Method for operating a charging station, charging station and coupling element

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a charging station (1) for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle. According to the method, a control device (2) of the charging station (1) converts a power request (P) into a power demand. A ) of the electric vehicle a reduced target charging power (P S ) generated and the electric vehicle with the reduced target charging power (P S ) battery-friendly charging. Furthermore, the invention relates to a charging station (1) for charging a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle and a coupling element (5) for electrically coupling a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle with a charging station (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle and a coupling element for electrically coupling a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle to a charging station of this type.

[0002] Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly important in the automotive market. To provide electrical energy for an electric drivetrain, electric vehicles use a high-voltage battery. The high-voltage battery has particularly high demands in terms of capacity and performance—that is, its ability to deliver large amounts of energy as quickly as possible. For this reason, the high-voltage battery is often the most expensive component in an electric vehicle.

[0003] Electric batteries are subject to aging. This means that they lose capacity and performance. The aging process is caused, for example, by intermediate reactions in the electrolyte, deposits, and erosion on the electrodes. Intermediate reactions can depend, for example, on the battery temperature or the state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage battery, with the intermediate reactions occurring more strongly at higher temperatures and with a higher SOC than at lower temperatures and with a lower SOC. High battery currents, for example, during charging or discharging, are further factors that accelerate the aging of high-voltage batteries.

[0004] Aging determines the service life of the high-voltage battery and, due to the high manufacturing costs, also significantly affects the value of the entire electric vehicle. In older electric vehicles, replacing the battery is therefore often a total loss. To keep the loss of value of an electric vehicle as low as possible, the aging process of the high-voltage battery must be slowed as much as possible. This can be achieved by operating the electric vehicle in a battery-friendly manner.

[0005] For this purpose, modern electric vehicles feature operating modes, also known as "Battery Care Modes" or "BCMs," which ensure particularly battery-friendly operation, for example, by specifically limiting the performance of the high-voltage battery. One parameter of a BCM, for example, is the SOC, which is limited to 80%, for example, to avoid intermediate reactions.

[0006] Vehicle-specific limitations can be easily integrated into the development of electric vehicles. For older electric vehicles, retrofitting a BCM is only possible via a complex update of the electric vehicle's operating software. Due to the high development costs for the software, this is not economically viable and therefore not easily implemented. Drivers of such electric vehicles therefore only have the option of using a charging station (EVSE) with a relatively low charging capacity, for example, a maximum of 50 kW, to charge their batteries in a battery-saving manner. In contrast to modern fast charging stations (HPC-EVSE), which can often provide a charging capacity of 350 kW or more. This is very cumbersome, especially because public 50 kW charging stations are now rare.

[0007] Conventional charging stations for electric vehicles are designed to charge the high-voltage battery as efficiently as possible while avoiding overloading the high-voltage battery. To achieve this, the charging station regularly checks the high-voltage battery's charge level in order to gradually reduce the charging power at a critical charge level, for example, around 80%. In other words, the remaining 20% ​​of the high-voltage battery is charged at a lower charging power, particularly to prevent overheating and overcharging of the high-voltage battery. This process occurs automatically, so the user of the charging station has no way of influencing this protective mechanism.From the documents KR 10 2016 046 481A and US 10 071 648 B1, various methods for operating charging stations are known in which a charging current is specifically reduced depending on the state of charge in order to avoid overloading the high-voltage battery.

[0008] Existing fast-charging stations have the disadvantage that they are inadequately implemented to prevent the aging of the high-voltage battery during charging phases below a state of charge of 80%. The operator of the electric vehicle has no way of influencing the charging process.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate, or at least partially eliminate, the disadvantages described above in a charging process for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle, a charging station, and a coupling element for electrically coupling a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle to a charging station, which reduce the aging rate of the high-voltage battery in a simple and cost-effective manner.

