Battery reuse management system

Abstract

The invention relates to a battery reuse management system. A battery reuse management system is provided with a stationary power storage device and an information management device. The stationary power storage device includes a plurality of in-vehicle battery packs, at least a portion of which has been used once. The information management device receives, from the stationary power storage device, battery management information relating to each of the plurality of in-vehicle battery packs, and manages the battery management information. The battery management information includes travel distance information indicating a total travel distance of the vehicle when the in-vehicle battery pack is mounted on the vehicle. The information management device executes a pack specifying process for specifying the in-vehicle battery pack corresponding to the battery management information on the basis of the travel distance information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for managing the reuse of vehicle-mounted battery packs. Background Art

[0002] International Publication No. 2012 / 043592 discloses a power supply device comprising multiple functional modules and a main controller. Each functional module comprises a battery block composed of multiple battery cells, a communication interface, a memory unit, and a battery status detection unit. When connected to the main controller, each functional module is assigned unique address information by the main controller, which is then stored in the memory unit. Data communication then proceeds based on this address information.

[0003] International Publication No. 2002 / 067347 discloses a battery pack that includes a unique address and network communication components, enabling the battery pack itself to connect to the network. Furthermore, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-175858 discloses a battery management device that detects the presence of a battery pack during power storage system startup and assigns a management number to identify the battery pack. Summary of the Invention

[0004] A battery recycling management system comprises: a stationary power storage device containing a plurality of on-vehicle battery packs, at least some of which have been used once; and an information management device that receives battery management information associated with each of the plurality of on-vehicle battery packs from the stationary power storage device and manages the battery management information. The battery recycling management system has the following challenges: It is required that the battery management information transmitted from the stationary power storage device to the information management device does not become unknown as to which on-vehicle battery pack corresponds.

[0005] The battery reuse management system disclosed herein includes a stationary power storage device and an information management device. The stationary power storage device includes a plurality of on-vehicle battery packs, at least some of which have been used once. The information management device receives battery management information associated with each of the plurality of on-vehicle battery packs from the stationary power storage device and manages this battery management information. The battery management information includes travel distance information indicating the total travel distance of the vehicle while the on-vehicle battery packs are mounted on the vehicle. The information management device performs pack identification processing to identify the on-vehicle battery pack corresponding to the battery management information based on the travel distance information.

[0006] If an on-board battery pack has already been used once in a vehicle, the driving distance information for that single use is unique to each on-board battery pack. Furthermore, even if the on-board battery pack is subsequently reused in a stationary power storage device, the driving distance information remains unchanged from the state of the on-board battery pack during that single use. Therefore, using driving distance information makes it easy to identify the on-board battery pack corresponding to the battery management information from the stationary power storage device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like elements, and in which:

[0008] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram for explaining the outline of the battery recycling management system according to the embodiment.

[0009] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram for explaining information related to the recycling of vehicle-mounted battery packs.

[0010] Figure 3 This is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an information management device and a battery utilization system.

[0011] Figure 4 This is a diagram for specifically explaining a problem related to specifying an in-vehicle battery pack corresponding to battery management information.

[0012] Figure 5 This is a flowchart showing an example of processing related to associating (re-association) a vehicle-mounted battery pack with a communication device having an unknown MAC address. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] 1. Battery Recycling Management System

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram for explaining the overview of a battery recycling management system 1 according to this embodiment. The battery recycling management system 1 manages the recycling of battery packs 10. Recycling encompasses secondary and tertiary uses. In particular, the battery recycling management system 1 manages the recycling of battery packs 10 (on-board battery packs) mounted on a vehicle 100. Vehicle 100 is an electric vehicle (BEV) or a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV, PHEV) that uses an electric motor as a propulsion system. The battery pack 10 is mounted on vehicle 100, and the electric motor is driven by the power supplied by the battery pack 10.

[0016] The battery recycling management system 1 includes one or more vehicles 100 and an information management device 300. The information management device 300 serves as an information platform for managing various types of information. The information management device 300 includes one or more servers. The information management device 300 may also be composed of multiple servers performing distributed processing. Each vehicle 100 and the information management device 300 can communicate with each other via a wireless communication network.

