Electric vehicle charging cost management method and system

Abstract

To provide an electric vehicle charging cost management method and system for withdrawing a fee charged to a user.SOLUTION: The method uses a power replenishment device to execute power replenishment work corresponding to a battery. The power replenishment work has charging work or battery replacement work. The method uses the battery or the power replenishment device to record power replenishment record data corresponding to the power replenishment work. The power replenishment record data has at least battery identification data of the battery, device identification data of the power replenishment device and power replenishment information. Also, the method uses a remote server to acquire user identification data corresponding to the power replenishment record data and the battery identification data. The remote server calculates charging cost of the user identification data on the basis of the power replenishment record data. The charging cost is changed by the power replenishment information in the power replenishment record data.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a battery charging management method and system, and in particular to a method and system capable of managing charging costs incurred by supplementary charging of the battery of an electric vehicle, such as charging and battery replacement work. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with the increasing awareness of environmental protection and the advancement of electric vehicle technology, the development of electric vehicles powered by electrical energy has gradually become an important goal in the automotive field, replacing traditional vehicles powered by fossil fuels, and therefore electric vehicles are becoming more and more popular. In order to increase the driving range and willingness to use electric vehicles, many countries and cities have set up charging stations and battery energy stations in public places to provide charging and battery exchange for electric cars and electric motorcycles, making the use of electric vehicles more convenient.

[0003] Generally, batteries are one of the most important costs for manufacturers, and secondary batteries have a limited service life. In some electric vehicles, such as electric motorcycles, when the battery power is insufficient, the power difference between each battery is too large, and / or the remaining life cycles of each battery are significantly different, starting the electric vehicle by combining these batteries will affect the function or life of the vehicle or the battery itself.

[0004] In addition, the high cost of batteries is also one of the main reasons for the high service cost of electric motorcycles. If different charging modes can be planned according to users' needs, or different suppliers can be introduced to participate in the ecological chain of electric vehicles, the overall service cost of electric motorcycles can be reasonably reduced, which may further increase users' willingness to adopt electric motorcycles. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and system for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In a method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, a power refilling device is used to perform a power refilling operation for a battery, the power refilling operation including a charging operation or a battery exchange operation. A battery or a power refilling device is used to record power refilling record data for the power refilling operation, the power refilling record data including at least battery identification data of the battery, device identification data of the power refilling device, and power refilling information. Then, a remote server is used to obtain the power refilling record data and obtain user identification data corresponding to the battery identification data. Then, the remote server is used to calculate a charging cost for the user identification data based on the power refilling record data, and the charging cost varies according to the power refilling information in the power refilling record data.

[0007] According to an embodiment, a charging cost management system for an electric vehicle includes a battery, a power refilling device, and a remote server. The power refilling device is coupled to the battery and performs a power refilling operation corresponding to the battery, the power refilling operation including a charging operation or a battery replacement operation. The battery and the power refilling device are used to record power refilling record data of the power refilling operation, the power refilling record data including at least battery identification data of the battery, device identification data of the power refilling device, and power refilling information. The remote server obtains the power refilling record data of the battery and user identification data corresponding to the battery identification data. The remote server calculates a charging cost for the user identification data based on the power refilling record data, and the charging cost varies according to the power refilling information in the power refilling record data.

[0008] In some embodiments, the remote server calculates a discount amount based on the power replenishment information, and discounts a charging cost of the corresponding user identification data based on the discount amount, where the charging cost is a subscription cost.

[0009] In some embodiments, when the power replenishment operation is a battery replacement operation, the remote server calculates an additional charging cost based on the power replenishment information, and adds the additional charging cost to the charging cost of the corresponding user identification data, where the charging cost is a subscription cost.

[0010] In some embodiments, the remote server performs a profit calculation based on the charging cost of the corresponding user identification data, the battery identification data in the power replenishment record data, and the device identification data, and calculates profit shares corresponding to the battery and the power replenishment device, respectively.

