Charging facility management device

Abstract

To contribute to increasing the profits of charging service providers by promoting the use of a charging facility with a relatively low electricity fee.SOLUTION: When a search request for an EVSE is received from a mobile terminal 30 or an HMI device 14 (electrically powered vehicle 10) (S10), a server 100 calculates an electricity fee for each EVSE in a target area (S21). The server 100 selects an EVSE with a relatively low electricity fee (S22), and transmits EVSE information including information designating the selected EVSE as a recommended EVSE to the mobile terminal 30 or the HMI device 14 (electrically powered vehicle 10) (S23). When receiving the EVSE information, the mobile terminal 30 or the HMI device 14 (electrically powered vehicle 10) highlights the recommended EVSE and displays the EVSE on a map.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a management device for charging equipment. [Background technology]

[0002] JP 2020-30534 A (Patent Document 1) discloses a method for setting charging fees for an electric vehicle, in which a relatively high first charging fee is set for a first charger with a large charging power, a relatively low second charging fee is set for a second charger with a small charging power, and the first charging fee is set low during busy periods. This Patent Document 1 claims that this method can prevent a decrease in convenience for users who wish to charge. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-30534 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A business entity that manages charging equipment (hereinafter also referred to as a charging service business entity) may purchase the electricity used by the charging equipment (charger) from an electricity retailer. The electricity rate for the electricity used by the charging equipment is determined by a contract concluded between the charging service business entity and the electricity retailer, and the fee structure differs depending on the contents of the contract. For example, there are cases where the unit price of the electricity rate changes in stages depending on the amount of electricity used (power consumption) by the charging equipment in a specified period. Also, there are cases where a variable fee (dynamic pricing) according to the supply and demand of electricity is applied. For this reason, electricity rates may differ for charging equipment managed by a charging service business entity.

[0005] Charging service providers make revenue by collecting usage fees (charging fees) from users who use the charging facilities. By promoting the use of charging facilities with relatively low electricity rates, it is possible to increase the profits of charging service providers.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to contribute to increasing the profits of charging service providers by promoting the use of charging equipment with relatively low electricity rates. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The management device disclosed herein is a management device for charging equipment that charges a power storage device mounted on an electric vehicle. The management device manages a plurality of charging equipment having different fee systems for the electricity used by the charging equipment. When an inquiry is made about the use of the charging equipment, the management device is configured to calculate the electricity fee used by each charging equipment in the area where the electric vehicle is charged and at the charging time, and to respond to the inquiry by including information that recommends charging equipment with a relatively low electricity fee.

[0008] According to this configuration, the management device manages a plurality of charging facilities with different fee structures for the electricity used. When an inquiry is made regarding the use of the charging facilities, the management device calculates the electricity fee for the charging facilities in the area where charging will be performed and at the time of charging. The management device then responds to the inquiry by providing information that identifies charging facilities with relatively low electricity fees as recommended charging facilities. This allows a user who receives the response to charge an electric vehicle using the recommended charging facilities, thereby promoting the use of charging facilities with relatively low electricity fees. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, by promoting the use of charging equipment with relatively low electricity rates, it is possible to contribute to increasing the profits of charging service providers. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1]1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of the charging system according to the present embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a mobile terminal (or an HMI device). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and will not be described repeatedly.

[0012] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a charging system 1 according to the present embodiment. The charging system 1 includes a group 2 of electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), an electrically powered vehicle 10, a mobile terminal 30, a server 100, and a server 200.

[0013] The electric vehicle 10 is, for example, a BEV (electric vehicle) and includes a power storage device 11, a control device 12, a GPS (Global Positioning System) device 13, and an HMI (Human Machine Interface) device 14. The GPS device 13 and the HMI device 14 may be a GPS device and an HMI device included in a navigation system of the electric vehicle 10. The HMI device 14 includes a touch-up display.

[0014] The mobile terminal 30 is owned by the user of the electric vehicle 10. The mobile terminal 30 has a GPS function and a touch-up display. The electric vehicle 10 (control device 12) and the mobile terminal 30 are configured to be able to communicate with each other. In addition, the electric vehicle 10 (control device 12) and the mobile terminal 30 are able to communicate with the server 100 via the network NW.

