Method for automatically requesting a charging vehicle for battery-electric vehicles to minimize downtime due to low battery charge

Abstract

Method for automatically requesting a charging vehicle (92) for a battery-electric means of transport (80) to minimize downtime due to charge level, comprising the steps: Determining (100) a remaining travel distance to a route destination (93) of a battery-electric means of transport (80), Determine (200) the distance to the nearest stationary charging station (94) for battery-electric means of transport (80) starting from the route destination (93), Determine (300) a remaining range of the means of transport (80), automatic request (400) of a charging vehicle (92) in the event that the determined remaining range is less than a total distance composed of remaining travel distance and distance to the charging station (94), and Determine (500) a suitable meeting point (96) for the means of transport (80) and the charging vehicle (92), whereby the route destination (93) is determined from a journey history and / or from user data of a mobile device (70).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method, a device and a means of transport for automatically requesting a charging vehicle for battery-electric means of transport in order to minimize downtime due to low battery charge.

[0002] The increasing prevalence of battery-electric vehicles necessitates not only the further development of electric drives and energy storage systems, but also, and perhaps more importantly, the expansion of the charging infrastructure. This expansion is crucial to enable battery-electric vehicles to be used with the same flexibility and reliability as conventional vehicles with combustion engines. For this reason, current technology focuses on optimizing electrical energy storage devices, such as batteries, with regard to their charging capacity and charging speed. However, the average ranges achievable with current technology for battery-electric vehicles remain below those of vehicles with combustion engines.At the same time, the availability of stationary charging stations is still significantly limited compared to the availability of petrol stations for vehicles with combustion engines. The combination of shorter average ranges and a limited charging infrastructure increases the risk of battery-electric vehicles experiencing downtime due to low battery compared to conventional vehicles with combustion engines. To make matters worse, a battery-electric vehicle stranded due to a depleted battery cannot simply be restarted by the driver if it is located away from a stationary charging station.For this reason, the state of the art envisages the use of charging vehicles that are able to go to the position of a stranded battery-electric vehicle and partially or fully recharge it via an onboard electrical energy storage device.

[0003] Especially for providers of car sharing services, whose vehicles can be parked anywhere within a fixed business area and whose fleet may consist partly or entirely of battery-electric vehicles, breakdowns due to low battery levels pose a major problem, as these can only be reactivated after a longer downtime depending on the availability of free charging vehicles.

[0004] German Patent Application DE 11 2012 006 128 T5 describes a navigation device. The navigation device comprises a current position detector, an instruction input unit, and a route computer. The current position detector acquires a current position. A destination is entered via the instruction input unit. The route computer searches for a route from the current position acquired by the current position detector, via the destination entered by the instruction input unit, to a post-arrival charging location where the battery of the electric vehicle can be charged after arrival at the destination.

[0005] DE 10 2013 206 903 A1 discloses a device for mobile charging of an electrical energy storage device of a motor vehicle, wherein the device is designed to be operated in a service vehicle while the service vehicle is driving, comprising a connection device designed to connect the electrical energy storage device of the motor vehicle to the device; a charging device designed to transfer electrical energy from the device to the electrical energy storage device of the motor vehicle to carry out a charging process while the motor vehicle is driving; and a control device designed to control the charging process while the motor vehicle is driving.

[0006] DE 10 2014 219 260 A1 relates to a method for operating a propulsion device of a vehicle using a control device, comprising determining a destination to which the vehicle is expected to move.

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to counteract the disadvantages in the prior art by means of a method for automatically requesting a charging vehicle, thereby reducing downtime and increasing the probability of reaching a desired route destination.

[0008] The aforementioned problem is solved according to the invention by a method for automatically requesting a charging vehicle for battery-electric vehicles to minimize downtime due to low battery charge, as described in claim 1. This method involves, in a first step, determining the remaining travel distance to a destination.