[0011] In some embodiments, the battery is electrically coupled to the electric vehicle to provide electric energy to the electric vehicle. The battery transmits the power replenishment record data to the electric vehicle via the network, and the electric vehicle transmits the power replenishment record data to the remote server. The electric vehicle transmits the power replenishment record data to the remote server directly via the network, or is connected to the mobile device via the network and transmits the power replenishment record data to the remote server via the mobile device. The power replenishment record data further includes a vehicle identification code of a corresponding electric vehicle and user identification data corresponding to the battery.

[0012] In some embodiments, when the power replenishment operation is a battery exchange operation, user identification data corresponding to the battery is obtained based on the battery identification data of the battery. The power replenishment record data in the battery is transmitted to a remote server by the power replenishment device via a network, and the power replenishment record data further includes battery exchange information. Then, a candidate battery is selected from the power replenishment device, and the candidate battery, the user identification data, and the vehicle identification code of the electric vehicle are associated, and then the candidate battery is provided and collected during the battery exchange operation.

[0013] In some embodiments, a wireless connectivity unit on the battery is used to transmit the power replenishment record data to a remote server via a wireless network.

[0014] In some embodiments, the power supplement device comprises an electric vehicle, a home charger, and a battery energy station, or any combination thereof.

[0015] The charging cost management method may take the form of program code embodied in a tangible medium that, when loaded and executed by a device, causes the device to become an apparatus for performing the disclosed methods. Effect of the Invention

[0016] The electric vehicle charging cost management method and system of the present invention provides an automated mechanism for obtaining battery and power replenishment device information for each charge, and then using this information to debit the fees charged to the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] The present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] [Figure 1]1 is a diagram showing a system for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for collecting power replenishment record data according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a method for collecting power replenishment record data according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 2 is a flowchart of a method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] 4 is a flowchart of a method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] 4 is a flowchart of a method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 4 is a flowchart of a method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a method for collecting power replenishment record data according to another embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] 4 is a flowchart of a battery replacement operation according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] The following description is of the best contemplated mode for carrying out the invention. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. It is to be understood that embodiments can be realized in software, hardware, firmware, or any combination thereof.

[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an electric vehicle charging cost management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electric vehicle charging cost management system 100 includes a battery 110, a power replenishment device 120, and a remote server 130. The battery 110 is a battery module having at least one cell, which stores and releases electric energy. It should be noted that in some embodiments, at least one battery is connected in series or parallel to provide electric energy to the motor unit of the electric vehicle to operate. The power replenishment device 120 is used to charge the battery 110. In some embodiments, the power replenishment device 120 includes an electric vehicle, a home charger, and / or a battery energy station. It can be understood that in some embodiments, the battery 110 and / or the power replenishment device 120 each have a storage unit (not shown in FIG. 1) to store related information, such as identification data, of the battery 110, the power replenishment device 120, and the electric vehicle. In some embodiments, the storage unit can record power replenishment record data of the corresponding power replenishment operation. In some embodiments, the power replenishment record data includes battery identification data of the corresponding battery, device identification data of the power replenishment device 120, and power replenishment information. In some embodiments, the power replenishment record data further includes a vehicle identification code of the corresponding electric vehicle and user identification data corresponding to the battery. In addition, in some embodiments, the storage unit can record charging mode data of the corresponding battery 110. The charging mode data records a mode in which the battery 110 is caused to supply power. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the mode includes any one of charging at an electric vehicle, charging at a home charger, charging at a battery energy station, and battery exchange at a battery energy station, or any combination thereof. It should be noted that the above charging modes are merely examples of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto.The battery 110 and / or the power supplement device 120 are connected, directly or indirectly, via a network to a remote server 130 and executes the electric vehicle charging cost management method of the present invention, which will be discussed in more detail below.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for collecting power replenishment record data according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, when performing a power replenishment operation of a corresponding battery, the power replenishment device 120 can record power replenishment record data of the corresponding charging operation. The power replenishment device 120 has a network connection capability. The power replenishment device 120 can transmit the power replenishment record data to the remote server 130 through a network 200 (see FIG. 1 ). It should be noted that in some embodiments, the network 200 is a wired network, a telecommunication network, a wireless network, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi network, etc. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the power replenishment device 120 includes an electric vehicle, a home charger, and / or a battery energy station.