[0010] The above object is achieved by the patent claims. Accordingly, the object is achieved by a method for operating a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle having the features of independent claim 1, by a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle having the features of independent claim 8, and by a coupling element for electrically coupling a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle to a charging station for charging the high-voltage battery having the features of independent claim 9. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description, and the drawings.Features and details that are described in connection with the method according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the charging station according to the invention and the coupling element according to the invention and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is or can always be made mutually.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a method for operating a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle. The method comprises: - Providing a first charging mode for charging the high-voltage battery and a second charging mode, which can be selected as an alternative to the first charging mode, for charging the high-voltage battery by a control device of the charging station, - Registration of a selection of the second charging mode by the control device, - Determination of a power requirement of the electric vehicle for charging the high-voltage battery by the control device, - setting a target charging power that is reduced compared to the power requirement by the control device depending on the power requirement of the electric vehicle and a predefined charging limit specification of the second charging mode, and - Provision of the target charging power for charging the high-voltage battery by the control device.

[0012] The charging station has a control device for controlling the charging station and for monitoring and controlling the charging process of the high-voltage battery. The control device is preferably designed according to a conventional control device for charging stations and can differ from conventional control devices, for example, at least in terms of the operating software used.

[0013] The control device provides multiple charging modes for charging the high-voltage battery. For selecting the charging mode, a button, a touchscreen with a control panel, a communication interface for communicating with a mobile phone app, or the like can be provided. The control device provides at least the first charging mode and the second charging mode as charging modes. Preferably, the control device provides one or more additional charging modes as alternatives.

[0014] A charging mode is preferably configured to charge the high-voltage battery across a predefined or at least definable state-of-charge spectrum. For example, the first charging mode and / or the second charging mode can be configured to charge the high-voltage battery between an SOC of 50% and 100%. Preferably, the first charging mode is configured to charge the high-voltage battery across the entire state-of-charge spectrum of the high-voltage battery.

[0015] Furthermore, the first charging mode and / or the second charging mode are preferably configured to provide the charging power depending on one or more charging factors. Charging factors can be, for example, a state of charge of the high-voltage battery or a battery temperature of the high-voltage battery. Accordingly, it can be provided, for example, that the charging power is reduced starting at a predefined SOC or below a lower threshold temperature in order to prevent overloading of the high-voltage battery and thus accelerated aging. This is also referred to as "SOC-dependent charging power" within the scope of the invention.

[0016] The first charging mode can, for example, be configured as a fast-charging mode, in which the control device charges the high-voltage battery up to a predefined SOC and / or above a predefined lower threshold temperature, with a relatively high charging power, for example, 200 kW, 250 kW, or more. Starting at the predefined SOC, the charging power can then be reduced.

[0017] The second charging mode is preferably designed as a battery protection mode, in which the control device charges the high-voltage battery up to a predefined SOC in the most battery-friendly way possible. According to the invention, it can be provided that a maximum SOC achievable with the second charging mode is lower than a maximum SOC achievable with the first charging mode. The second charging mode is designed as an alternative to the first charging mode, so that charging to a specific SOC can be carried out with both the first charging mode and the second charging mode. The SOC-dependent charging power of the second charging mode can, for example, be a percentage value, for example 20%, or an absolute value, for example 30 kW, lower than the SOC-dependent charging power of the first charging mode. With a percentage value, the curve of the SOC-dependent charging power is flatter than with an absolute value.For example, if the SOC-dependent charging power in the first charging mode is 150 kW, the SOC-dependent charging power provided for the same SOC in the second charging mode can be 120 kW.

[0018] When the charging station user transmits their charging mode selection to the charging station, the control device registers this. If the user selects the second charging mode for battery-saving charging of the high-voltage battery, this is registered by the control device. Upon successful registration, the control device activates the second charging mode.

