Battery replacement apparatus, information providing device, battery replacement system, and battery replacement method

Abstract

To provide a battery replacement apparatus capable of performing battery replacement regardless of information recorded in a battery mounted on a vehicle.SOLUTION: A battery replacement apparatus 100 includes: a drive device 30 (processing section) for performing battery replacement processing; and a control device 10 (control section) for controlling the drive device 30. The control device 10 acquires, from an electric vehicle 200 (vehicle): vehicle information (first vehicle information) enabling identification of the electric vehicle 200; and replacement battery information enabling identification of a battery 101 (second battery) to be used for battery replacement. The control device 10 controls the drive device 30 to replace a battery 201 (first battery) with the battery 101, using the acquired replacement battery information and vehicle information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a battery swapping device, an information providing device, a battery swapping system, and a battery swapping method.

Background Art

[0002] International Publication No. 2019 / 181585 (Patent Document 1) discloses a station management device that determines whether a battery stocked at a station can be lent out based on at least one of vehicle-related information and user-related information recorded in the battery.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the system described in Patent Document 1 above, it is necessary to record at least one of vehicle-related information and user-related information in the battery. In other words, a vehicle equipped with a battery in which the above information is not recorded cannot receive battery lending (battery swapping).

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a battery swapping device, an information providing device, a battery swapping system, and a battery swapping method capable of performing battery swapping regardless of the information recorded in the battery mounted on a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The battery swapping device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is a battery swapping device that performs battery swapping for swapping a first battery mounted on a vehicle with a second battery, and includes a processing unit that performs the processing of battery swapping, and a control unit that controls the processing unit. The control unit acquires, from the vehicle or the user of the vehicle, first vehicle information capable of identifying the vehicle and replacement battery information capable of identifying the second battery, and controls the processing unit to swap the first battery with the second battery by using the acquired replacement battery information and the first vehicle information.

[0007] As described above, the battery swapping device according to the first aspect of the present disclosure controls the processing unit so that the second battery is mounted on the vehicle by using the replacement battery information and the first vehicle information acquired from the vehicle or the user of the vehicle. As a result, even if the first vehicle information is not recorded in the first battery, the battery swapping device can acquire the first vehicle information from the vehicle or the user of the vehicle. As a result, the first battery in which the first vehicle information is not recorded can also be swapped with the second battery in the battery swapping device. That is, battery swapping can be performed regardless of the information recorded in the first battery mounted on the vehicle.

[0008] In the battery swapping device according to the first aspect, preferably, the control unit controls the processing unit so that the second battery is mounted on the vehicle by using the acquired replacement battery information and the first vehicle information acquired after the replacement battery information. With this configuration, the battery swapping device can attach the second battery corresponding to the replacement battery information to the vehicle corresponding to the first vehicle information by using the replacement battery information and the first vehicle information acquired after the replacement battery information.

[0009] The battery replacement device according to the first aspect preferably includes an acquisition unit that acquires second vehicle information of a vehicle. When the second vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit matches the first vehicle information, the control unit controls the processing unit to replace the first battery with the second battery. With such a configuration, when the first vehicle information and the second vehicle information do not match, it is possible to suppress the performance of battery replacement. As a result, it is possible to suppress the incorrect attachment of a battery other than the second battery, which was originally planned to be used for battery replacement, to the vehicle. Note that the fact that the second vehicle information matches the first vehicle information includes not only the case where the first vehicle information and the second vehicle information are completely identical, but also the case where the second vehicle information is included in the first vehicle information.

[0010] In this case, preferably, the acquisition unit includes a camera that images the vehicle, and the second vehicle information includes information on the license plate of the vehicle imaged by the camera. With such a configuration, the battery replacement device can easily acquire the second vehicle information using the image imaged by the camera.

[0011] In the battery replacement device in which the second vehicle information is acquired by the acquisition unit, preferably, the acquisition unit includes a communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with the vehicle, and receives the second vehicle information from the vehicle through the communication unit. With such a configuration, the battery replacement device can easily acquire the second vehicle information using the short-range wireless communication by the communication unit.

[0012] An information providing device according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is an information providing device that provides information to a battery replacement device that performs battery replacement for replacing a first battery mounted on a vehicle with a second battery, and includes a battery information providing unit that provides the battery replacement device with replacement battery information that can identify the second battery, and a vehicle information providing unit that provides the battery replacement device with vehicle information that can identify the vehicle.

