Vehicle management system
The vehicle management device differentiates between solar cell malfunctions and external factors causing power generation decreases by monitoring motion and parking states, effectively identifying the cause of power generation issues in solar cells.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
- Filing Date
- 2023-02-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-07
AI Technical Summary
Determining the cause of a decrease in power generation of a solar cell mounted on a vehicle, whether due to an abnormal state of the solar cell or an external environment, is challenging when the vehicle is in motion.
A vehicle management device that determines whether a decrease in power generation occurs while the vehicle is in motion or parked, using flags to differentiate between solar cell malfunctions and external environmental factors, and provides information on the cause of the decrease.
Accurately identifies the cause of power generation decreases in solar cells, distinguishing between internal abnormalities and external environmental factors, thereby informing users of the appropriate issue.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This disclosure relates to a vehicle management device.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, as this type of technology, a diagnostic device for diagnosing the cause of a decrease in power generation in a photovoltaic power generation facility has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this diagnostic device, based on a plurality of time-dependent data in which the value of the output power or the value of the output current in the photovoltaic power generation facility is associated with the measurement time, which is the information of the year, month, day, and time, and a predetermined coefficient, the cause of the decrease in the power generation amount of the photovoltaic power generation facility is estimated.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] When a solar cell is mounted on a vehicle, the position of the solar cell also moves as the vehicle moves. Based on this, when a decrease in the power generation amount of the solar cell occurs, how to determine whether the decrease in the power generation amount of the solar cell is due to an abnormal state of the solar cell, such as soiling of the solar cell, or an external environment, such as the parking position becoming shaded, has become an issue.
[0005] The main object of the vehicle management device of this disclosure is to be able to determine the cause of a decrease in the power generation amount of a solar cell mounted on a vehicle.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] The vehicle management device of this disclosure has adopted the following means in order to achieve the above main object.
[0007] [1] The vehicle management device of this disclosure is A vehicle management device used in a vehicle comprising a drive unit for driving, a power storage device capable of supplying power to the drive unit, and a solar cell system capable of generating electricity using solar cells and supplying it to the power storage device, for determining the cause of a decrease in the amount of power generated by the solar cells, Based on whether or not the decrease in power generation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, and whether or not the decrease in power generation occurs while the vehicle is parked, it is determined whether the decrease in power generation is due to a malfunction in the solar cell or to the external environment. This is the gist of it.
[0008] The vehicle management device described herein determines whether a decrease in power generation occurs while the vehicle is in motion or while the vehicle is parked, based on whether or not this decrease is due to a malfunction in the solar cell or to an external environmental factor. This makes it possible to determine the cause of the decrease in solar cell power generation.
[0009] [2] In the vehicle management device of the present disclosure (the vehicle management device described in [1] above), if it is determined that the decrease in power generation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, it is determined that the decrease in power generation is due to the abnormal condition. If it is determined that the decrease in power generation occurs while the vehicle is parked and that the decrease in power generation does not occur while the vehicle is in motion, it is determined that the decrease in power generation is due to the external environment. This makes it possible to more appropriately determine whether the decrease in power generation of the solar cell is due to an abnormal condition of the solar cell or to the external environment.
[0010] [3] In the vehicle management device of the present disclosure (the vehicle management device described in [1] or [2] above), while the vehicle is in motion, the device may determine whether or not a decrease in power generation has occurred by comparing the amount of power generated by the solar cells while the vehicle is in motion with a first predetermined amount of power generation, and while the vehicle is parked, the device may determine whether or not a decrease in power generation has occurred by comparing the amount of power generated by the solar cells while the vehicle is parked with a second predetermined amount of power generation, or by comparing the amount of power generated by the solar cells around the vehicle with the amount of power generated by the solar cells while the vehicle is parked. In this way, it is possible to more appropriately determine whether or not a decrease in the power generation of the solar cells has occurred while the vehicle is in motion or parked.
