INFORMATION PROVISION SYSTEM

Abstract

An information provision system is a system that provides information about a carbon footprint of a battery pack mounted in a vehicle and includes one or more processors.The one or more processors are configured to acquire the carbon footprint information including first CO2 emission amount information and second CO2 emission amount information, wherein the first CO2 emission amount information is obtained by converting an amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the manufacture of the battery pack and the vehicle into a CO2 emission amount, the second CO2 emission amount information is obtained by converting an amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted during the primary use of the battery pack in the vehicle into a CO2 emission amount, and provide the carbon footprint information to a requester in response to a request from the requester.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The disclosure relates to an information provision system that provides information about a carbon footprint of an on-vehicle battery pack. 2. Description of the related art

[0002] Published unexamined Japanese patent application No. 2010-254053 (JP 2010-254053 A) describes a greenhouse gas emission display device mounted on a vehicle with various types of power sources. Published unexamined Japanese patent application No. 2014-215773 (JP 2014-215773 A) describes a technology for estimating the amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted by electronic media, such as electronic books, and an information communication device used to browse or play the electronic media. Furthermore, published unexamined Japanese patent application No. 2011-123670 (JP 2011-123670 A) describes a greenhouse gas emission allowance trading system. OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Battery packs expected to be reused after primary use in vehicles contain information about the amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted during the period from raw material extraction to primary use, and are therefore valuable to those interested in the battery packs—i.e., users and others who reuse battery packs. For this reason, it is important to keep track of the amount of emissions and be prepared to provide the amount of emissions.

[0004] An information provision system according to the disclosure is a system that provides information about a carbon footprint of a battery pack mounted in a vehicle and includes one or more processors.The one or more processors are configured to acquire carbon footprint information including first CO2 emission amount information and second CO2 emission amount information, wherein the first CO2 emission amount information is obtained by converting an amount of greenhouse gas emission associated with the manufacture of the battery pack and the vehicle into a CO2 emission amount, the second CO2 emission amount information is obtained by converting an amount of greenhouse gas emission emitted during the primary use of the battery pack in the vehicle into a CO2 emission amount, and provide the carbon footprint information to a requester in response to a request from the requester.

[0005] With the information provision system according to the disclosure, it is possible to provide information about the amount of greenhouse gas emissions related to an on-vehicle battery pack as information about a carbon footprint. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0006] Features, advantages and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which like symbols denote like elements and in which: Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a general overview of a battery reuse management system according to an embodiment; Fig. Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating information related to the reuse of a battery pack; Fig. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the processes P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7 in the context of a battery pack; Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a first example related to the acquisition and provision of CFP information; Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a second example related to the acquisition and provision of CFP information; and Fig. Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a third example of CFP information acquisition and provision. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0007] An embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying figures. 1. Battery Reuse Management System

[0008] Fig. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a general overview of a battery reuse management system 1 according to the present embodiment. The battery reuse management system 1 manages the reuse of a battery pack 10. Reuse is a term that includes secondary use, tertiary use, etc. Specifically, the battery reuse management system 1 manages the reuse of the battery pack 10 mounted on a vehicle 100 (in-vehicle battery pack). The vehicle 100 is, for example, a battery electric vehicle (BEV) that uses an electric motor as a power unit. Alternatively, the vehicle 100 may be, for example, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) that uses an electric motor and an internal combustion engine as power units, and in which the battery pack 10 can be charged from an external source.The battery pack 10 is mounted on the vehicle 100. The electric motor is driven by the electrical energy supplied by the battery pack 10.

[0009] The battery reuse management system 1 includes one or more vehicles 100 and an information management system 300. The information management system 300 serves as an information platform that manages various information. The information management system 300 includes one or more servers. The information management system 300 may consist of a plurality of servers that perform distributed processing. Each vehicle 100 and the information management system 300 can communicate with each other via a wireless communication network.

[0010] More specifically, the information management system 300 includes an information processing device 310. The information processing device 310 stores various information, performs various information processing, and communicates with external sources via a communication interface. The information processing device 310 includes one or more processors and one or more storage devices. The functions of the information processing device 310 can be realized through the interaction of the processor(s) running a control program with the storage device(s). The control program is stored in the storage device(s). Alternatively, the control program can be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The information processing device 310 may be referred to as a processing circuit.

[0011] The vehicle 100 may periodically transmit vehicle information about the vehicle 100 to the information management system 300. The vehicle information may include travel history information (TRV) indicating the travel history of the vehicle 100. For example, the travel history information (TRV) may include a total travel distance of the vehicle 100. In another example, the travel history information (TRV) may also include location history information of the vehicle 100. The location of the vehicle 100 may be specified by a combination of latitude and longitude.

