Protection device for high voltage batteries in electric vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a protection device for a high-voltage battery of an electric vehicle with a charging connector for charging the high-voltage battery via an external energy network and with an electronic control unit, which is arranged to monitor and control the state of charge of the high-voltage battery when charging via an external energy network in a parked vehicle, where the control unit is connected to an on-board functional module for determining the location of the vehicle and wirelessly connected to a mobile terminal of a user of the vehicle, the terminal comprising a functional module for determining the location of the user, the control unit being arranged to receive data of the mobile terminal reflecting at least a distance from the vehicle to the user if this distance is greater than a set limit value.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention is based on the finding that electric vehicle batteries degrade significantly when exposed to a high state of charge for extended periods of time. The term "battery" for the source of electrical energy used to power an electric vehicle (e.g., a hybrid or pure electric vehicle) is used herein for shorthand for a high voltage storage or traction accumulator. [Background technology]

[0002] Electric vehicles typically use lithium-ion batteries, which are subject to a certain degree of physical degradation. A distinction is made between ageing and cycle degradation, with ageing being more severe the higher the temperature of the high-voltage storage and the higher the storage state of charge.

[0003] The high voltage storage is typically charged as fully as possible when the charging cable is plugged in and the vehicle user has set the state of charge target to 100%. This full charge, according to the prior art, typically occurs without intelligent prediction of the expected vehicle restart, except when a manual input device allows the user to program a specific restart time. Leaving an electric vehicle plugged in and not running for long periods of time, especially if the user is away for several weeks (e.g., on vacation or for a business trip), can unnecessarily and significantly degrade the battery.

[0004] Basically, it is already known that a battery is significantly less susceptible to degradation at a maximum state of charge of approximately 80%. Possible methods for reducing wear in this respect are known, for example, from DE 199 0 63 336 A1. The method known from this document focuses on several limit values ​​of the state of charge. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] DE 102019119761 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the invention is to further reduce the deterioration of the battery in a simple and reliable manner, in order to avoid premature replacement of the battery for reasons of longevity and cost reduction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0008] The invention relates to a protection device for a high-voltage battery of an electric motor vehicle with a charging connector for charging the high-voltage battery via an external energy network and with an electronic control unit, which is arranged to monitor and control the state of charge of the high-voltage battery in case of charging via an external energy network in a parked motor vehicle, where the control unit is connected to an on-board functional module for determining the location of the motor vehicle and wirelessly connected to a mobile terminal of a user of the vehicle, which terminal comprises a functional module for determining the location of the user, and the control unit is arranged to receive data of the mobile terminal reflecting at least a distance from the motor vehicle to the user if this distance is greater than a set limit value.

[0009] If there are multiple users of the vehicle, preferably one main user may be defined among the "users."

[0010] According to the invention, it is proposed to load various criteria into the electronic control unit (e.g. the "Shy Tech" function) to ensure an intelligent prediction of the use, in particular the start of the next drive. If a long parking time is expected (e.g. more than two days), the state of charge of the high-voltage store is reduced to a set limit value. According to the invention, this prediction is carried out by determining the distance from the vehicle to the vehicle user.

[0011] The battery state of charge limit is preferably 80%. Above this limit, the degradation of Li-Ion batteries increases exponentially as the state of charge increases. Essentially, the following criteria are recommended to determine the drop to the set limit: - The battery charge state is greater than a limit (e.g. 80%). - The vehicle has been stationary for more than a set period (e.g. 2 days). - The charging cable is plugged in or the battery is connected to the power grid. - the distance from the vehicle to the user exceeds a predefined distance threshold (e.g. 500 km), this distance being determined via a mobile terminal carried by the user (e.g. a smartphone) using an appropriately programmed functional module (e.g. an "app"), i.e. an application that determines the location of both the vehicle and the user. - In addition, any events with appropriately distant designated locations may be checked against entries in the user's calendar.

[0012] Based on these criteria, it can be inferred that the user will not be driving the vehicle in the foreseeable future, meaning that a long electric range or a high battery state of charge is not needed any time soon.

[0013] Similarly, it can be made aware that other people ("co-users", e.g. household members) will not be using the vehicle either. For example, a main user and several co-users can be defined, and only the main user is allowed to agree to lower the charging state. The co-users are only informed about lowering the charging state, e.g. also via an application on the mobile terminal or via an information display in the car. Alternatively or additionally, a sub-function can be provided to the co-users, by means of which they can again deactivate the lowering of the charging state originally agreed by the main user. This sub-function can be implemented, for example, also by an application on the mobile terminal or by a man-machine interface (HMI) in the car.

[0014] When the above criteria are present, at least two manually pre-configured scenarios are preferably recommended to reduce the storage state of charge of the high voltage storage to a set limit: 1. Pre-setting 1: The user's consent to lowering the state of charge to the set limit is asked via the mobile terminal each time the distance from the vehicle to the user exceeds the set limit or at least the distance exceeds the set limit for a set period of time. The vehicle user or owner can decide for himself, if necessary, whether to consent to lowering the storage state of charge. 2. Pre-configuration 2: If the distance exceeds a set limit value or at least if the distance exceeds a set limit value for a set period of time, then depending on another appropriate pre-configuration selected by the user or owner of the vehicle, the state of charge can alternatively be automatically reduced without consent being further asked each time.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the energy extracted from the high voltage storage is used to cool the high voltage storage. This can be done in multiple cooling cycles over several days. This can even be done depending on the ambient temperature in combination with weather forecasts. This allows the temperature of the high voltage storage to be kept lower even on hot summer days, which has a further positive effect on the lifespan of the high voltage storage.