[0011] [4] In this case (vehicle management device as described in [3] above), when the vehicle is in motion, the amount of power generated while driving when sunlight conditions are met is used to determine whether or not a decrease in power generation has occurred, and when the vehicle is parked, the amount of power generated while parked when sunlight conditions are met is used to determine whether or not a decrease in power generation has occurred.
[0012] [5] In the vehicle management device of this disclosure (the vehicle management device described in [1] to [4] above), when it is determined that the decrease in power generation is due to the abnormal condition, the device may provide predetermined information. This allows the user to be informed that the decrease in power generation of the solar cell is due to an abnormal condition of the solar cell. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0013] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 20 equipped with the vehicle management device of this embodiment. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows an example of a routine for determining the cause of a decrease in power generation. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows an example of a routine for setting a degraded flag while driving. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows an example of a routine for setting the parking-related depressurization flag. [Figure 5]This flowchart shows an example of a routine for setting the parking-related depressurization flag. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of how to select a comparison vehicle. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0014] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle 20 equipped with the vehicle management device of this embodiment. As shown in the figure, the vehicle 20 is configured as an electric vehicle and includes a drive unit 22, a battery 26 as an energy storage device, a solar cell system 30, a navigation device 38, and an electronic control unit 40. The vehicle management device of this embodiment is the electronic control unit 40.
[0015] The drive unit 22 includes a motor 23 and an inverter 24. The motor 23 is configured as a synchronous generator motor and is capable of outputting power for driving. The inverter 24 is used to drive the motor 23 and is connected to the battery 26 via a power line. The battery 26 has multiple secondary battery cells configured as lithium-ion secondary batteries or nickel-metal hydride secondary batteries.
[0016] The solar cell system 30 includes a solar cell 31 and a converter 32. The solar cell 31 has multiple solar cells and is fixed to the upper surface of the roof or hood of the vehicle body. The converter 32 supplies the power generated by the solar cell 31 to the battery 26 after voltage conversion.
[0017] When a destination is set, the navigation device 38 guides the route by setting a driving route from the current location to the destination based on the map information and the current location of the vehicle 20 detected by GPS, and displaying it on the display. The navigation device 38 communicates with the electronic control unit 40. The navigation device 38 communicates with an information center 60 outside the vehicle 20, transmits the current location of the vehicle 20 to the information center 60, and receives the sunshine information (such as weather, sunrise and sunset times, etc.) of the current location of the vehicle 20 from the information center 60.
[0018] The electronic control unit 40 has a microcomputer, and the microcomputer has a CPU, ROM, RAM, flash memory, input / output ports, and communication ports. The electronic control unit 40 inputs signals from various sensors via the input ports. Examples of the signals input by the electronic control unit 40 include the voltage Vb and current Ib of the battery 26, the voltage Vs1 and current Is1 on the solar cell 31 side of the converter 32, and the voltage Vs2 and current Is2 on the battery 26 side of the converter 32. The electronic control unit 40 outputs various control signals via the output ports. Examples of the signals output by the electronic control unit 40 include control signals to the drive unit 22, control signals to the converter 32, and control signals to the warning lamp 42. The electronic control unit 40 calculates the state of charge SOC of the battery 26 based on the integrated value of the current Ib of the battery 26, and calculates the power generation power Ps of the solar cell 31 based on the voltage Vs1 and current Is1 on the solar cell 31 side of the converter 32. As described above, the electronic control unit 40 communicates with the navigation device 38.
[0019] Next, the operation of the electronic control unit 40 mounted on the vehicle 20 in the present embodiment will be described, particularly the process of determining the cause when a decrease in the power generation amount of the solar cell 31 occurs. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a routine for determining the cause of a decrease in power generation amount, FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of a routine for setting a flag for decrease during travel, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a routine for setting a flag for decrease during parking. The flag for decrease during travel F1 set by the routine for setting a flag for decrease during travel in FIG. 3 and the flag for decrease during parking F2 set by the routine for setting a flag for decrease during parking in FIG. 4 are used in the routine for determining the cause of a decrease in power generation amount in FIG. 2. Hereinafter, the routine for setting a flag for decrease during travel in FIG. 3, the routine for setting a flag for decrease during parking in FIG. 4, and the routine for determining the cause of a decrease in power generation amount in FIG. 2 will be described in this order.