[0012] The vehicle information may include battery information BAT reflecting a usage history of the battery pack 10. The battery information BAT includes, for example, information about the battery usage history. The battery usage history information includes at least a temperature history, a state of charge (SOC) history, a current history, a voltage history, a charging history, and the like. Each history may be expressed by a frequency distribution. The battery information BAT may include a state of health (SOH). The SOH may be calculated based on battery usage history information. The battery information BAT may include a total charge electricity amount and / or a total discharge electricity amount, or a total charge power amount and / or a total discharge power amount. The battery information BAT may include a battery capacity and / or a battery power.

[0013] The battery reuse management system 1 may further include a terminal 200 used at a vehicle dealer or vehicle repair shop. At a vehicle dealer or vehicle repair shop, the above-described vehicle information can be read from the vehicle 100 using a predetermined tool. The vehicle information read from the vehicle 100 is input into the terminal 200. In other words, the terminal 200 can also acquire the vehicle information. The terminal 200 is communicable with the information management system 300 via a wireless or wired communication network. The terminal 200 can transmit the vehicle information read from the vehicle 100 to the information management system 300.

[0014] The information management system 300 collects, accumulates, and manages vehicle information about a large number of vehicles 100. The information management system 300 includes a vehicle information database 320 that collects vehicle information about a large number of vehicles 100. The vehicle information database 320 is implemented by one or more storage devices.

[0015] Next, the reuse of the battery packs 10 mounted on the vehicles 100 will be described. The battery packs 10 are removed from the vehicles 100 and reused.

[0016] A battery utilization system 500 is a system that uses a storage battery. For example, the battery utilization system 500 is a stationary storage battery system that stores renewable energy in a stationary storage battery. In another example, the battery utilization system 500 may be a home power system that uses a stationary storage battery. According to the present embodiment, the battery packs 10 mounted on the vehicles 100 are reused in such a battery utilization system 500. A large number of battery packs 10 are provided from a large number of vehicles 100, thus enabling cost reduction of the battery utilization system 500 and facilitating widespread use of the battery utilization system 500. Furthermore, the use of renewable energy is facilitated, thus also reducing CO2 emissions.

[0017] Fig. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating information related to the reuse of a battery pack 10. The battery pack 10 includes one or more battery cells 11 and a controller 12 for controlling the battery pack 10. The controller 12 is also referred to as an electronic control unit (ECU).

[0018] When the battery pack 10 is reused, the battery reuse management system 1 acquires primary usage information PU. The primary usage information PU corresponds to the vehicle information when the battery pack 10 is primarily used in the vehicle 100.

[0019] The primary usage information PU contains, for example, battery information BAT reflecting the usage history of the battery pack 10 primarily used in the vehicle 100. The battery information BAT is stored in the controller 12 (ECU) in the battery pack 10 and is read from the controller 12. For example, shortly before the battery pack 10 is removed from the vehicle 100, an information processing device of the vehicle 100 retrieves the battery information BAT from the controller 12 in the battery pack 10 and transmits the battery information BAT to the information management system 300.

[0020] The primary usage information PU may include travel history information TRV of the vehicle 100 on which the battery pack 10 is mounted. The travel history information TRV indicates at least one of the total travel distance and location history information of the vehicle 100. The total travel distance is stored in the controller 12 in the battery pack 10 or a storage device of an in-vehicle system. The location history information is acquired from the storage device of the in-vehicle system or the vehicle information database 320 of the information management system 300. The information management system 300 acquires the travel history information TRV using a method similar to the method for acquiring the battery information BAT.

[0021] Battery management information 30 is information used when the battery pack 10 is reused. The battery management information 30 is generated based on the primary usage information PU. More specifically, the battery management information 30 includes the battery information BAT and the travel history information TRV. There are various environments (ambient temperature, humidity, and the like) in the regions where the vehicle 100 travels, and the deterioration of battery performance varies depending on the environment, so the travel history information TRV can also be useful information when the battery pack 10 is reused. The battery management information 30 may include the vehicle type of the vehicle 100 in which the battery pack 10 is installed.The battery management information 30 can be generated either in the vehicle 100, in the terminal 200 or in the information management system 300.

[0022] The information management system 300 collects, accumulates, and manages battery management information 30 for a large number of vehicles 100. The information management system 300 includes a battery management information database 330 that collects the battery management information 30 for a large number of vehicles 100 (see Fig. 1). The battery management information database 330 is implemented by one or more storage devices.

[0023] The reuse identification information (hereinafter referred to as "reuse ID") is identification information of the reused battery pack 10. The reuse ID is associated with the battery pack 10. The information processing device of the vehicle 100 links the reuse ID to the primary use information PU or the battery management information 30 and transmits the reuse ID and the primary use information PU or the battery management information 30 to the information management system 300. In this way, the information management system 300 obtains the reuse ID and the battery management information of the battery pack 10. The information management system 300 links the reuse ID to the battery management information 30 in the battery management information database 330.In other words, the information management system 300 manages the reuse ID and the battery management information 30 in conjunction with each other.