[0013] As described above, the information providing apparatus according to the second aspect of the present disclosure includes a battery information providing unit that provides battery replacement information to the battery replacement apparatus, and a vehicle information providing unit that provides vehicle information of the vehicle to the battery replacement apparatus. Thereby, even if the first vehicle information is not recorded in the first battery, the vehicle information of the vehicle can be provided to the battery replacement apparatus. As a result, it is possible to provide an information providing apparatus capable of performing battery replacement regardless of the information recorded in the first battery mounted on the vehicle.

[0014] In the information providing apparatus according to the second aspect, preferably, the vehicle information providing unit provides the vehicle information to the battery replacement apparatus after the battery replacement information is provided to the battery replacement apparatus by the battery information providing unit. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the vehicle information of the vehicle from being provided to the battery replacement apparatus before the battery replacement information is provided to the battery replacement apparatus. As a result, it is possible to prevent the vehicle information from being provided to the battery replacement apparatus when battery replacement is not performed (for example, when the battery replacement contract is not concluded). Thereby, leakage of vehicle information can be suppressed.

[0015] The battery replacement system according to the third aspect of the present disclosure includes the battery replacement apparatus according to the first aspect and the information providing apparatus according to the second aspect. Thereby, it is possible to provide a battery replacement system capable of performing battery replacement regardless of the information recorded in the first battery mounted on the vehicle.

[0016] The battery replacement method according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a battery replacement method in a battery replacement apparatus that performs battery replacement by replacing a first battery mounted on a vehicle with a second battery, the method including: a step of obtaining vehicle information capable of identifying the vehicle from the vehicle or a user of the vehicle; a step of obtaining replacement battery information capable of identifying the second battery from the vehicle or the user; and a step of performing battery replacement to replace the first battery with the second battery using the obtained replacement battery information and vehicle information.

[0017] In the battery replacement method according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, as described above, the process of mounting the second battery on the vehicle is executed using the replacement battery information and the vehicle information acquired from the vehicle or the user of the vehicle. Thereby, it is possible to provide a battery replacement method capable of performing battery replacement regardless of the information recorded in the first battery mounted on the vehicle.

Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present disclosure, battery replacement can be performed regardless of the information recorded in the battery mounted on the vehicle.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] 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 denoted by the same reference numerals and their description will not be repeated.

[0021] [First Embodiment] <Configuration of the Battery Replacement System> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a battery replacement system 1 including a battery replacement device 100 and an electric vehicle 200 according to the first embodiment. The electric vehicle 200 is an example of the "vehicle" in the present disclosure.

[0022] The electric vehicle 200 includes a battery 201, a communication device 202, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 203. The electric vehicle 200 is, for example, a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), or an FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle).

[0023] The battery 201 stores electric power used for driving the electric vehicle 200. The communication device 202 is configured to be able to communicate with a communication device outside the vehicle. The communication device 202 includes, for example, a DCM (Data Communication Module). The ECU 203 controls various systems in the electric vehicle 200. Note that the communication device 202 is an example of the "information providing device" of the present disclosure.

[0024] The communication device 202 includes a battery information providing unit 202a and a vehicle information providing unit 202b. The battery information providing unit 202a provides (transmits) to the battery replacement device 100 replacement battery information that can identify the battery 101 used for battery replacement. The vehicle information providing unit 202b provides (transmits) to the battery replacement device 100 vehicle information (personal information such as a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and a vehicle number) that can identify the electric vehicle 200. Note that each of the battery information providing unit 202a and the vehicle information providing unit 202b represents software that blocks the functional features of the communication device 202. Details of each function will be described later. Also, the vehicle information is an example of the "first vehicle information" and "vehicle information" of the present disclosure.

[0025] The battery swapping device 100 includes a battery swapping device main body 100a where battery swapping is performed, and a storage compartment 100b in which a battery 101 is stored. The battery swapping device main body 100a is a device that performs battery swapping to replace a battery 201 mounted on an electric vehicle 200 with the battery 101. The storage compartment 100b is provided adjacent to the battery swapping device main body 100a. An entrance / exit 102 for the electric vehicle 200 to enter and exit is provided in the battery swapping device 100 (battery swapping device main body 100a). Note that the battery 101 is an example of the "second battery" of the present disclosure. Also, the battery 201 is an example of the "first battery" of the present disclosure.

