vehicle

Abstract

To provide a vehicle which indicates a cause of deterioration of a secondary battery mounted on the vehicle to a user.SOLUTION: An ECU executes, when determining a display condition is satisfied (YES at S100), processing including: a step (S102) of acquiring operation history to calculate deterioration degree of various deterioration per factor; a step (S104) of calculating deterioration degree of a battery; a step (S106) of calculating deterioration degrees of various deterioration factors; and a step (S108) of performing display processing to display the deterioration degree of the battery and the deterioration degrees of the various deterioration factors.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-058122 (Patent Document 1) discloses a technology for acquiring usage status including one or more items of secondary batteries installed in multiple vehicles, deriving a representative value of the usage status items of secondary batteries in vehicles within a specified area, and presenting to the user of the target vehicle the relationship of the usage status items of the secondary batteries installed in the target vehicle to the derived representative value. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-058122 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned vehicle, the causes of deterioration are presented, but the user may not be able to recognize what type of use of the vehicle is the main cause of deterioration of the secondary battery installed in the vehicle.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle that displays the causes of deterioration of the secondary battery installed in the vehicle in a manner that allows the user to recognize the causes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes a secondary battery that supplies power to a drive source, a power transmission system that can transmit power between the secondary battery and an electrical device external to the vehicle, and a display device that displays a deterioration level of the secondary battery. The display device displays the deterioration level of the secondary battery as well as the deterioration level for each factor of the deterioration of the secondary battery. The factors of the deterioration include at least power transmission and the mileage of the vehicle.

[0007] In this way, the degree of deterioration and the degree of deterioration caused by power transmission and vehicle driving are displayed, so the user can recognize what type of vehicle use is the main cause of deterioration of the secondary battery installed in the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a vehicle that displays the cause of deterioration of the secondary battery installed in the vehicle in a manner that allows the user to recognize the cause. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a power transmission system. [Figure 2] 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing executed by an ECU of a vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF 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 designated by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0011] An example of the configuration of a power transmission system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described below. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the power transmission system 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the power transmission system 1 includes a vehicle 200 and a power transmission stand 10 external to the vehicle 200. The vehicle 200 may be any vehicle capable of transmitting power to an external facility, and may be, for example, an electrically powered vehicle such as an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

[0012] The vehicle 200 includes an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 100 which is a control device, a display device 110 , a battery 214 , an inverter 216 , an MG (Motor Generator) 218 ​​, and an inlet 220 .

[0013] Battery 214 may be any rechargeable secondary battery, including, for example, nickel metal hydride batteries, lithium ion batteries with liquid or solid electrolytes, and other secondary batteries.

[0014] The inverter 216 is configured to be able to convert DC power from the battery 214 and AC power from the MG 218 in both directions in response to a control signal from the ECU 100 .

[0015] The MG 218 is a drive source that drives the drive wheels 222 of the vehicle 200, and is configured by a three-phase AC rotating electric machine or the like. The MG 218 has a function as an electric motor that drives the vehicle 200 using the power of the battery 214, and a function as a generator that generates power (for example, regenerative power) for charging the battery 214.

[0016] The inlet 220 has a shape that allows the connector 17 of the power transmission stand 10 to be attached. The inlet 220 is electrically connected to the battery 214.

[0017] Sensors 102, 104, and 106 are connected to ECU 100 to acquire the voltage, current, and temperature of battery 214. ECU 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory (neither of which are shown). ECU 100 controls each device based on signals received from each sensor and information such as maps and programs stored in the memory, so that vehicle 200 is in a desired state.

[0018] The ECU 100 has a function of sequentially calculating the SOC (State Of Charge) of the battery 214 based on the detection values ​​of the sensors 102, 104, and 106. As a method for calculating the SOC, various known methods can be adopted, such as a method based on current value integration (coulomb counting) or a method based on open circuit voltage (OCV) estimation. The ECU 100 is configured to be able to communicate with a communication unit 13 of the power transmission stand 10, which will be described later.