[0020] First, the routine for setting a flag for decrease during travel in FIG. 3 will be described. This routine is repeatedly executed by the electronic control unit 40. When this routine is executed, the electronic control unit 40 determines whether the vehicle 20 is traveling or parked (step S300). When it is determined that the vehicle 20 is parked, an invalid value is set for the flag for decrease during travel F1 (step S360), and this routine is terminated.
[0021] When it is determined in step S300 that the vehicle 20 is traveling, it is determined whether the sunlight condition is satisfied (step S310). Here, as the sunlight condition, for example, based on the sunlight information at the current location of the vehicle 20, after the switch between traveling and parking or after the previous determination of the establishment of the sunlight condition, the condition that the current location of the vehicle 20 is noon (daytime) and sunny for a predetermined time T1 can be cited. As the sunlight information at the current location of the vehicle 20, the sunlight information (weather, sunrise and sunset times, etc.) from the information center 60 can be used. As the predetermined time T1, for example, about several tens of minutes to 1 hour is used. When it is determined in step S310 that the sunlight condition is not satisfied, the flag for decrease during travel F1 is held at the previous value, and this routine is terminated.
[0022] If it is determined in step S310 that the sunlight conditions are met, the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1, Ws, is input (step S320), and it is determined whether the input amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1, Ws, is less than the threshold Wsth1 (step S330). Here, the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1, Ws, is input as the value calculated as the integrated value of the power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1. The threshold Wsth1 is a threshold used to determine whether a decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 occurs while the vehicle 20 is in motion. As the threshold Wsth1, for example, a value of about 50% to 70% of the maximum power generation of the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1 (a value based on the specifications) is used.
[0023] If, in step S330, it is determined that the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1 is equal to or greater than the threshold Wsth1, it is determined that no decrease in the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 has occurred while the vehicle 20 is in motion, and the value of the degraded power generation flag F1 during motion is set to 0 (step S340), and this routine ends. On the other hand, if, in step S330, it is determined that the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1 is less than the threshold Wsth1, it is determined that a decrease in the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 has occurred while the vehicle 20 is in motion, and the value of the degraded power generation flag F1 during motion is set to 1 (step S350), and this routine ends.
[0024] Next, the parking-down flag setting routine shown in Figure 4 will be described. This routine is repeatedly executed by the electronic control unit 40. When this routine is executed, the electronic control unit 40 determines whether the vehicle 20 is moving or parked (step S400). If it determines that the vehicle 20 is moving, it retains the parking-down flag F2 at its previous value and terminates the routine.
[0025] If it is determined in step S400 that vehicle 20 is parked, it is determined whether the above-mentioned sunlight conditions are met (step S410). If it is determined in step S410 that the sunlight conditions are not met, the parked status flag F2 is retained at its previous value and this routine is terminated.
[0026] If it is determined in step S410 that the sunlight conditions are met, the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1, Ws, is input (step S420), and it is determined whether the input amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1, Ws, is less than the threshold Wsth2 (step S430). Here, the threshold Wsth2 is a threshold used to determine whether a decrease in the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 occurs while the vehicle 20 is parked. As the threshold Wsth2, for example, a value of about 50% to 70% of the maximum amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1 (a value based on the specifications) is used. This threshold Wsth2 may be the same value as the threshold Wsth1 described above, or it may be a different value.
