Charging control device for electric vehicles

Abstract

To provide a charge control device of an electric vehicle which can avoid traffic congestion due to charging.SOLUTION: A charge control device 30 includes a server control unit 33. The server control unit 33, in a case where another electric vehicle 10 that may perform charging exists within a prescribed range from a charge stand 20, limits a target charge amount of an electric vehicle 10 by the charge stand 20 to an amount less than a charge amount in which charge efficiency reduces.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a charging control device for an electric vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle management system that keeps the amount of charging to a minimum according to each vehicle's driving plan in order to avoid congestion caused by charging. This technology efficiently charges vehicles that have completed charging by using autonomous driving to move them from a charging area to a charging management area, and moves the next vehicle from a waiting area to the charging area. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-096103 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, in the case of a vehicle with a long-distance driving plan, the charging time becomes long, which may cause traffic jams while waiting to charge.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and has an object to provide a charging control device for an electric vehicle that can avoid congestion caused by charging. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the objective, the charging control device for an electric vehicle according to the present disclosure is a charging control device for an electric vehicle that includes a processor having hardware, and when there is another electric vehicle that can be charged within a predetermined range from a charging station, the processor limits a target charging amount of the electric vehicle by the charging station to less than a charging amount at which charging efficiency decreases. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to avoid traffic congestion caused by charging. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a charging system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the charging system according to one embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of the process executed by the charge control device according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the charging time and the charging rate of the battery in the electric vehicle according to one embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of the process executed by the charging station according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of the process executed by the electric vehicle according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, a charging control device for an electric vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiment. In the following description, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0010] [Outline of charging system configuration] FIG 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a charging system according to an embodiment. The charging system 1 shown in FIG 1 includes a plurality of electric vehicles 10. 1 ~10 n (n = an integer of 4 or more) (hereinafter, multiple electric vehicles 10 1 ~10 n When referring to either one of the above, it is referred to simply as "electric vehicle 10" and multiple charging stations 201 ~20 m (m=an integer of 2 or more) (hereinafter, multiple vehicle charging stations 20 1 ~20 m The charging station 20 includes a charging control device 30 that can communicate with the electric vehicle 10 and the charging station 20 via a network N100. The network N100 is configured, for example, from an Internet network, a mobile phone network, or the like. In addition, in FIG. 1, for the sake of simplicity, a case where there is one electric vehicle 10 and one charging station 20 is described, but the present invention is not limited to this and can also be applied to a case where there are a plurality of electric vehicles 10 and a plurality of charging stations 20.

[0011] The electric vehicle 10 is realized using either a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) or a battery electric vehicle (BEV).

[0012] The charging station 20 charges the electric vehicle 10 with electricity. Under the control of the charging control device 30, the charging station 20 charges the electric vehicle 10, acquires the SoC of the electric vehicle 10 during charging, and outputs the acquired SoC of the electric vehicle 10 to the charging control device 30. Note that the charging station 20 is not limited to a fixed type, and can also be applied to a mobile or self-propelled vehicle that can be towed by a specified vehicle in the event of a disaster, for example.

[0013] The charging control device 30 is configured using a server and the like, and 1 ~20 m The charging control device 30 controls the charging of the electric vehicle 10 by each of the charging stations. Specifically, when the electric vehicle 10 sets a specific charging station 20 as its destination and supplies power, if there are other electric vehicles 10 that may be charged within a specific range, for example, within a 5 km radius, from the charging station 20 and congestion due to charging is predicted, the charging control device 30 controls the charging station 20 to limit the target charging amount of the electric vehicle 10 by the charging station 20 to less than the charging amount at which charging efficiency decreases.

[0014] [Functional configuration of the charging system] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the charging system 1. For the sake of simplicity, the functional configuration of one electric vehicle 10 and one charging stand 20 will be described in Fig. 2.

[0015] [Configuration of electric vehicle] First, a description will be given of the configuration of the electric vehicle 10. The electric vehicle 10 includes at least a navigation system 11, a transmission / reception unit 12, a vehicle information recording unit 13, a charging unit 14, a battery 15, and an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 16.

