vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle that is provided with a temperature adjustment device that can be externally charged with electricity and can adjust a temperature of a power storage device, the vehicle which can avoid increasing in electric power consumption.SOLUTION: A vehicle 100 comprises a battery 105, a temperature adjustment device 107, an input device 132 and an ECU 150. The temperature adjustment device 107 adjusts a temperature of the battery 105. The input device 132 receives input information from a user in the vehicle 100. When a scheduled charging condition is satisfied, the ECU 150 preliminarily drives the temperature adjustment device 107 before external charging. The scheduled charging condition includes a first condition or a second condition. Under the first condition, a charging station is set as a destination for the vehicle 100. Under the second condition, information showing that the user plans to perform external charging using a charging facility 300 that is different from the charging station is inputted, as input information, to the input device 132 and the facility is set as the destination.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] JP 2020-39226 A (Patent Document 1) discloses a cooling control system for a battery of an electric vehicle. This system includes a battery and a means for determining whether or not battery cooling is necessary. The battery is charged using a charging facility provided outside the vehicle (external charging). The means for determining whether or not battery cooling is necessary determines whether or not battery cooling is necessary before external charging based on the remaining battery charge, the distance between the charging facility and the vehicle, the vehicle's cruising range, etc. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-39226 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is preferable to operate the temperature adjustment device of the power storage device in advance to appropriately adjust the temperature of the power storage device before external charging, from the viewpoints of protecting the power storage device and shortening the charging time. On the other hand, the user does not always plan to perform external charging when using the vehicle. Operating the temperature adjustment device in advance regardless of whether the user plans to perform external charging leads to an increase in power consumption of the vehicle.

[0005] When a destination of a vehicle is set, whether or not the user plans to externally charge at the destination may vary depending on the type of destination. Therefore, whether or not it is preferable to operate the temperature control device before the vehicle arrives at the destination may also vary depending on the type of destination. Patent Document 1 does not consider such a point.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve the problems described above, and its purpose is to avoid increased power consumption in a vehicle that can be externally charged and is equipped with a temperature control device that can adjust the temperature of a power storage device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The vehicle of the present disclosure is configured to be capable of performing external charging, in which a power storage device for traveling is charged using power supplied from a charging facility provided outside the vehicle. The destination of the vehicle includes a charging station provided with a first facility as the charging facility, and a facility having a second facility as the charging facility and different from the charging station. The vehicle includes a temperature adjustment device, an input device, and a control device. The temperature adjustment device is configured to adjust the temperature of the power storage device. The input device receives input information from a user of the vehicle. The control device controls the temperature adjustment device. When a charging schedule condition indicating that the user of the vehicle plans to perform external charging after reaching the destination is established, the control device drives the temperature adjustment device in advance before external charging. The charging schedule condition includes a first condition or a second condition. The first condition is that a charging station is set as a destination. The second condition is that information indicating that the user plans to perform external charging using the second facility is input to the input device as input information, and a facility is set as a destination. Establishment / non-establishment of the charging schedule condition may be determined based on a machine learning model. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, in a vehicle that is externally chargeable and that is equipped with a temperature adjustment device that can adjust the temperature of a power storage device, an increase in power consumption can be avoided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on a display device. [Diagram 3]3 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters and their description will not be repeated.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle in this embodiment. With reference to Fig. 1, vehicle 100 is an electric vehicle such as an electric vehicle (BEV: Battery Electric Vehicle), and is configured to be connectable to charging equipment 300 provided outside vehicle 100.

[0012] The vehicle 100 includes a battery 105, a sensor unit 106, a temperature adjustment device 107, a storage device 110, and a GPS (Global Positioning System) 120. The vehicle 100 further includes an HMI (Human Machine Interface) 130, an inlet 140, and an ECU 150.

[0013] The battery 105 is a power storage device for driving the vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 is configured to be capable of performing external charging, in which the battery 105 is charged with power supplied from the charging facility 300. The sensor unit 106 detects the temperature TB, current, and voltage of the battery 105. The temperature adjustment device 107 includes a heater and a cooling device. The temperature adjustment device 107 is a device for adjusting the temperature TB. If the temperature TB is excessively high or low, the charging power of the battery 105 is reduced. Therefore, from the viewpoint of shortening the charging time, it is preferable that the temperature TB be appropriately adjusted in advance before external charging.