[0022] It should be noted that in some embodiments, when performing a power replenishment operation of the corresponding battery, the battery 110 records power replenishment record data of the power replenishment operation. The battery 110 has a network connection unit. The battery 110 is connected to the network 200 through the network connection unit, and transmits the power replenishment record data to the remote server 130 through the network 200.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method for collecting power replenishment record data according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the electric vehicle 140 is connected to a mobile device 150, such as a user's smartphone, via a wireless network such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi network, and transmits the power replenishment record data in the battery to the mobile device 150. The mobile device 150 has a network connection capability and transmits the power replenishment record data to the remote server 130 via the network 300. Similarly, in some embodiments, the network 300 is a wired network, a telecommunication network, or a wireless network, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi network. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the remote server 130 can simultaneously manage batteries, electric vehicles, and / or power replenishment devices located at the same or different locations.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] First, in step S410, a power refilling device is used to perform a power refilling operation of a battery, the power refilling operation including a charging operation or a battery exchange operation. Similarly, in some embodiments, the power refilling device includes an electric vehicle, a home charger, and / or a battery energy station. In step S420, the battery or the power refilling device is used to record power refilling record data of a corresponding power refilling operation. In some embodiments, the power refilling record data includes at least the battery identification data of the corresponding battery, the device identification data of the power refilling device, and the power refilling information. It is particularly emphasized that the device identification data of the power refilling device is relatively important because the charging mode can be diversified according to the flexibility of the application requirements. The device identification data management of the power refilling device provides more diversified charging mode applications. For example, the battery can record which data is the charging mode applicable to the corresponding user. The charging mode data may record the modes in which the battery is allowed to be supplied, such as charging on an electric vehicle, charging on a home charger, charging on a battery energy station, and battery exchange on a battery energy station, or any one or combination thereof. In a power replenishment operation, it is determined whether the battery can be charged on the power replenishment device based on the charging mode data of the battery and the power replenishment device identification data. In step S430, a remote server is used to obtain the power replenishment record data of the corresponding battery, and obtain the user identification data corresponding to the battery identification data. Then, in step S440, the charging cost of the corresponding user identification data is calculated based on the power replenishment record data. It should be noted that the charging cost changes according to the power replenishment information in the power replenishment record data.

[0026] 5 is a flowchart of a method for managing charging costs of an electric vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, after obtaining the power replenishment record data, the remote server then calculates and manages the charging costs of the corresponding batteries.

[0027] First, in step S510, the remote server calculates a discount amount based on the power replenishment information, and in step S520, discounts the charging cost corresponding to the user identification data based on the discount amount, where the charging cost is a subscription cost. For example, by default, the monthly battery rental cost of the user is fixed and includes a set charging / power usage ampere-hour. Every time the user charges the battery, the present invention automatically records the charging state of the battery, i.e., the above-mentioned power replenishment record data. During each billing cycle, the remote server continues to collect the power replenishment record data from the battery or the power replenishment device, and calculates the supply ampere-hour of the corresponding battery based on the power replenishment information. In some embodiments, when the supply ampere-hour falls below a predetermined ampere-hour, the discount amount is calculated and deducted from the monthly rental cost. In some embodiments, the discount amount is directly calculated based on the supply ampere-hour and deducted from the monthly cost. Under this mechanism, the present invention provides an automation mechanism to allow the battery and / or power supplement device to obtain the relevant data of each battery charging operation through the network, and automatically calculate the corresponding charging cost.

[0028] 6 is a flowchart of a method for managing charging costs of an electric vehicle according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, power refueling is a battery exchange operation, and after obtaining the power refueling record data, the remote server then calculates and manages the charging costs of the corresponding batteries.