[0019] To implement the second charging mode, the control device determines the power requirement of the electric vehicle for charging the high-voltage battery. This can be done, for example, by briefly providing the maximum available charging power and analyzing the charging power actually demanded by the electric vehicle. This power requirement can, for example, correspond to a maximum possible power requirement of the electric vehicle. Alternatively, the power requirement can also be determined via a data interface to the electric vehicle, such as via radio, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, the charging cable, or the like. The control device of the charging station can, for example, communicate with a vehicle control device of the electric vehicle via the data interface.The power requirement can, for example, be a SOC-dependent power requirement, which, for example, becomes lower as the SOC increases, starting from a predefined SOC.

[0020] Based on the determined power requirement and the predefined charging limit specification for the second charging mode, the control device determines the target charging power. The predefined charging limit specification specifies, for example, what percentage of the power requirement the target charging power should represent, for example, 80%, which corresponds to a 20% reduction in the power requirement. Alternatively, the predefined charging limit specification can specify a fixed value, for example, 30 kW, by which the charging limit specification should be reduced in order to maintain the target charging power. The target charging power thus specifies the charging power with which the high-voltage battery is to be charged in the second charging mode. If the charging power depends on the SOC, the target charging power is preferably also dependent on the SOC.

[0021] Finally, the control device provides the specified target charging power for charging the high-voltage battery. Since the target charging power is lower than the actual charging power due to the charging limit, the high-voltage battery is charged more slowly and gently than, for example, in the first charging mode, which is designed as a fast-charging mode.

[0022] A method according to the invention for operating a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle has the advantage over conventional methods that it ensures particularly gentle charging of the high-voltage battery using simple means and in a cost-effective manner. Since the target charging power is lower than the charging power, at least for a predefined state of charge spectrum, the charging process is deliberately slowed down, thereby reducing the load on the high-voltage battery. In this way, the aging rate of the high-voltage battery can be reduced and the value retention of the electric vehicle can be improved. This advantageously extends the service life of the high-voltage battery. The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for electric cars that do not have an integrated battery protection mode for charging the high-voltage battery.The operator of such an electric car can thus specifically drive to charging stations designed to implement the method according to the invention, thereby also benefiting from battery-saving charging. This avoids the complex and costly modernization of electric vehicles.

[0023] According to a preferred further development of the invention, a method can be provided in which the control device redetermines the power requirement of the electric vehicle after a predefined period of time, redefines the target charging power as a function of the newly determined power requirement of the electric vehicle and the predefined charging limit specification of the second charging mode, and provides the newly determined target charging power for charging the electric battery. The predefined period of time is preferably between 15 seconds and 60 seconds, particularly preferably approximately 30 seconds. The renewed determination of the power requirement preferably occurs in the same way as the previous determination of the power requirement. According to the invention, it can be specified that the newly determined power requirement may not be higher than the previously determined power requirement and is thus limited by the control device.By regularly or at least repeatedly determining the power requirement, it can be ensured that the target charging power provided is not too high, thus avoiding increased wear on the high-voltage battery. This has the advantage of ensuring particularly battery-friendly charging using simple and cost-effective means, thus further extending the service life of the high-voltage battery.

[0024] According to the invention, it is preferred that the power requirement of the electric vehicle for charging the high-voltage battery is determined by providing a test charging power, wherein the test charging power is higher than the target charging power. The test charging power can, for example, be increased successively or continuously in order to determine a maximum power requirement while simultaneously avoiding overloading the high-voltage battery. Furthermore, the test charging power can be adjusted to a charging power determined immediately beforehand, so that the current power requirement is determined quickly and reliably and the current target charging power is set accordingly. This has the advantage that particularly battery-friendly charging is ensured using simple means and in a cost-effective manner, thus further extending the service life of the high-voltage battery.

[0025] More preferably, the test charging power is provided as a function of the previously specified target charging power and the predefined charging limit specification. In this case, the value of the target charging power is preferably increased again completely in accordance with the predefined charging limit specification in order to determine the test charging power. To avoid step-down effects, the value of the target charging power can be slightly increased further in accordance with the predefined charging limit specification such that the test charging power is higher than the charging power underlying the target charging power. This has the advantage of ensuring particularly battery-friendly charging using simple means and in a cost-effective manner, thus further extending the service life of the high-voltage battery.