[0026] The battery 101 stored in the storage compartment 100b is moved to a temporary storage area 40 provided in the underfloor area S and then transported to the electric vehicle 200. Note that in the underfloor area S, a battery placement table 31, a lifting / lowering unit 32, and a transport unit 33, which will be described later, are provided.

[0027] The battery swapping device 100 (battery swapping device main body 100a) includes a control device 10, an acquisition unit 20, and a drive device 30. The drive device 30 performs the process of battery swapping. The control device 10 controls the drive device 30. Note that the control device 10 and the drive device 30 are examples of the "control unit" and the "processing unit" of the present disclosure, respectively.

[0028] The control device 10 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, and a communication unit 13. In addition to the program executed by the processor 11, information used in the program (for example, maps, mathematical formulas, and various parameters) is stored in the memory 12. The processor 11 controls the drive device 30.

[0029] The communication unit 13 includes various communication I / Fs. The processor 11 controls the communication unit 13. The communication unit 13 communicates with the communication device 202 of the electric vehicle 200 and the like. Bidirectional communication is possible between the communication unit 13 and the electric vehicle 200 (communication device 202). Note that the communication unit 13 can also communicate with the mobile terminal 300 owned by the user of the electric vehicle 200. The first embodiment shows an example in which various information is exchanged between the communication device 202 of the electric vehicle 200 and the communication unit 13 of the battery swapping device 100.

[0030] The battery swapping device 100 is provided with a vehicle stop area 103. When the electric vehicle 200 is parked in the vehicle stop area 103, the process of battery swapping by the drive device 30 is executed. Thereby, the battery 101 and the battery 201 are exchanged.

[0031] The acquisition unit 20 includes the camera 21. The camera 21 is installed in the battery swapping device 100 (battery swapping device main body 100a). The camera 21 acquires an image of the electric vehicle 200 that has entered the battery swapping device main body 100a. Thereby, the license plate 204 of the electric vehicle 200 is imaged by the camera 21. The acquisition unit 20 acquires the information (vehicle number) of the license plate 204 imaged by the camera 21. Note that the information of the license plate 204 is an example of the "second vehicle information" of the present disclosure.

[0032] The drive device 30 includes a battery mounting table 31, a lifting unit 32, and a conveying unit 33. The lifting unit 32 raises and lowers the electric vehicle 200 by raising and lowering while holding the electric vehicle 200 from below. The lifting unit 32 includes a pair of lifting bars 32a. The electric vehicle 200 is supported from below by the pair of lifting bars 32a. Battery swapping (attachment and detachment of the battery) is performed while the electric vehicle 200 is horizontally held by the pair of lifting bars 32a.

[0033] The battery mounting table 31 is configured to be movable up and down in the Z direction. When the battery mounting table 31 rises to the height position at the bottom of the electric vehicle 200, the battery 201 removed from the electric vehicle 200 is placed on the battery mounting table 31. Also, when the battery mounting table 31 with the battery 101 placed thereon rises to the height position at the bottom of the electric vehicle 200, the battery 101 is attached to the electric vehicle 200.

[0034] The transport unit 33 is configured to be able to transport the batteries (201, 101). Specifically, the transport unit 33 transports the battery 201 removed from the electric vehicle 200 and placed on the battery mounting table 31 to the temporary storage area 40. Also, the transport unit 33 transports the battery 101 transported from the storage warehouse 100b to the temporary storage area 40 to the battery mounting table 31.

[0035] Here, in the conventional battery replacement system, there were cases where it was determined whether a battery stocked in the battery replacement device could be lent out based on the vehicle information recorded in the vehicle's battery. However, in this system, it is necessary to record the vehicle information in the battery in advance. In other words, if the vehicle information is not recorded in the vehicle's battery, the above vehicle cannot receive a battery loan (battery replacement).

[0036] Therefore, in the first embodiment, the control device 10 of the battery replacement device 100 controls the drive device 30 to replace the battery 201 with the battery 101 using the replacement battery information and vehicle information acquired from the electric vehicle 200. Specifically, the control device 10 controls the drive device 30 using the replacement battery information and vehicle information transmitted from the electric vehicle 200 to the communication unit 13. Details will be described later with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0037] <Battery replacement method> With reference to the sequence diagrams of FIGS. 2 and 3, a battery replacement method by the battery replacement system 1 will be described. In the sequences shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the control of the electric vehicle 200 is executed by the ECU 203, and the control of the battery replacement device 100 is executed by the processor 11.

