Electric vehicle

Abstract

To estimate whether a my room function is used during charging while a vehicle is away from home, and to allow a charging schedule to be set taking into account power consumption of auxiliary equipment.SOLUTION: A server 200 stores charging history of electric vehicles 1 to 1n in association with locations where charging was performed (charging facilities 300 to 300n). When use history of a my room function is included in the charging history of an own vehicle, associated with a current location, received from a navigation system 102 or in the charging history of another vehicle, associated with the current location, received from the server 200 during charging of a driving battery 30, a control device 100 of the electric vehicle 1 calculates charging time by taking into account power consumption of auxiliary equipment (such as audio equipment or an air conditioner 50) and determines a charging schedule accordingly.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an electric vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-42383 (Patent Document 1) discloses calculating the location and time at which charging of an electric vehicle is performed based on the location information and the like of the electric vehicle, and calculating the power consumption consumed based on the calculated location and time.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When an electric vehicle charges away from home, it may charge by reaching an agreement with the charging facility (charging infrastructure) on the charging schedule, the charging end time (departure time), etc. There are also vehicles equipped with a so-called my-room function that enables the use of auxiliary equipment such as audio and air conditioning during charging, allowing the interior of the vehicle to be used like a home. When the my-room function is used, the charging time may become longer due to the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment. For this reason, if the my-room function is used during charging, there is a concern that the charging schedule and the charging end time may change from the agreed content. In Patent Document 1, the amount of charge is obtained based on the usage time of the charging facility and the like, but the power consumed by the my-room function is not mentioned.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to be able to estimate whether the my-room function is used during charging away from home and set a charging schedule taking into account the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The electric vehicle of the present disclosure is an electric vehicle including a power storage device that can be charged using power supplied from a charging facility and a control device that controls the charging. The electric vehicle has a my-room function that consumes power by an auxiliary machine during charging. The control device acquires the current position information of the electric vehicle, determines whether the my-room function is used during the current charging based on the charging history associated with the position information, and determines a charging schedule taking into account the power consumption of the auxiliary machine when it is determined that the my-room function is used.

[0007] According to this configuration, it is determined whether the my-room function is used during the current charging based on the charging history associated with the current position information of the electric vehicle. And when it is determined that the my-room function is used, a charging schedule is determined taking into account the power consumption of the auxiliary machine. Therefore, when charging at a destination, it is possible to estimate whether the my-room function is used using the charging history associated with the current position information and set a charging schedule taking into account the power consumption of the auxiliary machine.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it becomes possible to estimate whether the my-room function is used and set a charging schedule taking into account the power consumption of the auxiliary machine when charging at a destination.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

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

[0011] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the electric vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a situation where the electric vehicle 1 and the charging equipment (EVSE: Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) 300 are electrically connected by charging cables 301 and 302.

[0012] The charging equipment 300 may be, for example, an ordinary charger installed in a general household. In this case, the charging equipment 300 outputs AC power supplied from the system power supply, which is an external power source, to the electric vehicle 1 through the charging cable 301. In this case, the charging equipment 300 does not include the charging cable 302 that supplies DC power.

[0013] The charging equipment 300 may be a rapid charger installed at a charging stand or the like at the destination of the electric vehicle 1. In this case, the charging equipment 300 converts the AC power of the system power supply, which is an external power source, into DC power and outputs it to the electric vehicle 1 via the charging cable 302. In this case, the charging equipment 300 may be provided with an ordinary charging function that supplies the AC power supplied from the system power supply, which is an external power source, to the electric vehicle 1 via the charging cable 301. Note that when the electric vehicle 1 is externally charged, either one of the charging cable 301 or the charging cable 302 is connected to the electric vehicle 1.

[0014] In the present embodiment, the electric vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle (EV). However, the electric vehicle 1 may be a plug-in hybrid vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine and capable of external charging. The electric vehicle 1 includes a motor generator 10, drive wheels 11, a power control unit (PCU) 20, a system main relay (SMR) 21, a drive battery 30, charging relays 32 and 33, a charger 34, inlets 41 and 42, and a control device 100.

