Charge control system and charge control method

Abstract

To provide a charge control system capable of alleviating high-rate deterioration in a battery.SOLUTION: A charging control system includes a charging device configured to charge an electric vehicle, and a control device configured to control charging of a plurality of electric vehicles by the charging device. The control device includes a deterioration information acquisition unit that acquires high-rate deterioration information of a battery included in each of the plurality of electric vehicles, and a priority determination unit that determines a priority of charging for the plurality of electric vehicles based on the high-rate deterioration information acquired by the deterioration information acquisition unit. The priority determination unit increases a priority of the electric vehicle including the battery as a high-rate deterioration degree of an over-discharge type in the battery increases.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging control system and a charging control method.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a charging control system for controlling charging of a plurality of electric vehicles. By the way, for example, after charging a plurality of electric vehicles parked for a certain period of time from a power grid, a virtual power plant that supplies power from the charged electric vehicles back to the power grid is being considered. In such applications, when charging a plurality of electric vehicles from a power grid, the charging order can be arbitrarily determined. For example, the charging order can be determined in consideration of battery degradation.

[0003] Here, as disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 2, as battery degradation, transient high-rate degradation associated with large current charge and discharge is known. That is, there are two types of high-rate degradation: overcharging and over-discharging. In the case of overcharging, battery degradation progresses due to charging. On the other hand, in the case of over-discharging, high-rate degradation is alleviated by charging.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the charging control system disclosed in Patent Document 1, since no consideration is given to battery deterioration, especially high-rate deterioration, even a battery that has experienced overcharging-type high-rate deterioration is charged, and there is a risk that the deterioration of the battery due to high-rate deterioration will progress.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a charging control system capable of alleviating high-rate deterioration of a battery.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] A charging control system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a charging device that charges an electric vehicle, and a control device that controls charging of a plurality of electric vehicles by the charging device, and is a charging control system comprising: The control device includes a deterioration information acquisition unit that acquires high-rate deterioration information of batteries provided in each of the plurality of electric vehicles, and a priority determination unit that determines the charging priority for the plurality of electric vehicles based on the high-rate deterioration information acquired by the deterioration information acquisition unit. The priority determination unit increases the priority for the electric vehicle equipped with the battery as the high-rate deterioration degree of the over-discharge type in the battery increases.

[0008] In the charging control system according to the present disclosure, the control device includes a deterioration information acquisition unit that acquires high-rate deterioration information of batteries provided in each of the plurality of electric vehicles, and a priority determination unit that determines the charging priority for the plurality of electric vehicles based on the high-rate deterioration information acquired by the deterioration information acquisition unit. Then, the priority determination unit increases the priority for the electric vehicle equipped with the battery as the high-rate deterioration degree of the over-discharge type in the battery increases. That is, a battery that has undergone high-rate degradation of the overcharging type is difficult to charge, and a battery that has undergone high-rate degradation of the over-discharging type is preferentially charged. Therefore, a charging control system capable of alleviating the high-rate degradation of the battery can be provided.

[0009] The degradation information acquisition unit further acquires the SOH (State of Health) information of the battery, and when the priorities based on the high-rate degradation degrees are the same, the priority determination unit may increase the priority for the electric vehicle equipped with the battery as the SOH of the battery is larger. By using a battery with a larger SOH, the SOH of the batteries in a plurality of electric vehicles can be equalized.

[0010] The charging device is connected to the power grid, and a plurality of electric vehicles charged by the charging device may constitute a virtual power plant capable of supplying power to the power grid. The charging control system according to the present disclosure is suitable for such applications.

[0011] A charging control method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a charging control method in which a computer controls charging of a plurality of electric vehicles by a charging device, acquiring high-rate degradation information of the batteries included in each of the plurality of electric vehicles; and determining priorities for charging the plurality of electric vehicles based on the acquired high-rate degradation information, wherein in the step of determining the priorities, the higher the high-rate degradation degree of the over-discharging type in the battery, the higher the priority for the electric vehicle equipped with the battery.