[0019] Power transmission stand 10 is an electrical device that includes a communication unit 13, a control unit 14, a transmission unit 15, a cable 16, and a connector 17. Power transmission stand 10, for example, transmits power from a system power supply 400 to a battery 214 of vehicle 200 to charge battery 214, or transmits power from battery 214 to system power supply 400 to discharge battery 214.

[0020] When the connector 17 is connected to the inlet 220 of the vehicle 200, the communication unit 13 performs wired communication such as power line communication, CAN (Control Area Network) communication, or LAN communication with the ECU 100 of the vehicle 200 via the cable 16. Note that the communication may also be performed by wireless communication of various standards (for example, Wi-Fi, etc.).

[0021] The control unit 14 controls the operation of the transmission unit 15 (for example, the transmission voltage and the transmission current) based on a control signal received from the ECU 100. The control unit 14 includes a CPU and a memory (neither of which are shown). The control unit 14 controls the transmission unit 15 based on information received from the vehicle 200 using the communication unit 13 and information such as maps and programs stored in the memory.

[0022] The transmission unit 15 converts AC power from the power system 400 into DC power and converts DC power from the battery 214 into AC power in response to a control signal from the control unit 14. One end of a cable 16 is connected to the transmission unit 15. The other end of the cable 16 is connected to a connector 17.

[0023] Connector 17 has a shape that allows it to be attached to inlet 220. When connector 17 is attached to inlet 220, it is in one of a first state in which DC power can be supplied from transmission unit 15 to battery 214, and a second state in which AC power can be supplied from transmission unit 15 to grid power supply 400, based on a control signal received from ECU 100 at control unit 14. For example, when requesting external charging, ECU 100 sends a control signal to control unit 14 so that the first state is established when connector 17 is attached to inlet 220. For example, when requesting discharge to power transmission stand 10, ECU 100 sends a control signal to control unit 14 so that the second state is established when connector 17 is attached to inlet 220.

[0024] For example, when the SOC of battery 214 is lower than a threshold value, ECU 100 requests rapid charging. Furthermore, when transmitting power between vehicle 200 and a facility (e.g., home) where power transmission stand 10 is installed (hereinafter referred to as V2H: Vehicle to Home), ECU 100 requests discharging of battery 214 when using battery 214 as a power source for the facility, and requests charging when storing surplus power in battery 214.

[0025] During power transmission using battery 214, ECU 100 calculates the SOC of battery 214 and the degree of deterioration of battery 214 using the detection values ​​of each of sensors 102, 104, and 106. In the present embodiment, as an example, the degree of deterioration is described as a capacity maintenance rate (SOH: States Of Health), which is a percentage representing the ratio of the current fully charged capacity to the fully charged capacity (Ah) when the battery was new. Therefore, a higher value of the capacity maintenance rate (closer to 100%) indicates a lower degree of deterioration of battery 214, and a lower value of the capacity maintenance rate indicates a higher degree of deterioration of battery 214.

[0026] For example, the ECU 100 calculates the current full charge capacity of the battery 214 using the detection values ​​of the sensors 102, 104, and 106, and calculates the capacity maintenance rate as the degree of deterioration using the calculated full charge capacity and the full charge capacity in a brand new state (a predetermined value).

[0027] In the vehicle 200 described above, information about the deterioration level of the battery 214 is displayed on the display device 110. The calculated deterioration level (capacity maintenance rate) is displayed on the display device 110, allowing the user to recognize the progress of deterioration of the battery 214.

[0028] However, there are cases where the user is unable to recognize what type of use of the vehicle 200 is the main cause of deterioration of the battery 214 installed in the vehicle 200.

[0029] Therefore, in this embodiment, the display device 110 displays the deterioration level of the battery 214 as well as the deterioration level for each factor of the deterioration of the battery 214. The factors of the deterioration include at least the power transmission and the travel distance of the vehicle 200.

[0030] In this way, the user can recognize what kind of use of the vehicle 200 is the main cause of deterioration of the battery 214 installed in the vehicle 200.

[0031] An example of processing executed by the ECU 100 will be described below with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of processing executed by the ECU 100.

