Charging installation for vehicle

Abstract

To provide a charging installation for vehicles that can safely charge vehicles while reducing running costs for using the charging installation in cold regions and during winter.SOLUTION: A charging installation for vehicles includes: a reservation reception unit that accepts the data and time of use of the charging installation for vehicles; a temperature detection unit that detects the internal temperature of the charging installation; and a heating determination unit that activates a heating device installed inside the charging installation when the date and time of use of the charging installation accepted by the reservation reception unit is within a predetermined time from the current time, and the internal temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle charging facility. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a charging facility that enables time-crunched electric vehicles to charge without waiting and improves the availability of chargers. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-37913 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As infrastructure, it is desirable for charging equipment for electric vehicles to be in a state where it can be operated at any time, but in cold regions and other areas where the ambient temperature is low, the internal components of the charging equipment may exceed the guaranteed operating temperature, making it impossible to charge safely.For this reason, heaters are used to heat the inside of the charging equipment, but if the heating process is continued based on the internal temperature of the charging equipment, running costs become a problem.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a vehicle charging facility that can safely charge vehicles while reducing the running costs of using the charging facility in cold regions or during the winter. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle charging equipment according to the present disclosure includes a reservation reception unit that receives the date and time of use of the vehicle charging equipment, a temperature detection unit that detects the internal temperature of the charging equipment, and a heating determination unit that operates a heating device provided inside the charging equipment when the date and time of use of the charging equipment received by the reservation reception unit is within a predetermined time from the current time and the internal temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, by performing internal heating only immediately before the date and time of use of the charging equipment, it is possible to safely charge the vehicle while reducing the running costs of using the charging equipment in cold regions or during the winter. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a vehicle charging facility according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the flow of the heating control method executed by the vehicle charging facility according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the flow of a charging reservation method executed by a vehicle charging facility according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A vehicle charging facility according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the components in the following embodiments include components that are easily replaceable by those skilled in the art, or components that are substantially the same.

[0010] (Vehicle charging equipment) A vehicle charging facility according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The vehicle charging facility according to the embodiment is a facility for charging a vehicle. The vehicle to be charged is, for example, an electric vehicle such as a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or a battery electric vehicle (BEV).

[0011] As shown in Fig. 1, the charging facility 1 is configured to be able to communicate with the vehicle 2 through a network N. This network N is configured, for example, by an internet network, a mobile phone network, etc. Also, as shown in Fig. 1, the charging facility 1 includes a control unit 11, a communication unit 12, and a heating device 13.

[0012] The control unit 11 is realized by a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory (main storage unit) such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), etc. The control unit 11 also functions as a reservation acceptance unit 111, a temperature detection unit 112, and a heating determination unit 113 by executing various programs.

[0013] The reservation reception unit 111 receives the date and time of use of the charging facility 1 for the vehicle 2. The reservation reception unit 111 receives the date and time of use by acquiring information related to a reservation for use of the charging facility 1 from the vehicle 2 via the network N. This information related to the reservation for use includes at least, for example, information related to the user who will use the charging facility 1, information related to the date and time of use of the charging facility 1, etc. Furthermore, the reservation reception unit 111 receives the date and time of use when, for example, the usage setting for the heating function of the heating device 13 is on (enabled).

[0014] The reservation reception unit 111 receives a reservation for use of the charging facility 1 from a user of the vehicle 2, for example, by using a web page of a charging reservation reception service. This web page is provided, for example, by a business operator of the charging facility 1, and presents the usage fee for the charging facility 1 (for example, usage fee for each time period) and also receives a reservation for use of the charging facility 1.

[0015] The usage fee for the charging facility 1 may not be uniform, but may vary depending on the location or season. For example, in cold regions or in winter, the heating device 13 needs to be operated, and an additional electricity charge is required. Therefore, the usage fee can be set higher than in regions other than cold regions or in seasons other than winter. Furthermore, if another reservation is made immediately after a reservation that requires the heating device 13 to be operated, the heating device 13 does not need to be operated when using the other reservation, and the corresponding electricity charge is not required. Therefore, a lower usage fee can be offered to users who have made another reservation (see FIG. 3). In other words, the usage fee can be set lower depending on the number of people who make reservations within a specific time period than for use with a single reservation.

[0016] The temperature detection unit 112 detects the internal temperature of the charging facility 1. The temperature detection unit 112 may detect the internal temperature by measuring it using a temperature sensor or the like provided in the charging facility 1, for example.

[0017] The heating determination unit 113 operates the heating device 13 provided inside the charging facility 1 under predetermined conditions. Specifically, the heating determination unit 113 operates the heating device 13 when the date and time of use of the charging facility 1 accepted by the reservation acceptance unit 111 is within a predetermined time from the current time and the internal temperature detected by the temperature detection unit 112 is equal to or lower than a predetermined value. That is, the heating determination unit 113 operates the heating device 13 when the internal temperature is low in a situation in which the vehicle 2 will soon use the charging facility 1, thereby heating (heating) the inside of the charging facility 1. Furthermore, the heating determination unit 113 operates the heating device 13, as necessary, before the date and time of use of the charging facility 1 reserved by the user.

[0018] The communication unit 12 is configured with, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network) interface board, a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication, etc. The communication unit 12 exchanges information with the vehicle 2 through communication via the network N.