[0017] The vehicle 100 may also periodically transmit vehicle information related to the vehicle 100 to the information management device 300. The vehicle information may also include travel history information TRV indicating the travel history of the vehicle 100. For example, the travel history information TRV may include the total travel distance of the vehicle 100. As another example, the travel history information TRV may also include location history information of the vehicle 100.

[0018] Vehicle information may also include battery information BAT reflecting the usage history of the battery pack 10. For example, battery information BAT includes battery usage history information. Battery usage history information may include, for example, at least one of temperature history, SOC (State of Charge) history, current history, voltage history, and charging history. Each history may also be represented by a frequency distribution. Battery information BAT may also include SOH (State of Health). SOH may also be calculated based on the battery usage history information. Battery information BAT may also include total charge and total discharge power. Battery information BAT may also include battery capacity and battery output.

[0019] The battery recycling management system 1 may also include a terminal 200 for use at a vehicle dealership or repair shop. At the vehicle dealership or repair shop, the aforementioned vehicle information can be read from the vehicle 100 using a predetermined tool. The vehicle information read from the vehicle 100 is input to the terminal 200. In other words, the terminal 200 can also acquire vehicle information. The terminal 200 can communicate with the information management device 300 via a wireless or wired communication network. The terminal 200 can also transmit the vehicle information read from the vehicle 100 to the information management device 300.

[0020] The information management device 300 collects, stores, and manages vehicle information of a plurality of vehicles 100. The information management device 300 includes a vehicle information database 320 that stores vehicle information of a plurality of vehicles 100. The vehicle information database 320 is implemented by one or more storage devices.

[0021] Next, the reuse of the battery pack 10 mounted on the vehicle 100 will be described. The battery pack 10 is removed from the vehicle 100 and reused.

[0022] Battery utilization system 500 utilizes storage batteries. For example, battery utilization system 500 is a stationary storage battery system that stores renewable energy in stationary storage batteries. As another example, battery utilization system 500 may also be a residential power supply system utilizing stationary storage batteries. According to this embodiment, the battery pack (on-board battery pack) 10 mounted on vehicle 100 is reused in such battery utilization system 500 as a stationary power storage device 520, described later. By supplying multiple battery packs 10 from multiple vehicles 100, the cost of battery utilization system 500 is reduced, promoting its widespread use.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram for explaining information related to the recycling of the battery pack 10. The battery pack 10 includes one or more battery modules 11 and a controller 12 for controlling the battery pack 10. The controller 12 is also called an ECU (Electronic Control Unit).

[0024] When the battery pack 10 is reused, the battery reuse management system 1 acquires the primary use information PU. The primary use information PU corresponds to vehicle information when the battery pack 10 is used once in the vehicle 100.

[0025] For example, primary use information PU includes battery information BAT reflecting the usage history of the battery pack 10 during a single use in the vehicle 100. The battery information BAT is stored in and read from the controller 12 (ECU) within the battery pack 10. For example, just before the battery pack 10 is removed from the vehicle 100, the information processing device of the vehicle 100 obtains the battery information BAT from the controller 12 within the battery pack 10 and transmits the battery information BAT to the information management device 300. Alternatively, the battery information BAT can be read from the controller 12 (ECU) within the battery pack 10 at a vehicle dealership or repair shop using a predetermined tool. In this case, the terminal 200 obtains the battery information BAT and transmits it to the information management device 300. Furthermore, as another example, the information management device 300 can obtain the battery information BAT for the vehicle 100 from the vehicle information database 320.

[0026] The primary usage information PU may also include driving history information TRV of the vehicle 100 equipped with the battery pack 10. The driving history information TRV includes driving distance information indicating the total driving distance of the vehicle 100. Furthermore, the driving history information TRV may also include location history information. The driving distance information is stored in the controller 12 within the battery pack 10 or in a storage device in the vehicle system. The location history information is obtained from the storage device in the vehicle system or from the vehicle information database 320 of the information management device 300. The information management device 300 obtains the driving history information TRV using the same method as described above for obtaining the battery information BAT.