[0032] In step (hereinafter, step will be abbreviated as S) 100, ECU 100 determines whether or not a display condition is satisfied. The display condition includes, for example, a condition that there is a display request to display deterioration information of battery 214. ECU 100 may determine that there is a display request, for example, when an operation to request display of deterioration information of battery 214 is performed on an operation device (for example, a touch panel display) in vehicle 200, or when a user performs an operation to request display of deterioration information during communication with a terminal.

[0033] Alternatively, the display conditions may include at least one of the following: a condition that a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous display; a condition that the system of vehicle 200 has transitioned to an activated state or a stopped state; a condition that vehicle 200 has moved to a predetermined position (for example, home); and a condition that battery 214 is being charged or discharged. If it is determined that the display conditions are met (YES in S100), the process proceeds to S102.

[0034] In S102, ECU 100 acquires an operation history. ECU 100 acquires the operation history for calculating the degree of deterioration for each of the various factors of deterioration, which will be described later. More specifically, ECU 100 acquires from a memory or the like the distance traveled since the start of use, the time elapsed since the start of use, the number of quick charges since the start of use, the duration of quick charges, the number of times power has been stored via V2H or the like since the start of use, and the duration of power storage. ECU 100 determines whether these values ​​have changed every predetermined time, and updates the values ​​stored in memory if it determines that there has been a change. Then, processing proceeds to S104.

[0035] In S104, ECU 100 calculates the degradation level of battery 214. For example, ECU 100 estimates the current value of the full charge capacity of battery 214 using the amount of change in SOC since the previous calculation of the degradation level and the integrated value of the charge and discharge current, and calculates the degradation level as a capacity maintenance rate calculated from the estimated current value of the full charge capacity and the full charge capacity when the battery was new. Note that the method of estimating the degradation level of battery 214 is not limited to the above-mentioned method, and any known technique may be applied. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S106.

[0036] In S106, ECU 100 calculates the deterioration level of various deterioration factors. The deterioration levels of various deterioration factors include a deterioration level according to the travel distance, a deterioration level according to the elapsed time, a deterioration level caused by quick charging, and a deterioration level caused by power storage such as V2H. ECU 100, for example, calculates the deterioration level (amount of decrease in capacity maintenance rate) according to the travel distance using the travel distance since the start of use. ECU 100 may, for example, calculate the deterioration level according to the travel distance using a predetermined map showing the relationship between the travel distance and the deterioration level. Furthermore, ECU 100 may calculate the deterioration level according to the elapsed time using the elapsed time since the start of use. ECU 100 may, for example, calculate the deterioration level according to the elapsed time using a predetermined map showing the relationship between the elapsed time and the deterioration level. Furthermore, ECU 100 calculates the deterioration level according to the elapsed time using the number of quick charges since the start of use and the duration of the quick charges. ECU 100 may calculate the degree of deterioration caused by quick charging, for example, using a map showing the relationship between the number of quick charges, the execution time, and the degree of deterioration. Furthermore, ECU 100 calculates the degree of deterioration caused by power storage of V2H, etc., using the number of times power storage of V2H, etc., has been performed since the start of use and the execution time of power storage. ECU 100 may calculate the degree of deterioration caused by power storage of V2H, etc., using a predetermined map showing the relationship between the number of times power storage has been performed, the execution time, and the degree of deterioration. Thereafter, the process proceeds to S108.

[0037] In S108, ECU 100 executes a display process. ECU 100 executes, as the display process, a process of controlling display device 110 so that information indicating the deterioration level of battery 214 and the deterioration levels of various deterioration factors is displayed on the screen.