[0038] In step S10, the electric vehicle 200 transmits a trigger signal to start battery replacement to the battery replacement device 100 through the communication device 202.

[0039] In step S20, the battery replacement device 100 determines whether it has received the trigger signal in step S10. If the trigger signal has been received (Yes in S10), the process proceeds to step S30. If the trigger signal has not been received (No in S10), the process of step S20 is repeated.

[0040] In step S30, the battery replacement device 100 transmits a response to the trigger signal from the electric vehicle 200 (a signal indicating that the trigger signal has been received) to the electric vehicle 200 through the communication unit 13.

[0041] In step S40, the electric vehicle 200 determines whether it has received the response in step S30. If the response in step S30 has been received (Yes in S40), the process proceeds to step S50. If the response in step S30 has not been received (No in S40), the process of step S40 is repeated.

[0042] In step S50, the electric vehicle 200 transmits a vehicle request to the battery replacement device 100 through the communication device 202. The vehicle request includes information on the size and type of the battery that can be mounted on the electric vehicle 200, and information on the electrical characteristics (voltage, output power, and remaining capacity) of the battery suitable for the electric vehicle 200.

[0043] In step S60, the battery replacement device 100 determines whether it has received the vehicle request in step S50. If the vehicle request has been received (Yes in S60), the process proceeds to step S70. If the vehicle request has not been received (No in S60), the process of step S60 is repeated.

[0044] In step S70, the battery swapping device 100 transmits, via the communication unit 13, the information of all the batteries 101 corresponding to (satisfying) the vehicle request in step S60 to the electric vehicle 200. Specifically, the information of the battery 101 that satisfies at least one of the various requests in the vehicle request is transmitted to the electric vehicle 200.

[0045] In step S80, the electric vehicle 200 determines whether it has received the battery information in step S70. If it has received the battery information (Yes in S80), the process proceeds to step S90. If it has not received the battery information (No in S80), the process of step S80 is repeated.

[0046] In step S90, the electric vehicle 200 determines whether there is information of at least one battery 101 in the battery information in step S70. If there is information of at least one battery 101 in the battery information (Yes in S90), the process proceeds to step S100. If there is no information of the battery 101 in the battery information (No in S90), the process proceeds to step S95.

[0047] In step S95, the electric vehicle 200 terminates the communication with the battery swapping device 100. Thereafter, the process of the electric vehicle 200 ends.

[0048] In step S100, the electric vehicle 200 selects the battery 101 to be used for battery swapping from among the batteries 101 included in the battery information in step S70. For example, the battery 101 to be used for battery swapping may be selected by the ECU 203 based on a predetermined selection criterion, or may be arbitrarily selected by the user.

[0049] In step S110, the electric vehicle 200 transmits, via the communication device 202 (see the battery information providing unit 202a in FIG. 1), the selection result in step S100 to the battery swapping device 100. Note that the above selection result is an example of the "replacement battery information capable of specifying the second battery" of the present disclosure.

[0050] In step S120, the battery swapping device 100 determines whether communication with the electric vehicle 200 is continuing. If communication with the electric vehicle 200 is continuing (Yes in S120), the process proceeds to step S130. If communication with the electric vehicle 200 has ended (No in S120), the process of the battery swapping device 100 ends.

[0051] In step S130, the battery swapping device 100 determines whether it has received the selection result of step S110. If it has received the selection result (Yes in S130), the process proceeds to step S140. If it has not received the selection result (No in S130), the process returns to step S120.

[0052] In step S140, the battery swapping device 100 transmits, via the communication unit 13, a reply (a signal indicating that the selection result has been received) to the selection result of step S110 to the electric vehicle 200.

[0053] In step S150, the electric vehicle 200 determines whether it has received the reply of step S140. If it has received the reply (Yes in S150), the process proceeds to step S160. If it has not received the reply (No in S150), the process of step S150 is repeated.

[0054] In step S160, the electric vehicle 200 transmits the vehicle information of the electric vehicle 200 to the battery swapping device 100 via the communication device 202 (vehicle information providing unit 202b, see FIG. 1). That is, the vehicle information is transmitted to the battery swapping device 100 after the above selection result is transmitted to the battery swapping device 100.