[0009] The route destination can be estimated, for example, from a driving history stored in the on-board computer and / or the evaluation unit, in case the driver is operating the vehicle without active route guidance in the navigation system. Using the aforementioned proposed data interfaces between the navigation unit and the evaluation unit, the evaluation unit can determine route destinations in the stored driving history that are located in the current direction of travel and have been visited several times in the past. Alternatively or additionally, information from a mobile device connected to the on-board computer and / or the evaluation unit can also be used to estimate the route destination. The latter can, for example, be permanently connected to the on-board computer via a Bluetooth connection during the journey.Through an interface between the evaluation unit and the on-board computer, data from the personal calendar of the mobile device can be retrieved. The appointment data stored in the calendar may also contain information about the route destination. By comparing this data with information about the current position of the vehicle, its direction of travel, and the current time, the evaluation unit can ideally determine the route destination even without active route guidance. Alternatively or additionally, information from an existing navigation app on the mobile device can also be used to determine the route destination; this app may be used as an alternative or supplement to the vehicle's navigation system.

[0010] In this way, information about the route destination, in the form of data representing this information, can be made available, for example, on one of the vehicle's bus systems. An evaluation unit, configured to execute the procedural steps of the proposed method, can receive this data and store it in its associated storage unit. The evaluation unit can be a component of an on-board computer system, which may also include the navigation unit. Preferably, the navigation unit also provides the evaluation unit with information about the current location of the vehicle and the remaining distance to the route destination, which can also be received and stored by the evaluation unit.Depending on the hardware and software architecture of the on-board computer system, it is also conceivable that the program logic of the evaluation unit and the navigation system are executed on the same processor and that the two components communicate via a software bus and / or shared memory areas instead of a physical bus system. The evaluation unit can also be located outside the on-board computer system in a separate control unit of the vehicle. In a subsequent process step, the distance to the nearest stationary charging station for battery-electric vehicles is determined from the route destination. Preferably, this information is provided to the evaluation unit by the navigation unit. This requires that the navigation unit, in addition to current information describing the road network, can also access current information about the location of available charging stations.In modern on-board computer systems, such additional information is typically available within POI (Point of Interest) lists. This information, as well as information about the road network, is usually updated regularly using state-of-the-art technology – for example, via a GSM mobile communication link between the vehicle and a server that provides the updated information in data form.

[0011] Furthermore, the navigation system preferably provides a data interface through which the evaluation unit can query information about the distance of the route destination to the location of the nearest charging station. The data provided in this way can also be stored in the memory connected to the evaluation unit.

[0012] In the next step, the evaluation unit determines the remaining battery range of the vehicle. In current technology, this remaining range information is usually also available within the navigation system. It is typically displayed, along with other information such as the distance traveled, the current route, and the remaining distance to the destination, on a display connected to the on-board computer as driver information. This information can also be retrieved from the navigation unit by the evaluation unit via a corresponding data interface and stored in the evaluation unit's memory.

[0013] Preferably, factors such as the outside temperature and the electrical energy consumption of the vehicle by all active control units and other consumers are taken into account when determining the remaining range. Only in this way can a reliable prediction of the remaining range be ensured.

[0014] The exchange of data between the evaluation unit and other control units or subunits of control units, such as the navigation unit, is not limited to the access concepts described above. In other words, the data exchange does not necessarily have to be initiated by the evaluation unit. The relevant data can, for example, also be updated cyclically at the respective interface by the navigation unit, regardless of whether the evaluation unit currently needs it. Event-driven data updates by the navigation unit are also possible. According to the invention, other access concepts regarding the data to be exchanged are also conceivable and are explicitly not intended to be limited to those mentioned above.

[0015] In the next step, the evaluation unit assesses whether the determined remaining range is sufficient to reach the route destination and then the nearest charging station, starting from the vehicle's current position. If not, the evaluation unit automatically sends a signal indicating the vehicle's charging requirement to a charging station. This signal can be transmitted, for example, by a mobile communication unit located in the vehicle and connected to the evaluation unit, which sends the signal to the service station as digital data packets via a GSM mobile network infrastructure. Preferably, the data packet includes information about the charging requirement, the vehicle's current position, its remaining range, and the route destination.Based on the data packets received at the service station, the IT infrastructure of the service station can, for example, automatically create a ticket in a ticketing system containing all transmitted data. The ticket data can then be compared using the IT infrastructure with the positions and charging capacities of all available charging vehicles in order to identify at least one charging vehicle that is near the vehicle and has sufficient remaining charge to fully or partially recharge the vehicle's battery away from a stationary charging station. The latter can, for example,This will be relevant if the remaining charge of the next charging vehicle is no longer sufficient for a full charge of the vehicle's battery, but a partial charge enables the vehicle to reach the nearest stationary charging station for a full battery charge under its own power.

[0016] In a subsequent process step, the evaluation unit determines a suitable meeting point for the vehicle and the charging vehicle so that the vehicle's battery can be recharged by the charging vehicle, as the vehicle is no longer able to reach the nearest charging station under its own power due to its insufficient battery charge. For this purpose, the inventive method provides for the transmission of information about the location and remaining charge of the nearest available charging vehicle to the vehicle via mobile communication in the form of digital data packets. The data is received by the vehicle's mobile communication unit and made available to the evaluation unit via the interface described above.The evaluation unit can then, for example, display a notification to the driver of the vehicle on the on-board computer system, informing them that a charging vehicle is available. Ideally, the notification also displays the current position or distance of the charging vehicle relative to the vehicle's location. Displaying the remaining charge of the charging vehicle can also be helpful for drivers, as can information about the costs associated with using the charging vehicle. Similar to a taxi service, costs for travel to and from the charging location can be calculated. Additional costs may arise from waiting time during the charging process and the amount of charge used. Ideally, the displayed notification also includes an option for the driver to select a meeting point for the charging process.This could be implemented, for example, as a driver-operated selection menu on the on-board computer display. By default, the route destination could be listed first in the selection menu, as this is generally the most convenient location for the driver to charge the vehicle. This allows the driver to reach their destination on time, and in most cases, a certain amount of time can be expected at the destination, which can then be used for charging by the vehicle. Alternatively, the selection menu could offer the driver one or more alternative charging locations. Depending on the driver's preference, these alternative locations could be chosen to minimize costs for the driver, for example, by having the vehicle...Instead of proceeding directly to the destination, the vehicle would first travel along the shortest route towards the charging vehicle. This would reduce the charging vehicle's travel costs. Alternatively, a meeting point could be established along an optimal route for the charging vehicle, taking into account its current position and at least one other vehicle's existing charging request.

[0017] For carsharing service providers, using this service offers a significant advantage, as it minimizes downtime caused by carsharing vehicles with limited range. Furthermore, it reduces the considerable service costs associated with towing a vehicle with insufficient range to reach the nearest charging station. Therefore, the automatic notification and deployment of a charging vehicle offers a substantial cost benefit for carsharing service providers.

[0018] In a further preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention is extended by the inclusion of an automatic billing process when the mobile charging service is used. The costs incurred for the mobile charging service can, for example, consist of the charging vehicle's travel costs to and from the location and the amount of charge received by the vehicle. Automatic billing can be carried out, for example, via a previously created customer account with the mobile charging service station. During the process step for selecting the meeting point for the charging vehicle and the vehicle, several alternatives regarding the meeting point can be offered, as described above. Preferably, these are displayed in a selection menu on the on-board computer's display, which also shows information about the costs incurred for each alternative.By selecting a suitable meeting point, the charging vehicle can be requested via mobile network by sending an order message, and the associated costs can be billed to the customer account. Alternatively, billing can also occur after a successful charging process, with the charging vehicle automatically informing the service station of the completed charging session via mobile network. Instead of billing via a previously created customer account, payment via a mobile device connected to the vehicle's on-board computer using an online payment system can also be advantageous when selecting the meeting point.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment, the process step for determining the distance to the nearest stationary charging station from the route destination is extended to include information about the availability of the existing charging stations. This means that the calculation considers not only the existence of a charging station at a specific location in the vicinity of the route destination, but also its availability at the time of the vehicle's expected arrival. This can be important, for example, if the driver can reach the desired destination and subsequently the nearest charging station based on the calculated range, but the charging station is unavailable upon arrival because it is already occupied by another vehicle. Since charging processes for battery-electric vehicles are typicallySince charging is very time-consuming, this can result in longer waiting times for the driver, especially if the number of charging points at a charging station is limited and several vehicles are already waiting for access to the charging point.

[0020] To avoid or shorten these waiting times, the inventive method can incorporate a determination of the charging station availability. For this purpose, the charging station can be equipped with a mobile communication interface through which information about availability can be transmitted. The recipient of this information can, for example, be a service provider for online updates of POI data, which in turn is connected to the vehicle's navigation unit via a mobile communication link. In this way, the navigation unit can provide the evaluation unit with information on the availability of the charging stations (which can also include the expected remaining time of a charging station occupancy), so that this information can be taken into account when determining the next available charging station.If, in addition to a vehicle currently being charged, another vehicle or several other vehicles are already waiting at the charging station for access, this information can also be recorded at the charging station and forwarded to the POI data service provider. This can be achieved, for example, through camera surveillance of the access road to the charging station, which is in turn linked to an automatic image recognition function to determine the number of vehicles already waiting. Alternatively, the waiting vehicles can be detected using an induction loop in the access road to the charging station, which is connected to appropriate evaluation electronics. Furthermore, digital information about the waiting status of other vehicles is possible via C2C or C2I networking, in which the waiting vehicles report their intention to charge to the charging station or to other vehicles.

[0021] Based on the calculated waiting times at charging stations accessible by the vehicle, the evaluation unit can offer the driver various courses of action. This can be done by displaying a message on the on-board computer screen, initiated by the evaluation unit. The message ideally contains several options for the driver, from which they can select their preferred option using a menu. In this way, the driver can decide whether to head to the nearest available charging station due to the vehicle's low battery level, even if it is already occupied by other vehicles for an extended period. Alternatively, they can request a mobile charging unit, which may be available more quickly than access to the nearest charging station.Another preferred option allows the driver to reserve an accessible (e.g., currently occupied) charging station for a later time that suits them. This way, they can first drive to their destination and, after a certain waiting period, head to the previously reserved charging station at the scheduled time. The charging station reservation can be made via a data packet, which the vehicle sends to a corresponding service station via its mobile network. The charging station can then be blocked for other vehicles for a specific reservation period. This status can be indicated, for example, by a message on a display at the charging station.During the reservation time window, the charging station can then only be used, for example, by entering a reservation code. This code is transmitted to the vehicle via mobile network during the charging station reservation process and displayed to the driver on the screen. Alternatively, the reservation and notification can be made via reservation codes on the driver's mobile device. In another preferred embodiment, the charging vehicle can be another electric vehicle. This requires that the vehicle's charging device is also capable of supplying electrical energy in reverse. Methods and devices are already known in the prior art that, for example, allow battery-electric vehicles to be used simultaneously as energy storage devices and energy sources, in order to, for example,Excess electricity from the grid can be temporarily stored in a network of battery-electric vehicles. This stored electrical energy can then be fed back into the grid from the vehicles' batteries when needed. Based on this technology, vehicles could, for example, supply electrical energy to other vehicles that may be stranded or unable to reach the nearest charging station under their own power. For this purpose, the infrastructure described above for requesting a charging vehicle can be used and expanded so that vehicles equipped with this technology that are near a stranded vehicle are notified accordingly.Through the automatic billing system, the driver of a vehicle supplying electrical energy to another vehicle can, for example, receive a credit to their billing account for the amount of energy supplied. In this way, an incentive system for drivers of electric vehicles can be implemented, for example, through further credits for time spent, etc., to get as many stranded vehicles back on the road as possible.

[0022] For carsharing service providers, this design offers the advantage that they need no or only a few additional vehicles that function purely as charging vehicles and are not part of the rental carsharing fleet.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment, the charging vehicle can be an autonomously driving means of transport which, upon request, goes independently to the designated charging meeting point.

[0024] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a device is proposed for automatically requesting a charging vehicle for battery-electric vehicles to minimize or avoid downtime due to low battery charge. The device comprises an evaluation unit, which includes, for example, a processor configured to execute the method steps according to the invention. Furthermore, the device includes a data input configured to determine information about the remaining travel distance to a destination of a vehicle, the distance to the nearest stationary charging station for battery-electric vehicles from the destination, the remaining range of the vehicle, a suitable meeting point for the vehicle and the charging vehicle, and, in conjunction with the data output, to automatically request a charging vehicle.

[0025] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a means of propulsion is proposed which comprises a device according to the second aspect of the invention. The features, combinations of features, and the advantages resulting therefrom correspond to those described in connection with the first and second aspects of the invention, such that reference is made to the above descriptions to avoid repetition.

[0026] Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the figures. These show: Fig. 1 a flowchart illustrating the steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention; Fig. 2 a schematic overview of components of a device according to the invention in an embodiment of a means of transport; and Fig. 3. An example scenario for requesting a charging vehicle.

[0027] Fig. Figure 1 shows steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention. In step 100, the remaining travel distance of the means of transport 80 to a route destination 93 is determined based on the navigation data of an active navigation unit 21 of an on-board computer 20 of a means of transport 80. In step 200, the distance of the means of transport 80 to the nearest stationary charging station 94 from the route destination 93 is determined based on the current POI data of the navigation unit 21. In step 300, the remaining range of the means of transport 80 is determined based on the navigation data of the navigation unit 21. In step 400, a charging vehicle 92 is automatically requested via a service station 60 if the determined remaining range is less than the total distance composed of the remaining travel distance and the distance to the stationary charging station 94. The request is made via a mobile communication link (e.g., GSM mobile communication) 42.For this purpose, the means of transport 80 comprises a mobile communication antenna 40, a mobile communication unit 22, which is arranged within the on-board computer 20, and an interface between the on-board computer 20 and the evaluation unit 10, via which the request process is initiated. In step 500, based on the information about an available charging vehicle 92 provided by the service station 60 via the mobile communication link 42, a suitable meeting point 96 for the means of transport 80 and the charging vehicle 92 is determined.

[0028] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic overview of components of a means of transportation according to the invention, which includes a device according to the invention. The device comprises an evaluation unit 10, which is connected via a data input 11 to an on-board computer 20 of the means of transportation 80. Furthermore, the evaluation unit is connected via a data output 12 to the on-board computer 20 and a data storage device 50. Via the connections to the on-board computer 20, the evaluation unit 10 has access to the subunits of the on-board computer 20, which in this embodiment consist of a navigation unit 21 and a mobile communication unit 22. The means of transportation 80 also includes a display 30, which is coupled to the on-board computer 20 to display, for example, the route guidance of a navigation unit 21.Furthermore, the means of transport 80 includes a mobile communication antenna 40 and an associated mobile communication unit 22, which is connected to the on-board computer 20. The mobile communication unit 22, which uses, for example, the GSM standard, enables data connections between the means of transport 80 and external receivers such as a service station 60 for charging vehicles 92. The means of transport 80 also includes a Bluetooth unit 23, which is configured to establish a data connection 72 to a mobile device 70.