[0029] First, in step S610, the remote server calculates an additional charging cost based on the number of battery replacements in the power replenishment information, and in step S620, the additional charging cost is added to the charging cost of the corresponding user identification data, where the charging cost is the subscription cost. Similarly, by default, the monthly battery rental cost of the user is fixed and includes a set charging / power usage ampere-hour. Every time the user puts the battery into the battery energy station to replace the battery, the battery energy station records the power replenishment status corresponding to the battery / user, that is, the above-mentioned power replenishment record data. The power replenishment record data is the number of battery replacements. During each billing cycle, the remote server continues to collect the power replenishment record data from the battery energy station, and the additional charging cost is calculated based on the number of battery replacements and added to the monthly rental cost. It is noted that in some embodiments, the remote server can further calculate an additional charging cost based on the supply ampere-hours at the battery energy station stored in the power replenishment information, and accumulate the additional charging cost into the charging cost of the corresponding user identification. In this application scenario, users can preset their charging mode to self-charging, and when there is a temporary demand for external emergency charging, the battery energy station can exchange the battery to meet the user's needs.

[0030] As mentioned above, if different charging modes can be planned or different suppliers can be introduced into the ecological chain of electric vehicles according to the needs of users, the overall service cost of electric motorcycles can be moderately reduced and users' willingness to adopt electric motorcycles can be further increased. The present invention can obtain the information of the battery and the power replenishment device for each charging by an automated mechanism, and the fee charged to the user can be deducted by using this information. FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a method for managing charging costs for electric vehicles according to another embodiment of the present invention. First, in step S710, the remote server performs profit calculation based on the charging cost of the corresponding user identification data, the battery identification data and the equipment identification data of the power supply record data, and calculates the profits corresponding to the battery and the power replenishment device, respectively.

[0031] 8 is a diagram illustrating a method for collecting power replenishment record data according to another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the power replenishment record data in the battery is transmitted to the electric vehicle and is also transmitted by the electric vehicle to a remote server.

[0032] First, in step S810, a battery is electrically coupled to an electric vehicle, for example, an electric motorcycle, to provide electric energy to the electric vehicle. In step S820, power replenishment record data of the corresponding battery is sent to the electric vehicle. As described above, when a power replenishment operation of the battery is performed, the power replenishment record data of the corresponding power replenishment operation is recorded and stored in the storage unit of the battery. Then, in step S830, the electric vehicle transmits the power replenishment record data to a remote server via a network. It is noted that in some embodiments, the electric vehicle transmits the power replenishment record data to the remote server directly via a network, or is connected to the mobile device 150 via a network, such as a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi network, and transmits the power replenishment record data to the remote server by the mobile device 150. It is noted that in some embodiments, in addition to the battery identification data of the corresponding battery, the device identification data of the power replenishment device, and / or the power replenishment information, the power replenishment record data further includes a vehicle identification code of the corresponding electric vehicle and a user identification data of the corresponding battery.

[0033] As described above, the power replenishment operation is a battery replacement operation. Figure 9 is a flow chart of a battery replacement operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] First, in step S910, based on the battery identification data of the corresponding battery, the user identification data of the corresponding battery is obtained, and in step S920, the power replenishment record data corresponding to the power replenishment operation in the battery is transmitted to the remote server via the network by using the power replenishment device. Similarly, in some embodiments, the power replenishment record data includes at least the battery identification data of the corresponding battery, the device identification data of the power replenishment device, and the battery exchange information. Then, in step S930, a candidate battery is selected from the power replenishment device, and the candidate battery, the user identification data, and the vehicle identification code of the corresponding electric vehicle are associated, and in step S940, the candidate battery is provided and collected during the battery exchange operation.

[0035] It is noted that after the remote server receives the power replenishment record data of the corresponding battery, it can execute related applications based on the received data, such as the charging cost management application in the above embodiment.

[0036] Thus, the electric vehicle charging cost management method and system can manage charging costs corresponding to battery power replenishment, e.g., charging or battery replacement operations, of an electric vehicle, whereby an automated mechanism is used by the battery and / or power replenishment device via the network to obtain relevant data for each battery charging operation and automatically calculate the corresponding charging cost.