[0027] The battery management information 30 is information used when the battery pack 10 is reused. The battery management information 30 is generated based on the primary use information PU. More specifically, the battery management information 30 includes battery information BAT and driving history information TRV. The environment (temperature, humidity, etc.) in the area where the vehicle 100 travels varies, and the deterioration of battery performance also varies depending on the environment. Therefore, the driving history information TRV may also be useful information when the battery pack 10 is reused. The battery management information 30 may also include the model of the vehicle 100 equipped with the battery pack 10. It should be noted that the battery management information 30 may also be generated in any of the vehicle 100, the terminal 200, and the information management device 300.

[0028] The information management device 300 collects, stores, and manages the battery management information 30 of the plurality of vehicles 100. The information management device 300 includes a battery management information database 330 (see Figure 1 ). The battery management information database 330 is implemented by one or more storage devices.

[0029] The reuse identification information (hereinafter referred to as the "reuse ID") is the identification information of the battery pack 10 when it is reused. The details of the reuse ID will be described later. The reuse ID is associated with the battery pack 10. For example, a sticker or the like printed with a QR code indicating the reuse ID is affixed to the battery pack 10. As an example of a QR code, a QR code (registered trademark) is shown. In more detail, at a vehicle sales store or a vehicle repair shop, an operator removes the battery pack 10 from the vehicle 100. The reuse ID is generated by the terminal 200 or the operator. The operator affixes a sticker or the like printed with a QR code indicating the reuse ID to the battery pack 10. In addition, the terminal 200 associates the reuse ID with the primary use information PU or the battery management information 30 and sends it to the information management device 300.

[0030] In this way, the information management device 300 obtains the reuse ID of the battery pack 10 and the battery management information 30. The information management device 300 associates the reuse ID with the battery management information 30 in the battery management information database 330. In other words, the information management device 300 associates the reuse ID with the battery management information 30 for management.

[0031] The battery pack 10 removed from the vehicle 100 is provided to a user who reuses the battery pack 10 (hereinafter referred to as a "recycler" or "reuser"). The recycling user is the operator of the battery recycling system 500. Furthermore, the information management device 300 associates the recycling ID with the battery management information 30 and provides it to the recycling user. Specifically, the battery pack 10, its recycling ID, and the battery management information 30 associated with it are provided to the recycling user as a set. In other words, the battery pack 10 and the battery management information 30 are associated with the recycling ID and provided to the recycling user.

[0032] More specifically, the battery utilization system 500 includes an information collection device 510. The information collection device 510 is capable of communicating with the information management device 300 via a wired or wireless communication network. The information management device 300 transmits the reuse ID of the battery pack 10 and the battery management information 30 to the information collection device 510 of the battery utilization system 500 that reuses the battery pack 10. The information collection device 510 associates the reuse ID and the battery management information 30 for management. On the other hand, a QR code indicating the reuse ID of the battery pack 10 is affixed to the battery pack 10. Thus, in the battery utilization system 500, the battery pack 10, the reuse ID, and the battery management information 30 are associated with each other.

[0033] When a battery pack 10 is reused in the battery utilization system 500, the information collection device 510 monitors the usage status of the battery pack 10 and adds the battery usage history information of the battery pack 10 to the battery management information 30 (battery information BAT). As a result, the battery management information 30 includes not only the battery information BAT of the battery pack 10 during its first use in the vehicle 100, but also the battery information BAT of the battery pack 10 during its reuse in the battery utilization system 500. This battery usage history information reflects not only the usage history of the battery pack 10 during its first use in the vehicle 100, but also the usage history of the battery pack 10 during its reuse.

[0034] The information collection device 510 regularly uploads (transmits) the latest battery management information 30 along with the reuse ID to the information management device 300. The information management device 300 regularly obtains the latest battery management information 30 and the reuse ID. The information management device 300 updates the battery management information 30 associated with the reuse ID in the battery management information database 330 to the latest content.

[0035] Figure 3 This is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the information management device 300 and the battery utilization system 500 .

[0036] The information management device 300 includes a vehicle information database 320, a battery management information database 330 (see Figure 1 ) and an information processing device 310. Information processing device 310 can access a vehicle information database 320 and a battery management information database 330. Information processing device 310 also stores various information, performs various information processing, and communicates with the outside world via a communication interface. Information processing device 310 includes one or more processors (processing circuits) and one or more storage devices. The functions of information processing device 310 can also be achieved through the collaboration of a processor executing a control program and a storage device. The control program is stored in the storage device. Alternatively, the control program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

[0037] Battery utilization system 500 includes an information collection device 510 and a stationary power storage device 520. Stationary power storage device 520 is composed of a combination of multiple battery packs 10. At least some of the multiple battery packs 10 included in stationary power storage device 520 are used once, that is, used products that have been installed in vehicle 100. For example, all battery packs 10 included in stationary power storage device 520 may be used once.