[0019] The heating device 13 is for heating the charging facility 1 and is provided inside the charging facility 1. The heating device 13 is configured so that its heating function can be set to on / off (enabled / disabled). The heating device 13 is also configured so that its operation start temperature can be set. The setting of the heating function to on / off and the operation start temperature is performed, for example, by a business operator that provides the charging facility 1.

[0020] (Heating control method) The flow of the heating control method executed by the vehicle charging facility according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

[0021] First, the reservation reception unit 111 determines whether the setting for using the heating function of the heating device 13 is on (enabled) (step S1). If it is determined in step S1 that the setting for using the heating function is on (Yes in step S1), the reservation reception unit 111 receives the date and time of use of the charging facility 1 from the vehicle 2 (step S2).

[0022] Next, the temperature detection unit 112 detects the internal temperature of the charging facility 1 (step S3). Next, the heating determination unit 113 determines whether the user of the vehicle 2 will use the charging facility 1 within a predetermined time period (step S4). The determination in step S4 can be made based on the content of the date and time of use accepted by the reservation acceptance unit 111 and the current time.

[0023] If it is determined in step S4 that the vehicle 2 will use the charging facility 1 within a predetermined time (Yes in step S4), the heating determination unit 113 determines whether the internal temperature of the charging facility 1 is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold (step S5). If it is determined in step S5 that the internal temperature of the charging facility 1 is equal to or lower than the predetermined threshold (Yes in step S5), the heating determination unit 113 operates the heating device 13 inside the charging facility 1 (step S6), and completes this process.

[0024] Here, if it is determined in step S1 that the usage setting of the heating function is off (disabled) (No in step S1), the reservation reception unit 111 completes this process. Also, if it is determined in step S4 that the vehicle 2 will not use the charging facility 1 within a predetermined time (No in step S4), the heating determination unit 113 returns to the beginning of the determination in step S4. Also, if it is determined in step S5 that the internal temperature of the charging facility 1 exceeds a predetermined threshold (No in step S5), the heating determination unit 113 returns to the beginning of the determination in step S5.

[0025] As described above, in the heating control method according to the embodiment, it is determined in advance whether the heating function will be used, and if the heating function will be used, it is determined whether the user will use the charging equipment 1 within a predetermined time. This "predetermined time" can be experimentally determined in advance based on the heating capacity of the heating device 13, the internal volume of the charging equipment 1, etc. Then, if the user will use the charging equipment 1 within the predetermined time, and the internal temperature of the charging equipment 1 is equal to or lower than a threshold, the heating device 13 is operated to heat the charging equipment.

[0026] (How to reserve charging) The flow of a charging reservation method executed by a vehicle charging facility according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The charging reservation method described below may be implemented, for example, together with Fig. 2. In this case, for example, the charging reservation method described below can be implemented instead of step S6 in Fig. 2 (after step S5).

[0027] First, the heating determination unit 113 determines whether or not the user A has reserved the charging facility 1 (step S11). The determination in step S11 can be made based on information related to the usage reservation from the user A received by the reservation reception unit 111. If it is determined in step S11 that the user A has reserved the charging facility 1 (Yes in step S11), the heating determination unit 113 operates the heating device 13 in accordance with the usage time of the user A (step S12).

[0028] Next, the reservation acceptance unit 111 determines whether user B has reserved the charging facility 1 immediately after user A's usage time (step S13). The determination in step S13 can be made based on information related to the usage reservation from user B by the reservation acceptance unit 111. If it is determined in step S13 that user B has reserved the charging facility 1 immediately after user A's usage time (Yes in step S13), the reservation acceptance unit 111 discounts the usage fees for users A and B for the charging facility 1 (step S14) and completes this process. The discount on the usage fee in step S14 may be applied when accepting user B's usage reservation via a web page, for example, or may be applied by a method of refunding the discount later.

[0029] Here, if it is determined in step S11 that user A has not reserved the charging facility 1 (No in step S11), the heating determination unit 113 returns to the beginning of the determination in step S11. Also, if it is determined in step S13 that user B has not reserved the charging facility 1 immediately after user A's usage time (No in step S13), the reservation acceptance unit 111 does not discount the usage fee for user A's charging facility 1 (step S15), and completes this process.

[0030] As described above, in the charging reservation method according to the embodiment, the date and time when user A wishes to use the charging facility 1 is accepted, for example, through a web page of the charging reservation acceptance service. At that time, the usage fee for the charging facility 1 is displayed as the maximum fee for single use. Then, when the usage date and time for user B is accepted, if the usage dates and times for users A and B are consecutive, the heating device 13 is operated only before user A uses the facility. Furthermore, for user B who does not need to operate the heating device 13, a discount on the usage fee is provided in accordance with the reduction in the electricity fee.

[0031] According to the vehicle charging equipment of the embodiment described above, by performing internal heating only immediately before the date and time of use of the charging equipment 1, it is possible to safely charge the vehicle 2 while reducing the running costs of using the charging equipment 1 in cold regions or during the winter.

[0032] Further advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Charging equipment 11 Control section 111 Reservations 112 Temperature detection unit 113 Heating judgment section 12 Communications Department 13 Heating equipment 2 vehicles

Claims

[Claim 1] a reservation reception unit that receives a reservation for a date and time for using the vehicle charging facility; a temperature detection unit that detects an internal temperature of the charging equipment; a heating determination unit that operates a heating device provided inside the charging facility when the date and time of use of the charging facility accepted by the reservation acceptance unit is within a predetermined time from a current time and the internal temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined value; A vehicle charging facility equipped with:

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