[0016] The navigation system 11 includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) sensor that receives signals from a plurality of GPS satellites or transmitting antennas and calculates position information on the position (longitude and latitude) of the electric vehicle 10 based on the received signals, a map database that records various map data, an alarm device that displays images, maps, videos, and text information and generates sounds such as voice or alarm sounds, and an operation unit that receives input of operations from a user and outputs signals according to the contents of the various operations received to the ECU 16. The navigation system 11 is realized using a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), a display such as a liquid crystal or organic EL (Electro Luminescence), a speaker, a touch panel, buttons, switches, a jog dial, and the like.

[0017] The transmitter / receiver 12 transmits various information to the charging control device 30 via the network N100 under the control of the ECU 16, and receives various information from the charging control device 30. Specifically, the transmitter / receiver 12 transmits vehicle information related to the electric vehicle 10 to the charging control device 30 under the control of the ECU 16. Here, the vehicle information includes position information related to the current position of the electric vehicle 10, identification information for identifying the electric vehicle 10, destination information related to the destination of the electric vehicle 10 set in the navigation system 11, and charging state information related to the charging state such as the SoC (State of Charge) of the battery 15 of the electric vehicle 10. The transmitter / receiver 12 is configured using a communication module or the like capable of transmitting and receiving various information.

[0018] The vehicle information recording unit 13 records identification information for identifying the electric vehicle 10, the programs executed by the electric vehicle 10, and identification information for identifying the electric vehicle 10. The vehicle information recording unit 13 is configured using an HDD, an SSD, or the like.

[0019] Charging unit 14 is electrically connected to charging stand 20 via a charge / discharge cable (not shown) under the control of ECU 16. Charging unit 14 converts DC power or AC power of a predetermined voltage value supplied from charging stand 20 into a voltage value and DC power corresponding to battery 15 and outputs the converted power to battery 15. Charging unit 14 is configured using, for example, an inlet, an inverter, etc.

[0020] The battery 15 is configured using, for example, a chargeable and dischargeable storage battery such as a nickel-metal hydride battery or a lithium ion battery, or a storage element such as an electric double layer capacitor. The battery 15 stores or discharges the DC power from the charging unit 14.

[0021] The ECU 16 is configured using a memory and a processor having hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. The ECU 16 controls the operation of each part constituting the electric vehicle 10.

[0022] [Charging station configuration] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the charging stand 20. The charging stand 20 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 21, a charging device 22, a charging device information recording unit 23, and a stand control unit 24.

[0023] The transmitting / receiving unit 21 transmits various types of information to the charging control device 30 via the network N100 under the control of the stand control unit 24, and receives various types of information from the charging control device 30. Specifically, the transmitting / receiving unit 21 transmits charging stand information related to the charging stand 20 to the charging control device 30 under the control of the stand control unit 24. Here, the charging stand information includes location information of the charging stand 20, model information indicating whether the charging device 22 in the charging stand 20 uses either a rapid charging method or a normal charging method, the number of charging devices 22 installed, and the current operating status of the charging stand 20. The transmitting / receiving unit 21 is configured using a communication module or the like capable of transmitting and receiving various types of information.

[0024] The charging device 22 is electrically connected to the charging unit 14 of the electric vehicle 10, and supplies AC power or DC power under the control of the station control unit 24. The charging device 22 is configured using a normal charger or a rapid charger. Note that, although a case where one charging device 22 is provided in the charging station 20 will be described in FIG. 2, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of charging devices may be provided.

[0025] The charging device information recording unit 23 records identification information for identifying the charging stand 20, the number of charging devices 22 installed in the charging stand 20, location information of the charging stand 20, type information of the charging device 22 (normal charging method or quick charging method), and programs executed by the charging stand 20. The charging device information recording unit 23 is configured using an HDD, an SSD, or the like.

[0026] The stand control unit 24 is configured using a memory and a processor having hardware such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), etc. The stand control unit 24 controls the operation of each unit constituting the charging stand 20.

[0027] [Configuration of the charging control device] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the charging control device 30. The charging control device 30 includes a transmitting / receiving unit 31, a recording unit 32, and a server control unit 33.

[0028] The transmitter / receiver 31, under the control of the server control unit 33, transmits various types of information to the electric vehicle 10 and the charging device 22 via the network N100, and receives various types of information from the electric vehicle 10 and the charging device 22. The transmitter / receiver 31 is configured using a communication module or the like capable of transmitting and receiving various types of information.

[0029] The recording unit 32 has a program recording unit 321 that records various programs executed by the charging control device 30, and a charging stand information recording unit 322 that records charging stand information related to the charging stand 20. Here, the charging stand information includes at least the location information of the charging stand 20, the number of charging devices 22 installed at the charging stand 20, and type information indicating whether the charging devices 22 use a normal charging method or a quick charging method.

[0030] The server control unit 33 is configured using a memory and a processor having hardware such as a CPU, and the server control unit 33 reads out a program recorded in the program recording unit 321 into a working area of ​​the memory, executes the program, and controls each component through the execution of the program by the processor. In this way, the server control unit 33 realizes a functional module that meets a predetermined purpose by cooperation between hardware and software. Specifically, the server control unit 33 has, as functional modules, an acquisition unit 331, a calculation unit 332, a determination unit 333, an output control unit 334, and a search unit 335. In one embodiment, the server control unit 33 functions as a processor.

[0031] The acquisition unit 331 acquires, for each charging station 20, a plurality of pieces of vehicle information from a plurality of other electric vehicles 10 that are within a predetermined range (eg, 3 km) from the charging station 20 and that may be charged.

[0032] The calculation unit 332 calculates a congestion prediction value for each charging station 20 based on the multiple pieces of vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit 331 and the charging station information recorded by the charging station information recording unit 322.

[0033] The determination unit 333 performs congestion prediction determination for each charging station based on the congestion prediction value for each charging station calculated by the calculation unit 332.

[0034] The output control unit 334 outputs charging restriction information for each charging station 20 whose congestion prediction value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Furthermore, the output control unit 334 outputs charging restriction release information for each charging station 20 whose congestion prediction value is less than the predetermined value.

[0035] The search unit 335 searches for other candidate charging stations capable of full charging other than the charging station 20 at the destination, based on the charging station information recorded by the charging station information recording unit 322, the location information included in the vehicle information of the electric vehicle 10 that is set at the destination to a charging station 20 whose predicted congestion value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the SoC of the battery 15.

[0036] [Charging control device processing] Next, a description will be given of the process executed by the charge control device 30. FIG 3 is a flowchart showing an outline of the process executed by the charge control device 30.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, first, for each charging station 20, the acquisition unit 331 acquires a plurality of pieces of vehicle information from each of a plurality of other electric vehicles 10 that may be charged within a predetermined range (e.g., 3 km) from the charging station 20 (step S101).

[0038] Next, the calculation unit 332 calculates a congestion prediction value for each charging stand 20 based on the multiple pieces of vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit 331 and the charging station information recorded by the charging stand information recording unit 322 (step S102). Specifically, the calculation unit 332 first detects, for each charging stand 20, the number of electric vehicles 10 that are located within a predetermined range from the charging stand 20 and that may be charged, based on the multiple pieces of vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit 331, and calculates a value obtained by dividing this detected number by the number of charging devices 22 in one charging stand 20 (number of electric vehicles ÷ number of charging devices 22 installed in the charging stand 20 = K) as a congestion prediction value. Here, the electric vehicles 10 that may be charged are at least one of electric vehicles 10 whose battery 15 has an SoC of 80% or less and electric vehicles 10 that set the charging stand 20 as their destination.

[0039] Thereafter, the determination unit 333 performs a congestion prediction determination for each charging station based on the congestion prediction value for each charging station calculated by the calculation unit 332 (step S103). Specifically, the determination unit 333 determines whether the congestion prediction value for each charging station is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (e.g., 1.5) (K>1.5), and determines that a charging station 20 whose congestion prediction value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value is congested, while determining that a charging station 20 whose congestion prediction value is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value is not congested.

[0040] Next, the output control unit 334 determines whether or not the result of the congestion prediction determination for each charging station 20 by the determination unit 333 has changed from the result of the congestion prediction determination for each charging station 20 by the determination unit 333 a predetermined time ago (step S104). When the output control unit 334 determines that the result of the congestion prediction determination for each charging station 20 by the determination unit 333 has changed from the result of the congestion prediction determination for each charging station 20 by the determination unit 333 a predetermined time ago (step S104: Yes), the output control unit 334 outputs charging restriction information for each charging station 20 whose congestion prediction value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S105) and outputs charging restriction release information for each charging station 20 whose congestion prediction value is less than the predetermined value (step S106). Here, the charging restriction information includes an instruction signal for limiting the target charging amount of the electric vehicle 10 by the charging station 20 to less than the charging amount at which the charging efficiency decreases. After step S106, the charging control device 30 proceeds to step S107. In contrast, if the output control unit 334 determines that the latest result of the congestion prediction determination for each charging station 20 by the determination unit 333 has not changed from the result of the congestion prediction determination for each charging station 20 by the determination unit 333 a predetermined time ago (step S104: No), the charging control device 30 terminates this process.

[0041] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the charging time and the charging rate of the battery 15 in the electric vehicle 10. In Fig. 4, the horizontal axis represents the charging time, and the vertical axis represents the charging rate (SoC). A curve L1 represents the relationship between the charging time and the charging rate.

[0042] As shown by curve L1, the charging time is longer when the charging rate exceeds a predetermined range, for example, the charging time D2 until full charging (SoC 100%) is reached, than when the charging rate exceeds the predetermined range, for example, the charging time D1 until the charging rate reaches 80%. That is, the charging efficiency decreases when the charging rate exceeds the predetermined range. For this reason, when the congestion prediction value of the charging stand 20 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the output control unit 334 outputs charging control information including an instruction signal for limiting the target charging amount of the electric vehicle 10 by the charging stand 20 to less than the charging amount at which the charging efficiency decreases, to the charging stand 20 whose congestion prediction value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value.

[0043] Returning to FIG. 3, the description of step S107 and subsequent steps will be continued. In step S107, the determination unit 333 determines whether or not there is an electric vehicle 10 at the destination that is set to a charging stand 20 whose congestion prediction value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, based on the multiple pieces of vehicle information acquired by the acquisition unit 331. If the determination unit 333 determines that there is an electric vehicle 10 at the destination that is set to a charging stand 20 whose congestion prediction value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S107: Yes), the charge control device 30 proceeds to step S108. On the other hand, if the determination unit 333 determines that there is no electric vehicle 10 at the destination that is set to a charging stand 20 whose congestion prediction value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S107: No), the charge control device 30 ends this process.

[0044] In step S108, the search unit 335 searches for other candidate charging stations capable of full charging other than the charging station 20 at the destination, based on the charging station information recorded by the charging station information recording unit 322, the location information included in the vehicle information of the electric vehicle 10 that is set at the destination to a charging station 20 whose predicted congestion value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and the SoC of the battery 15.

[0045] The output control unit 334 outputs congestion prediction information to the electric vehicle 10 that has set the charging station 20 at its destination with a congestion prediction value equal to or greater than a predetermined value (step S109). Here, the congestion prediction information includes, for the charging station 20 set at the destination, charging restriction information that limits the charging amount to less than the amount at which charging efficiency decreases, and chargeability information on other charging station candidates that are capable of full charging and that are searched for by the search unit 335. After step S109, the charging control device 30 ends this process.

[0046] [Charging station management] Next, a description will be given of the processing executed by the charging station 20. FIG 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of the processing executed by the charging station 20.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 5, first, when charging restriction information instructing charging restriction is received from the charging control device 30 (step S201: Yes), the stand control unit 24 sets the charging of the electric vehicle 10 by the charging device 22 to a charging restricted mode (step S202).

[0048] Next, when charging restriction release information instructing to release the charge restriction is received from the charge control device 30 (step S203: Yes), the station control unit 24 releases the charging restriction mode for the electric vehicle 10 by the charger 22 (step S204). After step S204, the charging station 20 returns to step S201.

[0049] In step S201, if the charge limiting information instructing the charge limiting has not been received from the charge control device 30 (step S201: No), the stand control unit 24 repeats this determination at predetermined time intervals.

[0050] In step S203, if charge restriction release information instructing to release the charge restriction has not been received from the charge control device 30 (step S203: No), the stand control unit 24 repeats this determination at predetermined time intervals.

[0051] [Handling of electric vehicles] Next, a description will be given of the processing executed by the electric vehicle 10. FIG 6 is a flowchart showing an outline of the processing executed by the electric vehicle 10.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 6, first, when the user sets the charging station 20 at the destination of the electric vehicle 10 via the navigation system 11 (step S301: Yes), the ECU 16 transmits vehicle information to the charging control device 30 via the transceiver 12 (step S302).

[0053] Next, when the ECU 16 receives congestion prediction information for the charging stand 20 set as the destination from the charging control device 30 (step S303: Yes), the ECU 16 notifies the navigation system 11 of charging restriction information for the charging stand 20 set as the destination of the electric vehicle 10 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "set charging stand 20") via the navigation system 11 (step S304). In this case, the ECU 16 may notify the user of the electric vehicle 10 by outputting the charging restriction information to a display monitor of a communication device such as a mobile phone linked to the user of the electric vehicle 10.

[0054] After that, the ECU 16 causes the navigation system 11 to notify the charging availability information regarding other candidate charging stations capable of full charging the electric vehicle 10 based on the congestion prediction information (step S305). That is, since it is predicted that there will be many users at the charging stations 20 capable of rapid charging, other charging stations 20 capable of normal charging and full charging are presented. This allows the user of the electric vehicle 10 to know the charging stations 20 capable of full charging. As a result, by allocating users gathering for rapid charging to other charging stations 20, congestion due to charging can be avoided.

[0055] Next, if the user sets another charging station 20 as the destination of the electric vehicle 10 via the navigation system 11 (step S306: Yes), the ECU 16 changes the destination of the electric vehicle 10 to the other charging station 20 that can fully charge the vehicle (step S307).

[0056] Thereafter, after the electric vehicle 10 arrives at another charging station 20 that can fully charge the battery 15, the ECU 16 charges the battery 15 until the SoC of the battery 15 reaches 100% (step S308). After step S308, the electric vehicle 10 ends this process.

[0057] In step S306, if the user has not set another charging station 20 as the destination of the electric vehicle 10 via the navigation system 11 through the ECU 16 (step S306: No), after arriving at the charging station 20 set as the destination, the battery 15 is charged until the SoC of the battery 15 reaches 80% (step S309).

[0058] Next, the ECU 16 causes the navigation system 11 to notify the charging availability information regarding other charging station candidates where the electric vehicle 10 can be fully charged (step S310).

[0059] Thereafter, if the user sets another charging station 20 as the destination of the electric vehicle 10 via the navigation system 11 (step S311: Yes), the ECU 16 changes the destination of the electric vehicle 10 to the other charging station 20 that can fully charge the vehicle (step S312). After step S312, the electric vehicle 10 proceeds to step S308.

[0060] In step S311, if the user has not set another charging station 20 at the destination of the electric vehicle 10 via the navigation system 11 (step S311: No), the electric vehicle 10 ends this process.

[0061] In step S303, if the ECU 16 has not received congestion prediction information for the charging station 20 set as the destination from the charge control device 30 (step S303: No), after the electric vehicle 10 arrives at the charging station 20 set as the destination, the ECU 16 charges the battery 15 until the SoC reaches 100% (step S313). After step S313, the electric vehicle 10 ends this process.

[0062] In step S301, if the user has not set the charging station 20 at the destination of the electric vehicle 10 via the navigation system 11 (step S301: No), the electric vehicle 10 ends this process.

[0063] According to the embodiment described above, when there is another electric vehicle 10 that may be charged within a predetermined range from the charging stand 20, the server control unit 33 limits the target charge amount of the electric vehicle 10 at the charging stand 20 to less than the charge amount at which the charging efficiency decreases. This makes it possible to avoid congestion due to charging.

[0064] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the server control unit 33 outputs, to the electric vehicle 10 and other electric vehicles 10, charging restriction information indicating that the charging amount will be limited to less than the charging amount at which the charging efficiency decreases, and outputs, to the electric vehicle 10, charging availability information regarding other charging stations 20 that can fully charge the battery 15 after the charging station 20 is used. This allows a user who uses a congested charging station 20 to know other charging stations 20 that can fully charge the battery 15 after charging to less than the charging amount at which the charging efficiency of the battery 15 decreases. Furthermore, users of other electric vehicles 10 can know the degree of congestion at the charging station 20 that they plan to use.

[0065] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, when the server control unit 33 determines that the congestion prediction value of the charging stand 20 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the server control unit 33 limits the target charge amount of the electric vehicle 10 for the charging stand 20 to less than the charge amount at which charging efficiency decreases. On the other hand, when the server control unit 33 determines that the congestion prediction value of the charging stand 20 is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the server control unit 33 cancels the restriction on the target charge amount of the electric vehicle 10 for the charging stand 20 to less than the charge amount at which charging efficiency decreases. This makes it possible to efficiently charge a plurality of electric vehicles 10 while avoiding congestion due to charging.

[0066] Furthermore, according to one embodiment, the vehicle information includes position information related to the current position of the electric vehicle 10, destination information related to the destination, and charging state information related to the charging state of the battery 15, so that the congestion prediction value of the charging station 20 can be calculated with high accuracy.

[0067] (Other embodiments) In addition, in one embodiment, the above-mentioned "unit" can be read as a "circuit" etc. For example, a control unit can be read as a control circuit.

[0068] In addition, in one embodiment, the functions of the server control unit 33 may be provided in the stand control unit 24 of the charging stand 20 and the ECU 16 of the electric vehicle 10. That is, in one embodiment, the functions of the server control unit 33, the acquisition unit 331, the calculation unit 332, the determination unit 333, the output control unit 334, and the search unit 335 may be provided in the stand control unit 24 of the electric station 20 and the ECU 16 of the electric vehicle 10.

[0069] In addition, the program to be executed by the charging control device of one embodiment is provided as file data in an installable or executable format recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a USB medium, or a flash memory.

[0070] Furthermore, the program executed by the charging control device according to one embodiment may be configured to be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by being downloaded via the network.

[0071] In the description of the flowcharts in this specification, the order of processing between steps is clearly indicated using expressions such as "first," "then," and "continue," but the order of processing required to implement this embodiment is not uniquely determined by these expressions. In other words, the order of processing in the flowcharts described in this specification can be changed as long as there is no contradiction.

[0072] Further advantages and modifications may readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shown and described above. Thus, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

[0073] Although some of the embodiments of the present application have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, these are merely examples, and the present invention can be embodied in other forms that incorporate various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, including the forms described in the disclosure of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 1 Charging System 10 Electric vehicles 20 Charging Station 30 Charging control device 33 Server control section 331 Acquisition Department 332 Calculation Department 333 Judgment section 334 Output control section 335 Search Department

Claims

1. A charging control device for an electric vehicle including a processor having hardware, The processor, When another electric vehicle that may be charged is present within a predetermined range from the charging station, a target charge amount of the electric vehicle by the charging station is limited to less than a charge amount at which charging efficiency decreases; outputting charging restriction information to the electric vehicle and the other electric vehicles indicating that the charging amount is to be limited to a value less than a charging amount at which charging efficiency is reduced; outputting, to the electric vehicle, chargeability information regarding other charging stations that can fully charge the electric vehicle after the electric vehicle has used the charging station; Charging control device for electric vehicles.

2. The charging control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 1, The processor, acquiring vehicle information of the other electric vehicles located within the predetermined range; Calculating a congestion prediction value for the charging station based on the vehicle information; determining whether the congestion prediction value is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; When it is determined that the congestion prediction value is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the charging station limits a target charge amount of the electric vehicle to a charge amount at which charging efficiency decreases, when it is determined that the congestion prediction value is not equal to or greater than the predetermined value, canceling the restriction of the target charge amount of the electric vehicle to a charge amount less than a charge amount at which charging efficiency decreases, for the charging station; Charging control device for electric vehicles.

3. The charging control device for an electric vehicle according to claim 2, The vehicle information includes: location information relating to a current location of the electric vehicle, destination information relating to a destination, and charge state information relating to a charge state of a battery; Charging control device for electric vehicles.

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