Method for managing the electrical charge of a motor vehicle with an electric motor powered by a battery

Abstract

A method for managing the electrical load of a motor vehicle with a battery-powered electric motor is implemented by a processor and comprises the steps of: collecting (201) the electrical consumption of the motor, comfort functions, and battery charging temperature; determining (203) from the collected electrical consumption and the remaining battery charge the maximum achievable distance; and searching (205) for a battery charging station located at a distance less than the maximum achievable distance. A device for implementing this method and a motor vehicle incorporating the device are also described. Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for managing the electrical charge of a motor vehicle with an electric motor powered by a battery technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for managing the electrical charge of a motor vehicle having an electric motor powered by a battery, a device for managing the electrical charge of a motor vehicle having an electric motor powered by a battery, a motor vehicle comprising such a device and a computer program product. State of the art

[0002] The range of electric vehicles, and therefore the distance they can travel depending on the battery charge, varies considerably depending on driving and environmental parameters. Typically, the two main energy consumers in such vehicles are the motor and the passenger compartment comfort functions, namely air conditioning and heating, with associated ventilation.

[0003] Thus, for example, patent application EP4007709 constructs routes by determining charging stations and a path that minimizes travel time, taking into account the time spent charging. It takes into account, in particular, the fact that charging time is not linear with respect to the battery's charge level.

[0004] However, this recharge time is often not negligible and it is therefore important to minimize it.

[0005] There is therefore a real need for a process and a system for managing the electrical charge of an electric motor vehicle which resolves all or part of the aforementioned disadvantages. Description of the invention

[0006] To resolve one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks, according to a first embodiment, a method for managing the electrical charge of a motor vehicle with an electric motor powered by a battery is implemented by a processor and comprises the steps of: • collection of electrical consumption data for the motor, comfort functions and battery charging temperature; • determination, based on collected electrical consumption and remaining battery charge, of a maximum achievable distance; • searching for a battery charging station located at a distance less than the maximum achievable distance.

[0007] Thus, the user can reach a charging station taking into account the electrical consumption associated with bringing the battery to the optimal charging temperature and thus the charging time is minimized.

[0008] Specific features or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: • The electrical consumption for bringing the battery to charging temperature includes the calculation of the energy required to bring the battery to an optimal temperature to maximize the battery charging speed; • the process further includes a step of heating the battery according to a profile such that the battery reaches the optimum temperature when the vehicle arrives at the charging station; • the calculation of the energy required includes taking into account the current temperature of the battery; • the electrical consumption of the motor and comfort functions is collected in real time; • The determination of the maximum achievable distance is carried out in real time; and / or • A new search for a charging station is performed if the maximum achievable distance becomes less than the distance of the previously selected charging station.

[0009] In a second embodiment, a device includes a memory associated with at least one processor configured to implement the method of the first embodiment.

[0010] In a third embodiment, a motor vehicle includes a device according to the second embodiment

[0011] In a fourth embodiment, a computer program includes instructions which, when the program is executed by the device according to the second embodiment, lead the device to implement the process according to the first embodiment. Brief description of the figures

[0012] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the figures in the appendix in which: • [Fig. 1] represents a top view of a vehicle comprising an electrical charge management system according to one embodiment; and • [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of an electrical charge management process according to one embodiment. Methods of implementation

[0013] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that they are also applicable to other types of vehicles such as vans, trucks, etc. Other applications such as a robot in a warehouse or a motorcycle on a country road are also conceivable.

[0014] The terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "transverse" are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0015] Figure 1 represents an example of a device 101 included in the vehicle 103, in a network (“cloud”) or in a server. This device 101 can be used as a centralized device in charge of at least some steps of the process described below with reference to Figure 2.

[0016] Advantageously, device 101 is included in the vehicle.

[0017] This device 101 can take the form of a housing comprising printed circuits, any type of computer or even a mobile phone ("smartphone"). This device is sometimes called a computer or ECU (from the English acronym "Electronic Control Unit").

[0018] The device 101 includes a random access memory 105 for storing instructions for the implementation by a processor 107 of at least one step of the process as described below. The device also includes a mass storage 109 for storing data intended to be retained after the implementation of the process.

[0019] The device 101 may further include a digital signal processor (DSP) 111. This DSP 111 receives data to shape, demodulate and amplify, in a manner known per se, this data.

[0020] The device 101 also includes an input interface 113 for receiving the data implemented by the process described below and an output interface 115 for transmitting the data implemented by the process.

[0021] For example, the input interface 113 can receive the following data: vehicle position or geographical location, vehicle speed and / or acceleration, setpoint or predetermined positions / speeds / accelerations, engine speed, position and / or stroke of the clutch, brake and / or accelerator pedal, detection of other vehicles or objects, position or geographical location of other vehicles or objects detected, speed and / or acceleration of other vehicles or objects detected, operating states of sensors, confidence index of data from or processed by sensors and / or devices similar to device 101.

