Method for adapting the load of an electric vehicle

Abstract

Title: Method for Adapting the Charging of an Electric Vehicle. This method consists of: - storing a basic charging protocol in a server's memory, - determining, using this processor, a set of alternative charging protocols by modifying the basic charging protocol, - transmitting, via a server receiver, to each respective electric vehicle within a subset of electric vehicles, an alternative charging protocol configured to charge the batteries according to the set of alternative charging protocols, - receiving battery data from the subset of electric vehicles, this data having been measured during or after charging the batteries of the subset of electric vehicles, according to the set of alternative charging protocols, and - updating the basic charging protocol based on the battery data. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Method for adapting the charge of an electric vehicle FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for charging an electric vehicle and to the optimization of this charging. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The particular charging or charge adaptation protocols used to charge the battery of an electric vehicle have a significant impact on the long-term degradation of the battery. This is particularly the case if electric vehicles are charged by a high-power unit with DC fast chargers. The charging current used to charge the battery of an electric vehicle is typically managed by a battery management system (abbreviated BMS) onboard the electric vehicle and which applies a charging protocol. Typically, the charging protocol(s) applied by the BMS are designed and installed by the battery manufacturer before delivering the vehicle. The charging protocol is typically in the form of a static map of charging current as a function of battery temperature and battery voltage.Charging protocols are generally designed for maximum charging speed without significant impact on battery degradation.

[0003] However, because charging protocols are obtained experimentally under laboratory conditions, they are not necessarily optimized for real-time operations under a wide variety of operating conditions. As a result, charging protocols may be too conservative (providing a slower charge than necessary) under some conditions or may be too aggressive (resulting in premature battery aging) under some conditions. In addition, batteries degrade through operation, and a BMS system static charging map, even if optimized at the beginning of the service life, may no longer be optimal after a certain charging time or aging.This is why it is advantageous to develop a methodology to adapt the base charge profile under fixed laboratory conditions and based on the real characteristics of the batteries and the aging observed on roads.

[0004] DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention aims to remedy the drawbacks of known systems and relates to this end to a method of adapting a charging protocol for charging the batteries of a set of electric vehicles, this method consisting of recording in the memory of a server, a charging protocol of a base, determining with the processor of the server, a set of alternative charging protocols by modifying the base charging protocol, transmitting with a receiver of the server to each respective electric vehicle of a subset of electric vehicles, a respective alternative charging protocol from the set of alternative charging protocols, the subset of electric vehicles being configured to charge the batteries according to the set of alternative charging protocols, receiving by a transmitter, battery data from the subset of electric vehicles, the battery data having been measured during or after the charging of the batteries of the subset of electric vehicles, according to the set of alternative charging protocols, and

[0006] - update with the processor, the basic load protocol based on the battery data.

[0007] The method for adapting the charging method of an electric vehicle battery comprises receiving, by a transmitter of the battery management system, an alternative charging protocol from the server. The method comprises controlling, with a processor, the battery management system and charging the battery according to the alternative charging protocol. The method further comprises measuring, with a sensor of the battery management system, the battery data(s) during and after charging the battery according to the alternative charging protocol.

[0008] The method further comprises transmitting, by a transmitter, the battery data to the server. The method further comprises receiving, by the transmitter, an updated basic charging protocol, this protocol having been determined based on the battery data and that of other electric vehicles. Brief description of the drawings

[0009] The present invention will be described below in more detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:

[0010] [Fig-1] example of implementation of a system for optimizing load protocols battery applied to a fleet of electric vehicles,

[0011] [Fig.2] example of a battery charging system for an electric vehicle,

[0012] [Fig.3] method for optimizing the battery charging protocols of a fleet of electric vehicles,

[0013] [Fig.4] protocol for optimizing the charging of batteries in a fleet of vehicles,

[0014] [Fig.5] example of basic profile and perturbed current-voltage profile for a certain battery temperature.

[0015] DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0016] [Fig.l] shows an exemplary embodiment of a system 100 for optimizing the battery charging protocols of a fleet of electric vehicles. The system 100 comprises a set of electric vehicles 102 (only some are shown for simplicity) and a cloud backup 120. As described in more detail below, the cloud backup 120 advantageously operates to continuously adapt and improve the charging protocol(s) with updating by the electric vehicles 102 of the fleet.