[0024] The battery pack 10 removed from the vehicle 100 is provided to a user who reuses the battery pack 10 (hereinafter referred to as a "reuse user" or "reuser"). The reuse user is an operator of the battery utilization system 500. The information management system 300 provides the reuse user with the reuse ID and the battery management information 30 in association with each other.

[0025] More specifically, the battery utilization system 500 includes an information collection device 510. The information collection device 510 is communicable with the information management system 300 via a wired or wireless communication network. The information management system 300 transmits the reuse ID and the battery management information 30 of the battery pack 10 to the information collection device 510 of the battery utilization system 500 in which the battery pack 10 is reused. The information collection device 510 manages the reuse ID and the battery management information 30 in association with each other. On the other hand, the reuse ID of the battery pack 10 is stored in the controller 12 in the battery pack 10. Therefore, in the battery utilization system 500, the battery pack 10, the reuse ID, and the battery management information 30 are linked to each other.

[0026] When the battery pack 10 is reused in the battery utilization system 500, the information collection device 510 monitors the usage status of the battery pack 10 and adds information about the battery pack 10 to the battery management information 30 (Battery Information BAT). Consequently, the battery management information 30 includes not only the battery information BAT when the battery pack 10 is primarily used in the vehicle 100, but also the battery information BAT when the battery pack 10 is reused in the battery utilization system 500.

[0027] The information collection device 510 periodically uploads the latest battery management information 30 along with the reuse ID to the information management system 300. The information management system 300 regularly retrieves the latest battery management information 30 and the reuse ID. The information management system 300 updates the battery management information 30 linked to the reuse ID in the battery management information database 330 with the latest information.

[0028] A user who wishes to reuse a battery pack 10 is referred to as a "reuse requester." A reuse requester may be a reuse user in the future. The information management system 300 may provide a reuse requester with the reuse ID and the battery management information 30 of a battery pack 10. More specifically, a reuse requester submits a request to the information management system 300 to use a terminal 400 (see Fig. 1) Provide information. The information management system 300 provides the terminal 400 with battery management information 30 and reuse IDs of various battery packs 10. The reuse applicant can select a desired battery pack 10 (reuse ID) by viewing the battery management information 30 displayed on the terminal 400. 2. Provision of CFP information

[0029] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing processes P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, and P7 related to a battery pack 10. Process P1 relates to obtaining the resources necessary to manufacture the battery cells 11 contained in a battery pack 10 and to manufacturing the materials necessary to manufacture the battery cells 11. Process P2 relates to manufacturing the battery cells 11. Process P3 relates to manufacturing the battery pack 10. Broadly speaking, processes P1, P2, and P3 relate to manufacturing the battery pack 10. Process P4 relates to manufacturing a vehicle 100 onto which the battery pack 10 is mounted. Process P5 relates to the primary use of the battery pack 10 in the vehicle 100. Process P6 relates to reusing the battery pack 10 after the end of its primary use.Reuse includes at least a secondary use and, in some cases, may also be a further, repeated use. The disposal process P7, for example, refers to the collection of the discarded battery pack 10 and various treatments of the collected battery pack 10. Examples of the various treatments include rendering the battery cells 11 harmless and recycling to extract reusable materials from the battery cells 11. Depending on the battery pack 10, the reuse process P6 may be omitted.

[0030] In the processes P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, and P7 described above, greenhouse gas such as CO2 is emitted or may be emitted. In the present embodiment, the information management system 300 corresponds to an example of the "information providing system" according to the disclosure. Therefore, in order to provide information on the carbon footprint (Carbon Footprint (CFP)) of the battery pack 10, the information management system 300 acquires, in each of the processes P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, and P7, a CO2 emission amount converted from the amount of greenhouse gas emission as CFP information. The information management system 300 then provides a requester with the CFP information in response to a request from the requester. 2-1. First example

[0031] Fig. Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a first example relating to the acquisition and provision of CFP information. The information management system 300 includes a first emission amount acquisition unit 340, a second emission amount acquisition unit 350, and a CFP information processing unit 360, which are implemented by the information processing device 310. The CFP information acquired in the first example includes first information about CO2 emission amounts (first CO2 emission amount information) and second information about CO2 emission amounts (second CO2 emission amount information). First emission amount acquisition unit

