging signal corresponding to the sum of the maximum allowed charging current of the electrical energy storage device and the current power required to propel the vehicle.

13. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging device control device and the vehicle control device of the at least one electric propulsion vehicle are configured so that the at least one electric propulsion vehicle can be charged while traveling along the road section and during stationary periods.

14. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of the at least two electrical conductors are connected to earth potential.

15. A method for providing electrical power to at least one electrically propelled road vehicle from at least two electrical conductors extending along a section of road suitable for travel by said vehicle, in, at least one electrical conductor is formed by at least two conductor segments arranged consecutively in the longitudinal direction of the section, the conductor segments being electrically isolated from each other, wherein the at least one electrically propelled vehicle has at least one electric motor for propelling the vehicle, an electric energy storage device electrically connected to the at least one electric motor, and a current collector electrically connected to the electric energy storage device, the current collector being adapted to be electrically connected to the at least two electrical conductors, wherein at least two vehicle external charging devices are connected to two or more of the electrical conductors so as to provide the electrical conductors with a voltage suitable for providing power to the at least one electric propulsion vehicle, each charging device being connected to one or more conductor segments, and the method comprising: - determining a required charging current for one or more of said at least one electrically propelled road vehicle, and - commanding one or more of the at least one vehicle charging device to supply a current corresponding to the required charging current to the conductor segment connected thereto.

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