[0015] The EVSE group 2 is composed of multiple EVSEs 20, which are charging stations installed in various locations. The EVSEs 20 correspond to the "charging equipment" in this disclosure. Each EVSE 20 charges the power storage device 11 with power supplied from the power grid PG. When a plug of a cable of the EVSE 20 is connected to an inlet of the electric vehicle 10, the power storage device 11 can be charged from the EVSE 20.

[0016] The server 100 is a computer that manages the EVSE group 2 (multiple EVSEs 20) and is owned by a charging service provider. The server 100 corresponds to an example of a "management device" in the present disclosure. The server 100 includes a control device 110 and a storage device 120, and is configured to be able to communicate with the electric vehicle 10, the mobile terminal 30, and the server 200 via the network NW. The server 100 is also able to communicate with each of the EVSEs 20 via the network NW.

[0017] Server 200 is, for example, a computer owned by an electric power retailer, includes a control device 210 and a storage device 220, and is configured to be able to communicate with server 100 via network NW. Server 200 manages power systems PG connected to each EVSE 20, and manages, for example, the amount of power used (consumed) by EVSE 20 and electricity charges.

[0018] The electricity rate for the power used (consumed) by the EVSE 20 is determined by a contract concluded between the charging service provider and the electricity retailer. The electricity rate system differs depending on the contents of the contract, and for example, the unit price of the electricity rate may change in stages depending on the amount of power used (power consumption) in a specified period. In addition, the price may reflect fluctuations in the price of energy used for power generation, or a variable rate may be applied according to power supply and demand. For this reason, the electricity rate may differ for each EVSE 20 managed by the server 100.

[0019] A user of the electric vehicle 10 may charge the electric vehicle 10 (the power storage device 11) while on the go, etc. In order to improve the convenience of charging while on the go, etc., a charging service provider may provide a charging facility information service that guides the user to the nearest EVSE 20. For example, when a user of the electric vehicle 10 operates the HMI device 14 or the mobile terminal 30 to search for the nearest EVSE 20, the server 100 notifies the HMI device 14 or the mobile terminal 30 of the location information of the EVSE, etc. In this case, when there are multiple nearest EVSEs 20, promoting the use of the EVSE 20 with a relatively low electricity rate may lead to an increase in the profit of the charging service provider. For example, when the charging fee collected from the user by the charging service provider is a fixed amount for the charging power, the profit of the charging service provider increases by the difference between the high electricity rate and the low electricity rate. In the present embodiment, by providing information to a user about an EVSE 20 with a relatively low electricity rate as a recommended charging facility, the use of the EVSE 20 with a relatively low electricity rate is promoted.

[0020] 2 is a diagram showing an example of a sequence of the charging system 1 according to the present embodiment. When a user searches for an EVSE by operating the HMI device 14 (electrically-powered vehicle 10) or the mobile terminal 30, a search is executed by the server 100, and information about the EVSE is displayed on a touch-up display of the HMI device 14 or the mobile terminal 30. The information about the EVSE may be displayed on the touch-up display of the EMI device 14 and the mobile terminal 30.

[0021] With reference to FIG. 2, in step (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as "S") 10, the user operates the HMI device 14 or the mobile terminal 30 to search for the nearest EVSE. For example, when searching for an EVSE near the current location, the "current location" button displayed on the touch-up display is touched (after selecting "current location"), and then the "search" button is touched. When searching for an EVSE near a destination, the destination is input in the "destination" field, and then the "search" button is touched. When the "search" button is operated (touched), the HMI device 14 (electrically-powered vehicle 10) or the mobile terminal 30 transmits a search request together with various information to the server 100. When "current location" is selected (when searching for an EVSE near the current location), the various information includes the current location, the specifications of the power storage device 11 (full charge capacity, maximum charging power, identification number, etc.), the SOC (State of Charge) of the power storage device 11, etc. In addition, when "Destination" is selected (when searching for an EVSE near the destination), destination information is added to the various information.

[0022] When the server 100 receives the search request, in S20, it predicts the charging start time and the charging end time. When searching for an EVSE near the current location, the current time may be set as the charging start time, and the charging end time may be set to the current time plus the charging time. When the charging time per charging is set (for example, 30 minutes), the charging time is set to the time per charging. Also, for example, when charging is to be performed until the SOC of the power storage device 11 becomes 80%, the charging time may be calculated from the SOC and the maximum charging power.

