Efficient heat-based operating method for an electric vehicle

Abstract

Method for operating an electric vehicle, in which waste heat from a computing unit of the electric vehicle heats the electric vehicle, and electric vehicle.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating an electric vehicle, in which waste heat from a computing unit of the electric vehicle heats the electric vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric vehicle.

[0002] Methods of the type mentioned above, in various forms, are state-of-the-art and serve to utilize the waste heat of the computing unit for the benefit of the electric vehicle. Waste heat should be understood as thermal output.

[0003] The waste heat from an electric vehicle's traction motor is significantly lower than that from a combustion engine. As a result, to meet its heat requirements, an electric vehicle must convert the electrical energy provided by a traction battery into heat.

[0004] One possibility is to use the electric vehicle's computing unit to convert the provided electrical energy. When the computing unit performs computing operations, an ohmic power loss from the computing unit is released as waste heat.

[0005] A computational operation is generally understood here to be any calculation performed by a processor. The calculation may involve multiple data items, involve multiple computational steps and storage steps, and require a significant amount of computing time. In other words, the computational operation may be complex.

[0006] For example, DE 10 2018 205 784 A1 discloses a method for preheating a component of an electric vehicle, in which a computing unit of the electric vehicle performs a computing operation, and waste heat from the computing unit preheats a component, namely a traction battery or an interior, of the electric vehicle. The computing operation can be provided and received by a stationary server.

[0007] DE 10 2018 212 537 A1 also discloses a method for heating a component, for example an interior or an engine compartment, of an electric vehicle by waste heat from a computing unit of the electric vehicle while the computing unit executes an externally provided and received computing operation.

[0008] DE 10 2021 108 724 A1 also discloses a method for heating an electric vehicle, in which a computing unit executes externally provided and received computing operations and waste heat from the computing unit heats the electric vehicle.

[0009] The more autonomously an electric vehicle drives, the more complex the computing operations required for autonomous driving become. As the degree of autonomy of the electric vehicle increases, so does the waste heat generated by the computing unit. However, as the degree of autonomy increases, so does electrical energy consumption, which is associated with a decreasing range of the electric vehicle. Naturally, the range is also reduced by various functional systems of the electric vehicle that are electrically operated by the computing unit.

[0010] It is therefore desirable to counteract a reduction in range resulting from a higher degree of autonomy as much as possible while simultaneously meeting the electric vehicle's heat requirements as accurately as possible. In short, the overall efficiency of the electric vehicle should be increased.

[0011] One object of the invention is to propose a method for operating an electric vehicle that increases the efficiency of the electric vehicle. Another object of the invention is to provide an electric vehicle.

[0012] The invention relates to a method for operating an electric vehicle, in which waste heat from a computing unit of the electric vehicle heats the electric vehicle. During operation of the electric vehicle, in particular while the electric vehicle is traveling, the waste heat from the computing unit can temporarily cover the heat requirement of the electric vehicle at least partially. However, the waste heat from the computing unit can temporarily exceed the heat requirement of the electric vehicle.

[0013] According to the invention, a heat requirement module of the computing unit determines a heat requirement of the electric vehicle. Also according to the invention, an allocation module of the computing unit compares the determined heat requirement with a determined waste heat of the computing unit, the allocation module optionally outsources a computing operation internal to the electric vehicle to a computing unit external to the electric vehicle using a communication module of the computing unit if the determined waste heat exceeds the determined heat requirement; and the allocation module optionally retrieves a computing operation external to the electric vehicle to the computing unit using the communication module, and the computing unit executes the retrieved computing operation if the determined waste heat falls below the determined heat requirement. The computing unit not only provides the waste heat but also controls the provided waste heat.

[0014] The waste heat is controlled depending on the electric vehicle's heat demand by the processing unit selectively outsourcing internal processing operations and acquiring and executing external processing operations. For this purpose, the processing unit comprises a heat demand module, an allocation module, and a communication module.

[0015] The heat demand module continuously receives heat data from the electric vehicle's functional systems, which, taken together, indicate the electric vehicle's total heat demand. The allocation module continuously determines the waste heat from the computing unit. Determining the waste heat can involve measuring and / or estimating. By continuously comparing the total heat demand of the electric vehicle specified by the heat demand module with the waste heat determined, the allocation module determines a heat surplus or heat deficiency.

[0016] If a heat surplus is detected, the allocation module outsources the internal calculation operation. If a heat deficiency is detected, the allocation module retrieves and executes the external calculation operation. An internal calculation operation is any calculation operation initiated by the operation of the electric vehicle, i.e., a calculation operation of an electrical functional system of the electric vehicle. An external calculation operation is any calculation operation that is unrelated to the operation of the electric vehicle, i.e., any calculation operation outside of the electric vehicle's operational context.

[0017] The communication module is configured to provide wireless connections to the electric vehicle and to transmit data bidirectionally via the provided wireless connections. Within the scope of the method according to the invention, the communication module serves to transmit the internal computing operation and to receive the external computing operation.