[0026] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, a method can be provided in which the predefined charging limit defines a reduction in the power requirement by at least 20%. This means that the specified target charging power is set at 80% of the determined charging power. With such a target charging power, battery-friendly charging is ensured with a charging time that is still acceptable for the operator of the electric vehicle. This has the advantage of ensuring particularly battery-friendly charging using simple means and in a cost-effective manner, thus further extending the service life of the high-voltage battery.

[0027] Preferably, the control device determines the state of charge of the high-voltage battery and automatically terminates the charging process when the determined state of charge reaches a maximum permissible state of charge predefined in the second charging mode, wherein the maximum permissible state of charge is less than 100%. In the context of the invention, 100% SOC is understood to mean a 100% charged high-voltage battery. The state of charge can be determined via a communication interface to the electric car. Alternatively, the state of charge can be determined as part of determining the power requirement of the electric vehicle, for example using key figures and / or characteristic maps of the high-voltage battery. Since high-voltage batteries are subject to increased aging above a higher state of charge, for example due to intermediate reactions, the extent of these intermediate reactions can be reliably reduced by limiting the state of charge to the maximum permissible state of charge.This has the advantage that charging is particularly gentle on the battery using simple means and in a cost-effective manner, thus further extending the service life of the high-voltage battery.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the maximum permissible state of charge is at most 90% of the capacity of the high-voltage battery. More preferably, the maximum permissible state of charge is at most 80% of the capacity of the high-voltage battery. At such states of charge, it is ensured that the extent of intermediate reactions in the high-voltage battery is relatively low, thus reducing the aging of the high-voltage battery. At the same time, the electric vehicle has a range that is still acceptable for most users, especially if the electric car is normally driven less than 200 km daily in everyday life, so that a maximum range with a fully charged high-voltage battery is not necessary. This has the advantage that particularly battery-friendly charging is ensured using simple means and in a cost-effective manner, thus further extending the service life of the high-voltage battery.

[0029] According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle. The charging station has a control device for controlling a charging process for charging the high-voltage battery. According to the invention, the charging station is designed to carry out a method according to the invention.

[0030] The charging station preferably has a charging station plug-in adapter for electrically coupling to a first coupling plug-in adapter of a coupling element for electrically coupling a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle to the charging station. Alternatively or additionally, the charging station can be designed for inductive charging of the high-voltage battery.

[0031] The charging station plug-in adapter is preferably designed as a socket. The charging station plug-in adapter is preferably designed as a so-called "CCS socket" for receiving a first coupling plug-in adapter designed as a CCS plug or has a CCS socket. Additionally or alternatively, the charging station plug-in adapter can also be designed as a so-called "Type 2 socket" for receiving a first coupling plug-in adapter designed as a Type 2 plug or have a Type 2 socket. Likewise preferably, the charging station plug-in adapter is additionally or alternatively designed as a so-called "Chademo socket" for receiving a first coupling plug-in adapter designed as a Chademo plug or has a Chademo socket. The first coupling plug-in adapter can, for example, be designed as part of a charging cable.

[0032] The control device is designed to control the charging station and to control and monitor the charging process of the high-voltage battery. The control device is preferably designed according to a conventional control device for charging stations and can differ from conventional control devices, for example, at least in the operating software provided. The control device is designed to provide multiple charging modes for charging the high-voltage battery. For selecting the charging mode, the charging station can, for example, have a button, a touchscreen with a control panel, an interface for communicating with a mobile phone app, or the like.Furthermore, the control device is designed at least to register a selection of the second charging mode, to determine a power requirement of the electric vehicle for charging the high-voltage battery, to specify a target charging power for charging the high-voltage battery that is reduced compared to the power requirement as a function of the power requirement of the electric vehicle and a predefined charging limit specification of the second charging mode, and to provide the target charging power for charging the high-voltage battery.