[0032] The first emission amount acquisition unit 340 acquires first information on the amount of CO2 emissions and stores the acquired first information on the amount of CO2 emissions in the storage device of the information processing device 310. The first information on the amount of CO2 emissions is obtained by converting the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of the battery pack 10 and the vehicle 100 into a CO2 emission amount. The first information on the amount of CO2 emissions includes, for example, the following CO2 emission amounts A, B, C, and D. The CO2 emission amount A is a total value of the CO2 emission amounts emitted during the raw material extraction and the material production in process P1, respectively. The CO2 emission amount A can be calculated, for example, as the amount of CO2 emission per 1 kg of the material of the battery cell 11.The CO2 emission quantity B is a CO2 emission quantity emitted during the production of the battery cell 11 in process P2 and can be calculated, for example, as the CO2 emission quantity required to produce one battery cell 11. Alternatively, the CO2 emission quantity B can be calculated as the CO2 emission quantity required to produce a battery stack consisting of multiple battery cells 11. The CO2 emission quantity C is a CO2 emission quantity emitted during the production of the battery pack 10 in process P3. The CO2 emission quantity D is a CO2 emission quantity emitted during the production of the vehicle 100 in process P4.

[0033] For example, CO2 emission amount A can be calculated based on the CO2 emission amount during the production of greenhouse gases and electrical energy for the extraction of raw materials and the production of materials. Similarly, CO2 emission amount B can be calculated based on the CO2 emission amount during the production of greenhouse gases and electrical energy for the production of the battery cell 11. CO2 emission amount C can be calculated based on the CO2 emission amount during the production of greenhouse gases and the electrical energy used for the production of the battery pack 10. CO2 emission amount D can be calculated based on the CO2 emission amount during the production of greenhouse gases and the electrical energy used for the production of the vehicle 100.In addition, each of the CO2 emission amounts A, B, C, and D may include a CO2 emission amount during transportation of one of the corresponding materials, the battery cell 11, the battery pack 10, and the vehicle 100 to a location where the next process is performed.

[0034] For example, the CO2 emission quantities A, B, C, and D described above are calculated by companies that are responsible for processes P1, P2, P3, and P4, respectively. Some of the companies that are involved in at least two processes of process P1, process P2, process P3, and process P4 may be the same (e.g., a manufacturing company for the battery pack 10 and a manufacturing company for the vehicle 100). Then, as in Fig. 4, the first emission amount acquisition unit 340 communicates with individual terminals 600 of the operator to acquire the CO2 emission amounts A, B, C, and D (i.e., the first CO2 emission amount information). Alternatively, in an example where the manufacturing operator for the vehicle 100 purchases the upstream CO2 emission amounts A, B, and C in advance, the first emission amount acquisition unit 340 communicates with the terminal 600 of the manufacturing operator for the vehicle 100 to acquire the CO2 emission amounts A, B, C, and D. Alternatively, the first emission amount acquisition unit 340 may acquire information, which is a basis for calculating the CO2 emission amounts A, B, C, and D, from the operators and calculate the CO2 emission amounts A, B, C, and D itself based on the information. Second emission quantity recording unit

[0035] The second emission amount acquisition unit 350 acquires second CO2 emission amount information and stores the acquired second CO2 emission amount information in the storage device of the information processing device 310. The second CO2 emission amount information is obtained by converting the amount of greenhouse gas emissions emitted during the primary use (more precisely, during the entire primary use period) of the battery pack 10 in the vehicle 100 into a CO2 emission amount. A method for calculating the second CO2 emission amount information will be described sequentially, using a BEV and a PHEV as examples.

[0036] In a BEV example, the CO2 emission quantity E when generating electricity to charge the battery pack 10 with an external charger initially corresponds to the second piece of information about the CO2 emission quantity. The CO2 emission quantity E is a product of the total charging power (kWh) of the battery pack 10 during primary use and a CO2 emission coefficient Ke. The CO2 emission coefficient Ke is, for example, a CO2 emission coefficient (t-CO2 / kWh) of the electrical power per unit amount of electrical power. The total charging power used to calculate the CO2 emission quantity E can be determined, for example, as follows.In other words, in a case where the battery information BAT that can be obtained from the vehicle 100 includes a total charge electricity amount (Ah), the total charge power amount can be obtained by dividing a product of the total charge electricity amount derived from the battery information BAT and a total voltage (V) of a main power supply by 1000. The total voltage of the main power supply can be, for example, a value released by the manufacturer for the vehicle 100 (so-called catalog value). If the battery information BAT itself includes a total charge power amount, the total charge power amount can be directly obtained from the battery information BAT. As the CO2 emission coefficient Ke, for example, a numerical value published annually by an external institution for each power supplier can be used.The storage device of the information processing device 310 stores the data of the CO2 emission coefficient Ke for each electricity supplier obtained by communication with a server of an external institution.