[0018] Optional means that a vehicle user can decide or configure on a case-by-case basis whether the internal computing operation can or cannot be outsourced, or whether the external computing operation can or cannot be obtained. The user can enter the decision, for example, via the vehicle's infotainment system.

[0019] Controlling the waste heat of the computing unit counteracts both excess waste heat and insufficient waste heat, thus increasing the efficiency of the electric vehicle.

[0020] The allocation module preferably determines another electric vehicle to outsource the internal computing operation or to retrieve the external computing operation using the communication module. In other words, the heat balance of the electric vehicle is optimized collectively, i.e., in cooperation with the other electric vehicle.

[0021] Advantageously, the allocation module designates an electric vehicle as the additional electric vehicle for outsourcing the internal computing operation if its heat demand exceeds the waste heat of the additional electric vehicle's computing unit. A heat surplus from the additional electric vehicle can compensate for a heat deficit in the additional electric vehicle, thereby increasing the respective efficiencies of both electric vehicles.

[0022] The allocation module can outsource a plurality of internal computing operations to computing units of a plurality of specific additional electric vehicles. Outsourcing to multiple external computing units increases the flexibility and / or reliability of the process. For example, the computing operation can be redundantly outsourced to several additional electric vehicles. Redundant outsourcing increases the probability of receiving a result of the outsourced computing operation.

[0023] Advantageously, the allocation module designates an electric vehicle as the additional electric vehicle for acquiring the external computing operation, whose heat demand is lower than the waste heat of the additional electric vehicle's computing unit. A heat deficiency of the additional electric vehicle is compensated by a heat surplus of the additional electric vehicle, thereby increasing the respective efficiencies of both electric vehicles.

[0024] The allocation module can request a plurality of external computing operations from a plurality of specific additional electric vehicles. Requesting and executing external computing operations from multiple additional electric vehicles increases the flexibility of the process. For example, a heat shortage can be compensated even if a single additional electric vehicle does not provide sufficient computing operations to cover the determined heat demand.

[0025] The specific additional electric vehicle or each specific additional electric vehicle can be determined depending on a quality of a radio connection to the specific additional electric vehicle and an expected route of the specific additional electric vehicle.

[0026] Preferably, the allocation module reports each outsourced or retrieved computing operation to a stationary server, and the stationary server provides a debit corresponding to the outsourced computing operation or a credit corresponding to the retrieved computing operation for an electric vehicle user's account. The stationary server enables the electric vehicle user to trade outsourced internal and retrieved external computing operations. Trading outsourced internal computing operations is attractive if outsourcing the internal computing operations costs less than the amount of electrical energy at a charging station corresponding to the outsourced internal computing operations. Trading retrieved external computing operations is also attractive.While performing external computing operations consumes a significant amount of electrical energy, which costs more at the charging station than the revenue generated from obtaining and executing the external computing operation, the additional waste heat from the computing unit allows the heating demand to be met without requiring other heat-generating functional systems in the vehicle to consume electrical energy.

[0027] The allocation module can switch off a heating element and / or a heat pump of the electric vehicle when the computing unit executes a requested external computing operation. The heating element, in particular a PTC heating element, and the heat pump are functional systems of the vehicle that provide dedicated heat for the electric vehicle and consume a lot of electrical energy. In favorable cases, at least one functional system can be switched off or at least operated at a lower electrical power, thereby further increasing the efficiency of the electric vehicle.

[0028] Alternatively or additionally, the heat demand module can determine the heat demand of an electric vehicle's interior heater and / or an electric vehicle's battery heater as the heat demand. The interior heater and the battery heater are the two most important functional systems of the vehicle that have a heat demand.

[0029] Another subject of the invention is an electric vehicle comprising a computing unit. The computing unit typically comprises a processor, a digital memory, and digital interfaces, and may include peripheral devices.

[0030] According to the invention, the computing unit is configured to execute a method according to one embodiment of the invention. The computing unit comprises a heat demand module, an allocation module, and a communication module. The modules can be provided in hardware or software.

[0031] A key advantage of the method according to the invention is that it increases the efficiency of the electric vehicle, which is associated with a greater range. A further advantage is that the method allows an electric vehicle user to incur lower costs for electrical energy and / or generate revenue.

[0032] The invention is schematically illustrated in the drawings using an embodiment and will be further described with reference to the drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 in a lateral view a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0033] Fig. Figure 1 shows a lateral view of an electric vehicle 1 according to an embodiment of the invention, which includes a computing unit 10. Furthermore, the vehicle may include a heating element 11, a heat pump 12, an interior heater 13, and / or a battery heater 14.

[0034] The electric vehicle 1 may belong to a user 4. A stationary server 3 may provide an account 40 of the user 4.

[0035] The computing unit 10 is configured to carry out a method according to an embodiment of the invention as follows.

[0036] The method is used to operate the electric vehicle 1. Waste heat from the computing unit 10 of the electric vehicle 1 heats the electric vehicle 1.

[0037] A heat requirement module 100 of the computing unit 10 determines a heat requirement of the electric vehicle 1. The heat requirement module 100 determines, for example, a heat requirement of an interior heater 13 of the electric vehicle 1 and / or a battery heater 14 of the electric vehicle 1 as the heat requirement.

