Management and settlement system for electric automobile battery charger

Abstract

To provide a management and settlement system for an electric automobile battery charger, suitable for prevalence and extension of an electric automobile charger without forcing a load on a business operator of operation and management for the electric automobile battery charger.MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM: A system is configured independently without being incorporated in an electric automobile battery charger, and includes: a controller that controls charging to an electric automobile from the electric automobile battery charger; a management system that is connected with the controller via the Internet; and a settlement center that is connected with the management system via the Internet and executes settlement for the charging to the electric automobile from the electric automobile battery charger.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a management and payment system for electric vehicle chargers. [Background technology]

[0002] To prevent global warming, reductions in carbon dioxide emissions are required. For example, conventional automobiles powered solely by gasoline engines are increasingly being replaced with hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) that combine gasoline engines with electric motors, and electric vehicles that use only electric motors. To prevent a decline in vehicle performance due to this replacement, large secondary batteries used as power sources for HEVs and electric vehicles must have high output and large capacity. The battery modules that make up large secondary batteries are composed of multiple secondary battery cells (batteries) connected in series and parallel to achieve high output and large capacity. Lithium-ion batteries and other secondary batteries are generally used. While the number of electric vehicle chargers installed is gradually increasing, the current number is still far from sufficient to meet both the current and future planned number of vehicles.

[0003] There are various standards for electric vehicle chargers, including: CHAdeMO: A standard primarily adopted by Japanese automakers, it supports direct current (DC) charging. Charging speeds range from 50kW to a maximum of 350kW. CHAdeMO supports rapid charging.

[0004] CCS (Combined Charging System): A standard widely adopted in Europe and the United States that supports both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) charging. CCS standards include Type 1 (US), Type 2 (Europe), and Type 3 (Japan). Charging speeds range from 50kW to a maximum of 350kW.

[0005] Tesla Supercharger: A charging standard exclusive to Tesla vehicles, using a proprietary charging connector and communication protocol. Maximum charging speeds are over 250kW. Used in Tesla's Supercharger network.

[0006] GB / T: A standard adopted in China that supports both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) charging, with maximum charging speeds ranging from 60kW to 240kW.

[0007] IEC62196 (Type 1 / Type 2): A standard used in Europe, it has Type 1 and Type 2 for alternating current (AC) charging. The maximum charging speed is up to 50kW.

[0008] Each of these standards has different charging speeds, connection methods, and communication protocols. Because different standards are supported depending on the model of electric vehicle and region, managing standards is a prerequisite for the development and use of charging infrastructure. For this reason, electric vehicle charger management systems and electric vehicle payment systems have typically been built into electric vehicle chargers as an integral part of the charger.

[0009] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2017-79076 discloses a charger that has a power supply unit that supplies power to a secondary battery mounted on an electric vehicle (EV) so that the usage fee for the charger that charges the secondary battery can be paid using electronic money, a payment unit that pays the usage fee for the charger using electronic money, and a control unit that, upon receiving an instruction to start charging from the electric vehicle, instructs the power supply unit to start supplying power to the secondary battery and instructs the payment unit to make payment using electronic money. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-79076 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] Once a company that operates and manages electric vehicle chargers has installed chargers, it is unable to select between different chargers with different management and payment systems, even if it wants to add new chargers or replace existing ones with more advanced chargers. This has been an obstacle to the widespread adoption of electric vehicle chargers.

[0012] Therefore, the present invention aims to solve these problems and provide an electric vehicle charger management and payment system that is suitable for the spread and expansion of electric vehicle chargers without imposing a burden on businesses that operate and manage electric vehicle chargers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a system comprising: a controller that is configured independently and not built into an electric vehicle charger, and that controls charging of an electric vehicle from the electric vehicle charger; a management system that connects to the controller via the Internet; and a payment center that connects to the management system via the Internet and executes payment for charging of the electric vehicle from the electric vehicle charger, wherein when a user attempts to charge the electric vehicle from the electric vehicle charger, specified information is sent to the management center via the controller, the management center creates charging execution information based on the specified information and a charging request from the user terminal via the user terminal and sends the charging execution information to the controller, the controller starts charging of the electric vehicle with the electric vehicle charger based on the charging execution information, and when charging based on the charging execution information is completed, the management center sends this to the payment center, and the payment center executes payment to the user's account and then notifies the user terminal, thereby providing an electric vehicle charger management and payment system. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] According to the present invention, the charging management system and payment system are not built into the electric vehicle charger but are set up outside of it, so the management system and payment system can be applied as is to chargers with different standards or chargers of newer models or performance.This means that it is possible to provide a management and payment system for electric vehicle chargers that is ideal for popularizing and expanding chargers without imposing an excessive burden on businesses seeking to expand electric vehicle charging points. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram of an embodiment of a system for managing and settling electric vehicle chargers. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of the management system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the user terminal device. [Figure 4] 10 is an example of a screen showing an operation menu of a user terminal device. [Figure 5] 10 is an example of a management screen of a management system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram of an embodiment of a system for managing and settling chargers for electric vehicles. Electric vehicles include EVs, PHVs, and PHEVs. Hereinafter, an electric vehicle charger will be abbreviated as a "charger." In FIG. 1, a plurality of types of chargers according to a plurality of standards are connected to a controller via a network. The controller controls charging of electric vehicles from the plurality of chargers. For example, the controller controls a power supply control panel that receives power from a power company, and controls the power supply to each of the plurality of chargers.