[0038] exist Figure 3 In the example shown, a stationary power storage device 520 includes 60 battery packs 10. Specifically, the 60 battery packs 10 are configured as 20 groups of battery packs 10, each group consisting of three battery packs 10. The stationary power storage device 520 includes multiple communication devices 521. Communication devices 521 are also called dongles. In the stationary power storage device 520, one communication device 521 is provided for each group of three battery packs 10. In other words, each of the 20 communication devices 521 is associated with a plurality (for example, three) of battery packs 10 in a group. Each communication device 521 is communicatively connected to the controller 12 included in each battery pack 10.

[0039] To monitor the usage status of all battery packs 10 included in the stationary power storage system 520, the information collection device 510 communicates with each communication device 521 to obtain battery usage history information for each battery pack 10 within each group and update the battery management information 30. As already explained, the information collection device 510 transmits the latest battery management information 30 along with the reuse ID to the information management device 300. In other words, each of the multiple communication devices 521 transmits the battery management information 30 and reuse ID for its three associated battery packs 10 to the information management device 300 via the information collection device 510. This transmission is performed for each battery pack 10.

[0040] In this embodiment, the reuse ID (reuse identification information) is determined as follows. That is, a unique address is assigned to each communication machine 521. This address is a MAC address (Media Access Control address). Specifically, MAC addresses 01 to 20 are assigned to the 20 communication machines 521 included in the fixed power storage device 520. It should be noted that, for the sake of convenience, the MAC address is represented by a 2-digit number that is shorter than the actual MAC address. In addition, a battery pack ID (pack identification information) is assigned to all battery packs 10 included in the fixed power storage device 520. Specifically, battery pack IDs A, B, and C are assigned to the three battery packs 10 in each group. That is, the battery pack IDs are numbered according to the rule that they are not repeated between the three battery packs 10 associated with the same communication machine 521 and are common to each communication machine 521 unit. On this basis, as Figure 3 As shown in , the reuse ID is a combination (eg, 01-A) of the MAC address of the communication device 521 (eg, 01) and the battery pack ID (eg, A) of the battery pack 10 associated with the communication device 521.

[0041] 2. Determination of the battery pack corresponding to the battery management information

[0042] In the battery recycling management system 1, it is required that the battery management information 30 transmitted from the stationary power storage device 520 to the information management device 300 does not become unknown as to which battery pack (on-vehicle battery pack) 10 corresponds. In other words, it is required that the information management device 300 can easily identify the battery pack 10 corresponding to the battery management information 30 transmitted from the stationary power storage device 520.

[0043] Figure 4 3 is a diagram for specifically explaining the problem related to identifying the battery pack 10 corresponding to the battery management information 30. Figure 4 In, with Figure 3 The example shown also illustrates a stationary power storage device 520 including 20 sets of one communication device 521 and three battery packs 10 .

[0044] Figure 4 The “normal time” corresponds to a case where all battery packs 10 are targeted and the combination of the reuse ID and the battery management information 30 held by the information management device 300 is transmitted from the stationary power storage device 520 to the information management device 300 via the information collection device 510 .

[0045] On the other hand, if multiple communication devices 521 are replaced due to a failure or other reasons after the last transmission of battery management information 30, the battery management information 30 received by the information management device 300 includes battery management information 30 of a battery pack 10 assigned a reuse ID (21-A, etc.) that includes the MAC address of the replaced communication device 521. The MAC address of the replaced communication device 521 is an unknown MAC address to the information management device 300.

[0046] Assuming there is only one communication device 521 with an unknown MAC address, it can be determined that the communication device 521 with the MAC address that was included in the previous transmission of battery management information 30 but was not received this time has been replaced by a communication device 521 with the unknown MAC address. In this case, the information management device 300 updates the reuse ID by associating the three battery packs 10 associated with the communication device 521 with the MAC address that was not received this time with the communication device 521 with the unknown MAC address. This allows the information management device 300 to continue to identify the three battery packs 10 based on the updated reuse ID. The information management device 300 can then continue to obtain battery management information 30 by associating the updated reuse ID with the battery management information 30 of the three battery packs 10.