[0038] An allocation module 101 of the computing unit 10 compares the determined heat demand with a determined waste heat of the computing unit 10.

[0039] The allocation module 101 optionally outsources a computing operation internal to the electric vehicle 1 to a computing unit 20 external to the electric vehicle 1 by means of a communication module 102 of the computing unit 10 if the determined waste heat exceeds the determined heat requirement.

[0040] The allocation module 101 retrieves an external calculation related to the electric vehicle 1 into the computing unit 10, optionally using the communication module 102, and the computing unit 10 executes the retrieved calculation if the determined waste heat falls below the determined heat demand. The allocation module 101 can switch off a heating element 11 and / or a heat pump 12 of the electric vehicle 1 if the computing unit 10 executes a retrieved external calculation.

[0041] The allocation module 101 can determine another electric vehicle 2 for outsourcing the internal computing operation or for obtaining the external computing operation by means of the communication module 102.

[0042] To outsource the internal computing operation, the allocation module 101 preferably determines an electric vehicle as the further electric vehicle 2 whose heat requirement exceeds the waste heat of the computing unit 20 of the further electric vehicle 2. The allocation module 101 can outsource a plurality of internal computing operations in computing units 20 of a plurality of specific further electric vehicles 2.

[0043] To obtain the external computing operation, the allocation module 101 preferably determines an electric vehicle as the additional electric vehicle 2 whose heat requirement is lower than the waste heat of the computing unit 20 of the additional electric vehicle 2. The allocation module 101 can obtain a plurality of external computing operations from a plurality of specific additional electric vehicles 2.

[0044] Furthermore, the specific further electric vehicle 2 or each specific further electric vehicle 2 can be determined depending on a quality of a radio connection to the specific further electric vehicle 2 and an expected route of the specific further electric vehicle 2.

[0045] Ideally, the allocation module 101 reports each outsourced or retrieved computing operation to a stationary server 3, and the stationary server 3 provides a debit corresponding to the outsourced computing operation or a credit corresponding to the retrieved computing operation for an account 40 of a user 4 of the electric vehicle 1. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS: 1 electric vehicle 10 computing unit 100 heat demand module 101 Allocation module 102 Communication module 11 Heating element 12 heat pump 13 Interior heating 14 Battery heating 2 additional electric vehicles 20 computing units 3 stationary servers 4 users 40 Account

Claims

[1] Method for operating an electric vehicle (1), in which - waste heat from a computing unit (10) of an electric vehicle (1) heats the electric vehicle (1); - a heat requirement module (100) of the computing unit (10) determines a heat requirement of the electric vehicle (1) and an allocation module (101) of the computing unit (10) compares the determined heat requirement with a determined waste heat of the computing unit (10); - the allocation module (101) selectively outsources a computing operation internal to the electric vehicle (1) to a computing unit (20) external to the electric vehicle (1) by means of a communication module (102) of the computing unit (10) if the determined waste heat exceeds the determined heat requirement; and - the allocation module (101) retrieves an external computing operation related to the electric vehicle (1) into the computing unit (10) optionally by means of the communication module (102), and the computing unit (10) executes the retrieved computing operation when the determined waste heat falls below the determined heat requirement. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the allocation module (101) determines a further electric vehicle (2) for outsourcing the internal computing operation or for obtaining the external computing operation by means of the communication module (102). [3] Method according to claim 2, wherein the allocation module (101) determines an electric vehicle as the further electric vehicle (2) for outsourcing the internal computing operation, the heat requirement of which exceeds a waste heat of the computing unit (20) of the further electric vehicle (2). [4] Method according to claim 3, wherein the allocation module (101) outsources a plurality of internal computing operations in computing units (20) of a plurality of specific further electric vehicles (2). [5] Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the allocation module (101) determines an electric vehicle as the further electric vehicle (2) for obtaining the external computing operation, the heat requirement of which falls below a waste heat of the computing unit (20) of the further electric vehicle (2). [6] Method according to claim 5, wherein the allocation module (101) obtains a plurality of external computing operations from a plurality of specific further electric vehicles (2). [7] Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the specific further electric vehicle (2) or each specific further electric vehicle (2) is determined depending on a quality of a radio connection to the specific further electric vehicle (2) and an expected route of the specific further electric vehicle (2). [8] Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the allocation module (101) reports each outsourced or retrieved computing operation to a stationary server (3) and the stationary server (3) provides a debit corresponding to the outsourced computing operation or a credit corresponding to the retrieved computing operation for an account (40) of a user (4) of the electric vehicle (1). [9] Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the allocation module (101) switches off a heating element (11) and / or a heat pump (12) of the electric vehicle (1) when the computing unit (10) executes a retrieved external computing operation and / or the heat demand module (100) determines a heat demand of an interior heater (13) of the electric vehicle (1) and / or a battery heater (14) of the electric vehicle (1) as the heat demand. [10] Electric vehicle (1) comprising a computing unit (10) configured to carry out a method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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