METHOD FOR DETERMINING A ROUTE OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE

Abstract

A method is described for the computer-assisted determination of a route for an electric vehicle to a destination. The route includes one or more charging stops at charging stations for charging an energy storage device of the electric vehicle along the route. The charging stops are selected based on the charging plugs available at the charging stations of a charging stop that correspond to a charging port of the electric vehicle. The method provides information indicating whether an adapter is carried in the electric vehicle that enables the connection of a charging plug that does not correspond to the charging port of the electric vehicle to the charging port of the electric vehicle.Furthermore, the route guidance is determined by processing the information, whereby if the information indicates that the adapter is being carried, charging stops are also taken into account which can only be connected to the charging port of the electric vehicle using the adapter.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for determining a route for an electric vehicle to a destination, taking into account one or more charging stops at charging stations for charging an energy storage device of the electric vehicle along the route, as well as to an adapter for connecting a charging port of an electric vehicle to a charging plug of a charging station. Furthermore, the invention relates to an electric vehicle.

[0002] NACS is a proprietary Tesla DC fast-charging connector standard, also known as the Tesla Charging Connector, used in Tesla's Supercharger network. It has been used in Tesla vehicles since 2012, with the connector design made available to other manufacturers in 2022.

[0003] The charging connectors of many existing electric vehicles are based on the CCS (Combined Charging System) standard, which was developed in 2011 in collaboration between US and German automakers. CCS includes both alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) connections. In the US, the CCS connector is commonly referred to as CCS1. In contrast, the CCS2 charging connector is predominantly used in Europe. It is larger in size and shape than CCS1 to accommodate the three-phase AC grid in Europe. Both CCS1 and CCS2 are designed to operate with ultrafast 800V battery architectures and charge speeds up to 350 kW and beyond.

[0004] With the ability to use Tesla's Supercharger charging network, it is expected that there will be an increased use of adapters to and from NACS charging stations, i.e., charging stations that use the NCAS charging connector, in the future. This will enable current vehicles equipped with a CCS1 or CCS2 charging port to charge their electric vehicle's energy storage system at the Supercharger charging network.

[0005] An adapter which enables the connection of a charging plug of a charging station which does not correspond to the charging connection of the electric vehicle is known, for example, from US 11 884 170 B1.

[0006] When computer-assistedly determining a route to a destination, the navigation systems of existing electric vehicles consider those charging stations for charging an energy storage device whose charging plugs correspond to the electric vehicle's charging port, e.g., CCS1 or CCS2. In order to also consider charging stations whose charging plugs do not correspond to the electric vehicle's charging ports (e.g., NACS) in the route guidance, manual interaction by the electric vehicle user is required.

[0007] WO 2021 / 252 979 A1 and US 2019 / 0 383 637 A1 disclose a method and an electric vehicle for computer-assisted determination of a route guidance of an electric vehicle to a destination, wherein the route guidance includes one or more charging stops at charging stations for charging an energy storage device of the electric vehicle along the route. The charging stops are selected based on the charging plugs available at the charging stations of a charging stop that correspond to a charging port of the electric vehicle. For this purpose, information is determined and provided that indicates whether an adapter is carried in the electric vehicle that enables the connection of a charging plug that does not correspond to the charging port of the electric vehicle to the charging port of the electric vehicle.Furthermore, a route guidance is determined by processing the information, whereby, if the information indicates that the adapter is being carried, charging stops are also taken into account which can only be connected to the charging port of the electric vehicle using the adapter.

[0008] US 2013 / 0 169 226 A1 discloses an adapter for connecting a charging port of an electric vehicle to a charging plug of a charging station, wherein the adapter comprises a radio module or a communication module or an antenna for exchanging radio signals with the electric vehicle.

[0009] DE 20 2023 104 142 U1 discloses a charging plug of a charging station based on the NACS standard.

[0010] DE 10 2017 124 469 A1 discloses an electric vehicle with a charging port based on the CCS1 or CCS2 standard.

[0011] The object of the invention is to provide a method for computer-assisted determination of a route for an electric vehicle to a destination, which is improved over the prior art. It is also an object of the invention to provide a charging adapter that supports the method and an electric vehicle that is designed to carry out the method according to the invention.

[0012] These objects are achieved by a method according to the features of claim 1 and an electric vehicle according to the features of claim 9. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the dependent claims.