[0037] The charging cost management method may take the form of program code (i.e., executable instructions) embodied in a tangible medium, such as a floppy disk, CD-ROM, hard drive, or any other machine-readable storage medium, which when loaded into a machine, such as a computer, and executed, causes the machine to thereby become an apparatus for performing the method. The method may also be embodied in the form of program code transmitted over some transmission medium, such as transmission over electrical wiring, cabling, or optical fiber, which when received, loaded into a machine, such as a computer, and executed, causes the machine to become an apparatus for performing the disclosed method. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code combines with the processor to provide a unique apparatus that operates analogously to application-specific logic circuits.

[0038] Although the present invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments by way of examples, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art can still make various changes and modifications without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined and protected by the following claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 100 Electric vehicle charging cost management system 110 Battery 120 Electric power supplement equipment 130 Remote Server 140 Electric Vehicles 150 Mobile Devices 200, 300 Network S410, S420, S430, S440, S510, S520, S610, S620, S710, S810, S820, S830, S910, S920, S930, S940 Process

Claims

1. A method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle, comprising: using a power refilling device to perform a battery power refilling operation, the power refilling operation including a charging operation or a battery replacement operation; using the battery or the power refilling device to record power refill record data of the power refilling operation, the power refill record data including at least battery identification data of the battery, device identification data of the power refilling device, and power refill information; using a remote server to obtain the power replenishment record data and obtain user identification data corresponding to the battery identification data; and Calculating a charging cost for the user identification data based on the power replenishment record data using the remote server, the charging cost being changed according to the power replenishment information in the power replenishment record data, the change in the charging cost including a discount or an increase in the charging cost; A method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle, comprising:

2. moreover, calculating a discount amount based on the power replenishment information using the remote server; and discounting the charging cost of the corresponding user identification data based on the discount amount, the charging cost being a subscription cost; The method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

3. When the power replenishment operation is the battery replacement operation, the method further comprises: calculating the additional charging cost based on the power supplement information using the remote server; and adding the additional charging cost to the charging cost of the corresponding user identification data, the charging cost being a subscription cost; The method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

4. moreover, 2. The method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising: using the remote server to perform a profit calculation based on the charging cost of the corresponding user identification data, the battery identification data in the power replenishment record data, and the device identification data, and calculating profit shares corresponding to the battery and the power replenishment device, respectively.

5. moreover, electrically coupling the battery to the electric vehicle to provide electrical energy to the electric vehicle; transmitting, by the battery, the power replenishment record data to the electric vehicle; and transmitting the power replenishment record data by the electric vehicle over a network to the remote server; 2. The method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the electric vehicle directly transmits the power replenishment record data to the remote server via the network, or is connected to a mobile device via the network and transmits the power replenishment record data to the remote server by the mobile device, and the power replenishment record data further includes a vehicle identification code of the corresponding electric vehicle and the user identification data corresponding to the battery.

6. When the power replenishment operation is the battery replacement operation, the method further comprises: obtaining user identification data corresponding to the battery based on the battery identification data of the battery; transmitting the power replenishment record data in the battery to the remote server via a network by the power replenishment device, the power replenishment record data further including battery replacement information; selecting a candidate battery from the power recharge device and associating the candidate battery, the user identification data, and the vehicle identification code of the electric vehicle; providing and collecting the candidate batteries in the battery exchange operation; The method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

7. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the power replenishment record data to the remote server via a wireless network using a wireless connection unit on the battery.

8. 2. The method for managing charging costs for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the power recharge device comprises an electric vehicle, a home charger, and a battery energy station, or any combination thereof.

9. A charging cost management system for electric vehicles, A battery, a power recharge device, and a remote server; the power refilling device is coupled to the battery and performs a power refilling operation corresponding to the battery, the power refilling operation including a charging operation or a battery replacement operation, the battery or the power refilling device is used to record power refilling record data of the power refilling operation, the power refilling record data including at least battery identification data of the battery, device identification data of the power refilling device, and power refilling information; the remote server acquires the power replenishment record data of the battery, acquires user identification data corresponding to the battery identification data, and calculates a charging cost for the user identification data based on the power replenishment record data, the charging cost changes according to the power replenishment information of the power replenishment record data, and the change in the charging cost includes a discount or an increase in the charging cost.

10. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the power supplement device comprises an electric vehicle, a home charger, and a battery energy station, or any combination thereof.

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