[0017] Each electric vehicle 102 in the fleet has a battery 104 that recharges and is configured to provide power to a drive system (not shown) of the electric vehicle 102. In at least one embodiment, the battery 102 is a lithium-ion battery composed of a set of individual cells connected in series and parallel to have the desired voltage and capacity. The battery 102 is, for example, housed under the floor or rear seats of the electric vehicle.

[0018] Each electric vehicle 102 further has a BMS battery management system 110 configured to monitor individual cell characteristics, temperature, and overall health of the battery 104. The BMS system 110 is configured to apply a charging protocol that optimizes the charging (and discharging) processes of the battery 102 to minimize the charging times of the battery 102 and maximize the lifetime of the battery 102 and ensure that the battery 102 operates within safe limits. For this purpose, the BMS system 110 receives sensor data from one or more sensors (shown in [Fig. 2]) and operates the charging circuit 112 to charge the battery 102 according to a given charging protocol.

[0019] The cloud backup 120 is configured to optimize the charging protocols of the electric vehicle fleet 102 as a function of time. In particular, the cloud backup 120 generates one or more alternative or experimental charging protocols by perturbing the base charge profile of a base charge protocol and developing the "perturbed" (i.e., modified) charging protocol for application to a subset of the electric vehicle fleet 102. The subset of the electric vehicle fleet 102 charges the batteries 104 using the perturbed charging protocol, the cloud backup 120 observing the battery data received from the subset of the electric vehicle fleet 102 and the implication of the perturbed charging protocol(s) on battery aging and charging time.Based on such battery data, the cloud backup 120 reviews and improves the base charge protocol deployed across the entire fleet of electric vehicles 102.

[0020] EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS

[0021] [Fig. 2] shows an exemplary battery charging system 200 of an electric vehicle 102. The system 200 includes the battery 104, the BMS system 110 and the charging circuit 112 as shown above with respect to [Fig. 1]. The components of the battery charging system 200 described are given by way of example and the battery charging system 200 may have any alternative configuration.

[0022] The battery 104 that stores electrochemical energy has one or more electrochemical cells 204 in parallel and / or in series to compose the battery 104. In one embodiment, the battery 104 is a lithium-ion battery and the electrochemical cells 204 are lithium-ion cells. The battery 104 has a positive terminal 206 and a negative terminal 208 through which the battery 104 provides the output voltage and the output current. The battery 104 is further configured to be charged through the positive and negative terminals 206, 208.

[0023] The system 200 has a power source 210 and a charging circuit 112. The power source 210 is configured to, during the charging operation, apply a charging current and / or a charging voltage to the battery 104 through the positive and negative terminals 206, 208. In some embodiments, the power source 210 provides predetermined direct current (DC), in voltage and amperage. In some embodiments, the power source 210 is a voltage or alternating current (AC) source. In one embodiment, the power source 210 is a local electrical grid configured to provide a single phase or a three-phase alternating current (AC) voltage of predetermined frequency such as 50 Hz or 60 Hz, a predetermined nominal voltage, for example, a nominal voltage between 110 and 127 volts or 220-240 volts.

[0024] The charging circuit 112 connected between the power source 210 and the battery 104 is configured to convert, regulate and / or control the charging current or charging voltage applied to the battery 104 by the power source 210. In some embodiments, the charging circuit 112 has a charge controller 214 that activates various power electronic circuits 216 to convert, regulate or control the charging intensity (charging current) and / or charging voltage applied to the battery 104. The power electronics 216 include various circuits and hardware with, for example, contactors, relays, transistors, transformers, diodes, capacitors, inductors and resistors arranged appropriately. In some embodiments, additional power conversion circuits connect the power source 210 and the charging circuit 112, for example, a separate AC / DC converter.

[0025] The charge controller 214 may be a component of the BMS system 110 or a separate component that receives instructions from the BMS system 110 to control the method of charging the battery 104 according to a particular charging protocol. It appears that a controller comprises any system or circuit or circuit mechanism that processes data, signals and other information. Thus, the charge controller 214 comprises a system with a central processing unit, multiple processing units, dedicated circuits to carry out the specific functionalities or other systems.