[0027] If, in step S430, it is determined that the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1 is equal to or greater than the threshold Wsth2, it is determined that no decrease in the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 has occurred while the vehicle 20 is parked, and the value of the parking decrease flag F2 is set to 0 (step S440), and this routine ends. On the other hand, if, in step S430, it is determined that the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 for a predetermined time T1 is less than the threshold Wsth2, it is determined that a decrease in the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 has occurred while the vehicle 20 is parked, and the value of the parking decrease flag F2 is set to 1 (step S450), and this routine ends.
[0028] Next, the routine for determining the cause of the power generation decrease shown in Figure 2 will be explained. This routine is executed repeatedly, except when the electronic control unit 40 determines that the decrease in power generation of the solar cell 31 is due to an abnormal condition of the solar cell 31.
[0029] When the power generation reduction cause determination routine shown in Figure 2 is executed, the electronic control unit 40 determines whether the vehicle 20 is in motion or parked (step S100). If it determines that the vehicle 20 is in motion, it inputs the driving reduction flag F1 (step S110) and determines whether the input driving reduction flag F1 is valued at 1 or not (step S120). If it determines that the driving reduction flag F1 is not valued at 1, i.e., is valued at 0 or an invalid value, it determines that there is no reduction in the power generation of the solar cell 31 (step S230) and terminates this routine.
[0030] In step S120, when it is determined that the driving-in decrease flag F1 is valued at 1, it is determined that a decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 has occurred (step S130), and it is determined that the decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 is due to an abnormal condition of the solar cell 31 (for example, contamination of the solar cell 31) (step S200), the warning light 42 is turned on (step S210), and this routine is terminated. When sunlight conditions are met and a decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 has occurred, if the vehicle 20 is in motion (when the position of the solar cell 31 is moving), it is unlikely that the decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 is due to the external environment (for example, the solar cell 31 being in the shade), so it is determined that it is due to an abnormal condition of the solar cell 31. In addition, by turning on the warning light 42, the abnormal condition of the solar cell 31 can be notified to the user.
[0031] If it is determined in step S100 that the vehicle 20 is parked, the parked power reduction flag F2 is input (step S140), and it is determined whether the input parked power reduction flag F2 is valued at 1 or 0 (step S150). If it is determined that the parked power reduction flag F2 is valued at 0, it is determined that there is no decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 (step S230), and this routine is terminated.
[0032] If the parked power reduction flag F2 is determined to be value 1 in step S150, it is determined that a decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 has occurred (step S160), the driving power reduction flag F1 is input (step S170), and it is determined whether the input driving power reduction flag F1 is a valid value (value 0 or value 1) or an invalid value (step S180). If the driving power reduction flag F1 is determined to be an invalid value, the process returns to step S140. While the vehicle 20 is parked, and from the time parking ends and driving begins until the first time sunlight conditions are met (until the driving power reduction flag F1 is set to value 1 or value 0), the driving power reduction flag F1 is set to an invalid value. Therefore, if the position of the solar cell 31 changes from shade to sunlight while the vehicle 20 is parked, the parked power reduction flag F2 may change from value 1 to value 0.
[0033] If it is determined in step S180 that the driving-in-motion flag F1 is valid, it is determined whether the driving-in-motion flag F1 has a value of 1 or 0 (step S190). If it is determined that the driving-in-motion flag F1 has a value of 1, it is determined that the decrease in power generation of the solar cell 31 is due to a condition abnormality of the solar cell 31 (step S200), the warning light 42 is turned on (step S210), and this routine is terminated. The reason why it is determined that the decrease in power generation of the solar cell 31 is due to a condition abnormality of the solar cell 31 when the driving-in-motion flag F1 has a value of 1 is as described above.
[0034] If the driving depletion flag F1 is determined to be 0 in step S190, the routine terminates after determining that the decrease in power generation of the solar cell 31 is due to the external environment (step S220). Now, consider the case where the parking depletion flag F2 is 1 and the driving depletion flag F1 is 0, that is, when it is determined that the decrease in power generation of the solar cell 31 occurs while the vehicle 20 is parked and does not occur while the vehicle 20 is driving. When the solar cell 31 decreases in power generation when the vehicle 20 is parked (the position of the solar cell 31 is stationary) and sunlight conditions are met, and when the vehicle 20 is driving (the position of the solar cell 31 is moving) and sunlight conditions are met, the decrease in power generation of the solar cell 31 does not occur (is resolved), so it is determined that the decrease in power generation of the solar cell 31 is due to the external environment (for example, the solar cell 31 is in the shade while the vehicle 20 is parked).