[0015] The motor generator 10 is, for example, a three-phase AC rotating electric machine. The motor generator 20 rotationally drives the drive wheels 11 using the electric power from the drive battery 30. Also, the motor generator 10 can generate electricity by regenerative braking. The AC power generated by the motor generator 10 is converted into DC power by the PCU 20 and charged to the drive battery 30.

[0016] The PCU 20 converts the DC power stored in the drive battery 30 into AC power and supplies it to the motor generator 10 in accordance with a control signal from the control device 100. Also, the PCU 20 converts the AC power generated by the motor generator 10 into DC power and supplies it to the drive battery 30.

[0017] The SMR 21 is electrically connected to the power line connecting the PCU 106 and the drive battery 30. The SMR 21 switches the supply and cut-off of power between the PCU 20 and the drive battery 30 in accordance with a control signal from the control device 100.

[0018] The drive battery 30 is a DC power source configured to be chargeable and dischargeable. The drive battery 30 corresponds to an example of the "power storage device" of the present disclosure. In the present embodiment, the drive battery 30 is a battery pack in which battery cells (single cells) are electrically connected in series, and is a high-voltage battery. The battery cell may be, for example, a lithium-ion secondary battery. The monitoring unit 31 detects the voltage, input / output current, temperature, etc. of the drive battery 30 (battery cells) and outputs them to the control device 100.

[0019] The charging relay 32 is electrically connected to the power line connecting the driving battery 30 and the charger 34. The charging relay 32 switches between supplying and interrupting power between the driving battery 30 and the charger 34 according to a control signal from the control device 100. The charger 34 includes, for example, an AC / DC converter (not shown), and converts the AC power supplied via the charging cable 301 and the inlet 41 into DC power and outputs it to the charging relay 32. When externally charging the electric vehicle 1 (driving battery 30) using the power supplied from the inlet 41 (normal charging), the charging relay 32 is closed, and in the charger 34, the supply power supplied to the electric vehicle 1 is controlled.

[0020] The inlet 42 receives the DC power supplied from the charging facility 300 when the charging cable 302 is connected. The charging relay 33 is electrically connected to the power line connecting the driving battery 30 and the inlet 42. The charging relay 33 switches between supplying and interrupting power between the driving battery 30 and the inlet 42 according to a control signal from the control device 100. When externally charging the electric vehicle 1 (driving battery 30) using the power supplied from the inlet 42 (rapid charging), the charging relay 33 is closed, and in the controller provided in the charging facility 300, the supply power supplied to the electric vehicle 1 is controlled.

[0021] The electric compressor of the air conditioner 50 is electrically connected between the PCU 20 and the SMR 108. The air conditioner 50 may be an air conditioner that constitutes a heat pump cycle by the electric compressor, and may also be provided with a high-voltage electric heater.

[0022] The accessory battery 107 is the power source for accessories 61 such as an audio, a wiper, an HMI (Human Machine Interface) device 101, and a navigation system 102, and is a low-voltage battery. The accessory battery 60 is electrically connected between the PCU 20 and the SMR 108 via the DC / DC converter 62, and is charged by the power of the driving battery 30 or the power supplied from the charging facility 300.

[0023] The HMI device 101 receives the driver's operations and conveys the state of the electric vehicle 1 and the like to the driver, and may be, for example, a touch-up display. The navigation system 102 is a route guidance device equipped with a GPS (Global Positioning System) function. The displays of the HMI device 101 and the navigation system 102 may be shared.

[0024] The control device 100 is composed of a charge control ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 110, a battery ECU 120, a vehicle ECU 130, a communication device 140, etc. Each ECU is composed of a processor and a memory and a buffer (both not shown). The control device 100 is connected to the HMI device 101, the navigation system 102, and the charging facility 300, for example, by CAN (Controller Area Network) communication.

[0025] The communication device 140 performs wireless communication with the server 200 via the network NW. The server 200 can communicate with a plurality of electric vehicles 1n including the electric vehicle 1 and a plurality of electric facilities 300n including the charging facility 300 via the network NW, and updates and stores information such as the charging history of each electric vehicle and information of each charging facility at any time. The charging history of each electric vehicle is stored in association with the position (charging facility) where charging was performed.