[0026] The BMS system 110 has a processor 230 for executing the program instructions recorded in the memory 236. The memory 236 has at least the recording of the program instructions configured to apply a charging protocol 236 and any necessary data such as current-temperature profiles, or equivalent update tables. The memory 236 allows for recording the information accessible to the BMS system 110 such as a ROM memory card, RAM, writable memories, read-only memories, hard disks, flash memories or any other computer-readable medium constituting a data recording device. The processor includes any circuit system, mechanism and circuit component that processes data, signals or other information.Thus, the BMS 110 system comprises a system with a central processing unit, multiple processing units, a dedicated circuit to provide a specific function or other system.

[0027] The BMS system 110 further has at least one network communication module 234 that provides a communication interface with any other device backed up to the cloud 120. The network communication module 234 includes one or more transmitters, modems, processors, memories, oscillators, antennas, or other conventional circuitry of a communication module to enable communication with various other devices. In particular, the network communication module 236 generally has one or more cellular modems for communicating over a wireless telephone network, but also a Bluetooth® module (not shown) or a Wi-Fi module for Wi-Fi communication or a Wi-Fi router (not shown). Communications are made using any of the multiple known communication protocols.

[0028] The system 200 has a current sensor 218, a voltage sensor 220, a temperature sensor 222 for monitoring the battery current, the battery voltage and the battery temperature at least during the charging / discharging process. The BMS system 110 connects to the current sensor 218, the voltage sensor 220 and the temperature sensor 222 to receive measurement signals corresponding to the battery current, the battery voltage and the battery temperature. In one embodiment, the current sensor 218 is a shunt resistor in series with the battery 104 and which gives a voltage proportional to the battery current. In the embodiment In one embodiment, the current sensor 218 includes a Hall effect sensor in series with the battery 104 to measure the battery current. The voltage sensor 220 is connected in parallel to the battery 104; it is configured to measure the battery voltage between the positive terminal and the negative terminal 206, 208 of the battery 104. In some embodiments, the voltage sensor is further configured to measure the voltage of the individual cells 204 of the battery 104. In some embodiments, the processor 230 determines, calculates or evaluates other battery parameters such as state of charge, state of health, impedance, capacity, open circuit voltage or resting voltage.

[0029] [Fig. 3] shows an example component of the cloud backup 120. The cloud backup 120 has one or more cloud servers 300 and one or more databases 320. The cloud server 300 has servers configured to serve a variety of functions for the cloud backup 120, but it includes at least one or more servers for managing battery data received from the BMS system 110 of the vehicle fleet and optimizing the charging protocol(s) used by the electric vehicle fleet 102 to charge their batteries 104. Each cloud server 300 has, for example, a processor 302, a memory 304, a user interface 306 and a network communication module 308.It should be noted that the illustrated embodiment of the cloud server 300 is only one example of a cloud server 300 and represents any configuration of personal computer, server, or data processing system that cooperates in this manner.

[0030] The processor 302 executes the instructions to activate the cloud servers 300 and enable the features, functionalities, or similar features or elements to be implemented. For this, the processor 302 is connected to the memory 304, the user interface 306 and the network communication module 308. The processor 302 generally comprises one or more processors that can operate in parallel with each other. The processor generally comprises any circuit system, circuit mechanism or circuit component for processing signal data or other information. Thus, the processor 302 comprises a system with a central processing unit, graphics processing units, multiple processing units, dedicated circuits to provide certain functionality, programmable logic elements or other processing systems.

[0031] The databases 320 are configured to record battery data received from the BMS system 110. The databases 320 may be long-term non-volatile recording devices for storing information accessible by the processor 302 such as hard drives or any other computer-readable recording medium. Similarly, the memory 304 is configured to record program instructions that, executed by the processor 302, enable the cloud servers 300 to apply the various operations described, including optimizing the charging protocols used by the fleet of electric vehicles to charge their battery. In addition, the memory 304 records the base charge protocol 310 and one or more disturbed charge protocols 312. The memory 304 is a device or combination of devices for recording registration information accessible by the processor 302, for example, a memory card, ROM or RAM memory, hard drives, disks, flash memories, or any computer-readable medium as known.