[0033] The charging station according to the invention provides all the advantages already described for a method for operating a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention. Accordingly, the charging station according to the invention has the advantage over conventional charging stations that particularly gentle charging of the high-voltage battery is ensured using simple means and in a cost-effective manner. Since the target charging power is lower than the charging power, at least for a predefined state of charge spectrum, the charging process can be deliberately slowed down, thereby reducing the load on the high-voltage battery. In this way, the aging rate of the high-voltage battery can be reduced and the value retention of the electric vehicle can be improved. This advantageously extends the service life of the high-voltage battery.The charging station according to the invention is particularly suitable for electric cars that do not have an integrated battery-saving mode for charging the high-voltage battery. The operator of such an electric car can thus specifically drive to charging stations according to the invention, which are designed to implement the method according to the invention, in order to also obtain the advantages of battery-saving charging. This avoids the complex and costly modernization of electric vehicles.

[0034] According to a third aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a coupling element for electrically coupling a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle to a charging station. According to the invention, the coupling element is designed to automatically transmit a selection of the second charging mode to the charging station or to cause the charging station to charge the high-voltage battery according to the second charging mode. The coupling element is preferably designed for coupling to a charging station according to the invention and a conventional charging station.

[0035] Preferably, the coupling element comprises a first coupling plug adapter for mechanically and electrically coupling to a charging station plug adapter of the charging station. Alternatively, the first coupling plug adapter is designed for mechanically and electrically coupling to a vehicle plug adapter of the electric vehicle.

[0036] According to the invention, the coupling element is designed to provide at least two technical functions. First, the coupling element is designed to establish an electrical connection between the electric vehicle and the charging station, so that the high-voltage battery of the electric vehicle can be charged by the charging station. Second, the coupling element is designed to cause the charging station to charge the high-voltage battery in the second charging mode. Within the scope of the invention, this also means that the charging station can be caused via the coupling element to charge the high-voltage battery according to the second charging mode, i.e., with a lower charging power than the electric vehicle would normally request from the charging station, so that the high-voltage battery is charged more gently.

[0037] For this purpose, the coupling element can, for example, have a memory, a barcode, a QR code, or the like, which can be read by the control device. Alternatively or additionally, the coupling element can have an element control device configured to communicate with the control device. The coupling element can be provided with a switch, pushbutton, button, or the like, via which the user can actively set whether the second charging mode should be requested or not. The coupling element can replace manual input of the selection of the second charging mode.Alternatively or additionally, the coupling element can be designed to simulate an electric car for a conventional charging station, which requires a lower charging power than the electric car coupled to the charging station via the coupling element, so that the charging station provides a target charging power which corresponds to the simulated requested charging power, thereby ensuring battery-friendly charging.

[0038] The coupling element according to the invention provides all the advantages already described for a method for operating a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle according to the first aspect of the invention and for a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention. Accordingly, the coupling element according to the invention has the advantage over conventional coupling elements that particularly gentle charging of the high-voltage battery is ensured using simple means and in a cost-effective manner. Since the target charging power is lower than the charging power, at least for a predefined state of charge spectrum, the charging process can be deliberately slowed down, thereby reducing the load on the high-voltage battery. In this way, the aging rate of the high-voltage battery can be reduced and the value retention of the electric vehicle can be improved.This advantageously extends the service life of the high-voltage battery. The coupling element according to the invention is particularly suitable for electric cars that do not have an integrated battery-saving mode for charging the high-voltage battery. The operator of such an electric car can thus also use conventional charging stations that are not designed to implement the method according to the invention, thereby also retaining the benefits of battery-saving charging. This avoids the complex and costly modernization of electric vehicles.