[0023] When searching for an EVSE near a destination, the time to reach the destination may be set as the charging start time. For example, the estimated arrival time may be calculated based on the route from the current location to the destination, and the charging start time may be set. The charging end time is set to the time obtained by adding the charging time to the charging start time (estimated arrival time). Note that, if the charging start time and charging end time are included in the various information transmitted from the HMI device 14 (electrically powered vehicle 10) or the mobile terminal 30, S20 may be omitted.

[0024] In S21, the server 100 calculates the electricity fee for each EVSE in the target area. The target area may be an area within a predetermined range (for example, within a 2 km radius) from the current location when searching for EVSEs near the current location, and may be a predetermined range (for example, within a 2 km radius) from the destination when searching for EVSEs near the destination. In S21, all EVSEs 20 installed within these predetermined ranges are extracted. Location information of the EVSEs 20 is stored in the storage device 120 of the server 100. Then, the electricity fee is calculated for each extracted EVSE 20. The electricity fee is the electricity fee calculated in S20 from the charging start time to the charging end time. A table of electricity fees may be stored in the storage device 120 for each EVSE 20. Furthermore, when the electricity fee changes, electricity fee information is transmitted from the server 200 as appropriate, and the table in the storage device 120 is rewritten. The electricity rate for each EVSE 20 may be calculated by making an inquiry from server 100 to server 200 and acquiring electricity rate information from server 200 .

[0025] In the next S22, an EVSE 20 with a lower electricity rate is selected from the electricity rates calculated in S21. For example, two EVSEs 20 with a lower electricity rate are selected. The number of EVSEs 20 selected is arbitrary, and at least one EVSE may be selected. For example, the number may be 20% or 40% of the EVSEs 20 installed within a specified range. The EVSEs 20 selected in S22 are set as "recommended EVSEs" that are recommended for use by the user. The recommended EVSEs correspond to an example of "recommended charging equipment" in this disclosure.

[0026] In S23, the server 100 transmits the EVSE information to the mobile terminal 30 or the HMI device 14 (electrically powered vehicle 10). The EVSE information includes position information of the EVSE 20 installed within a predetermined range and recommended EVSE information.

[0027] When the mobile terminal 30 or HMI device 14 (electrically powered vehicle 10) receives the EVSE information, in S11 it displays the EVSE information on the display (touch-up display). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the mobile terminal 30 (or HMI device 14). As shown in FIG. 3, the positions of EVSEs 20 that exist within a predetermined range are displayed on a map. Recommended EVSEs are highlighted as indicated by the symbol R. In this case, a guide such as "Recommended!" may be displayed. EVSEs 20 other than the recommended EVSEs are not highlighted as indicated by the symbol S.

[0028] According to this configuration, when the server 100 receives an inquiry from a user of the electric vehicle 10 regarding the use of the EVSE 20 (S10), the server 100 calculates the electricity charges to be used by each EVSE 20 in the area where the electric vehicle 10 will be charged and at the time of charging (S21). The server 100 then responds to the inquiry by including information that identifies an EVSE 20 with a relatively low electricity charge as a recommended EVSE. The user who receives the response is able to charge the electric vehicle 10 using the recommended EVSE (EVSE 20 with a relatively low electricity charge), which can promote the use of EVSEs with relatively low electricity charges. This can contribute to increased profits for the charging service provider.

[0029] 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 by the description of the embodiments described above, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 Charging system, 2 EVSE groups, 10 vehicles, 11 power storage devices, 20 EVSE, 30 mobile terminals, 100,200 servers, NE network, PG power system.

Claims

[Claim 1] A management device for charging equipment that charges a power storage device mounted on an electric vehicle, The management device manages a plurality of charging facilities each having a different fee system for electricity used by the charging facilities, When an inquiry regarding use of the charging facility is received, the management device Calculating an electricity rate for use by the charging facility in a region where the electric vehicle is charged and at a charging time; The charging facility management device is configured to respond to the inquiry by including information that the charging facility with the relatively low electricity fee is recommended charging facility.

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