[0032] The network communication module 308 of the cloud servers 300 constitutes the interface allowing communication with any other device comprising at least one BSM system 110. In particular, the network communication module 308 has a local network port which allows communication with any local computer housed in the same installation or in the vicinity thereof. Generally, the cloud servers 300 communicate with the remote computers via the Internet, via a separate modem and / or a router of the local area network. Alternatively, the network communication module 308 has a wide area network port which allows communications via the Internet. In one embodiment, the network communication module 308 is equipped with a Wi-Fi transmitter or other wireless communication device. It should be noted that communications with the cloud servers 300 can be made via wired communications or wireless communications.Communications are made using any known communication protocol.

[0033] The cloud servers 300 may be activated locally or remotely by an administrator. To facilitate local operation, the cloud servers 300 have a user interface 306. In at least one embodiment, the user interface 306 has an LCD display screen or an analog display, a mouse or other pointing device, a keyboard, a voice keyboard, speakers, and a microphone. Alternatively, in some embodiments, an administrator may activate the cloud servers 300 remotely from another computer that is in communication with it via the network communication module 308 and that has an analog user interface.

[0034] The cloud backup 120 is configured to store and manage the battery data in the databases 320 in a secure manner and to provide access to the battery data to optimize the charging protocols used by the electric vehicle fleet 102 to charge their battery. The memory 304 stores the program instructions to optimize the battery charging protocols of the electric vehicle fleet.

[0035] Multiple methods and processes will be described below for managing the BMS system 110 and the cloud backup 120. In the description, the expressions method, processor and system perform certain work or functions referring to a controller or a processor, generally the processor 230 of the BMS system 110 or the processor 302 of the cloud backup 120, executing the programmed instructions recorded in a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium, generally the memory 332 of BMS 110 or the memory 304 of the cloud backup 120, which are connected to the controller or processor to process the data or manage one or more components of the system 100 to perform the operations or functions. In addition, the steps of the methods can be executed according to any compatible chronology, regardless of the order presented in the figures or the order of the steps in their description.

[0036] [Fig.4] shows a method 400 for optimizing the battery charging protocols of a fleet of electric vehicles. The method advantageously adapts and improves the charging protocols of a fleet of electric vehicles 102 as a function of time by relying on real data from the fleet.

[0037] The method 400 begins by recording in a server, a base charge protocol for charging the batteries of a fleet of electric vehicles (block 410). The cloud backup 120 records in the memory 304, the base charge protocol 310. The base charge protocol 310 is deployed for the BMS system 110 of each electric vehicle 102 of the fleet. The base charge protocol 310 is, for example, originally designed by the battery manufacturer before delivering the electric vehicle 102 and originally it is deployed on the BMS system 110 at the time of manufacturing. Alternatively, the base charge protocol 310 may be designed based on laboratory tests or battery models and then deployed in the BMS system 110 of each electric vehicle 102 by transmitting the base charge protocol 310 to the BMS system 110 of each electric vehicle 102 with the network communication module 308.

[0038] In at least some embodiments, the base charge protocol 310 includes controlling the charge current as a function of battery voltage and battery temperature or as a function of battery state of charge and battery temperature, as expressed by one or more charge profiles. In particular, the base charge protocol 310 includes charging the battery 102 according to a base current-voltage profile. In addition, the base charge protocol 310 includes charging the battery 102 according to the base current-temperature profile. Finally, the base charge protocol 310 may further include charging the battery 102 according to the base current-SOC (state of charge) profile. In at least one embodiment, the base charge protocol 310 is characterized by a set of base voltage current profiles corresponding to a set of different battery temperatures. According to another embodiment, the base charge protocol 310 is characterized by a set of base current-SOC profiles corresponding to a set of different battery temperatures. For a given battery temperature, the base charge protocol 310 charges the battery 102 according to the base current-temperature profile associated with the given battery temperature. In some embodiments, each charge profile is in the form of an update table that provides the charging current intensity for a given battery voltage and / or a given battery temperature. Alternatively, in other embodiments, each charge profile is in the form of a mathematical function and / or an equation.