[0039] Particularly preferably, the coupling element is designed as a charging cable for electrically coupling the high-voltage battery to the charging station or as an intermediate adapter for electrically coupling a charging cable to the charging station or the electric vehicle. A coupling element designed as a charging cable preferably has a second coupling plug adapter for mechanically and electrically coupling to a vehicle plug adapter of the electric vehicle, as well as a multi-core cable via which the first coupling plug adapter is electrically coupled to the second coupling plug adapter. A coupling element designed as an intermediate adapter preferably has a second coupling plug adapter for mechanically and electrically coupling to a charging plug of a charging cable. The second coupling plug adapter is thus preferably designed according to the charging station plug adapter.In a coupling element designed as an intermediate adapter, the first coupling plug adapter and the second coupling plug adapter are preferably arranged in the same housing. According to the invention, the functions of the first coupling plug adapter and the second coupling plug adapter described above can also be interchanged. This has the advantage of ensuring particularly battery-friendly charging using simple means and in a cost-effective manner, thus further extending the service life of the high-voltage battery.

[0040] A method according to the invention for operating a charging station for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle, a charging station according to the invention for charging a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle, and a coupling element according to the invention for electrically coupling a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle to a charging station are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. They schematically show: Fig. 1 a flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, Fig. 2 in a diagram the determination of the target charging power, Fig. 3 shows a front view of a charging station according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a coupling element according to a preferred first embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a coupling element according to a preferred second embodiment of the invention.

[0041] Elements with the same function and mode of action are listed in the Fig. 1 to 5 are each provided with the same reference numerals.

[0042] In Fig. 1, the preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention is shown schematically in a flowchart. In a first method action 100, a control device 2 (cf. Fig. 3) a charging station 1 (cf. Fig. 3) several charging modes are available for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric car. Among the charging modes, there is at least a first charging mode and a second charging mode that can be carried out as an alternative to the first charging mode. In a second method action 200, the control device 2 registers the selection of the second charging mode for charging the high-voltage battery. The selection can be made, for example, manually by an operator of the charging station 1 or by a coupling element 5 according to the invention (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5). In a third process action 300, the control device 2 determines a power requirement P A (cf. Fig. 2) of the electric vehicle to charge the high-voltage battery. The power requirement P A is preferably dependent on the state of charge SOC of the high-voltage battery.

[0043] In a fourth method action 400, the control device 2 sets, depending on the power requirement P A, of the electric vehicle and a predefined charging limit specification of the second charging mode compared to the power requirement P A , reduced target charging power P S The predefined charging limit specification determines the extent to which the power requirement P A , should be reduced in order to achieve the target charging power P S The predefined charging limit specification is therefore preferably predefined in such a way that a target charging power P S which ensures battery-friendly charging of the high-voltage battery. In a fifth process action 500, the control device 2 sets the target charging power P S ready to charge the high-voltage battery. In other words, the high-voltage battery is charged with a lower charging power than the power requirement P A , loaded.

[0044] Fig. 2 shows the determination of the target charging power P Sschematically in a diagram. The maximum charging power P that can be provided by charging station 1 M is shown as the upper horizontal line, since the maximum charging power P M is independent of the state of charge SOC of the high-voltage battery. A power demand curve P A of the electric car depends on a characteristic and the state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage battery. The diagram shows that the power requirement P A initially increases with an increasing state of charge SOC of the high-voltage battery up to a lower state of charge SOC and then decreases with a further increase in the state of charge SOC of the high-voltage battery. A test charging power P that can be determined during the implementation of the method according to the invention T runs above the performance requirement P A with a constant distance to the power requirement P A. A target charging power P determined during the implementation of the method according to the invention S runs below the performance requirement P A , with a constant distance to the power requirement P A .

[0045] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic front view of the charging station 1 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention. The charging station 1 comprises a station housing 8, on which several charging station plug-in adapters 3 and a control element 9 designed as a touchscreen are arranged. The control device 2 is arranged within the station housing 8.