[0047] On the other hand, for example, when multiple communication devices 521 are replaced at the same time, the reuse IDs sent from the fixed power storage device 520 include six or more reuse IDs with unknown MAC addresses. In this way, if there are two or more unknown MAC addresses, it is impossible to determine which of the two or more MAC addresses that could not be received this time these unknown MAC addresses correspond to. In other words, it is impossible to determine the battery pack 10 to which the reuse ID containing these unknown MAC addresses is assigned. More specifically, in Figure 4 ] shows an example including three unknown MAC addresses 21, 22, and 23. In this example, a countermeasure is required to determine the correspondence between the three MAC addresses 02, 03, and 19 that could not be received this time and the three unknown MAC addresses 21, 22, and 23.

[0048] Therefore, in this embodiment, the information management device 300 executes a "pack identification process." The pack identification process identifies the battery pack 10 corresponding to the battery management information 30 based on the travel distance information. The travel distance information used in the pack identification process is included in the battery management information 30 received from the stationary power storage device 520 for each battery pack 10.

[0049] Specifically, during the packet identification process, if the MAC addresses of the multiple communication devices 521 received from the stationary power storage device 520 include multiple unreceived MAC addresses and the same number of unknown MAC addresses, the information management device 300 identifies the multiple unknown MAC addresses corresponding to the multiple unreceived MAC addresses based on the travel distance information. The information management device 300 then associates the battery packs 10 associated with the multiple communication devices 521 having the multiple unreceived MAC addresses with the multiple communication devices 521 having the identified multiple unknown MAC addresses.

[0050] Furthermore, in the packet identification process, when identification of the plurality of unknown MAC addresses respectively corresponding to the plurality of unreceived MAC addresses cannot be performed based on the travel distance information, the information management device 300 performs the identification based on the battery use history information.

[0051] 2-1. Example of processing

[0052] Figure 5 This is a flowchart showing an example of processing related to associating (re-association) the battery pack 10 with the communication device 521 having an unknown MAC address. Figure 5 The processes P1 to P8 in FIG. 1 are all processes related to the re-association of the battery pack 10 and are included in the “pack identification process”.

[0053] In step S100, the information processing device (or simply, device) 310 of the information management device 300 determines whether information (recycling ID and battery management information 30) for each battery pack 10 has been received from the stationary power storage device 520. More specifically, this information is received for each communication device 521 in the order of battery pack IDs A, B, and C. If the received information contains an unknown MAC address (step S102: Yes), the process proceeds to step S104.

[0054] In step S104, device 310 determines whether there is one unknown MAC address. If there is one unknown MAC address, device 310 executes process P1 (step S106). In process P1, device 310 cancels the reuse ID containing the MAC address that was not received this time and updates the reuse IDs of the three battery packs 10 assigned the canceled reuse ID to the reuse ID containing the newly received MAC address (reassociation). For example, if MAC address 02 was not received and MAC address 21 was newly received, the reuse IDs of the three battery packs 10 assigned reuse IDs 02-A, 02-B, and 02-C are updated to reuse IDs 21-A, 21-B, and 21-C.

[0055] On the other hand, if there are two or more unknown MAC addresses (step S104 : No), device 310 determines whether determination condition C1 is satisfied (step S108 ). In the following description, for convenience, battery packs 10 with battery pack IDs A, B, and C are referred to as "battery packs 10A, 10B, and 10C," respectively.

[0056] Determination condition C1 is that the number of battery packs 10A whose total driving distance at the time of last reception was 0, among the battery packs 10 associated with the two or more MAC addresses that were not received this time, is one or zero. It should be noted that the driving distance information includes setting the total driving distance value of a battery pack 10 that has not been used once in the vehicle 100 (i.e., a new battery pack 10) to 0.

[0057] If determination condition C1 is met, device 310 determines whether determination condition C2 is met (step S110). Determination condition C2 is that the total mileage values of battery packs 10A associated with the two or more MAC addresses that were not received this time are all different. If determination condition C2 is met, device 310 executes process P2 (step S112).