[0039] [Fig. 5] gives an example of base current-voltage profiles 500 for a given battery temperature. The base current-voltage profile 500 has a staircase shape composed of segments in the different ranges of the battery voltage corresponding to different constant charging current intensities. Relatively high charging intensities are applied to relatively low battery voltages and relatively low charging intensities are applied to relatively high battery voltages, which generally results in a base current-voltage profile 500 having a negative slope. However, it should be noted that the charging current profiles may not be monotonic; in general, one starts at low intensities then increases before decreasing again.Furthermore, it is noted that, although the exemplary base current-voltage profile 500 has a staircase shape (which generally applies for easier implementation by the BMS system 100 and / or the charge controller 214), the base current-voltage profile can have a very wide variety of shapes and patterns. It is noted above that one can have a set of such base current-voltage profiles for a set of different battery temperatures.

[0040] According to [Fig.4], the method 400 continues by determining in the server, a set of charging protocols disturbed by the disturbance of the basic charging protocol (block 420). In particular, the processor 302 of the cloud backup 120 determines a set of disturbed charging protocols 312 by modifying the basic charging protocol 310. The disturbed charging protocols 312 can also be considered as alternative charging protocols, as modified charging protocols or as experimental charging protocols. The processor 302 determines a set of disturbed charging protocols 312 by modifying at least one basic current-voltage profile (and / or at least one basic current-temperature profile) of the basic charging protocol 310.

[0041] Each perturbed charging protocol 310 has one or both perturbed current-voltage and current-temperature profiles that have small differences from the baseline charging protocol while maintaining a substantially identical charging time such that there is no perceptible impact on the driver's experience. In particular, in at least some embodiments, each perturbed charging protocol 312 is characterized by a set of perturbed current-voltage profiles corresponding to a set of different battery temperatures. These perturbed charging protocols 312, in particular, the perturbed current-voltage profiles and / or the current-temperature profiles may be derived in various ways.

[0042] In at least one embodiment, the processor 302 of the cloud backup 120 determines a set of perturbed charging protocols 312 by applying a battery model to find alternative current-profiles and / or current-temperature profiles that are expected to result in charging times within a predetermined difference threshold from the charging time that results from the baseline current-voltage profile. The predetermined difference threshold in the resulting charging time may be within + / - 15% of the baseline charging time of the baseline charging protocol 310 and more particularly within + / - 10% of the baseline charging time of the baseline charging protocol 310 or even more particularly within + / - 5% of the baseline charging time of the baseline charging protocol 310.In some embodiments, the processor 310 modifies the battery model parameters such as the internal state limits of the battery to derive the set of perturbed charging protocols 312. .

[0043] According to another embodiment, the processor 302 of the cloud backup 120 determines a set of perturbed charging protocols 312 that differ from the baseline current-voltage profiles and / or current-temperature profiles and modify the values ​​of the baseline current-voltage profiles and / or current-temperature profiles randomly or according to certain rules that ensure that the modified current profiles and / or current-temperature profiles are expected to result in a similar charging time when used to charge the battery 104.

[0044] [Fig. 5] shows examples of perturbed current-voltage profiles 502, 504, 506 as examples of perturbed charging protocols for a certain battery temperature. As a base current-voltage profile 500, the examples of current-voltage profiles 502, 504, 506 have a staircase shape composed of segments in which a range of battery voltages corresponds to a constant current but with small changes in both the voltage thresholds and the charging current applied during the particular step. However, it is noted that the perturbed current-voltage profiles 502, 504 and 506 can have a very wide variety of shapes and patterns. Moreover, as indicated above, a set of current- voltage thus disturbed can correspond to a set of different battery temperatures.

[0045] According to [Fig.4], the method 400 continues by providing disturbed charging protocols to a subset of the fleet of electric vehicles (block 430). In particular, the processor 302 of the cloud backup 120 selects a subset of electric vehicles 120 from the fleet of electric vehicles 102. Then, the processor 302 operates the network communication module 308 to transmit to each electric vehicle 102 of the subset of electric vehicles 102, a respective one of the disturbed charging protocols 312. In each respective electric vehicle 102 of the subset of electric vehicles 102, the BMS system 110 receives the respective protocol of the disturbed charging protocols 312 from the cloud backup 120 by the network communication module 234 and stores it in the memory 332 (i.e., as charging protocol 236).