[0055] In step S170, the battery swapping device 100 determines whether it has received the vehicle information of step S160. If it has received the vehicle information (Yes in S170), the process proceeds to step S180. If it has not received the vehicle information (No in S170), the process of step S170 is repeated.

[0056] In step S180, the battery swapping device 100 transmits, through the communication unit 13, a reply (a signal indicating that the vehicle information has been received) to the electric vehicle 200 for the vehicle information in step S160. Thereafter, the battery swapping device 100 proceeds to the process of step S200 (see FIG. 3).

[0057] In step S190, the electric vehicle 200 determines whether it has received the reply in step S180. If the reply has been received (Yes in S190), the electric vehicle 200 proceeds to the process of step S270 (see FIG. 3). If the reply has not been received (No in S190), the process of step S190 is repeated.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 3, in step S200, the battery swapping device 100 determines whether the electric vehicle 200 has entered the battery swapping device main body 100a. The battery swapping device 100 may determine whether the electric vehicle 200 has entered the battery swapping device main body 100a based on the image acquired by the camera 21 (see FIG. 1). If the electric vehicle 200 has entered the battery swapping device main body 100a (Yes in S200), the process proceeds to step S210. Note that at the time of step S200, it is not yet identified whether the vehicle that has entered the battery swapping device main body 100a is the electric vehicle 200, but the explanation will be made assuming that the electric vehicle 200 has entered.

[0059] In step S210, the battery swapping device 100 acquires, by the camera 21, an image of the license plate 204 of the electric vehicle 200 that has entered the battery swapping device main body 100a in step S200.

[0060] In step S220, the battery swapping device 100 uses the image acquired by the camera 21 in step S210 to acquire the vehicle information (vehicle number information) described on the license plate 204.

[0061] In step S230, the battery swapping device 100 determines whether the vehicle information transmitted from the electric vehicle 200 in step S160 matches the information of the license plate 204. If the above information matches (Yes in S230), the process proceeds to step S240. If the above information does not match (No in S230), the process proceeds to step S250. Note that the above information matching includes, for example, the case where the information of the license plate 204 is included in the vehicle information in step S160.

[0062] In step S240, the battery swapping device 100 notifies the electric vehicle 200 through the communication unit 13 that battery swapping is to be executed (started). Next, the process proceeds to step S260.

[0063] On the other hand, in step S250, the battery swapping device 100 determines that the vehicle that has entered the battery swapping device main body 100a is not the electric vehicle 200 that transmitted the vehicle information in step S160 (it is an unreserved vehicle). Then, the process returns to step S200.

[0064] In step S260, the battery swapping device 100 prepares the battery 101 scheduled for replacement (the battery 101 selected in step S100). Specifically, the battery swapping device 100 controls the drive device 30 (such as the battery mounting table 31 and the transport unit 33) so that the battery 101 scheduled for replacement is placed on the battery mounting table 31 (see FIG. 1).

[0065] In step S270, the electric vehicle 200 determines whether it has received a notification to execute battery swapping (the notification in step S240). If the above notification has been received (Yes in S270), the process proceeds to step S280. If the above notification has not been received (No in S270), the process of step S270 is repeated.

[0066] In step S280, the electric vehicle 200 transmits a reply (a signal indicating that the notification has been received) to the battery swapping device 100 in response to the notification in step S240. Then, the process of the electric vehicle 200 ends.

[0067] In step S290, the battery swapping device 100 determines whether it has received the response from step S280. If the response has been received (Yes in S290), the process proceeds to step S300. If the response has not been received (No in S290), the process of step S290 is repeated.

[0068] In step S300, the battery swapping device 100 executes the battery swapping process. Specifically, the battery swapping device 100 controls the drive device 30 (the lifting part 32, the battery mounting table 31, the transport part 33, etc.) so as to swap the battery 101 mounted on the battery mounting table 31 with the battery 201 of the electric vehicle 200. After that, the process of the battery swapping device 100 ends.

[0069] As described above, in the first embodiment, the control device 10 of the battery swapping device 100 uses the replacement battery information (selection result) and vehicle information acquired from the electric vehicle 200 to control the drive device 30 so that the selected battery 101 is mounted on the electric vehicle 200. Thereby, since the vehicle information can be directly acquired from the electric vehicle 200, it is not necessary to perform the step of recording the vehicle information in the battery 201 or the like in advance. As a result, the battery can be swapped regardless of the information recorded in the battery 201 mounted on the electric vehicle 200. Also, since the above recording step is not required, the steps required for battery swapping can be simplified.