[0058] In process P2, the device 310 references the travel distance information included in the battery management information 30 for the target battery pack 10. Specifically, the device 310 searches for pairs of battery packs 10A associated with the currently unreceivable MAC addresses and battery packs 10A associated with the newly received, unknown MAC addresses, whose total travel distances match. The number of such pairs is equal to the number of MAC addresses currently unreceivable and the number of unknown MAC addresses. Then, for each pair found, the device 310 updates the reuse ID (reassociation) by replacing the currently unreceivable MAC address with the newly received MAC address. For example, if the total travel distances of the battery packs 10A with the currently unreceivable MAC addresses 02, 03, and 19 are X, Y, and Z, respectively, and the total travel distances of the battery packs 10A with the unknown MAC addresses 21, 22, and 23 are Y, X, and Z, respectively, reassociation is performed as follows: MAC address 02 is replaced with 22, 03 is replaced with 21, and 19 is replaced with 23.

[0059] On the other hand, if determination condition C2 does not hold, that is, if there is duplication of total mileage values between battery packs 10A associated with the MAC addresses that failed to be received, device 310 determines whether determination condition C3 holds (step S114). Determination condition C3 requires that the combinations of total mileage values for battery packs 10B and 10C associated with the respective MAC addresses that failed to be received differ from one another across the two or more MAC addresses that failed to be received. If determination condition C3 holds, device 310 executes process P3 (step S116). For example, determination condition C3 holds if the combinations of total mileage values for battery packs 10B and 10C associated with the three MAC addresses 02, 03, and 19 that failed to be received are "Y and Z," "V and W," and "Z and V," respectively.

[0060] In process P3, device 310 searches for pairs with matching total travel distance combinations between battery packs 10B and 10C associated with the previously unreceived MAC address and battery packs 10B and 10C associated with the newly received, unknown MAC address. For each pair found, device 310 then updates the reuse ID (reassociation) by replacing the previously unreceived MAC address with the newly received, unknown MAC address. For example, if the total travel distance combinations of battery packs 10B and 10C associated with unknown MAC addresses 21, 22, and 23 are "V and W," "Y and Z," and "Z and V," respectively, reassociation is performed as follows. Specifically, MAC address 02 is replaced with 22, 03 with 21, and 19 with 23.

[0061] If determination condition C3 does not hold, that is, if there is a duplication of the total mileage values of battery packs 10A, 10B, and 10C between the MAC addresses that were not received, device 310 executes process P4 (step S118). First, if there is no duplication of the total mileage values of battery packs 10B and 10C between the MAC addresses that were not received, process P4 is identical to process P3. Furthermore, if there is a duplication of the total mileage values of battery packs 10A, 10B, and 10C, device 310 uses battery usage history information (in other words, battery load history) for reassociation. Specifically, device 310 uses at least one of the battery usage history information included in battery management information 30 (e.g., at least one of temperature history, SOC history, current history, voltage history, and charge history).

[0062] Specifically, device 310 searches for a pair that is deemed to have continuity in at least one of the battery usage history records, between the battery management information 30 for the battery packs 10A, 10B, and 10C associated with the currently unreceived MAC address and the battery management information 30 for the battery packs 10A, 10B, and 10C associated with the currently received unknown MAC address. Whether continuity is determined in the history can be determined, for example, based on whether the difference between the value of the currently received history and the value of the previously received history is below a predetermined threshold. Then, using the searched pairs (more specifically, for each pair if multiple pairs are searched), device 310 updates the reuse ID by replacing the currently unreceived MAC address with the newly received unknown MAC address. Furthermore, when the history information included in the battery usage history information is represented by a frequency distribution, the frequency of each segment of the frequency distribution (for example, 30°C-31°C, 31°C-32°C, 32°C-33°C, etc. in the temperature history) increases only at predetermined intervals. Therefore, when comparing the frequency data for the MAC address that was not received this time with the frequency data for the newly received MAC address, the values for all segments in the history (for example, at least one of the temperature history, SOC history, current history, and charging history) will not decrease. With this in mind, the battery pack 10 can be identified by considering the frequency of data added to the history during the period from the last reception of the battery management information 30 to the current reception.