[0014] The storage device 110 stores a map information DB (Database) 115. The map information DB 115 includes map information, commercial facility information, charging equipment information, and electricity cost information. The commercial facility information indicates the position of the commercial facility on the map. The charging equipment information indicates the position of the charging equipment 300 on the map and whether the charging equipment 300 is provided at a charging station or in another facility (e.g., a commercial facility). The map information, commercial facility information, and charging equipment information are used for the car navigation function of the vehicle 100. The electricity cost information indicates the electricity cost of the vehicle 100. The GPS 120 acquires location information indicating the current location of the vehicle 100.

[0015] The HMI 130 includes a display device 131 and an input device 132. The display device 131 displays various screens. The input device 132 receives various user operation inputs (input information) from a user. The user operation includes an operation to set a destination of the vehicle 100 (user). The destination includes a charging station and a commercial facility. A charging station is a place dedicated to external charging in a service area or an urban area, and is provided with a charging facility 300. The charging facility 300 may be provided within the premises of a commercial facility. In this case, the commercial facility is a facility provided with the charging facility 300 (a facility provided with a charging facility), but is different from a charging station because it is not a place dedicated to external charging. When a connector 301 of the charging facility 300 is connected (inserted) to the inlet 140, the inlet 140 can receive power supply from the charging facility 300.

[0016] The ECU 150 controls the temperature adjustment device 107 and the HMI 130 and calculates the SOC (States Of Charge) of the battery 105 according to the detection values ​​of the sensor unit 106. The ECU 150 causes the display device 131 to display a map of the surrounding area of ​​the current location of the vehicle 100 and the locations of various commercial facilities and charging stations based on the map information DB 115 and the location information.

[0017] Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display device 131. This screen is displayed in response to a user operation to search for charging stations around the current location CP of the vehicle 100. Referring to Fig. 2, the screen 135 displays commercial facilities 500 and 700, a site 520 of the commercial facility 500, and charging stations 600 and 800 on a map. Each of the commercial facilities 500 and 700 and the charging stations 600 and 800 can be set as a destination, while the site 520 is not set as a destination.

[0018] Commercial facility 500 is a facility with charging facilities, and has a large number of charging facilities 300 within site 520. Charging facilities 300 in commercial facility 500 are also referred to as charging facilities 305.

[0019] Each of the charging stations 600 and 800 is provided with a plurality of charging facilities 300, which are also referred to as charging facilities 306 and 308, respectively. The charging station 800 (charging facilities 308) is provided along the travel route from the current location CP to the commercial facility 700. The commercial facility 700 is not a facility that also has charging facilities.

[0020] Driving the temperature adjustment device 107 regardless of whether the user plans to charge externally will result in increased power consumption. When a destination is set, whether the user plans to charge externally at the destination may vary depending on the type of destination. Therefore, whether it is preferable to drive the temperature adjustment device 107 before the vehicle 100 arrives at the destination may also vary depending on the type of destination. Therefore, there is a demand for a technology that can appropriately drive the temperature adjustment device 107 in advance depending on the type of destination.

[0021] In the embodiment, when a charging schedule condition indicating that the user plans to perform external charging at the destination is satisfied, ECU 150 automatically drives temperature adjustment device 107 in advance before external charging. This condition includes a first condition or a second condition. The first condition is that a charging station such as charging station 600 or 800 is set as the destination. The second condition is that a facility with a charging facility such as commercial facility 500 is set as the destination (a), and as a result of inquiring of the user as to whether or not the user plans to perform external charging using charging facility 300 of the facility (for example, charging facility 305 within site 520 of commercial facility 500), information indicating that such external charging is planned is input as input information to input device 132 (b).

[0022] When the first condition is met, it is certain that the user plans to perform external charging at the destination because the charging station is a location dedicated to external charging. On the other hand, in the case of (a), it is basically unknown whether the user plans to perform external charging using charging facility 305 in site 520, but when (b) is met, it is certain that the user plans to perform external charging using charging facility 305. Therefore, even when the second condition is met (when both (a) and (b) are met), it is certain that the user plans to perform external charging at the destination.

[0023] In the embodiment, when the first or second condition is met (when it is certain that the user plans to perform external charging at the destination), the temperature adjustment device 107 is automatically driven in advance. This prevents the temperature adjustment device 107 from being driven regardless of whether the user plans to perform external charging, thereby preventing an increase in power consumption of the vehicle 100 (reducing power consumption).