[0037] For example, when the battery pack 10 is used primarily, the second emission amount acquisition unit 350 calculates the CO2 emission amount E, a product of the annual charging power and the CO2 emission coefficient Ke, as the CO2 emission amount E each year. Then, the second emission amount acquisition unit 350 adds the CO2 emission amount E of each year and calculates the CO2 emission amount E accumulated during primary use as the second CO2 emission amount information. Furthermore, as the percentage of generated renewable energy (the percentage of renewable energy) in the amount of electricity generated by a power supplier supplying power to an external charger increases, the CO2 emission coefficient Ke decreases. For example, when the percentage is 100%, the CO2 emission coefficient Ke is zero, so the CO2 emission amount E is also zero.For this reason, the CO2 emission amount E can be calculated using the CO2 emission coefficient Ke, which reflects the percentage. An electricity supplier supplying power to an external charger can be determined based on the location information of the vehicle 100 being charged externally.

[0038] Alternatively, the second emission amount acquisition unit 350 may acquire the CO2 emission amount E not every year, but each time the battery pack 10 is charged. In other words, at the end of charging, the second emission amount acquisition unit 350 may acquire information about a charging current amount and location information from the vehicle 100 and calculate a current value of the CO2 emission amount E based on the acquired information. Then, the second emission amount acquisition unit 350 may update an accumulated value of the CO2 emission amount E (i.e., a second CO2 emission amount) by adding the current value to the accumulated value until the last charging. Alternatively, the second emission amount acquisition unit 350 may calculate a CO2 emission amount E based on information about the total amount of charging power acquired by the vehicle 100 at the end of primary use.The information processing device of the vehicle 100 can calculate the CO2 emission amount E. In this example, for example, at the end of the primary use, the second emission amount acquisition unit 350 can communicate with the vehicle 100 and acquire the CO2 emission amount E from the vehicle 100.

[0039] In the example of a PHEV, the sum of the CO2 emission quantity E described above and the next CO2 emission quantity F corresponds to the second piece of information about the CO2 emission quantity. A PHEV is capable of driving solely with an electric motor, without operating an internal combustion engine (BEV drive), and driving through the cooperation of the internal combustion engine and electric motor (HEV drive). The CO2 emission quantity E corresponds to a CO2 emission quantity in BEV driving mode, and the CO2 emission quantity F corresponds to a CO2 emission quantity in HEV driving mode. The CO2 emission quantity F is the product of a value resulting from dividing a driving distance DH (km) of the vehicle 100 in HEV mode by a fuel consumption rate Fe (km / L) and the CO2 emission quantity X per 1 L of fuel. For example, a value contained in the travel history information TRV, which can be obtained from the vehicle 100, can be used as the travel distance DH. For example, the fuel consumption quantity Fe can beA value approved by a manufacturing company for the vehicle 100 (so-called catalog value) can be used. The CO2 emission quantity X can be determined, for example, by communicating with the server of an external institution. The determined fuel consumption quantity Fe and CO2 emission quantity X are stored in the storage device of the information processing device 310.

[0040] The second emission amount acquisition unit 350, in primary use, periodically communicates with the vehicle 100 to acquire the travel distance DH after the last data acquisition. The second emission amount acquisition unit 350 calculates a current value of the CO2 emission amount F based on the acquired travel distance DH, the fuel consumption rate Fe, and the CO2 emission amount X. Then, the second emission amount acquisition unit 350 updates an accumulated value of the CO2 emission amount F by adding a current value to the accumulated value at the time of calculating a last value of the CO2 emission amount F. Then, the second emission amount acquisition unit 350 periodically calculates the sum of the separately calculated accumulated value of the CO2 emission amount E and the accumulated value of the CO2 emission amount F, and updates the second CO2 emission amount information with the sum.

[0041] Alternatively, the CO2 emission amount F may be calculated using a total travel distance DH detected by the vehicle 100 at the end of primary use. The CO2 emission amount F may be calculated by the information processing device of the vehicle 100. In this example, for example, the second emission amount detection unit 350 may communicate with the vehicle 100 at the end of primary use and detect the CO2 emission amount F from the vehicle 100.

[0042] In addition, the second information on the CO2 emission amount calculated as described above may include a CO2 emission amount at the time of transporting the battery pack 10 removed from the vehicle 100 at the end of the primary use to a reuse location. GFP Information Processing Unit

[0043] In the first example, the CFP information processing unit 360 acquires the latest value of the first piece of CO2 emission amount information from the first emission amount acquisition unit 340 and the latest value of the second piece of CO2 emission amount information from the second emission amount acquisition unit 350, and manages the acquired latest values ​​as CFP information. For example, the CFP information processing unit 360 may individually manage the latest value of the first piece of CO2 emission amount information and the latest value of the second piece of CO2 emission amount information as CFP information. The CFP information to be managed may include a total value of the latest value of the first piece of CO2 emission amount information and the latest value of the second piece of CO2 emission amount information. Alternatively, the CFP information to be managed may be only the total value.