[0026] The electric vehicle 1 has a my room function. When the charging cable 301 is connected to the inlet 41 or the charging cable 302 is connected to the inlet 42 and external charging of the drive battery 30 is being performed, the power switch is turned on and the my room mode switch displayed on the HMI device 101 is touched, whereby the my room function can be used. The my room function enables the use of auxiliary machines such as an audio and an air conditioner 50 during charging of the drive battery 30, and is a function that allows the interior of the vehicle to be used like a home.

[0027] When charging using the charging equipment 300 at a destination, the charging may be performed after reaching an agreement with the charging equipment 300 on the charging schedule and the charging end time (departure time). When using the my room function, the charging time may become longer due to the power consumption of auxiliary equipment (audio or air conditioner 50). For this reason, if the my room function is used during charging, there is a concern that the charging schedule and the charging end time may change from the agreed content. In the present embodiment, when charging at a destination, it is possible to estimate whether the my room function is used and set a charging schedule taking into account the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment.

[0028] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device 100 in the present embodiment. When a charging cable 301 is connected to the inlet 41 or a charging cable 302 is connected to the inlet 42, the navigation system 102 outputs the current position information, the charging history, and the weather information to the charge control ECU 110. The charging history is the charging history at the current position (charging equipment 300 to which the electric vehicle 1 is connected), and the weather information is the current weather information at the current position. The charge control ECU 110 transmits the current position information to the server 200 using the communication device 140. The server 200 transmits the charging history at the current position (current charging equipment 300) to the control device 100. The charging history transmitted from the server 200 is the charging history of other electric vehicles having the my room function and is the charging history when charging is performed at the current position (charging equipment 300 to which the electric vehicle 1 is connected).

[0029] The charge control ECU 110 acquires output information from the charging equipment 300. The output information may be the rated output Ot [kW] or the maximum output. The battery ECU 120 calculates the SOC (State Of Charge) of the drive battery 30 based on the detection signal of the monitoring unit 51 and outputs the calculated SOC to the charge control ECU 110.

[0030] The charging control ECU 110 determines whether the my room function is to be used in the current charging based on the charging history associated with the current location received from the navigation system 102 or the charging history associated with the current location received from the server 200. When it is determined that the my room function is to be used, the charging schedule is determined taking into account the power consumption of auxiliary devices (such as audio and air conditioner 50) consumed by the my room function, and is transmitted to the charging facility 300.

[0031] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the charging schedule determination process executed by the control device 100 (charging control ECU 110). This flowchart is executed when the charging cable 301 (charging cable 302) is connected to the inlet 41 (inlet 42). In step (hereinafter, step is abbreviated as "S") 10, the current location information of the electric vehicle 1 is acquired from the navigation system 102.

[0032] In the subsequent S11, the charging history at the current location (charging history associated with the current location) of other vehicles having the my room function is acquired from the server 200, and the charging history at the current location of the own vehicle (electric vehicle 1) (charging history associated with the current location) is acquired from the navigation system 102.

[0033] In the subsequent S12, it is determined whether there is a possibility of using the my room function in the current charging. If the charging history of the own vehicle acquired from the navigation system 102 includes a history of using the my room function, it is determined that there is a possibility of using the my room function, and the process proceeds to S13. If there is no charging history at the current location in the charging history of the own vehicle, and if the charging history of other vehicles acquired from the server 200 includes a history of using the my room function, it is determined that there is a possibility of using the my room function, and the process proceeds to S13. If the charging history of the own vehicle does not include a history of using the my room function and the charging history of other vehicles does not include a history of using the my room function, it is determined that there is no possibility of using the my room function, and the process proceeds to S14.