[0012] In the charging control method according to the present disclosure, high-rate degradation information of batteries provided in each of a plurality of electric vehicles is acquired, and based on the acquired high-rate degradation information, the charging priorities for the plurality of electric vehicles are determined. When determining the priorities, the higher the high-rate degradation degree of the excessive-discharge type in the battery, the higher the priority for the electric vehicle equipped with the battery. That is, it is difficult to charge a battery that has undergone high-rate degradation of the excessive-charge type, and a battery that has undergone high-rate degradation of the excessive-discharge type is preferentially charged. Therefore, high-rate degradation of the battery can be alleviated.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the present disclosure, a charging control system capable of alleviating high-rate degradation of a battery can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings are appropriately simplified.

[0016] (First Embodiment) <Configuration of the Charging Control System> First, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the configuration of the charging control system according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the charging control system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a parking lot to which the charging control system according to the first embodiment is applied. FIG. 3 is a side view schematically showing a state in which an electric vehicle EV1 parked in a parking space P11 is charged by a charging / discharging device CD1.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the charging control system according to the present embodiment includes charging / discharging devices CD1 to CD3 and a control device 100. Here, the control device 100 includes a degradation information acquisition unit 101 and a priority determination unit 102.

[0018] As an example, in the charging control system shown in FIG. 1, electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 parked in parking spaces P11 to P13 shown in FIG. 2 are charged from a power system (not shown) via the charging / discharging devices CD1 to CD3. On the other hand, the charging control system shown in FIG. 1 is a virtual power plant capable of supplying power from the charged electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 to the power system via the charging / discharging devices CD1 to CD3. Note that the electric vehicle only needs to be equipped with a battery that can be charged by the charging / discharging device, and includes, for example, a hybrid vehicle.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, each of the charging / discharging devices CD1 to CD3 is, for example, connected to a power system and is a charging device for charging the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3. Here, before charging the electric vehicle EV, the charging / discharging device CD1 acquires high-rate degradation information hd1 of the battery included in the electric vehicle EV1 from the electric vehicle EV1. Similarly, each of the charging / discharging devices CD2 and CD3 also acquires high-rate degradation information hd2 and hd3 of the batteries included in the electric vehicles EV2 and EV3 from the electric vehicles EV2 and EV3.

[0020] The high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3 of the battery shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, the evaluation value ΣD (integrated value of the damage amount D) disclosed in Patent Document 2. Here, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, the damage amount D is caused by the deviation of the salt concentration in the battery and can be calculated based on the current input and output to the battery and the energization time. Such high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3 of the battery is calculated, for example, in a battery controller (not shown) provided in each of the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3.

[0021] As described above, high-rate degradation is transient degradation associated with large current charging and discharging, and there are two types: overcharging and overdischarging. For example, in the case of high-rate degradation due to overcharging, the evaluation value ΣD becomes a negative value, and in the case of high-rate degradation due to overdischarging, the evaluation value ΣD becomes a positive value. And the larger the absolute value of the evaluation value ΣD, the greater the degree of high-rate degradation.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, each of the charging and discharging devices CD1 to CD3 is connected to the control device 100 by wire or wirelessly, and transmits the acquired high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3 to the control device 100.

[0023] And each of the charging and discharging devices CD1 to CD3 charges the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 based on the charging instructions ci1 to ci3 output by the control device 100 that has acquired the high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3. Note that, as described above, the charging and discharging devices CD1 to CD3 are also power receiving devices that can receive power from the charged electric vehicles EV1 to EV3, and can supply the received power to, for example, the power grid.

[0024] Here, as shown in FIG. 2, in the charging control system according to the present embodiment, each of the charging and discharging devices CD1 to CD3 is provided in the parking spaces P11 to P13. Each of the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 shown in FIG. 1 is parked in the parking spaces P11 to P13 shown in FIG. 2 and is charged by the charging and discharging devices CD1 to CD3.