[0044] The information management system 300 is communicable with a terminal 700 used by a requester who wishes to be provided with CFP information. The terminal 700 is, for example, a personal computer or a smartphone. The CFP information processing unit 360 provides CFP information to the requester operating the terminal 700 via the terminal 700 in response to a request from the requester. Transmitting the CFP information to the requester or allowing the requester to access the CFP information via the terminal 700 corresponds to an example of providing CFP information.

[0045] For example, a requester is a reuse applicant who wants to recycle a battery pack 10. In an example where the requester is a reuse applicant, the terminal 700 (see Fig. 4) the same as Terminal 400 (see Fig. 1). In addition, CFP information may be provided to the applicant for secondary use along with the reuse ID and the battery management information 30 of the battery pack 10.

[0046] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the CFP information processing unit 360 may include a price setting unit 361. The price setting unit 361 sets the price of the battery pack 10 to be presented to an applicant for secondary use according to the CFP information. Specifically, for example, the price may be set to increase as a numerical value of the CFP information (a numerical value of at least one of the first CO2 emission amount information and the second CO2 emission amount information) decreases. Specifically, the second CO2 emission amount information used to set the price covers the entire primary use period.In a BEV example where the CO2 emission amount E corresponds to the second CO2 emission amount information, the price may be set to increase as the value obtained by dividing the CO2 emission amount E by the total charging power of the battery pack 10 during primary use (i.e., the CO2 emission coefficient Ke) decreases. Similarly, in a PHEV example where the sum of the CO2 emission amount E and the CO2 emission amount F also corresponds to the second CO2 emission amount information, the price may be set taking into account that the price is increased as the CO2 emission coefficient Ke decreases.

[0047] Alternatively, the requester may be, for example, a reuse user. For example, the CFP information processing unit 360 may provide CFP information to a reuse user in advance in response to a request after the reuse user has been determined as the destination for the provision of a battery pack 10. Alternatively, the provision of CFP information may occur in response to a request after the start of secondary use.

[0048] Alternatively, the requester can be, for example, a consumer. A consumer here is, for example, a user who owns another vehicle 100 of the same vehicle type as the vehicle 100 on which the battery pack 10 is to be provided with CFP information, or a user who wishes to purchase the other vehicle 100.

[0049] Furthermore, the provision of CFP information to a requester may, for example, be free of charge or subject to a fee. Whether the provision is free of charge or subject to a fee may vary depending on the requester. In an example where CFP information is periodically updated during the primary use of the battery pack 10, the CFP information processing unit 360 may receive a request from a requester during the primary use of the battery pack 10. Then, the CFP information processing unit 360 may provide a requester with CFP information including the last second CO2 emission amount at the time of the request by the requester. Beneficial effects

[0050] According to the first example relating to the collection and provision of CFP information, the first information on CO2 emission quantities during the period from raw material extraction to the manufacture of the vehicle 100 and the second information on CO2 emission quantities during the primary use may be provided to a requester as CFP information in response to a request.

[0051] Providing CFP information up to the primary use has the following advantage for a secondary user and a secondary requester of the battery pack 10. In other words, in a case where the CFP information is excellent up to the primary use, an entrepreneur who secondarily uses the battery pack 10 can clearly alert society that they are constructing a low-carbon storage battery system using the battery pack 10 with a low amount of CO2 emissions. In an example where a manufacturing entrepreneur for the vehicle 100 is an entrepreneur who manages the information management system 300 (information provision system), providing CFP information in response to a request has the following advantage for the manufacturing entrepreneur.In other words, in a case where the CFP information is marked, the manufacturing entrepreneur can clearly draw the attention of society to the fact that the low-carbon battery pack 10 is mounted on the vehicle 100 it manufactures.

[0052] The price setting unit 361 sets the price of the battery pack 10 to be provided to a secondary user according to the CFP information. For an entrepreneur who makes secondary use of the battery pack 10, excellent CFP information has the advantage described above. Therefore, the battery pack 10 with excellent CFP information has a higher value than the battery pack 10 with non-excellent CFP information. For this reason, setting a price according to the CFP information facilitates further trading of the battery pack 10 at a reasonable price that reflects a value based on the CFP information. 2-2. Second example

[0053] Fig. Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a second example relating to the acquisition and provision of CFP information. The second example differs from the first example in that the information management system 300 additionally includes a third emission quantity acquisition unit 370.

[0054] The third emission amount acquisition unit 370 acquires third information on CO2 emission amount and stores the acquired third information on CO2 emission amount in the storage device of the information processing device 310. The third information on CO2 emission amount is obtained by converting the amount of greenhouse gas emission emitted during the reuse of the battery pack 10 into a CO2 emission amount.