[0013] A method is proposed for the computer-assisted determination of a route for an electric vehicle to a destination. The route includes one or more charging stops at charging stations for charging an energy storage device of the electric vehicle along the route. The charging stops are selected based on the charging plugs available at the charging stations of a charging stop that correspond to a charging port of the electric vehicle.

[0014] In this description, a charging stop is understood to be a location between a starting location and the destination where one or more charging stations are available for charging the electric vehicle's energy storage system. The charging stop can, for example, correspond to a charging park along a motorway or highway, or to a rest area or gas station that has one or more charging stations.

[0015] The electric vehicle's charging port can be based on the CCS1, CCS2, Chademo, or other standards. These standards specify the number and arrangement of conductors required to charge the energy storage device. The number, arrangement, and size of the conductors can vary from country to country or continent to continent.

[0016] The following steps are carried out in the method according to the invention: In a first step, the information indicating whether an adapter is carried in the electric vehicle is determined, and this information is provided computer-assisted and automatically by the electric vehicle, in particular a computing unit of the electric vehicle. Thus, using suitable means and components of the electric vehicle, it is determined whether the adapter is present.

[0017] In a second step, information is provided indicating whether the electric vehicle is carrying an adapter that enables the connection of a charging plug that does not correspond to the electric vehicle's charging port to the electric vehicle's charging port. For example, if the electric vehicle's charging port is based on the CCS standard, while the charging station's charging plug is based on the NCAS standard, the adapter has two connector faces at opposite ends that can be connected to CCS and NCAS. This makes it possible to connect the charging station's charging plug to the electric vehicle's charging port.

[0018] In a third step, the route is determined by processing the information. If the information indicates that the adapter is present, charging stops that can only be connected to the electric vehicle's charging port using the adapter are also taken into account. If, however, the information indicates that no adapter is present, charging stations with charging plugs that cannot be connected to the electric vehicle's charging port are not taken into account in the route guidance.

[0019] According to the invention, the determination as to whether the adapter is carried in the electric vehicle is based on communication between a communication unit of the electric vehicle and a communication unit of the adapter.

[0020] The method thus enables automatic detection of the presence of an adapter in the electric vehicle, allowing all possible charging stations to be taken into account during route planning. This enables improved, optimized route planning without requiring any intervention from the electric vehicle user.

[0021] It is advisable to determine whether the adapter is present in the electric vehicle at the time of route planning. In other words, each time a new route to a destination is to be determined, the determination of whether the adapter is present in the electric vehicle is performed. This ensures that optimal route guidance is always implemented, including suitable charging stops at charging stations, which may only be relevant if the adapter is present in the electric vehicle.

[0022] A further expedient embodiment provides that the information as to whether the adapter is carried in the electric vehicle is read from a memory of the electric vehicle.

[0023] For example, communication can be implemented as near-field communication. Communication can also take place via Bluetooth or radio. Determining whether the adapter is present in the electric vehicle can also be based on a spatial analysis of the adapter's radio signals. This can be achieved, for example, using the well-known triangulation method used to identify remote keys.

[0024] For this purpose, the adapter will be expanded to include a radio module, which can be recognized by the electric vehicle and functionally processed in a similar way to key detection. For example, the same radio transmitter modules that are used to detect a radio key can be used in the electric vehicle to detect that the adapter is being carried in the vehicle interior. The vehicle interior includes not only the passenger compartment, but also a trunk or other storage space of the electric vehicle. Alternatively, an NFC transmitter module or tag can be attached to the adapter to enable vehicle-side detection of the adapter. Radio detection represents a simple option for implementing the method according to the invention, since receiver modules already present on the electric vehicle can be used.

[0025] In another embodiment not encompassed by the invention, the information indicating whether an adapter is carried in the electric vehicle is entered by a user via a human-machine interface and stored in a vehicle memory or a cloud storage. The information can then be read from the memory and, depending on whether the information indicates whether the adapter is carried in the electric vehicle or not, taken into account in route guidance.

[0026] Preferably, the charging plug at the charging station is based on the NACS standard. The charging port of the electric vehicle is expediently based on the CCS1 or CCS2 standard, although other standards are also possible. The adapter is then designed to replicate the connector faces of both standards (the charging plug and the charging port) with corresponding connector arrangements to enable a connection between the charging port and the charging plug.