[0017] The controller is connected to a management center via the Internet. The management center has a management system for controlling the charging operation of each of the multiple chargers via the controller. The management system has a management database. The management database has management information necessary to manage charging for each of the multiple chargers. The overall system shown in Figure 1 has a payment center. The payment center has a payment system for charging users after charging. The payment system is connected to the management system of the management center via a network such as the Internet. The management system is connected to surveillance cameras via a router. The surveillance cameras monitor the surrounding environment where the chargers are installed and the status of users.

[0018] Figure 2 is a detailed block diagram of the management system. The management system has an application for each of multiple chargers to realize data exchange between the management system and the chargers. The database has basic information, charging fee information, and payment information. The basic information includes device information about the charger (e.g., manufacturer name, specifications, model year, owner name, etc.), the charger installation location, owner information who operates and manages the charger, and charger payment information. The charging fee information is information related to the fee for charging, and includes the start time of charger use, the end time of charger use, the fee structure, and the usage fee. The payment information includes the approval number, charging fee settlement method, payment fee, and expected payment date. Businesses that operate and manage multiple chargers register the necessary information in the database in advance.

[0019] The controller transmits predetermined information required for the management system to manage charging from the charger to the management system. Such information includes charging standby status information, charging completion information, charging date and time, and required charging time. The controller transmits control information required for the management system to control the charger from the management system to the charger. An example of the control information is an authorization signal for distributing power from the power control panel to the charger. The controller can distribute power to the charger according to the charger's specifications.

[0020] User terminal devices such as smartphones and portable tablets connect to the management system via a network such as the Internet. FIG. 3 is a front view of the user terminal device. A user operation menu is displayed on the screen of the user terminal device. The operation menu includes, for example, starting charging, paying the charge, and canceling charging. When a user selects the charging start menu to start charging, a charging completion time prediction simulation screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the user terminal device. When the management system receives a charging start request from the user terminal device, it receives information about the electric vehicle's secondary battery via the controller and transmits the battery capacity and remaining capacity to the user terminal device.

[0021] When the user touches the calculation button on the simulation screen, that information is sent to the management system, which calculates the predicted charging completion time and sends it to the user terminal device. The user terminal device displays the predicted charging completion time, and when the user touches the charging application (charging request) button, a charging application screen is displayed to the user. When the user enters the necessary information and touches the application button, charging request confirmation information is sent from the user terminal device to the management system. Based on the charging request confirmation information, the management system causes the controller to start charging the electric vehicle from the charger.

[0022] Next, the operation of the system according to this embodiment will be explained step by step. (1) The charger operator and the management center first enter into a usage support contract for the management system and payment system. The management center then registers basic information such as terminal information, fee information, and payment method for each charger in a database. (2) The user charges the electric vehicle using the charger based on the explanation in Figures 3 and 4. (3) The management system obtains charging fee information, such as the terminal number, charging time, and power supply, from the charger used for charging via the Internet and the controller, and registers this information in a database.

[0023] (4) The management system creates a billing instruction based on the charging fee information in the database and transmits it to the user terminal (payment terminal) via the payment system. (5) When the user terminal receives the charge instruction, it prompts the user to make payment, and when the user touches the payment button on the operation screen of the user terminal, it prompts the user to enter the charger number and desired payment method. Once the user enters this information, it is sent to the payment system as payment information. (6) The settlement center sends the settlement information to the designated settlement institution. (7) The settlement institution notifies the settlement terminal via the settlement center that the settlement has been completed. (8) The settlement center sends terminal information, billing information, and settlement completion information to the management system. (9) The management center sends payment details and details of the expected payment to the charger operation and management company (charger owner).

[0024] FIG. 5 is an example of a management screen that the management system displays on the management client.

[0025] In the above description, the management system and the settlement system are realized by a computer and a flowchart for realizing each system.

[0026] Chargers vary in specifications, and so do payment terminals. Furthermore, the payment methods implemented by each charger owner vary, and the fees users wish to charge must be set in a variety of ways depending on the charging speed and power supply cost. The timing, location, and electricity costs also fluctuate. Given that charger operators have integrated management and payment systems into their chargers, they are unable to change charger manufacturers, which could potentially undermine the national strategy of expanding the number of charger locations.

[0027] As explained above, the charger management and payment system allows users to use the best charging equipment and payment system at the time without relying on the payment system and management system provided by the equipment manufacturer, and there is no need to worry about manufacturers when adding chargers or low-fee payment methods that will meet future demand. Furthermore, even if chargers are installed in remote locations, the management center can reboot them, prevent crime with surveillance cameras, check safety, and respond to customer problems.

[0028] Furthermore, this embodiment has the following advantages. Any device can be connected to the payment terminal, regardless of the charger manufacturer or model. Any payment terminal can be connected to the charger, regardless of the payment terminal manufacturer or model. The cloud center (management center) can manage usage fees for each terminal and manage the owner's selling price. The management center can monitor charger problems and restart them. The management center can check surveillance cameras and respond to crime prevention and safety issues. The management center can also function as a call center to handle customer issues such as when charging is not possible or payment is not possible.

Claims

[Claim 1] a controller that is configured independently of the electric vehicle charger and that controls charging of the electric vehicle from the electric vehicle charger; a management system connected to the controller via the Internet; a payment center that connects to the management system via the Internet and executes payment for charging the electric vehicle from the electric vehicle charger; A system comprising: When a user attempts to charge the electric vehicle from the electric vehicle charger, predetermined information is transmitted to the management center via the controller, the management center creates charging execution information based on the predetermined information and a charging request from the user terminal via the user terminal, transmits the charging execution information to the controller, and the controller causes the electric vehicle charger to start charging the electric vehicle based on the charging execution information; When charging based on the charging execution information is completed, the management center transmits this to the payment center, and the payment center executes payment to the user's account and then notifies the user terminal. Management and payment system for electric vehicle chargers.

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