[0055] Specifically, a CO2 emission amount G when generating electric power for charging the battery pack 10 during reuse of the battery pack 10 corresponds to the third CO2 emission amount information. A method for calculating the CO2 emission amount G is, for example, similar to the method for calculating the CO2 emission amount E described above. In other words, the CO2 emission amount G is, for example, a product of a total amount of charging power (kWh) of the battery pack 10 during reuse and a CO2 emission coefficient Ke. The total amount of charging power (kWh) can be obtained, for example, from the battery management information 30 of the battery pack 10, which is periodically transmitted from the information collecting device 510 of the battery utilization system 500. Specifically, even with the total amount of charging power remaining the same, the CO2 emission amount G decreases as the above-described proportion of renewable energy increases.The CO2 emission amount G can be calculated by the information processing device of the battery utilization system 500. In this example, the third emission amount acquisition unit 370 can communicate with the battery utilization system 500, for example, at the end of the secondary use and receive the CO2 emission amount G from the battery utilization system 500.

[0056] In addition, the third information on CO2 emission amount calculated as described above may include a CO2 emission amount at the time of transportation of the battery pack 10 from a place of secondary use to a place of tertiary use or disposal.

[0057] In the second example, the CFP information processing unit 360 acquires the latest value of the first piece of CO2 emission amount information from the first emission amount acquisition unit 340, the latest value of the second piece of CO2 emission amount information from the second emission amount acquisition unit 350, and the latest value of the third piece of CO2 emission amount information from the third emission amount acquisition unit 370, and manages the acquired latest values ​​as CFP information. For example, the CFP information processing unit 360 may individually manage the current value of the first piece of CO2 emission amount information, the current value of the second piece of CO2 emission amount information, and the current value of the third piece of CO2 emission amount information as CFP information.The CFP information to be managed can contain a total value of the last value of the first piece of CO2 emission information, the last value of the second piece of CO2 emission information, and the last value of the third piece of CO2 emission information. Alternatively, the CFP information to be managed can also be just the total value.

[0058] In an example where tertiary use occurs after secondary use, the third emission amount acquisition unit 370 calculates a CO2 emission amount H during tertiary use, as in the case of the CO2 emission amount G during secondary use, and adds the calculated CO2 emission amount H to the third CO2 emission amount information. This also applies to the case where reuse, such as quaternary use, occurs.

[0059] For example, regarding the provision of CFP information up to primary use, a requester in the second example is the same as the requester described for the first example. Regarding the provision of only CFP information during secondary use (third information on CO2 emission amount) or all CFP information up to secondary use, a requester may be the following person. In other words, in a case where the third-party use occurs after the secondary use of the battery pack 10, a requester in the second example may be a reuse applicant who desires the third-party use. As in the example of the secondary use applicant, the price setting unit 361 may set the price of the battery pack 10 for a third-party use applicant according to the CFP information. The requester may then be, for example, a reuse user.This also applies in the event of reuse, e.g. quaternary use.

[0060] According to the second example described above, it is possible to provide a requester with CFP information comprising the third piece of CO2 emission quantity information together with the first piece of CO2 emission quantity information and the second piece of CO2 emission quantity information in response to a request.

[0061] As in the secondary use example, an entrepreneur who uses the battery pack 10 tertiarily can also clearly raise awareness of society by providing CFP information up until the primary use or secondary use in the construction of a low-carbon storage battery system. This also applies in the case of reuse, such as quaternary use. 2-3. Third example

[0062] Fig. Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a third example relating to the acquisition and provision of CFP information. The third example differs from the second example in that the information management system 300 additionally includes a fourth emission quantity acquisition unit 380.

[0063] The fourth emission amount acquisition unit 380 acquires fourth information on CO2 emission amount and stores the acquired fourth information on CO2 emission amount in the storage device of the information processing device 310. The fourth information on CO2 emission amount is obtained by converting the amount of greenhouse gas emission emitted during the disposal process P7 of the battery pack 10 into a CO2 emission amount.

[0064] Specifically, a CO2 emission quantity I, which is a total value of the CO2 emission quantities emitted during the collection of the battery pack 10 and the various actions (such as recycling the materials of the battery cells 11) included in the disposal process P7, corresponds to the fourth piece of information on CO2 emission quantity. The CO2 emission quantity I can be calculated, for example, based on the CO2 emission quantity during the production of the greenhouse gas and the electricity for the collection of the battery pack 10 and the various handling operations. In addition, the CO2 emission quantity I can include a CO2 emission quantity at the time of transporting the recycled materials to a location where the next process (i.e., the process P2 for producing the battery cell 11 using the recycled materials) is carried out.