[0027] According to an aspect not encompassed by the invention, an adapter for connecting a charging port of an electric vehicle to a charging plug of a charging station is proposed, wherein the adapter comprises a radio module or a communication module or an antenna for exchanging radio signals with the electric vehicle. As described above, an NFC transmitter module or tag can also be attached to the adapter for this purpose.

[0028] According to a second aspect, an electric vehicle is proposed, comprising: an energy storage device; a charging port electrically connected to the energy storage device, which charging port can be connected to a charging plug of a charging station; a computing unit configured to determine information indicating whether an adapter is carried in the electric vehicle that enables the connection of a charging plug that does not correspond to the charging port of the electric vehicle to the charging port of the electric vehicle, based on communication between a communication unit of the electric vehicle and a communication unit of the adapter, and configured to determine route guidance by processing the information, wherein, if the information indicates that the adapter is carried, charging stops that can only be connected to the charging port of the electric vehicle using the adapter are also taken into account.

[0029] The electric vehicle is expediently further configured to carry out the method according to one or more embodiments of the invention.

[0030] The electric vehicle has the same advantages as those described above in connection with the method according to the invention.

[0031] In particular, the electric vehicle comprises a communication unit and / or a radio module with one or more antennas, which are designed to exchange radio signals with a corresponding radio module or communication module or antenna of the adapter according to the invention.

[0032] The invention is described in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment in the drawing. In the drawings: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an electric vehicle according to the invention; and Fig. 2 a schematic flow chart of the method according to the invention.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle according to the invention in the form of an electric vehicle 1. The electric vehicle 1 comprises an energy storage device 2 which is electrically connected to a charging port 3. Via the charging port 3, which is designed according to a predetermined standard, e.g. CCS 1 or CCS 2, the electric storage device 2 can be connected to a charging plug (not shown) of a charging station (likewise not shown) in order to charge the electric storage device 2 with electrical energy.

[0034] To charge the energy storage unit 2 of the electric vehicle 1 along a route from a starting point to a destination, a computing unit 4 (e.g., of a navigation system not shown in detail) calculates one or more charging stops at charging stations for route guidance. A charging stop corresponds to a location that is planned into the route guidance.

[0035] Typically, the computing units of electric vehicle navigation systems operate in such a way that only those charging stops along the route are considered where the charging plugs available at the charging stops correspond to the charging port 3 of the electric vehicle 1. For example, if the charging port 3 of the electric vehicle 1 is based on the CCS1 standard, only those charging stations and thus charging stops are considered whose charging plugs are designed according to the CCS1 standard.

[0036] However, by carrying an adapter 5 in the electric vehicle 1, it is also possible for the charging port 3 according to the CCS1 / 2 standard to be connected to a charging plug according to the NCAS standard.

[0037] The method described below makes it possible to take into account, within the framework of the computer-aided determination of the route to the destination, also those charging stops which can only be connected to the charging port 3 of the electric vehicle 1 using the adapter 5.

[0038] For this purpose, it is intended that information is provided (step S1 or step S1A, Fig. 2), which indicates whether an adapter 5 is carried in the electric vehicle 1, which enables the connection of a charging plug that does not correspond to the charging port 3 of the electric vehicle 1 to the charging port 3 of the electric vehicle 1. This information is stored in a memory 6 of the electric vehicle 1 in a step S2. In a step S3, the route is determined by processing the information, wherein, if the information indicates that the adapter 5 is carried, those charging stops are also taken into account which can only be connected to the charging port 3 of the electric vehicle 1 using the adapter 5. The information read from the memory 6 indicates that, on the other hand, no adapter 5 is present in the vehicle interior (iein the vehicle interior or the trunk), only those charging stations whose charging plugs correspond to the charging connection 3 of the electric vehicle 1 are taken into account for charging stops.

[0039] The provision of information indicating whether the adapter 5 is carried in the electric vehicle 1 or not is carried out computer-aided and automatically by the electric vehicle 1. The automatic detection of the adapter 5 by the electric vehicle 1 or its computing unit 4 can be enabled by various technologies.