[0016] In the figure, an embodiment of the invention is shown. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 illustrates a first user scenario according to the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a second user scenario according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Both Figures 1 and 2 show a protection device for a high-voltage battery of an electrified motor vehicle F, which has a charging connector for charging the high-voltage battery via an external energy network and which has an electronic control unit SE, which is configured to monitor and control the state of charge SOC of the high-voltage battery when charging via an external energy network in a parked motor vehicle F.

[0019] In both scenarios, the control unit SE is connected to a functional module on board the motor vehicle F that determines the location of the vehicle, and is connected wirelessly to a mobile terminal E of a user of the vehicle, the terminal E comprising a functional module that determines the location of the user, the control unit SE being arranged to receive data of the mobile terminal E that reflects at least a distance d from the motor vehicle F to the user, if this distance d is greater than a set limit (for example 500 km).

[0020] According to the embodiment of Fig. 1, the electronic control unit SE is further arranged to send a user query to the mobile terminal E (e.g. "Do you want to reduce the SOC of the high-voltage battery to 80% for protection?" or "Are you away for more than 2 days?") and to receive a user reply (e.g. yes / no) to this query, which query relates to a period of no intention to start driving the vehicle F and / or to the user's consent to reducing the state of charge SOC to a predefined protection threshold (e.g. 80%). The limit value set for the distance d is preferably selected to be large enough that the distance amounts to a relatively long journey.

[0021] According to FIG. 1 , the electronic control unit SE is further arranged to reduce the state of charge SOC to a predefined protection threshold (80%) only when user consent (“yes”) is confirmed at the mobile terminal E in a first manually selectable pre-setting V1.

[0022] According to the embodiment of Fig. 2, the electronic control unit SE is arranged to automatically reduce the state of charge SOC to a predefined protection threshold (80%) without further consent inquiry if, in a second manually selectable preset V2, the distance d to the user exceeds a set limit value (500 km). To this end, the functional module KE of the mobile terminal E is arranged to send an appropriate command to the control unit SE of the motor vehicle F, which is arranged to automatically execute this command and reduce the state of charge SOC.

[0023] In a further development of the invention, the electronic control unit SE, in a manually selectable pre-setting, automatically reduces the state of charge SOC to a predefined protection threshold (80%) without further consent inquiries if the distance d to the user or terminal E exceeds a predefined first limit value or if the distance d to the user or terminal E exceeds a predefined second limit value for a predefined period of time, the first limit value being preferably greater than the second limit value.

[0024] The "apparatus" of the control unit SE according to the invention is preferably implemented by programmed functional modules in the form of computer programs (software modules).

Claims

1. A protection device for a high-voltage battery of an electric motor vehicle (F) comprising a charging connector for charging the high-voltage battery via an external energy network and comprising an electronic control unit (SE), the control unit is configured to monitor and control the state of charge (SOC) of the high-voltage battery when charging the high-voltage battery via the energy network external to the vehicle in a parked vehicle (F), the control unit (SE) is connected to a functional module installed in the vehicle (F) for determining the location of the vehicle (F) and is wirelessly connected to a mobile terminal (E) of a user of the vehicle, the terminal (E) having a functional module for determining the location of the user; The control unit (SE) is arranged to receive data of the mobile terminal (E) reflecting at least a distance (d) from the vehicle (F) to the user when the distance (d) is greater than a set limit value. Protective device.

2. 2. The protection device of claim 1, said electronic control unit (SE) is arranged to send queries to said user addressed to said mobile terminal (E) and to receive replies from said user to said queries; The inquiry concerns a period of time during which the user does not intend to start driving the vehicle (F) and / or concerns the user's consent to reducing the state of charge (SOC) to a predetermined protection threshold. A protective device characterized by:

3. 3. The protection device according to claim 1 or 2, The electronic control unit (SE) is arranged to reduce the state of charge (SOC) to a predetermined protection threshold (80%) only when, in a first manually selectable preset (V1), the consent (j) of the user is confirmed in the mobile terminal (E). A protective device characterized by:

4. 3. The protection device according to claim 1 or 2, The electronic control unit (SE) is adapted to automatically reduce the state of charge (SOC) to a predetermined protection threshold without further consent inquiry if, in a second manually selectable preset (V2), the distance (d) to the user exceeds a set limit. A protective device characterized by:

5. 3. The protection device according to claim 1 or 2, The electronic control unit (SE) automatically reduces the state of charge (SOC) to a predefined protection threshold without further consent inquiry if the distance (d) to the user exceeds a first predefined limit value or if the distance (d) to the user exceeds a second predefined limit value for a predefined period of time, in a manually selectable predefined setting, the first limit value being greater than the second limit value. A protective device characterized by:

6. 3. The protection device according to claim 1 or 2, The electronic control unit (SE) can define one main user and at least one co-user, and the lowering of the state of charge can only be performed by the main user, and the co-users can only be notified about lowering the state of charge. A protective device characterized by:

7. 3. The protection device according to claim 1 or 2, The electronic control unit (SE) can define one main user and at least one co-user, and can enable the lowering of the state of charge only by the main user. The control unit (SE) has a sub-function that allows the co-user to disable the lowering of the state of charge enabled by the main user again. A protective device characterized by:

8. A computer program for the control unit (SE) and / or the mobile terminal (E) of a protection device according to claim 1 or 2.

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