[0024] When the first condition is met, the temperature adjustment device 107 is automatically driven without inquiring of the user as to whether external charging is planned. This makes it possible to reduce the frequency of inquiries to the user compared to the case where such inquiries are made every time the vehicle 100 is used, thereby improving comfort.

[0025] The inquiry as to whether external charging is scheduled can be easily answered by the user. If an inquiry as to whether or not to adjust the temperature TB before external charging is made, the user may not understand the intent of the inquiry, but in the embodiment, such a situation can be avoided. Furthermore, by inquiring of the user as to whether or not external charging is scheduled, the user can be made aware that there is an opportunity for external charging within the site 520. Therefore, a situation in which external charging is not performed when it is necessary can be avoided.

[0026] 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process executed by the ECU 150. This flowchart starts when a destination of the vehicle 100 is set by the user.

[0027] 3, ECU 150 determines whether the destination is a charging station (S105). If the destination is not a charging station (NO in S105), the process proceeds to S120. If the destination is a charging station (YES in S105), ECU 150 determines whether the SOC is lower than a threshold value (e.g., 60%) (S110). If the SOC is lower than the threshold value (YES in S110), ECU 150 drives temperature adjustment device 107 (S115). Thereafter, the process ends. If the SOC is equal to or higher than the threshold value (NO in S110), the process proceeds to S125.

[0028] ECU 150 determines whether the destination is a facility with charging equipment (for example, commercial facility 500) (S120). If the destination is not a facility with charging equipment (NO in S120), the process proceeds to S135. If the destination is a facility with charging equipment (YES in S120), ECU 150 causes display device 131 to display a screen inquiring of the user whether external charging is planned after arrival at the destination (S125). If there is a response indicating that external charging is planned (YES in S130), the process proceeds to S115. If not (NO in S130), temperature adjustment device 107 is not driven and the process ends.

[0029] If the destination is neither a charging station nor a facility with a charging facility (for example, commercial facility 700), ECU 150 determines whether vehicle 100 can travel to the destination (S135). This determination process is executed based on the position of commercial facility 700 indicated by the above-mentioned commercial facility information, current location CP, and the electricity consumption and SOC of vehicle 100. If vehicle 100 can travel to the destination (YES in S135), temperature adjustment device 107 is not driven, and the process ends. If not (NO in S135), ECU 150 causes display device 131 to display a screen suggesting to the user to change the destination to a charging station (for example, charging station 800) along the travel route from the current location CP to the destination (S140).

[0030] ECU 150 determines whether the destination has been changed to the proposed charging station (S145). If the destination has been changed (YES in S145), it is certain that the user plans to perform external charging at the destination, and the process proceeds to S115. If not (NO in S145), temperature adjustment device 107 is not driven, and the process ends.

[0031] As described above, according to the embodiment, an increase in power consumption of the vehicle 100 can be avoided. [Other variations] 3 may be executed when the distance from the current location CP to the destination falls below a predetermined distance (for example, 3 km), thereby making it possible to reduce power consumption more effectively.

[0032] The process of S110 in Fig. 3 may be omitted. In this case, when the destination is a charging station (YES in S105), the process proceeds to S115.

[0033] Whether the charging schedule condition is satisfied or not may be determined using a machine learning model created to predict the user's behavior. In this case, the temperature adjustment device 107 may be driven based on the result of the behavior prediction using this model. This model is stored in the storage device 110.

[0034] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0035] 100 vehicles, 105 batteries, 107 temperature control devices, 110 storage devices, 130 HMI, 140 inlets, 300, 305, 306, 308 charging equipment, 500, 700 commercial facilities, 520 sites, 600, 800 charging stations.

Claims

[Claim 1] A vehicle configured to be capable of performing external charging in which a power storage device for traveling is charged using power supplied from a charging facility provided outside the vehicle, a destination of the vehicle includes a charging station provided with a first facility as the charging facility and a facility that includes a second facility as the charging facility and is different from the charging station; a temperature adjustment device configured to adjust a temperature of the power storage device; an input device for receiving input information from a user of the vehicle; A control device for controlling the temperature adjustment device, the control device drives the temperature adjustment device in advance before the external charging when a charging plan condition indicating that the user of the vehicle plans to perform the external charging after arriving at the destination is satisfied; and The charging schedule condition includes a first condition or a second condition, the first condition is that the charging station is set as the destination, The second condition is that information indicating that the user plans to externally charge using the second facility is input into the input device as the input information, and the facility is set as the destination.

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