[0070] Also, in the first embodiment, after the replacement battery information (selection result) is provided to the battery swapping device 100, the vehicle information is provided to the battery swapping device 100. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the vehicle information from being provided to the battery swapping device 100 in a situation where the battery 101 to be used for replacement has not been determined (the contract has not been established). As a result, it is possible to suppress the unnecessary leakage of vehicle information (personal information).

[0071] [Second Embodiment] Next, with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the battery replacement system 2 according to the second embodiment will be described. For the same configurations as those in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals will be given and repeated descriptions will not be provided.

[0072] <Configuration of Battery Replacement System> FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a battery replacement system 2 including a battery replacement device 400 and an electric vehicle 200 according to the second embodiment.

[0073] The battery replacement device 400 is different from the battery replacement device 100 in the first embodiment in that it includes a control device 110 instead of the control device 10 and an acquisition unit 120 instead of the acquisition unit 20. Note that the control device 110 is an example of the "control unit" in the present disclosure.

[0074] The control device 110 includes a processor 111, a memory 112, and a communication unit 13. In addition to the program executed by the processor 111, the memory 112 stores information used in the program (for example, maps, mathematical formulas, and various parameters).

[0075] The acquisition unit 120 includes a short-range wireless communication unit 121. The short-range wireless communication unit 121 is configured to be communicable with the electric vehicle 200 by, for example, Wifi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark). Note that the short-range wireless communication unit 121 is an example of the "communication unit" in the present disclosure.

[0076] <Battery Replacement Method> FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing the battery replacement method of the battery replacement system 2 according to the second embodiment. In the sequence shown in FIG. 5, the control of the electric vehicle 200 is executed by the ECU 203, and the control of the battery replacement device 400 is executed by the processor 111 of the control device 110. For the same processing steps as those in the sequence of the first embodiment, the same reference numerals will be given and repeated descriptions will not be provided.

[0077] In step S211, the electric vehicle 200 transmits vehicle information (such as VIN and vehicle number) to the battery swapping device 400 (short-range wireless communication unit 121) through short-range line communication. Note that the above vehicle information is an example of the "second vehicle information" of the present disclosure.

[0078] If the answer in step S200 is Yes, the battery swapping device 400 executes the process of step S212. In step S212, the battery swapping device 400 determines whether it has received the vehicle information of step S211. If the vehicle information has been received (Yes in S212), the process proceeds to step S231. If the vehicle information has not been received (No in S212), the process of step S212 is repeated.

[0079] In step S231, it is determined whether the vehicle information in step S160 (see Figure 2) matches the vehicle information in step S211. If the above vehicle information matches (Yes in S231), the process proceeds to step S240. If the above vehicle information does not match (No in S230), the process proceeds to step S250. Note that the vehicle information matching means, for example, the case where the vehicle information in step S211 is included in the vehicle information in step S160.

[0080] Note that for other configurations and controls, since they are the same as those in the first embodiment, repeated description will not be given.

[0081] In the above first and second embodiments, an example where information on the battery 101 that meets at least one of the vehicle requirements is transmitted to the electric vehicle 200 has been shown, but the present disclosure is not limited to this. Information on the battery 101 that does not meet the vehicle requirements may be transmitted to the electric vehicle 200.

[0082] For example, the sequence control shown in FIG. 6 may be executed. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the process of step S71 is executed instead of step S70 (see FIG. 2), and the process of step S91 is executed instead of step S90 (see FIG. 2), and the processes of steps S30 to S60 (see FIG. 2) are not executed, which is different from the example shown in FIG. 2.

[0083] In step S71, the battery replacement device 100(110) transmits battery information regarding all the batteries 101 stored in (owned by) the battery replacement device 100(110) to the electric vehicle 200 through the communication unit 13. Then, the process proceeds to step S120. In step S91, it is determined whether the battery information transmitted in step S71 includes information of at least one battery 101. If information of at least one battery 101 is included (Yes in S91), the process proceeds to step S100. If no information of the battery 101 is included (No in S91), the process proceeds to step S95.