[0063] In addition, Figure 5If determination condition C1 does not hold, that is, if the number of battery packs 10 associated with the two or more MAC addresses that were not received this time is two or more, and the total travel distance at the time of the previous reception was zero, device 310 determines whether determination condition C4 holds (step S120). Determination condition C4 is the same as determination condition C3 described above. If determination condition C4 holds, device 310 executes process P5 (step S122). Process P5 is the same as process P3 described above.

[0064] On the other hand, when the judgment condition C4 is not met, that is, when there is a duplication of the combination of the numerical values of the total driving distances of the battery packs 10A, 10B and 10C among the MAC addresses that could not be received this time, the device 310 executes processing P6 (step S124) and executes processing P7 (step S128) or processing P8 (step S130) depending on whether the judgment condition C5 (step S126) is met.

[0065] Specifically, if the combination of total mileage values for battery packs 10B and 10C does not overlap between the MAC addresses that were not received this time, process P6, which is similar to process P3, is executed. Furthermore, even if two or more of the battery packs 10A associated with the two or more MAC addresses that were not received this time are new, reassociation is easy if the combination of total mileage values for battery packs 10B and 10C managed by the same MAC address differs between the MAC addresses.

[0066] On the other hand, if the combination of total mileage values for battery packs 10A, 10B, and 10C overlaps, either process P7 or process P8 is executed depending on whether determination condition C5 is satisfied. Determination condition C5 states that the battery packs 10A, 10B, and 10C for which the combination of total mileage values for each MAC address unit failed to be received are all new. Process P7, executed when determination condition C5 is satisfied, is similar to the process utilizing battery usage history information for reassociation in process P4 described above. More specifically, even if all the battery packs 10A, 10B, and 10C to be determined are new, the various histories (for example, at least one of temperature history, current history, and SOC history) differ for each battery pack 10 unit depending on the location of each battery pack 10 in the stationary power storage device 520. Therefore, by taking this into account, reassociation can be performed even when determination condition C5 is satisfied.

[0067] Furthermore, if determination condition C5 is not met (i.e., if the battery packs 10 with duplicate total mileage values in each MAC address unit include a battery pack 10 that has already been used), process P8, executed for the battery packs 10 that have already been used, utilizes battery usage history information for re-association, similar to process P4 described above. More specifically, if determination condition C5 is not met, by focusing on battery packs 10 that have already been used (i.e., battery packs 10 with a total mileage value other than 0) for which there is actual use in vehicle 100, re-association can be facilitated using battery usage history information.

[0068] Furthermore, the information management device 300 (information processing device 310) associates the battery management information 30 associated with the reuse ID before the update with the battery management information 30 associated with the reuse ID before the update. Figure 5 The processes P1 to P8 shown are associated with the reuse IDs after being updated.

[0069] 2-2. Effect

[0070] If a battery pack 10 has already been used once in a vehicle 100, the driving distance information for the battery pack 10 during that single use is unique to each battery pack 10. Furthermore, even if the battery pack 10 is subsequently reused in a stationary power storage device 520, the driving distance information remains unchanged from the state of the battery pack 10 during that single use. Therefore, by utilizing the driving distance information, it is possible to easily identify the battery pack 10 corresponding to the battery management information 30 from the stationary power storage device 520.

[0071] In more detail, according to Figure 5 In the processes P2, P3, P5, and P6 of the flowchart shown, even if multiple MAC addresses are not received due to replacement of multiple communication devices 521, the communication device 521 with multiple unknown MAC addresses (i.e., the multiple communication devices 521 after replacement) can be identified by using the travel distance information. The battery pack 10 associated with the communication device 521 having the MAC address that was not received this time can then be identified.

[0072] Furthermore, when a battery pack 10 that has been used once in a vehicle 100 is reused, it is quite rare that the total driving distance values of multiple battery packs 10 included in the stationary power storage device 520 are consistent. In addition, it is considered that the possibility of the combination of total driving distance values of multiple battery packs 10 associated with the same communication device 521 being repeated between multiple communication devices 521 (multiple MAC addresses) is extremely low. Figure 5Even if the processes P4, P7, and P8 of the flowchart shown cannot identify the multiple unknown MAC addresses corresponding to the multiple unreceived MAC addresses based on the travel distance information due to the duplication, the identification can be performed by utilizing the above-mentioned battery usage history information.