[0034] In S13, the charging time is calculated taking into account the power consumption of auxiliary devices (audio, air conditioner 50, etc.). When there is a history of using the my room function in the charging history of the own vehicle, the auxiliary device power consumption amount H [kWh] is calculated as “(total power consumption amount SG [kWh] consumed by the auxiliary devices (audio, air conditioner 50, etc.) during charging at the current location (charging facility 300 currently connected) / number of charging times Gn at the current location)×weather correction coefficient K” (H = (SG / Gn)×K). The total power consumption amount SG consumed by the auxiliary devices is calculated by the vehicle ECU 130 during charging and is updated and stored as needed. When there is no charging history at the current location in the charging history of the own vehicle, and when the charging history of other vehicles obtained from the server 200 includes a history of using the my room function, the auxiliary device power consumption amount H is calculated as “(total power consumption amount TG [kWh] consumed by the auxiliary devices (audio, air conditioner 50, etc.) in other vehicles during charging at the current location / number of charging times Tn of other vehicles at the current location)×weather correction coefficient K” (H = (TG / Tn)×K). The total power consumption amount TG consumed is included in the charging history obtained from the server 200.

[0035] The weather correction coefficient K is calculated based on the weather information obtained from the navigation system 102. For example, it may be set according to the current outside air temperature as “outside air temperature 30°C or higher: K = 1.2”, “outside air temperature 25 - 30°C: K = 1.1”, “outside air temperature 15 - 25°C: K = 1.0”, “outside air temperature less than 15°C: K = 1.1”. Also, the weather correction coefficient K may be corrected according to the solar radiation amount.

[0036] Based on the SOC of the drive battery 30, the power amount Cg [kWh] required to fully charge the drive battery 30 is calculated. Then, using the rated output Ot of the charging facility 300, after calculating the time (charging time Ct) required to charge the power amount (H + Cg) obtained by adding the auxiliary device power consumption amount H and the power amount Gg, the process proceeds to S15. When the HMI device 101 is operated and the SOC at which charging is to be completed (completion SOC) is set, the power amount Cg is calculated as the power amount required to charge the drive battery 30 to the completion SOC.

[0037] In S14, after calculating the time (charging time Ct) required to charge the power amount Cg using the rated output Ot of the charging facility 300, the process proceeds to S15.

[0038] In S15, a charging schedule is transmitted to the charging facility 300, and this routine is terminated. When the HMI device 101 is operated and the departure time (charging end time) is set, a charging schedule is calculated such that charging ends at the departure time. When the departure time is not set, a charging schedule for starting immediate charging is set, and based on the charging schedule, the charging end time (departure time) is set (for example, the time obtained by adding the charging time Ct to the current time is set as the charging end time). When the transmitted charging schedule is agreed upon by the charging facility 300 and the charge control ECU 110, charging is then executed according to the charging sequence.

[0039] According to the present embodiment, based on the charging history (charging history of the own vehicle, charging history of other vehicles) associated with the current position information of the electric vehicle 1, it is determined whether the my room function is used during the current charging. And when it is determined that the my room function is used, the charging schedule is determined taking into account the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment (auxiliary equipment power consumption amount H). Therefore, when charging at a destination, it is possible to estimate the use or non - use of the my room function using the charging history associated with the current position information and set a charging schedule taking into account the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment.

[0040] In addition, although a positive determination is made in S12 and the charging time is calculated taking into account the auxiliary equipment power consumption amount H, when the my room function is not used, charging ends earlier than the local charging schedule. Considering this point, the charging schedule may be re - set based on the charging time being medium - range and the state of the power consumption of the auxiliary equipment (such as the audio or air - conditioner 50).

[0041] Also, the weather information may be acquired from the server 200, and the charging history of the own vehicle may be acquired from the server 200.

[0042] The embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the description of the above embodiments but by the claims, and it is intended that all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are included.

Explanation of Signs

[0043] 1 Electric vehicle, 30 Driving battery, 50 Air conditioner, 60 Auxiliary battery, 61 Auxiliary machine, 100 Control device, 110 Charging control ECU, 120 Battery ECU, 130 Vehicle ECU, 140 Communication device, 200 Server, 300 Charging facility, NE Network.

Claims

【Claim 1】 An electric vehicle comprising a power storage device that can be charged using electric power supplied from a charging device, and a control device that controls the charging, wherein the electric vehicle has a my room function that consumes electric power by an auxiliary machine during the charging, the control device acquires current position information of the electric vehicle, determines whether or not the my room function is used during the current charging based on a charging history associated with the position information, and when it is determined that the my room function is used, determines a charging schedule in consideration of the power consumption of the auxiliary machine.

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