[0084] In the above first and second embodiments, an example in which vehicle information and replacement battery information (selection result) are transmitted from the electric vehicle 200 to the battery replacement device 100(110) is shown, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, at least one of the vehicle information and the replacement battery information may be transmitted from the mobile terminal 300 to the battery replacement device 100(110).

[0085] In the above first and second embodiments, an example in which the electric vehicle 200 transmits the vehicle information (first vehicle information) to the battery replacement device 100(110) after transmitting the replacement battery information (selection result) to the battery replacement device 100(110) is shown, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the electric vehicle 200 may transmit the replacement battery information and the vehicle information to the battery replacement device 100(110) simultaneously.

[0086] In the above-described first embodiment, an example in which it is determined whether a vehicle is a reserved vehicle based on the vehicle number has been shown, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the above determination may be made based on a code, a registration ID, or the like issued at the reception of the battery swapping device 100.

[0087] In the above-described first and second embodiments, an example in which the electric vehicle 200 and the battery swapping device 100 (110) communicate directly has been shown, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the electric vehicle 200 and the battery swapping device 100 (110) may communicate indirectly via an external server.

[0088] In the above-described first and second embodiments, an example in which the battery 101 is stored in the battery swapping device 100 (110) has been shown, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The battery 101 used for battery swapping may be stored outside the battery swapping device 100 (110).

[0089] In the above-described first and second embodiments, an example in which vehicle information (second vehicle information) is acquired by the battery swapping device 100 (110) when the electric vehicle 200 enters the battery swapping device main body 100a has been shown, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the vehicle information may be acquired before the electric vehicle 200 enters the battery swapping device main body 100a.

[0090] The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is shown by the claims rather than the description of the above-described embodiments, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims be included.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0091] 1. 2 Battery exchange system, 10, 110 Control device (control unit), 20, 120 Acquisition unit, 21 Camera, 30 Driving device (processing unit), 100, 400 Battery exchange device, 101 Battery (second battery), 121 Short-range wireless communication unit (communication unit), 200 Electric vehicle (vehicle), 201 Battery (first battery), 202 Communication device (information providing device), 202a Battery information providing unit, 202b Vehicle information providing unit, 204 License plate.

Claims

1. A battery replacement device that performs battery replacement for replacing a first battery mounted on a vehicle with a second battery, a processing unit that performs the processing of the battery replacement, and a control unit that controls the processing unit, wherein the control unit, acquires first vehicle information capable of identifying the vehicle and replacement battery information capable of identifying the second battery from the vehicle or a user of the vehicle, and controls the processing unit to replace the first battery with the second battery by using the acquired replacement battery information and the first vehicle information. A battery replacement device.

2. The control unit controls the processing unit to replace the first battery with the second battery by using the acquired replacement battery information and the first vehicle information acquired after the replacement battery information. The battery replacement device according to claim 1.

3. further comprising an acquisition unit that acquires second vehicle information of the vehicle, wherein the control unit controls the processing unit to replace the first battery with the second battery when the second vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit matches the first vehicle information. The battery replacement device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The acquisition unit includes a camera that images the vehicle, and the second vehicle information includes information on a license plate of the vehicle imaged by the camera. The battery replacement device according to claim 3.

5. The acquisition unit includes a communication unit that performs short-range wireless communication with the vehicle, and receives the second vehicle information from the vehicle through the communication unit. The battery replacement device according to claim 3.

6. An information providing device that provides information to a battery replacement device that performs battery replacement for replacing a first battery mounted on a vehicle with a second battery, a battery information providing unit that provides replacement battery information capable of identifying the second battery to the battery replacement device, An information providing device comprising a vehicle information providing unit that provides vehicle information capable of identifying the vehicle to the battery exchange device.

7. The vehicle information providing unit provides the vehicle information to the battery exchange device after the replacement battery information is provided to the battery exchange device by the battery information providing unit. The information providing device according to claim 6.

8. The battery exchange device according to claim 1 or 2, An information providing device according to claim 6 or 7, comprising a battery exchange system.

9. A battery exchange method in a battery exchange device that performs a battery exchange for exchanging a first battery mounted on a vehicle with a second battery, A step of obtaining vehicle information capable of identifying the vehicle from the vehicle or the user of the vehicle; A step of obtaining replacement battery information capable of identifying the second battery from the vehicle or the user; A step of performing the battery exchange so as to exchange the first battery with the second battery using the obtained replacement battery information and the vehicle information. A battery exchange method.

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