[0035] In this way, by using the driving depletion flag F1 (whether or not a decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 occurs while the vehicle 20 is in motion) and the parking depletion flag F2 (whether or not a decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 occurs while the vehicle 20 is parked), the cause of a decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 can be determined when it occurs.
[0036] In the electronic control unit 40, which serves as a vehicle management device in this embodiment as described above, a driving decrease flag F1 (indicating whether or not a decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 occurs while the vehicle 20 is in motion) and a parking decrease flag F2 (indicating whether or not a decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 occurs while the vehicle 20 is parked) are used to determine whether a decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31 is due to a condition abnormality of the solar cell 31 or to an external environment. This makes it possible to determine the cause of the decrease in the power generation of the solar cell 31.
[0037] In the embodiment described above, in the driving depletion flag setting routine shown in Figure 3, the electronic control unit 40 sets the driving depletion flag F1 to an invalid value when it determines that the vehicle 20 is parked. However, instead, when it is determined that the vehicle 20 is parked, the driving depletion flag F1 may be kept at the value set during driving until a predetermined time T3 has elapsed from the end of driving (start of parking), and then the driving depletion flag F1 may be switched to an invalid value when the predetermined time T3 has elapsed from the end of driving. In this case, in the power generation decrease cause determination routine shown in Figure 2, when the parking depletion flag F2 is set to a value of 1 in step S150 and it is determined in step S160 that a decrease in power generation from the solar cell 31 has occurred, the driving depletion flag F1 may immediately be set to an active value and the process may proceed to step S190.
[0038] In the embodiment described above, the electronic control unit 40 sets the parking-down flag F2 using the parking-down flag setting routine shown in Figure 4. However, instead, the electronic control unit 40 may set the parking-down flag F2 using the parking-down flag setting routine shown in Figure 5. The parking-down flag setting routine in Figure 5 is identical to the parking-down flag setting routine in Figure 4, except that the processing in steps S420 and S430 is replaced by the processing in steps S500 to S520. Therefore, the same reference numerals are used for the same processing in the parking-down flag setting routine in Figure 5 as in the parking-down flag setting routine in Figure 4, and detailed explanations are omitted. In this case, the electronic control unit 40 is capable of communicating with other vehicles.
[0039] In the parking-time depletion flag setting routine shown in Figure 5, the electronic control unit 40, upon determining in step S410 that the sunlight conditions are met, communicates with other vehicles and selects a comparison vehicle based on the results (step S500). In the process of step S500, for example, among other vehicles whose maximum power generation of the solar cell 31 and the maximum power generation amount for a predetermined time T1 (both values based on specifications) are similar to those of the own vehicle 20, the other vehicle parked closest to the own vehicle 20 is selected as the comparison vehicle. Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of how a comparison vehicle is selected. In the figure, for each vehicle parked in parking lot P (the own vehicle 20 and other vehicles 20a to 20f), the hatched area indicates the solar cell 31. It is explained that there is a correlation between the area of the hatched area and the maximum power generation of the solar cell 31 and the maximum power generation amount for a predetermined time T1. Vehicle 20 first selects vehicles 20a, 20c, and 20e from among the other vehicles 20a to 20f parked in parking lot P as comparison vehicles, as these vehicles have a maximum power output from their solar panels 31 and a maximum power output for a predetermined time T1 that is similar to that of vehicle 20. Next, among the other vehicles 20a, 20c, and 20e, vehicle 20c, which is parked closest to vehicle 20, is selected as the comparison vehicle.
[0040] