Management device

Abstract

We provide technology that allows users to see value in using green electricity in their vehicles. [Solution] The management server 1 includes a storage device 12 that stores management data for managing the power stored in the battery 54, and a computing device 11 that grants benefits based on the management data. The battery 54 can be charged using green power obtained from renewable energy. The computing device 11 grants benefits based on the green power used to run the vehicle 5 from the power stored in the battery 54.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a management device, and more particularly to a management device that provides benefits using the electric power stored in a vehicle battery.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-151174 (Patent Document 1) discloses a system that calculates an environmental value based on measurement results of power generation amount, power storage amount, and power consumption using renewable energy and provides benefits such as digital currency. Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2023-67753 (Patent Document 2) discloses a system that evaluates activities of vehicle users such as eco-driving, healthcare driving, and social contribution activities and provides benefits such as points.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] <To promote decarbonization, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) are becoming widespread. Users of these vehicles can contribute to decarbonization by using green electricity obtained from renewable energy sources in their vehicles. However, the systems described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above do not consider providing special benefits to users who charge their vehicles using green electricity. As a result, users have not been able to find value in using green electricity in their vehicles and have had difficulty being motivated to decarbonize.

[0005] The purpose of this disclosure is to provide technology that enables users to find value in using green electricity in their vehicles. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A management device relating to a certain aspect of this disclosure comprises a storage device for storing management data for managing the power stored in a battery, and a computing device for granting benefits based on the management data. The battery can be charged using green electricity obtained from renewable energy. The computing device grants benefits based on the green electricity used to run the vehicle from the power stored in the battery. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, since benefits are awarded based on the amount of green electricity used to run the vehicle, users can find value in using green electricity in their vehicles and have an incentive to decarbonize. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the configuration of the management system. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a charging device. [Figure 3] This figure shows another example of the internal configuration of a charging device. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of management data for managing the power stored in a battery. [Figure 5] This figure shows another example of management data for managing the power stored in a battery. [Figure 6] This figure shows an example of the change in the amount of green energy stored in the battery. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

[0010] [Management System Configuration] Figure 1 shows the configuration of the management system 100. As shown in Figure 1, the management system 100 comprises a vehicle 5, a charging device 6, a smart meter 7, a switching device 42, a router 43, a management server 1, a partner server 2, a user device 3, a relay server 91, and a monitoring server 92.

[0011] Vehicle 5 is an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle and is configured to be charged using power supplied from the charging equipment 6. Hereinafter, charging Vehicle 5 will also be referred to as "vehicle charging". Vehicle 5 is equipped with an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 50, a communication device 53, and a battery 54.

[0012] The ECU 50 includes an arithmetic unit 51 and a storage device 52, and controls the entire system of the vehicle 5. The arithmetic unit 51 is composed of a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and is an arithmetic entity (computer) that performs predetermined processing. The storage device 52 stores various programs or data executed by the arithmetic unit 51.

[0013] The battery 54 includes a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery or a nickel-metal hydride battery. The vehicle 5 can run using the power stored in the battery 54. The amount of power stored in the battery 54 is also referred to as the SOC (State Of Charge).

[0014] The communication device 53 includes various communication I / Fs (interfaces). The arithmetic unit 51 of the ECU 50 is configured to communicate with an external device such as the charging device 6 or the management server 1 via the communication device 53.

[0015] The charging device 6 includes a charging connector 60 that can be connected to an inlet of a vehicle (not shown). The charging device 6 supplies power to the battery 54 of the vehicle 5 via the charging connector 60 when the charging connector 60 is connected to the inlet. In the example of FIG. 1, the charging device 6 is installed at the home 4 of the user of the vehicle 5.

[0016] The smart meter 7 is provided in the power grid from the power source 8 of the electric utility to each of the home 4 and the charging device 6. The smart meter 7 measures the amount of power supplied from the power grid of the electric utility to the home 4 or the charging device 6. The smart meter 7 transmits data indicating the measured amount of power to the charging device 6. Since the power obtained from the power grid of the electric utility is not green power generated by power generation using renewable energy, hereinafter, such power is also referred to as "non-green power".

[0017] The switching device 42 is composed of, for example, a PCS (Power Conditioning System). The switching device 42 is installed at the home 4 and converts green power obtained by power generation using renewable energy such as solar power, wind power, biomass (carbon-neutral fuel), hydropower, or geothermal energy into power that can be used by the in-house load 44 of the home 4. In FIG. 1, a solar panel 41 is illustrated as the configuration of the green power generation device.

[0018] The non-green power supplied from the power source 8 of the electric utility and the green power supplied from the solar panel 41 via the exchange device 42 are consumed either by vehicle charging via the charging device 6 or by the in-house load 44. In FIG. 1, the non-green power supplied from the power source 8 of the electric utility is indicated as "P0", the power supplied from the charging device 6 to the vehicle 5 is indicated as "P1", the green power supplied from the solar panel 41 is indicated as "P2", and the power supplied to the in-house load 44 is indicated as "P3".

[0019] The router 43 is installed in the house 4 and is configured to communicate with each of the exchange device 42, the charging device 6, and the management server 1 via wired or wireless. For example, the router 43 communicates with the charging device 6 and receives various data related to power transfer, such as the amount of non-green power (P0) supplied from the power source 8, the amount of green power (P2) supplied from the solar panel 41, the amount of power consumed by vehicle charging (P1), and the amount of power consumed by the in-house load 44, every unit time (for example, 1 hour). The router 43 transmits the received various data related to power transfer to the management server 1.

[0020] The management server 1 is an example of the "management device" of the present disclosure. The management server 1 is a cloud-type server including an arithmetic device 11, a storage device 12, and a communication device 13. The arithmetic device 11 is composed of a processor such as a CPU and is an arithmetic entity (computer) that executes predetermined processing. The storage device 12 stores various programs or various data executed by the arithmetic device 11. The communication device 13 includes various communication I / Fs (interfaces). The arithmetic device 11 is configured to communicate with external devices such as the router 43, the vehicle 5, the charging device 9 installed in the store 30, the partner server 2, or the user device 3 via the communication device 13.

[0021] The partner server 2 comprises a computing unit 21, a storage device 22, and a communication device 23. The computing unit 21 is a computing entity (computer) composed of a processor such as a CPU that performs predetermined processing. The storage device 22 stores various programs or data executed by the computing unit 21. The communication device 23 includes various communication interfaces. The computing unit 21 is configured to communicate with external devices such as the management server 1 via the communication device 23.

[0022] User device 3 is an information terminal configured to communicate with management server 1, such as a desktop PC (personal computer), laptop PC, smartphone, smartwatch, wearable device, and tablet PC.

[0023] The relay server 91 is, for example, a communication server dedicated to vehicle 5 and is composed of a DCM server (Data Communication Module server). The relay server 91 relays communication between the management server 1 and vehicle 5. The relay server 91 receives vehicle data from vehicle 5 and transmits the received vehicle data to the management server 1. The vehicle data includes various data such as the amount of electricity used to run vehicle 5, the State of Charge (SOC) of battery 54, the distance traveled by vehicle 5, or the route taken by vehicle 5.

[0024] The monitoring server 92 is configured, for example, as an EMS server (Energy Management System server). The monitoring server 92 communicates with the management server 1 and manages the amount of power generated by the solar panels 41, the amount of power consumed by the in-house load 44, and the amount of power used to operate the vehicle 5, based on the data received from the management server 1.

[0025] In the management system 100 configured as described above, the vehicle 5 charges its battery 54 using power supplied from the charging equipment 6, with the charging connector 60 of the charging equipment 6 installed in the house 4 connected. The power supplied from the charging equipment 6 includes green power supplied from the solar panel 41 and non-green power supplied from the power source 8 of the electric utility company. When the vehicle 5 is running, vehicle data such as the amount of power consumed by the running is transmitted to the management server 1 via the relay server 91. With the charging connector 90 of the charging equipment 9 installed in the store 30 connected, the vehicle charges its battery 54 using power supplied from the charging equipment 9, or discharges the power stored in the battery 54 to supply power from the battery 54 to the store 30 via the charging equipment 9. The charging equipment 9 is an example of "other equipment".

[0026] [Charging equipment configuration] Figure 2 shows an example of the internal configuration of the charging device 6. As shown in Figure 2, the charging device 6 comprises a control circuit 61, a communication circuit 62, a power supply circuit 63, and a relay 64. The control circuit 61 generates a drive signal to output to the relay 64 using power supplied from the power supply circuit 63. The control circuit 61 may permit charging when it receives a charging command from the management server 1 with the charging connector 60 connected to the inlet. Based on the data received from the communication circuit 62, the control circuit 61 outputs a drive signal to the relay 64. Based on the drive signal from the control circuit 61, the relay 64 connects or disconnects the power path between the power supply outlet and the charging connector 60. The outlet is supplied with non-green power supplied from the power source 8 of the electric utility and green power supplied from the solar panel 41. With this configuration, the charging device 6 can permit or disconnect the supply of power from the outlet to the vehicle 5.

[0027] Figure 3 shows another example of the internal configuration of the charging device 6. As shown in Figure 3, the charging device 6 further comprises a CPLT (Control Pilot) circuit 65 and a drive circuit 66, in addition to a control circuit 61, a communication circuit 62, a power supply circuit 63, and a relay 64. The CPLT circuit 65 is configured to communicate with the vehicle 5 via the signal lines of the charging connector 60. The relay 64 is connectable to the power lines of the charging connector 60. The CPLT circuit 65 controls the drive circuit 66 based on control signals from the control circuit 61 while communicating with the vehicle 5. The control circuit 61 may permit charging when it receives a charging command from the management server 1 with the charging connector 60 connected to the inlet. The drive circuit 66 connects or disconnects the power path between the power outlet and the charging connector 60 according to the control of the CPLT circuit 65. With this configuration, the charging device 6 can permit or disconnect the supply of power from the outlet to the vehicle 5.

[0028] [Example of management data] Figure 4 shows an example of management data for managing the power stored in the battery 54. The management server 1 generates management data based on the data acquired via the router 43 and stores it in the storage device 12.

[0029] The management data includes, for each unit of time (for example, 1 hour), the amount of electricity consumed by the household load 44 (P3), the amount of electricity used for vehicle charging (P1), the amount of green electricity supplied from the solar panels 41 (P2), the amount of electricity sold to the electric utility (P0), the ratio of green electricity to supplied electricity (r), and the amount of green electricity used for vehicle charging (Ere). The management server 1 stores this management data in the storage device 12, linked to the user's identification information (ID). Note that for the amount of electricity sold to the electric utility (P0), a negative sign is added to the amount of electricity if electricity was supplied to the electric utility (sold).

[0030] When electricity is sold to an electric utility (P0 < 0), the ratio of green electricity to supplied electricity (r) is expressed as r = 1. When electricity is purchased from an electric utility (P0 > 0), the ratio of green electricity to supplied electricity (r) is expressed as P2 / (P0 + P2). Note that the ratio of green electricity (r) is a value calculated for each unit of time (for example, 1 hour). The amount of green electricity used for vehicle charging (Ere) is expressed as P1 * r. The arithmetic unit 11 of the management server 1 can calculate the green electricity stored in the battery 54 by vehicle charging by multiplying the amount of electricity used for vehicle charging (P1) by the ratio of green electricity to supplied electricity (r) for each unit of time.

[0031] In the example shown in Figure 4, vehicle charging is performed between 11:00 and 18:00 regardless of the ratio of green power to supplied power (r). However, the presence or absence of vehicle charging may be changed depending on whether the ratio of green power to supplied power (r) is equal to or greater than a threshold (for example, 0.7).

[0032] For example, as shown in Figure 4, at 2pm the ratio (r) is 0.75, and after 3pm the ratio (r) falls below 0.7. The battery 54 is charged using the power supplied from the charging device 6 when the ratio (r) is equal to or greater than a threshold (for example, 0.7). On the other hand, if the ratio (r) falls below 0.7, the charging device 6 may disconnect the power path between the power supply outlet and the charging connector 60 using the relay 64. The control circuit 61 can control the connection / disconnection of the relay 64 by the charging device 6 based on a threshold (0.7 in this example) set in advance by the user. This may prevent vehicle charging from occurring after 3pm.

[0033] Thus, the battery 54 is charged using the power supplied from the charging device 6 when the ratio of green power to supplied power (r) is equal to or greater than a threshold (for example, 0.7). Therefore, if the green power supplied from the solar panel 41 decreases (for example, when it is raining or cloudy, or when the sun goes down), the user can stop charging the vehicle and prioritize supplying power to the household load 44.

[0034] [Other examples of management data] Figure 5 shows another example of management data for managing the power stored in battery 54. For example, according to the management data shown in Figure 5, vehicle charging occurred during the 3-hour period from 11:00 to 14:00, and the cumulative amount of green energy (Ere) during this period was 8.76 kW. On the other hand, in the example shown in Figure 5, vehicle charging did not occur during the 3-hour period from 14:00 to 17:00 because the electricity was sold to the electric utility company.

[0035] Figure 6 shows an example of the change in the amount of green electricity stored in battery 54. As shown in Figure 6(A), if the amount of electricity stored in battery 54 from 11:00 to before vehicle charging was 6.2 kW, then at 14:00 after vehicle charging, 14.96 kW of electricity will be stored in battery 54. Note that the 6.2 kW of electricity stored in battery 54 before vehicle charging was non-green electricity supplied from the electric utility's power source 8.

[0036] As shown in Figure 6(B), if vehicle 5 uses green power to travel towards store 30 after charging and consumes 2.56 kW of electricity, the amount of electricity in battery 54 after reaching store 30 will be 12.4 kW.

[0037] As shown in Figure 6(C), when vehicle 5 discharges the power stored in battery 54 and supplies 10 kW of power to the charging equipment 9 for store 30, the power capacity of battery 54 becomes 2.4 kW. Of the power discharged by vehicle 5, the green power amount is 6.2 kW.

[0038] [Granting of benefits] As described above, vehicle 5 can charge its battery 54 using green electricity, run using the green electricity stored in battery 54, and discharge the green electricity stored in battery 54 to the charging equipment 9. In this way, users can contribute to decarbonization by using green electricity obtained from renewable energy in vehicle 5. However, if users do not receive any benefits when they use green electricity in vehicle 5, they will not see value in using green electricity in vehicle 5 and will have little motivation to contribute to decarbonization.

[0039] Therefore, in the management system 100, the management server 1 is configured to grant benefits to users for using green electricity in the vehicle 5.

[0040] Specifically, the management server 1 calculates the amount of green energy from the amount of energy stored in the battery 54 (i.e., the amount of energy stored by vehicle charging) and sends data indicating the calculated amount of green energy to the partner server 2. For example, in the example shown in Figure 6, the management server 1 sends data indicating a green energy of 8.76 kW to the partner server 2. The partner server 2 calculates the rewards based on the data indicating the amount of green energy received from the management server 1. For example, the rewards include points (coupons) that can be exchanged for services or goods, and the partner server 2 grants more rewards the greater the amount of green energy. The partner server 2 sends reward data indicating the calculated rewards to the management server 1. The management server 1 sends the reward data received from the partner server 2 to the user device 3.

[0041] As a result, the management server 1 can grant users rewards based on the amount of green electricity used to charge the vehicle, allowing users to find value in charging the vehicle 5 with green electricity and thus be motivated to decarbonize.

[0042] Furthermore, the management server 1 may also grant benefits to users based on the amount of non-green electricity used for vehicle charging. In this case, the management server 1 may grant users a higher benefit for the amount of green electricity used for vehicle charging than for the amount of non-green electricity used for vehicle charging.

[0043] Furthermore, the management server 1 or the partner server 2 may send recommendation data to the user device 3 recommending the use of green electricity for vehicle charging. In addition, the management server 1 may increase the value of the rewards granted when the user uses green electricity for vehicle charging in accordance with the recommendation data.

[0044] Furthermore, the management server 1 calculates the amount of green energy used to drive the vehicle 5 from the power stored in the battery 54 and transmits data indicating the calculated amount of green energy to the partner server 2. For example, in the example shown in Figure 6, the management server 1 transmits data indicating 2.56 kW of green energy to the partner server 2. The partner server 2 calculates the rewards based on the data indicating the amount of green energy received from the management server 1. The partner server 2 transmits reward data indicating the calculated rewards to the management server 1. The management server 1 transmits the reward data received from the partner server 2 to the user device 3.

[0045] As a result, the management server 1 can grant users rewards based on the amount of green electricity used to operate vehicle 5, allowing users to find value in using green electricity to operate vehicle 5 and thus be motivated to decarbonize.

[0046] Furthermore, the management server 1 may also grant rewards to users based on the amount of non-green electricity used to run vehicle 5. In this case, the management server 1 may grant users higher rewards for the amount of green electricity used to run vehicle 5 than for the amount of non-green electricity used to run vehicle 5. For example, the management server 1 may grant more reward points when green electricity is used to run vehicle 5 than when non-green electricity is used to run vehicle 5.

[0047] Furthermore, the management server 1 or the partner server 2 may send recommendation data to the user device 3 recommending the use of green electricity to operate the vehicle 5. In addition, the management server 1 may increase the value of the rewards granted when the user uses green electricity to operate the vehicle 5 in accordance with the recommendation data.

[0048] Furthermore, the management server 1 calculates the amount of green energy discharged to the charging equipment 9 at the store 30 from the power stored in the battery 54, and transmits data indicating the calculated amount of green energy to the partner server 2. For example, in the example shown in Figure 6, the management server 1 transmits data indicating 6.2 kW of green energy to the partner server 2. The partner server 2 calculates the benefits based on the data indicating the amount of green energy received from the management server 1. The partner server 2 transmits benefit data indicating the calculated benefits to the management server 1. The management server 1 transmits the benefit data received from the partner server 2 to the user device 3.

[0049] As a result, the management server 1 can grant users rewards based on the amount of green electricity discharged to the charging device 9, allowing users to find value in using the vehicle 5 to supply green electricity to other devices and thus providing them with an incentive for decarbonization.

[0050] Furthermore, the management server 1 may also grant benefits to users based on the amount of non-green electricity discharged to the charging device 9. In this case, the management server 1 may grant users a higher benefit for the amount of green electricity discharged to the charging device 9 than for the amount of non-green electricity discharged to the charging device 9.

[0051] Furthermore, the management server 1 or the partner server 2 may send recommendation data to the user device 3 recommending the use of green power to discharge the charging device 9. In addition, the management server 1 may increase the value of the rewards granted when the user uses green power to discharge the charging device 9 in accordance with the recommendation data.

[0052] In the embodiment described above, the management server 1 was an example of a "management device," but the partner server 2 may also have the functions of the management server 1, or the ECU 50 of the vehicle 5 may also have the functions of the management server 1.

[0053] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than by the description of the embodiments above, and all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims are intended to be included. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0054] 1 Management server, 2 Partner server, 3 User device, 4 Home, 5 Vehicle, 6,9 Charging equipment, 7 Smart meter, 8 Power source, 11,21,51 Processing unit, 12,22,52 Storage device, 13,23,53 Communication device, 30 Store, 41 Solar panel, 42 Switching device, 43 Router, 44 In-house load, 54 Battery, 60,90 Charging connector, 61 Control circuit, 62 Communication circuit, 63 Power circuit, 64 Relay, 65 Circuit, 66 Drive circuit, 91 Relay server, 92 Monitoring server, 100 Management system.

Claims

1. A management device that uses the power stored in the vehicle's battery to grant benefits, A storage device for storing management data for managing the power stored in the aforementioned battery, The system includes a computing device that grants the aforementioned benefits based on the aforementioned management data, The aforementioned battery can be charged using green electricity obtained from renewable energy sources. The aforementioned computing device is a management device that grants the aforementioned benefits based on the green electricity used to run the vehicle from the power stored in the battery.

2. The management device according to claim 1, wherein the computing device transmits the benefit data indicating the benefit to the user device.

3. The management device according to claim 2, wherein the aforementioned benefits include points for exchange for services or goods.

4. The aforementioned battery can be further charged using non-green electricity obtained from the power grid of an electric utility company. The management device according to claim 3, wherein the calculation device awards more points when the vehicle is driven using green electricity than when the vehicle is driven using non-green electricity.

5. The aforementioned battery is charged using power supplied from a charging device. The supplied power includes the green power and non-green power obtained from the power grid of the electric utility company. The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the calculation device calculates the green power stored in the battery based on the ratio of green power to the supplied power.

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