[0046] Fig. 4 shows the coupling element 5 according to the preferred first embodiment of the invention schematically in a perspective view. The coupling element 5 is designed as a charging cable 6 and has a first coupling plug adapter 4, which is electrically coupled via a cable 11 of the coupling element 5 to a second coupling plug adapter 10 of the coupling element 5. An element control device 12 is arranged on the first coupling plug adapter 4. The element control device 12 can be designed to transmit the selection of the second charging mode to a charging station 1 according to the invention, so that the charging station 1 according to the invention can charge the high-voltage battery according to the target charging power P S Alternatively or additionally, the element control device 12 can be designed to determine from a power requirement P A , of the electric vehicle using the predefined charging limit specification a reduced target charging power P Sand as a simulated performance requirement P A , to a conventional charging station 1 so that the conventional charging station 1 can charge the high-voltage battery according to the simulated power requirement P A loads.

[0047] In Fig. Figure 5 schematically illustrates the coupling element 5 according to the preferred second embodiment of the invention in a perspective view. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in particular in that the coupling element 5 is designed as an intermediate adapter 7. Accordingly, the first coupling plug adapter 4 and the second coupling plug adapter 10 are arranged in a common adapter housing 13. A cable 11 is thus not present. List of reference symbols 1 charging station 2 Control device 3 charging station plug adapters 4 first coupling plug adapter 5 coupling element 6 charging cables 7 intermediate adapters 8 station housings 9 Control panel 10 second coupling plug adapter 11 cables 12 Element control device 13 adapter housing 100 first procedural action 200 second procedural action 300 third procedural action 400 fourth procedural action 500 fifth procedural action P Performance P A Performance requirement P M maximum charging power P S Target charging power P T Test charging power SOC state of charge QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] KR 10 2016 046 481A

[0007] US 10 071 648 B1

[0007]

Claims

[1] Method for operating a charging station (1) for charging a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle, comprising: - providing a first charging mode for charging the high-voltage battery and a second charging mode for charging the high-voltage battery, which can be selected as an alternative to the first charging mode, by a control device (2) of the charging station (1), - registration of a selection of the second charging mode by the control device (2), - Determine a performance requirement (P A ) of the electric vehicle for charging the high-voltage battery by the control device (2), - Setting a performance requirement (P A ) reduced target charging power (P S ) by the control device (2) depending on the power requirement (P A ) of the electric vehicle and a predefined charging limit specification of the second charging mode, and - Providing the target charging power (P S) for charging the high-voltage battery by the control device (2). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the control device (2) after a predefined period of time, the power requirement (P A ) of the electric vehicle is determined again, the target charging power (P S ) depending on the newly determined performance requirement (P A ) of the electric vehicle and the predefined charging limit specification of the second charging mode and uses the newly determined target charging power (P S ) provides. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that determining the performance requirement (P A ) of the electric vehicle to charge the high-voltage battery by providing a test charging power (P T ), whereby the test charging power (P T ) is higher than the target charging power (P S ). [4] Method according to claim 3, characterized by that the test charging power (P T ) depending on the previously defined target charging power (P S ) is provided. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the predefined charging limit specification requires a reduction in the power requirement (P A ) by at least 20%. [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control device (2) determines the state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage battery and automatically terminates the charging process when the determined state of charge (SOC) reaches a maximum permissible state of charge (SOC) predefined in the second charging mode, wherein the maximum permissible state of charge (SOC) is less than 100%. [7] Method according to claim 6, characterized by that the maximum permissible state of charge (SOC) is no more than 90% of the capacity of the high-voltage battery. [8] Charging station (1) for charging a high-voltage battery of a motor vehicle, comprising a control device (2) for controlling a charging process for charging the high-voltage battery, characterized by that the charging station (1) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. [9] Coupling element (5) for electrically coupling a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle to a charging station (1), characterized by that the coupling element (5) is designed to automatically transmit a selection of the second charging mode to the charging station (1) or to cause the charging station (1) to charge the high-voltage battery according to the second charging mode. [10] Coupling element (5) according to claim 9, characterized bythat the coupling element (5) is designed as a charging cable (6) for electrically coupling the high-voltage battery to the charging station (1) or as an intermediate adapter (7) for electrically coupling a charging cable (6) to the charging station (1) or the electric vehicle.

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