[0029] Fig.Figure 3 shows an example scenario 90 for the automatic request of a charging vehicle 92. The vehicle 80 is en route to a destination 93. While the remaining range of the vehicle 80 is sufficient to reach the destination 93, it is insufficient to subsequently travel to the charging station 94 to recharge its battery. The method according to the invention detects this problematic condition and, in response, automatically requests a charging vehicle 92 from a service station 60 via the mobile communication link 42. Furthermore, a second vehicle 98 is located near the vehicle 80 and also has a low battery charge. Since the second vehicle 98 cannot reach the charging station 94 due to its remaining range, it also automatically requests a charging vehicle 92 via the mobile communication link 42.The IT infrastructure of service station 60 evaluates the requirements of a charging vehicle 92 and determines a meeting point 96 that is best suited for the charging vehicle and both means of transport 80 and 98 with regard to travel costs and expected travel time. The determined meeting point 96 is communicated to the means of transport 80 and 98 via mobile communication link 42. Additional meeting point options are also sent to the means of transport 80 and 98, from which the drivers of the means of transport 80 and 98 can select their preferred option via a menu in the on-board computer 20. Reference symbol list: 10 evaluation units 11 Data input 12 Data output 20 on-board computers 21 Navigation unit 22 mobile unit 23 Bluetooth unit 30 Display 40 Mobile phone antenna 42 Mobile communication route 50 data storage devices 60 Service stations 70 Mobile Device 72 Bluetooth wireless link 80 means of transport 90 Example scenario for requesting a charging vehicle 92 mobile charging station 93 Route destination 94 Stationary charging station 96 Meeting point 98 second means of transport 100-500 process steps

Claims

[1] Method for automatically requesting a charging vehicle (92) for a battery-electric means of transport (80) to minimize downtime due to charge level, comprising the steps: Determining (100) a remaining travel distance to a route destination (93) of a battery-electric means of transport (80), Determine (200) the distance to the nearest stationary charging station (94) for battery-electric means of transport (80) starting from the route destination (93), Determine (300) a remaining range of the means of transport (80), automatic request (400) of a charging vehicle (92) in the event that the determined remaining range is less than a total distance composed of remaining travel distance and distance to the charging station (94), and Determine (500) a suitable meeting point (96) for the means of transport (80) and the charging vehicle (92), whereby the route destination (93) is determined from a journey history and / or from user data of a mobile device (70). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the current location of the means of transport (80) is a shorter distance to the meeting point (96) than to the route destination (93). [3] Method according to any of the foregoing claims, further comprising Determine that the charging station (94) is likely to be available when the means of transport (80) arrives at it and / or Ensure that the charging station (94) is available for a period of time during which the means of transport (80) is expected to arrive at it. [4] Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means of transport (80) is a vehicle from a car sharing vehicle fleet. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging vehicle (92) is a vehicle of a car sharing vehicle fleet. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging vehicle (92) is an autonomously driving means of transport. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims further comprising automatic billing of a claimed battery charging process by the means of transport (80) depending on a distance traveled by the charging vehicle (92) and / or the amount of charge delivered during the charging process. [8] Device (10) for automatically requesting a charging vehicle (92) for a battery-electric means of transport (80) to minimize or avoid downtime due to low battery charge a data input (11), an evaluation unit (10), and a data output (12) wherein the evaluation unit (10) is set up, in connection with data input (11) to determine the remaining travel distance to a route destination (93) of the battery-electric means of transport (80), to determine the distance to the nearest stationary charging station (94) for the battery-electric means of transport (80) starting from the route destination (93), to determine the remaining range of the means of transport (80), to determine a suitable meeting point (96) for the means of transport (80) and the charging vehicle (92), and in conjunction with the data output (12) to automatically request a charging vehicle (92), where the route destination (93) is determined from a journey history and / or from user data of a mobile device (70). [9] Means of transport (80) comprising a device according to claim 8.

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