[0046] In some embodiments, the processor 302 selects the subset of electric vehicles 102 as a random subset from the fleet of electric vehicles 102. Alternatively, in some other embodiments, the processor 302 selects the subset of electric vehicles 102 based on one or more environmental conditions of the electric vehicles 102 by observing the driving styles of the electric vehicles 102 and / or by observing the charging behaviors of the electric vehicles 102. For this, in some embodiments, the processor 230 of the BMS system 110 of each vehicle 102 continuously monitors and records data regarding the environmental conditions, driving styles, and / or charging behaviors. The processor 230 manages the network communication module 234 to transmit its data to the cloud backup 120 which receives it by the network communication module 308.The processor 302 of the cloud backup 120 chooses the subset of electric vehicles 102 based on this data concerning environmental conditions, driving styles and / or charging behaviors.

[0047] Generally, the subset of the electric vehicle fleet 102 is a small portion of the entire electric vehicle fleet 102; typically, they represent between 5 and 10% of the overall fleet size. The subset of electric vehicles 102 should be large enough to constitute a representative sample of the environmental conditions, driving styles, and / or charging behaviors of the fleet as a whole.

[0048] The method 400 continues by charging the batteries of the subset of the fleet of electric vehicles using the disturbed charging protocols (block 440). In particular, after the disturbed charging protocols 312 are provided to the subsets of the fleet of electric vehicles 102, the BMS system 10 of each vehicle 102 of the subassembly is configured to charge the battery 104 using the protocol respectively received from the set of disturbed charging protocols 312. The BMS system 10 controls the charge controller 214 to operate the power electronic circuits 216 so as to control the charging current according to the respective protocol of the disturbed charging protocols 312.

[0049] During the charging operation, the BMS system 10 and / or the charge controller 214 sets the charging current as a function of the current-temperature and current-voltage according to the current-voltage profile and / or the current-temperature profile of the protocol respectively received from among the disturbed charging protocols 312. In at least one embodiment, the disturbed charging protocol 312 defines a set of current-voltage profiles, each associated with a respective, different battery temperature. The BMS system 10 and / or the charge controller 214 selects a respective one of the current-voltage profiles as a function of the current-temperature characteristic of the battery and then sets the charging current based on the current-voltage profiles, selected according to the battery current-voltage.

[0050] The batteries 104 of the subset of the electric vehicle fleet 102 are charged using the perturbed charging protocols 312 for a predefined duration which is, in general, a predetermined number of weeks or months. During this predetermined period, there is no negative effect on the experience of the drivers of the subset of the electric vehicle fleet 102 because the perturbations of the base charge protocol 310 are small and result in similar charging times.

[0051] The method 400 continues by measuring the battery data during or after charging the batteries using the perturbed charging protocols (block 450). During this predetermined period, in addition to charging the batteries 104 using the respective protocol among the perturbed charging protocols 312, the BMS system 10 operates the sensors 218, 220, 222 to collect all the battery data to observe the impact of the perturbed charging protocols 312 on the aging of the battery. The term "battery data" used refers to any of the battery data that relates to the health and / or aging characteristics of the battery. This battery data may, for example, be the battery currents, battery voltages and battery temperatures, measured as a function of time during or after charging the battery 104 using one of the perturbed charging protocols 312.Battery data may be collected for the battery 104 as a whole or for individual cells of the battery 104. In some embodiments, the BMS system 10 derives other battery data based on sensor data measured directly by the sensors 218, 220, 222 such as states of charge or measurements of the battery 110. This data can be used to assess the health status of the battery during operation and to track changes in this health status over the monitoring period of a few weeks or months.

[0052] Based on monitoring the health status of this subset of the fleet over a period, the local gradient of the objective / cost function (battery aging rate) with respect to the charging protocol can be calculated and the potential directions in which the current-voltage or current-temperature profiles need to be updated to optimize the objective function.