[0025] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a connector CN provided at the tip of a cable CB extending from the charge / discharge device CD1 is connected to a port PT of the electric vehicle EV1, and the electric vehicle EV1 is charged by the charge / discharge device CD1. The charging of the electric vehicles EV2 and EV3 by the charge / discharge devices CD2 and CD3 is the same. The same applies when the charge / discharge devices CD1 to CD3 receive power from the charged electric vehicles EV1 to EV3.

[0026] The parking lot shown in FIG. 2 has three parking spaces P11 to P13, but this is merely an example, and the number of parking spaces and the location of the charge / discharge devices in each parking space are determined as appropriate.

[0027] The control device 100 controls the charging of the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 by the charge / discharge devices CD1 to CD3. Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the control device 100 includes a degradation information acquisition unit 101 and a priority determination unit 102.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the degradation information acquisition unit 101 acquires the high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3 of the batteries included in the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 from the charge / discharge devices CD1 to CD3. The priority determination unit 102 determines the charging priority for the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 based on the high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3 acquired by the degradation information acquisition unit 101.

[0029] Here, in the case of high-rate degradation due to excessive charging, the degradation of the battery progresses due to charging. On the other hand, in the case of high-rate degradation due to excessive discharging, the high-rate degradation is alleviated by charging. Therefore, the priority determination unit 102 increases the charging priority for the electric vehicle equipped with the battery as the degree of high-rate degradation of the excessive-discharge type in the battery increases.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1, the priority determination unit 102 transmits charging instructions ci1 to ci3 to the charging / discharging devices CD1 to CD3 to which the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 are respectively connected, in descending order of priority. Then, each of the charging / discharging devices CD1 to CD3 that has received the charging instructions ci1 to ci3 charges the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3. That is, charging is performed in order from the electric vehicle among the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 with the highest high-rate degradation degree of the excessive discharge type in the battery.

[0031] Here, although not shown in FIG. 1, the control device 100 includes, for example, an arithmetic unit such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various programs and various data including the above maps. That is, the control device 100 has a function as a computer and executes various processes based on the above various programs and the like.

[0032] Therefore, the degradation information acquisition unit 101 and the priority determination unit 102 included in the control device 100 can be configured as hardware by the above CPU, memory, and other circuits. Further, the degradation information acquisition unit 101 and the priority determination unit 102 can be realized as software by a program stored in the memory or the like. That is, the degradation information acquisition unit 101 and the priority determination unit 102 can be realized in various forms by hardware, software, or a combination of both.

[0033] Note that, in addition to the high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3, the degradation information acquisition unit 101 may further acquire the SOH (State of Health) information of the batteries provided in the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3. The SOH information is also calculated, for example, in a battery controller or the like provided in each of the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3, similar to the high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3.

[0034] Then, when the priorities determined based on the high-rate degradation degrees are the same, the priority determination unit 102 increases the priority for the electric vehicle equipped with the battery as the SOH of the battery is larger. By using a battery with a larger SOH, the SOH of the batteries in the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 can be equalized.

[0035] As described above, in the charging control system according to the present embodiment, high-rate degradation information of the batteries included in each of a plurality of electric vehicles is acquired, and based on the acquired high-rate degradation information, the charging priorities for the plurality of electric vehicles are determined. Then, when determining the priorities, the higher the high-rate degradation degree of the discharge-excessive type in the battery, the higher the priority for the electric vehicle equipped with the battery. That is, it is difficult to charge a battery that has undergone high-rate degradation of the charge-excessive type, and a battery that has undergone high-rate degradation of the discharge-excessive type is preferentially charged. Therefore, the high-rate degradation of the battery can be alleviated.

[0036] Note that the charging control system according to the present embodiment does not have to be a virtual power plant, and instead of the charge-discharge devices CD1 to CD3, a charging device that only performs charging may be used. Also, in the charging control system according to the present embodiment, for example, one charge-discharge device may be shared by a plurality of electric vehicles. In such a case, for example, all of the plurality of electric vehicles are capable of autonomous driving, and the electric vehicles with higher charging priorities autonomously drive to the one charge-discharge device in order to charge. The degradation information acquisition unit 101 may directly acquire the high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3 from the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 without going through the charge-discharge device, for example. Also, the priority determination unit 102 may transmit the charging instructions ci1 to ci3 based on the determined priorities to the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3.