[0065] The information management system 300 is capable of communicating with one or more terminals 800 used by one or more companies in connection with the disposal process P7 (see Fig. 3) of the battery pack 10. The fourth emission quantity acquisition unit 380 communicates with the one or more terminals 800 to acquire the CO2 emission quantity I. Alternatively, the fourth emission quantity acquisition unit 380 may acquire information, which is a basis for calculating the CO2 emission quantity I, from the one or more operators and calculate the CO2 emission quantity I itself based on this information.

[0066] In the third example, the CFP information processing unit 360 acquires the latest value of the first piece of CO2 emission amount information from the first emission amount acquisition unit 340, the latest value of the second piece of CO2 emission amount information from the second emission amount acquisition unit 350, the latest value of the third piece of CO2 emission amount information from the third emission amount acquisition unit 370, and the latest value of the fourth piece of CO2 emission amount information from the fourth emission amount acquisition unit 380, and manages the acquired latest values ​​as CFP information. For example, the CFP information processing unit 360 may individually manage the latest value of the first piece of CO2 emission amount information, the latest value of the second piece of CO2 emission amount information, the latest value of the third piece of CO2 emission amount information, and the latest value of the fourth piece of CO2 emission amount information as CFP information.The CFP information to be managed can contain a total value from the last value of the first piece of CO2 emission information, the last value of the second piece of CO2 emission information, the last value of the third piece of CO2 emission information, and the last value of the fourth piece of CO2 emission information. Alternatively, the CFP information to be managed can also be just the total value.

[0067] For the provision of CFP information up to reuse, such as secondary use, a requester in the third example is, for example, the same as the requester described for the first and second examples. Regarding the provision of CFP information of all processes from processes P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, and P7, a requester may, for example, be an operator of the vehicle manufacturer 100 if an operator other than the operator of the vehicle manufacturer 100 manages the information management system 300 (information provision system). Regarding the provision of only the CFP information of the disposal process P7 (fourth information on CO2 emission quantity), a requester may, for example, be a reuse user who reuses the battery pack 10 after the disposal process P7.

[0068] According to the third example described above, it is possible to provide a requester with CFP information comprising the fourth piece of CO2 emission quantity information together with the first piece of CO2 emission quantity information, the second piece of CO2 emission quantity information and the third piece of CO2 emission quantity information in response to a request.

[0069] In an example where a manufacturing entrepreneur for the vehicle 100 is an entrepreneur who manages the information management system (information provision system) 300, collecting the sum of the first CO2 emission amount information to the fourth CO2 emission amount information from resource extraction to disposal as CFP information in a provisionable state has the following advantages. In other words, a manufacturing entrepreneur for the vehicle 100 can clearly draw attention to itself and make a social contribution to low carbonization.In an example where a manufacturing entrepreneur for the vehicle 100 is different from an entrepreneur managing the information management system 300, providing the entire CFP information from resource extraction to disposal through the information management system 300 has the following advantage for the manufacturing entrepreneur. In other words, a manufacturing entrepreneur for the vehicle 100 is able to obtain insufficient CO2 emission amount information (e.g., the fourth information on CO2 emission amounts) from the information management system 300 and track the entire CFP information from raw material extraction to disposal. Then, by utilizing the CFP information, the manufacturing entrepreneur can clearly draw attention to itself and make a social contribution to low carbon. 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] JP 2010 - 254 053

[0002] JP 2010 - 254 053 A

[0002] JP 2014 - 215 773

[0002] JP 2014 - 215 773 A

[0002] JP 2011 - 123 670

[0002] JP 2011 - 123 670 A

[0002]

Claims

[1] An information provision system that provides information about a carbon footprint of a battery pack mounted on a vehicle, the information provision system comprising one or more processors, the one or more processors being configured to to record information about the carbon footprint, wherein the information about the carbon footprint contains first information about CO2 emission quantity and second information about CO2 emission quantity, wherein the first information about CO2 emission quantity is obtained by converting an amount of greenhouse gas emission associated with the manufacture of the battery pack and the vehicle into a CO2 emission quantity, wherein the second information about CO2 emission quantity is obtained by converting an amount of greenhouse gas emission emitted during a primary use of the battery pack in the vehicle into a CO2 emission quantity, and to provide a requester with the carbon footprint information in response to a request from the requester. [2] The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the carbon footprint information further includes third CO2 emission amount information obtained by converting an amount of greenhouse gas emission emitted during reuse of the battery pack into a CO2 emission amount. [3] The information providing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the requester comprises a user who reuses the battery pack or a user who wants to reuse the battery pack. [4] The information providing system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the requester is a user who wishes to reuse the battery pack, and the one or more processors are configured to determine a price of the battery pack to be presented to the user in response to the carbon footprint information. [5] The information providing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the carbon footprint information further includes fourth CO2 emission amount information obtained by converting an amount of greenhouse gas emission emitted in a disposal process of the battery pack into a CO2 emission amount.

Images