[0053] The method 400 continues by providing the battery data to the server (block 470). Each electric vehicle 102 of the subset of electric vehicles 102 has a processor 230 of the respective BMS system 110 which operates the network communication module 234 to transmit the battery data collected during the predetermined period to the cloud backup 120. The cloud backup 120 receives the respective battery data from each vehicle of the subset of electric vehicles 102 and records the battery data in a database 320.

[0054] The method 400 continues by updating the base charge protocol based on the battery data (block 470). In particular, the processor 302 of the cloud backup 120 updates the base charge protocol 310 based on the battery data received from the subset of electric vehicles 102 and the associated disturbed charge protocols 312. In some embodiments, the processor 203 determines a modification to the base charge protocol 310 that results in at least one of the following:

[0055] (i) slowed aging of the battery, and

[0056] (ii) faster charging time compared to the base charge protocol 310. In at least one embodiment, the processor 302 updates the base charge protocol 310 using the predetermined objective / cost function that optimizes charging time and battery aging.

[0057] In at least one embodiment, the processor 302 identifies a disturbed charging protocol from among the set of disturbed charging protocols 312 that results from one of the following:

[0058] (i) slowed aging of the battery, and

[0059] (ii) a faster charging time compared to the basic charging protocol. Then the processor 302 modifies the basic charging protocol 310 based on the protocol identified among the disturbed charging protocols 312.

[0060] In at least one embodiment, the processor 302 of the cloud backup 120 determines the updated internal state limits for the batteries 104 based on the received battery data and / or the protocol identified among the disturbed charging protocols 312. Then the processor 302 updates the basic charging protocol 310 by applying a battery model using the updated internal state limits.

[0061] According to another embodiment, the processor 302 of the cloud backup 120 determines one or more gradients based on the battery data received in association with the perturbed charging protocol 312. Then the processor 302 updates the base charging protocol 310 based on the gradients using a gradient update method.

[0062] The method 400 continues by providing the updated base charge protocol to the fleet of electric vehicles (block 480). In particular, the processor 302 of the cloud backup 120 processes the network communication module 308 to transmit the updated base charge protocol to all or at least some of the electric vehicles 102 of the fleet of electric vehicles 10. In each electric vehicle 102, the BMS system 110 receives the updated base charge protocol from the cloud backup 120 by the network communication module 234 and stores it in the memory 232 (i.e., as a charging protocol 236).

[0063] Once the updated base charge protocol is provided, the BMS system 10 charges the battery 104 using the updated base charge protocol with the improved characteristics or reduced aging of the battery 104.

[0064] The above method may be repeated periodically to update the base charge protocol each time. In particular, in each iteration of the method, a new subset of electric vehicles 102 is chosen from the fleet of electric vehicles 102 and a new set of perturbed charging protocols is generated. In this way, the charging protocols are continuously adapted and improved for the entire lifetime of the vehicles 102 in the fleet. Furthermore, new vehicles put into road service may directly receive the updated base charge protocol rather than the original base protocol, thereby providing immediate benefit to the driver.

[0065] Embodiments of the disclosure may include transient, computer-readable recording media or a machine-readable storage medium for executing or having computer-executable instructions (also referred to as program instructions) or data structures recorded thereon. Such non-transient, computer-readable recording media or computer-readable means are suitable means accessed with a general or specialized computer. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, such non-transient, computer-readable recording medium or machine-readable medium is a RAM, ROM, EEPROM or CD-ROM memory or optical disk, magnetic disk or other magnetic recording device. or other medium usable for receiving or recording specific program codes in the form of computer-executed instructions or structures. Combinations of the above means also fall within the scope of non-transitory computer-readable storage means or machine-readable media.