[0037] <Charging Control Method> Next, with reference to FIG. 4, the charging control method according to the first embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the charging control method according to the first embodiment. First, as shown in FIG. 4, the degradation information acquisition unit 101 of the control device 100 shown in FIG. 1 acquires high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3 of the batteries provided in each of the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 (step ST1).

[0038] Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the priority determination unit 102 of the control device 100 shown in FIG. 1 determines the charging priorities for the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 based on the acquired high-rate degradation information hd1 to hd3 (step ST2). In this step ST2, the priority determination unit 102 increases the charging priority for the electric vehicle equipped with the battery as the high-rate degradation degree of the over-discharge type in the battery increases.

[0039] Finally, as shown in FIG. 4, the priority determination unit 102 instructs to charge the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 in order from the electric vehicle with the highest priority (step ST3). In the example shown in FIG. 1, the priority determination unit 102 transmits charging instructions ci1 to ci3 to the charge-discharge devices CD1 to CD3 to which the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 are respectively connected in the order of highest priority. Then, each of the charge-discharge devices CD1 to CD3 that has received the charging instructions ci1 to ci3 charges the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3. That is, the electric vehicles EV1 to EV3 are charged in order from the electric vehicle with the highest high-rate degradation degree of the over-discharge type in the battery.

[0040] As described above, in the charging control method according to the present embodiment, high-rate degradation information of the batteries provided in each of the plurality of electric vehicles is acquired, and based on the acquired high-rate degradation information, the charging priorities for the plurality of electric vehicles are determined. When determining the priority, the higher the high-rate degradation degree of the over-discharge type in the battery, the higher the priority for the electric vehicle equipped with the battery. That is, it is difficult to charge a battery that has experienced high-rate degradation of the over-charge type, and a battery that has experienced high-rate degradation of the over-discharge type is preferentially charged. Therefore, the high-rate degradation of the battery can be alleviated.

[0041] Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist thereof. In addition, the present disclosure promotes the use of electric vehicles and contributes to carbon neutrality, decarbonization, and sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0042] 100 Control device 101 Deterioration information acquisition unit 102 Priority determination unit CB cable CD1 to CD3 Charge / discharge device CN connector EV1 to EV3 Electric vehicle P11 to P13 Parking space PT port

Claims

1. A charging control system comprising a charging device for charging an electric vehicle and a control device for controlling charging of a plurality of electric vehicles by the charging device, wherein the control device includes: a degradation information acquisition unit configured to acquire high-rate degradation information of batteries provided in each of the plurality of electric vehicles; and a priority determination unit configured to determine a charging priority for the plurality of electric vehicles based on the high-rate degradation information acquired by the degradation information acquisition unit, wherein the priority determination unit increases the priority for the electric vehicle provided with the battery as the high-rate degradation degree of the discharge-excessive type in the battery increases. A charging control system.

2. The degradation information acquisition unit further acquires state of health (SOH) information of the battery, and when the priorities based on the high-rate degradation degrees are the same, the priority determination unit increases the priority for the electric vehicle provided with the battery as the SOH of the battery increases. The charging control system according to claim 1.

3. The charging device is connected to a power grid, and a plurality of electric vehicles charged by the charging device constitute a virtual power plant capable of supplying power to the power grid. The charging control system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A charging control method in which a computer controls charging of a plurality of electric vehicles by a charging device, the method comprising: acquiring high-rate degradation information of batteries provided in each of the plurality of electric vehicles; and determining a charging priority for the plurality of electric vehicles based on the acquired high-rate degradation information, wherein, in the step of determining the priority, the priority for the electric vehicle provided with the battery is increased as the high-rate degradation degree of the discharge-excessive type in the battery increases. A charging control method. ​

Images