[0038] FIG. 2A shows an example of a display screen displayed on the display device 110. As shown in FIG. 2A, text information indicating the capacity maintenance rate (maximum battery capacity), specifically the text information "89%" indicating a numerical value, is displayed at the top center of the display screen. In the area below the display position of the capacity maintenance rate, information about various degradation factors and the degradation level is displayed. Specifically, as described above, text information about the mileage, elapsed time, quick charging, and power storage such as V2H is displayed as degradation factors. To the right of the text information indicating the various degradation factors, a bar graph visually indicating the magnitude of the degradation level is displayed, and below that, a numerical value indicating the degradation level is displayed. In FIG. 2A, text information indicating a degradation level of "3%" corresponding to "mileage" is displayed together with a bar graph with a length corresponding to "3%." Furthermore, text information indicating a degradation level of "2%" corresponding to "elapsed time" is displayed together with a bar graph with a length corresponding to "2%." Furthermore, text information indicating a degradation level of "1%" corresponding to "quick charging" is displayed together with a bar graph with a length corresponding to "1%." Then, text information indicating the degradation level of "5%" corresponding to "storage of electricity such as V2H" is displayed together with a bar graph with a length corresponding to "5%." The degradation levels displayed as various degradation factors, "3%, "2%, "1%, and "5%, " indicate the breakdown of the 11% decrease in capacity maintenance rate (degradation level), and the user can recognize that the degradation level caused by storage of electricity such as V2H is particularly large.

[0039] 2B shows another example of the display screen of the display device 110. As shown in FIG. 2B, the display screen displays "99%" as text information indicating the capacity maintenance rate. In FIG. 2B, text information indicating a degradation level of "1%" corresponding to "elapsed time" is displayed together with a bar graph with a length corresponding to "1%," and text information indicating degradation levels of "0%" corresponding to "travel distance," "rapid charging," and "storage by V2H or the like" is displayed, with the bar graphs hidden. As shown in FIG. 2B, the main cause of the decrease in the capacity maintenance rate is only elapsed time, so the user can recognize that the battery 214 is in an unused state.

[0040] An example of the operation of ECU 100 based on the above-described structure and flowchart will be described below. When a display condition is met (YES in S100), for example, by receiving a display request, an operation history is acquired (S102), and the deterioration level of battery 214 is calculated (S104). Thereafter, the deterioration levels of various deterioration factors are calculated (S106), and a display process is executed to display the calculated deterioration levels (S108). As a result, the deterioration level of battery 214 and the deterioration levels of various deterioration factors are displayed on the screen of display device 110.

[0041] As described above, vehicle 200 according to the present embodiment displays the degree of deterioration of battery 214 and the degree of deterioration of battery 214 that is caused by power transmission and traveling of vehicle 200, allowing the user to recognize what type of use of vehicle 200 is the main cause of deterioration of battery 214. Therefore, it is possible to provide a vehicle that displays the causes of deterioration of the secondary battery mounted on the vehicle in a manner that allows the user to recognize them.

[0042] Modifications will be described below. In the above-described embodiment, the various deterioration factors have been described as including the travel distance, elapsed time, and power storage such as quick charging and V2H, but the deterioration factors are not limited to these. For example, the deterioration factors may include the travel distance in a high-temperature environment or the travel distance in a low-temperature environment instead of the travel distance, and the elapsed time in a high-temperature environment or the travel distance in a low-temperature environment instead of the elapsed time.

[0043] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the deterioration level of the battery 214 is described as being calculated using the amount of change in SOC and the integrated value of the charge / discharge current, but it may also be calculated, for example, by adding up the deterioration levels calculated for each of the various factors.

[0044] The above-described modifications may be implemented in whole or in part in appropriate combination. The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 1 Power transmission system, 10 Power transmission stand, 13 Communication unit, 14 Control unit, 15 Transmission unit, 16 Cable, 17 Connector, 100 ECU, 102, 104, 106 Sensor, 110 Display unit, 200 Vehicle, 214 Battery, 216 Inverter, 218 MG, 220 Inlet, 222 Drive wheels, 400 System power supply.

Claims

[Claim 1] a secondary battery that supplies power to the drive source; a power transmission system capable of transmitting power between an electrical device outside the vehicle and the secondary battery; a display device that displays a deterioration level of the secondary battery, the display device displays a deterioration level of the secondary battery as well as a deterioration level for each cause of deterioration of the secondary battery, The deterioration factors include at least the power transmission and the mileage of the vehicle.

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