[0066] Computer-executed instructions include, for example, instructions and data that apply to a general computer, a specialized computer, or a specialized processing device to perform certain functions or groups of functions. Computer-executed instructions include program modules executed by the computer alone or in a network environment. Generally, program modules contain routines, programs, objects, components, and data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular data types. Computer-executable instructions associated with the data structures and the program modules represent examples of program codes for executing steps of the method presented above.The particular sequence of executable instructions or associated data structures represent examples of acts corresponding to implementing the functions described in such steps.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for adapting a charging protocol for charging the batteries of a set of electric vehicles, method consisting of: - recording in a memory of a server, a basic charging protocol, - determining with the processor of the server, a set of alternative charging protocols by modifying the basic charging protocol, - transmitting with a receiver of the server to each respective electric vehicle of a subset of electric vehicles, a respective alternative charging protocol from the set of alternative charging protocols, the subset of electric vehicles being configured to charge the batteries according to the set of alternative charging protocols, - receiving with a transmitter, battery data from the subset of electric vehicles, the battery data having been measured during or after charging the batteries of the subset of electric vehicles,according to the set of alternative charging protocols, and - update with the processor, the basic charging protocol based on the battery data.,

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the basic charging protocol and the set of alternative charging protocols comprise charging according to the respective current-voltage profile which sets the charging current as a function of the battery voltage.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the base charge protocol and the set of alternative charge protocols comprise selecting the respective current-voltage profile from a set of base current-voltage profiles as a function of the current battery temperature, each of the base current-voltage profiles in the set being associated with a different, respective battery temperature.

4. A method according to claim 2, according to which determining the set of alternative charging protocols also consists of: - modifying the intensity-voltage profile of the charging and basic protocol.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying the current-voltage profile further comprises: - applying a battery model to determine a modified current-voltage profile that results from the charging time within a predetermined threshold difference of a charging time that results from the current-voltage profile of the basic charging protocol.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein applying the battery model further comprises: - modifying at least one internal state boundary of the battery model.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of electric vehicles is configured to charge the battery according to the set of alternative charging protocols for a predetermined period of time, and - the battery data is measured during or after the period of time.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined time period is at least one week.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the battery data comprises at least one of the following data: (i) battery current measurement, (ii) battery voltage measurement, (iii) battery temperature measurement, and (iv) battery state of charge measurement.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the baseload protocol further comprises: - determining, based on the battery data, a modification to the base charge protocol that results from at least one of the following: (i) slowed aging of the battery, (ii) faster charging time, compared to the base charge protocol, and - updating the base charge protocol based on the determined modification.

11. The method of claim 10, determining the modification of the basic charging protocol further comprises: - identifying, based on the battery data, an alternative charging protocol from among the set of alternative charging protocols that result from at least one of the following: (i) slower aging of the battery, and (ii) a faster charging time compared to the basic charging protocol, and - determining the modification of the basic charging protocol based on the identified alternative charging protocol.

12. The method of claim 1, updating the base charge protocol further comprises: - determining based on the battery data, updated internal state limits for a battery model, and - updating the base charge protocol by applying the battery model to the updated internal state limits.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the base charge protocol further comprises: - determining a gradient based on the battery data, and - updating the base charge protocol based on the gradient.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: - transmitting with the transmitter, the updated base charge protocol, to all of the electric vehicles, configured to charge the batteries according to the updated base charge protocol.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: - select with the processor, the subset of electric vehicles from among all electric vehicles.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising: selecting the subset of the set of electric vehicles further comprises: - selecting the subset of the set of electric vehicles as a random subset of the set of electric vehicles.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: selecting the subset from the set of electric vehicles further comprises: - selecting a subset from the set of electric vehicles based on at least one of the following: (i) environmental conditions, (ii) driving styles, and (iii) charging behavior associated with the set of electric vehicles.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the set of electric vehicles configured to measure the data comprising one of the following: (i) environmental condition data, (ii) driving style data, and (iii) charging behavior data, the method further comprising: receiving with the transmitter, the data from the set of electric vehicles.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the method is expanded by periodic iteration to further update the base charging protocol, each iteration of the method selecting a new subset of the set of electric vehicles and determining a new set of alternative charging protocols.

20. Method for adapting a charging protocol for charging a battery of an electric vehicle, process consisting of: - receive with a transmitter of a battery management system, an alternative charging protocol from a server, - control with a processor of the battery management system, the charging of the battery according to the alternative charging protocol, - measure with a sensor of the battery management system, the battery data during or after the charging of the battery according to the alternative charging protocol, - transmitting by the transmitter, the battery data to the server; and - receiving by the transmitter, an updated battery charging protocol, determined from the battery data and other battery data from other electric vehicles.

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