[0022] For example, sensors capable of providing data are: GPS associated or not with mapping, tachometers, accelerometers, RADAR, LIDAR, lasers, ultrasound, camera.

[0023] In particular, the input interface is connected to a battery 117 charge sensor for the battery 119 allowing the instantaneous electrical energy consumption and the residual charge of the battery 119 to be acquired.

[0024] The output interface 115 can transmit data similar to the data received by the input interface 109. In particular, the output interface 115 can communicate to the user via a human-machine interface data on consumption, route, autonomy in the form of a maximum distance achievable with the battery charge and position of charging stations.

[0025] Data transfer between the different elements is preferably carried out by a CAN (for "Controller Area Network") or LIN (for "Local Interconnect Network") type data bus.

[0026] The operation of device 101 is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0027] In step 201, the device 101 collects, via the input interface 109, the electrical consumption of the motor and the passenger compartment comfort functions. It also determines at this step the energy required, in the form of electrical consumption, to bring the battery to charging temperature.

[0028] Indeed, the optimal temperature for charging an electric car battery is generally between 20 and 25 °C. This temperature range maximizes charging efficiency and preserves battery life. Outside this range, temperatures that are too low or too high can affect battery performance and longevity. For example, at temperatures below 0 °C or above 45 °C, charging may become less efficient and potentially damage the battery.

[0029] Thus, depending on the current temperature of the battery and the optimal temperature, the device 101 determines the electrical consumption required to bring the battery from the current temperature to the optimal temperature.

[0030] Based on all these consumptions and taking into account the residual charge of the battery, the device 101 determines, step 203, the maximum distance achievable.

[0031] Using the available mapping, it searches, in step 205, on the planned route, or close to this route, for a charging station located at a distance less than the maximum attainable distance determined in step 203.

[0032] Thus the process makes it possible to reach a charging station with a sufficient charge to allow the battery to be at an optimal charging temperature and therefore to reduce the time required for this.

[0033] Figure 1 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented is for pedagogical purposes to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or combinations thereof, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers, and / or electronic circuits. Each component may include at least one computer or a control unit. At least one memory may be included in each component. The memory may include computer program instructions or software code.

[0034] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central processing unit, a signal processing unit, a specific application integrated circuit, a programmable gate network, etc. The computers can be implemented in the form of a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0035] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired, electrical or optical, or wireless.

[0036] For the software, the implementation may comprise modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile memories, hard drives, RAM, flash memory, etc.

[0037] The software product can be downloaded from a communication network and / or stored on a computer-readable medium. It can be directly executable by a processor or be in the form of a high-level language requiring one or more intermediate operations to be executable.

[0038] Thus the program instructions stored in memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0039] The computer program instructions stored in memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the processes described above.

[0040] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the preceding drawings and description. The latter should be considered illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this single description. Numerous embodiments are possible.

[0041] For example, the process has been described as a sequence of steps. Some steps can be carried out in parallel or in a different sequence.

[0042] In a first embodiment, the device 101 determines a strategy for bringing the battery to its optimal temperature so that this temperature is reached when the vehicle arrives at the charging station. This strategy includes a profile that specifies an optimal time for bringing the battery to temperature and thus determines when this temperature-raising process begins. This profile is based in particular on the difference between the current temperature and the optimal temperature of the battery.

[0043] In a second embodiment, consumption data is collected in real time so that the device can determine if there are variations in consumption, for example because the user has increased the home heating temperature. Thus, it is able to recalculate the maximum achievable distance.

[0044] In this variant, a sub-variant consists of modifying the charging station to select one closer to the vehicle if it appears that the new maximum distance attainable is less than the distance of the previously selected charging station.

Claims

Demands

1. Method of managing the electrical charge of a motor vehicle having an electric motor powered by a battery implemented by a processor and comprising the steps of: • collecting (201) the electrical consumption of the motor, comfort functions and the battery charging temperature; • determining (203) from the collected electrical consumption and the remaining charge of the battery a maximum achievable distance; • searching (205) for a battery charging station located at a distance less than the maximum achievable distance.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the electrical consumption of bringing the battery to charging temperature includes the calculation of the energy required to bring the battery to an optimal temperature to maximize the battery charging speed.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising a step of heating the battery according to a profile such that the battery reaches the optimum temperature when the vehicle arrives at the charging station.

4. A method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the calculation of the energy required includes taking into account the current temperature of the battery.

5. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the electrical consumption of the motor and comfort functions is collected in real time.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the determination of the maximum attainable distance is carried out in real time.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein a new search for a charging station is carried out if the maximum attainable distance becomes less than the distance to a previously selected charging station.

8. Device (101) comprising a memory (105) associated with at least one processor (107) configured to implement the method according to one of the preceding claims.

9. Motor vehicle (103) comprising the device (101) according to the preceding claim.

10. Computer program product comprising program code instructions which, when the program is executed by the device according to claim 8, cause the device to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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