[0040] For example, the adapter 5 is supplemented by a communication module, a radio module, or an antenna, which enables communication with corresponding communication modules or antennas of the electric vehicle 1. The communication technology can be based optionally on Bluetooth, radio, or NFC. The detection of the adapter or the communication module, radio module, or antenna integrated or attached thereto can be implemented analogously to a key detection for a keyless access system of the electric vehicle 1. In particular, the same radio transmitter modules as in a vehicle key can then be used to detect that the adapter 5 is being carried in the electric vehicle 1. Alternatively, an NFC transmitter module or tag can be attached to the adapter 5 to enable vehicle-side detection of the adapter 5.

[0041] Alternatively, the information indicating whether the adapter 5 is carried in the electric vehicle may have been entered by a user in advance via a human-machine interface 7 and stored in the memory 5, although this alternative is not encompassed by the invention. This corresponds to step S1A in Fig. 2. Steps S1 and S1A thus differ only in the manner in which the information regarding whether the adapter 5 is carried in the electric vehicle 1 is written into the memory 6. According to step S1, this is done computer-assisted and automated by the electric vehicle 1. According to step S1A, this is done as a result of a user-driven input via a human-machine interface 7.

[0042] It is expedient if the determination of whether the adapter 5 is carried in the electric vehicle 1 is carried out at the time of determining a respective route. In other words, this means that whenever a new route is planned, a check is also carried out to determine whether the adapter 5 is carried in the electric vehicle. Only in this way can it be ensured that all charging stops or charging stations available for charging can always be taken into account.

[0043] In summary, it is proposed that an adapter used for charging an energy storage device be automatically detected by an electric vehicle and that this detection be made available to route planning functions. The adapter can be supplemented with a Bluetooth, radio, or NFC module or antenna. Detection can be performed, for example, analogous to key detection in a keyless entry system, and the detection result can be further processed functionally by route planning. List of reference symbols 1 electric vehicle 2 energy storage units 3 Charging port 4 Computing unit 5 adapters 6 storage 7 Human-machine interface

Claims

[1] Method for computer-aided determination of a route guidance of an electric vehicle (1) to a destination, wherein the route guidance comprises one or more charging stops at charging stations for charging an energy storage device (2) of the electric vehicle (1) along the route, wherein the selection of the charging stops is based on the charging plugs available at the charging stations of a charging stop, which correspond to a charging connection (3) of the electric vehicle (1), comprising the steps: - computer-aided and automatic determination by the electric vehicle of information indicating whether an adapter (5) is carried in the electric vehicle (1) which enables the connection of a charging plug not corresponding to the charging port (3) of the electric vehicle (1) to the charging port (3) of the electric vehicle (1), - Providing information indicating whether the adapter (5) is carried in the electric vehicle (1), - determining the route guidance by processing the information, wherein, if the information indicates that the adapter (5) is being carried, charging stops are also taken into account which can only be connected to the charging port (3) of the electric vehicle (1) using the adapter (5), characterized by that the determination as to whether the adapter (5) is carried in the electric vehicle (1) is based on communication between a communication unit of the electric vehicle (1) and a communication unit of the adapter (5). [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the determination as to whether the adapter (5) is carried in the electric vehicle (1) is carried out at the time of determining the route guidance. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the information as to whether the adapter (5) is carried in the electric vehicle (1) is read from a memory (6) of the electric vehicle (1). [4] Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that communication takes place as near-field communication. [5] Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that communication takes place via Bluetooth or radio. [6] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that the determination as to whether the adapter (5) is carried in the electric vehicle (1) is based on a spatial evaluation of radio signals from the adapter (5). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the charging plug on the charging station is based on the NACS standard. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the charging port (3) of the electric vehicle (1) is based on the CCS1 or CCS2 standard. [9] Electric vehicle (1), comprising - an energy storage device (2); - a charging connection (3) electrically connected to the energy storage device (2) and connectable to a charging plug of a charging station; - a computing unit (4) configured to - information indicating whether an adapter (5) is carried in the electric vehicle (1) which enables the connection of a charging plug not corresponding to the charging port (3) of the electric vehicle (1) to the charging port (3) of the electric vehicle (1), based on a communication between a communication unit of the electric vehicle (1) and a communication unit of the adapter (5), and - to determine a route guidance by processing the information, wherein, if the information indicates that the adapter (5) is being carried, charging stops are also taken into account which can only be connected to the charging port (3) of the electric vehicle (1) using the adapter (5). [10] Electric vehicle (1) according to claim 9, characterized by that it is configured to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 8. [11] Electric vehicle (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by that it comprises a communication unit and / or a radio module with one or more antennas.

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