[0073] In addition, the battery pack 10 associated with the plurality of communication devices 521 may also be Figure 3 As in the example shown, there is not multiple but only one. However, in the case where there is only one battery pack 10 associated with each communicator 521, if the number of battery packs 10 included in the fixed power storage device 520 is large, the number of communicators 521 becomes large. This may lead to an increase in the cost of the fixed power storage device 520 and an increase in the communication load (the first disadvantage). In addition, depending on the durability of the communicator 521, the frequency of replacement of the communicator 521 may increase (the first disadvantage). On the contrary, it is also considered to associate all the battery packs 10 included in the fixed power storage device 520 with one communicator 521. However, in this example, if the number of battery packs 10 increases, the management of the battery pack ID becomes complicated (the second disadvantage). In contrast, Figure 3 As shown in the example, by adopting a structure in which multiple battery packs 10 are associated with multiple communication devices 521, the first and second disadvantages can be suppressed at the same time. In addition, the battery pack ID (pack identification information) is numbered according to a rule that does not overlap between multiple battery packs 10 associated with the same communication device 521 and is common to each communication device 521 unit, thereby making it possible to Figure 3 As in the examples A to C shown in FIG, the plurality of battery packs 10 can be easily numbered using a simple battery pack ID.

[0074] 2-3. Other Examples of Reusing IDs

[0075] In the example where all battery packs 10 included in the stationary power storage device 520 have been used once, the reuse ID may also be mileage information. Specifically, the total mileage of each battery pack 10 after a single use may be used as the reuse ID. In this example, by using mileage information as the reuse ID, the battery pack 10 corresponding to the battery management information 30 from the stationary power storage device 520 can be easily identified. Furthermore, in this example, if the total mileage value used as the reuse ID overlaps across multiple battery packs 10, the reuse ID may include additional information such as alphanumeric characters to identify the multiple battery packs 10.

Claims

1. A battery recycling management system, wherein: The battery recycling management system has: A stationary power storage device comprising a plurality of vehicle-mounted battery packs, at least some of which have been used once; as well as an information management device that receives battery management information related to each of the plurality of vehicle-mounted battery packs from the stationary power storage device and manages the battery management information; The battery management information includes travel distance information indicating a total travel distance of the vehicle when the vehicle-mounted battery pack is mounted on the vehicle. The information management device executes a pack identification process for identifying a vehicle-mounted battery pack corresponding to the battery management information based on the travel distance information.

2. The battery recycling management system according to claim 1, wherein: The stationary power storage device includes a plurality of communication devices respectively associated with one or more vehicle-mounted battery packs included in the plurality of vehicle-mounted battery packs. The plurality of communication devices transmit the battery management information and the reuse identification information of the one or more vehicle-mounted battery packs associated with each of the plurality of communication devices to the information management device for each vehicle-mounted battery pack. The reuse identification information is identification information of each of the plurality of vehicle-mounted battery packs when reused, and is a combination of addresses unique to each of the plurality of communication devices and pack identification information assigned to each of the plurality of vehicle-mounted battery packs. The pack identification information is numbered according to a rule that does not overlap between the one or more vehicle-mounted battery packs associated with the same communication device and is common to each communication device unit. In the packet identification process, when there are a plurality of unreceived addresses and a plurality of unknown addresses equal in number to the plurality of unreceived addresses among the addresses of the plurality of communication devices received from the stationary power storage device, the information management device performs the following process: determining the plurality of unknown addresses respectively corresponding to the plurality of unreceived addresses based on the travel distance information, The plurality of communication devices having the specified plurality of unknown addresses are associated with the one or more vehicle-mounted battery packs respectively associated with the plurality of communication devices having the plurality of unreceived addresses.

3. The battery recycling management system according to claim 2, wherein: There are a plurality of vehicle-mounted battery packs associated with each of the plurality of communication devices.

4. The battery recycling management system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein: The battery management information includes battery usage history information reflecting the usage history of the corresponding vehicle-mounted battery pack. In the packet identification process, when identification of the plurality of unknown addresses respectively corresponding to the plurality of unreceived addresses cannot be performed based on the travel distance information, the information management device performs the identification based on the battery use history information.

Images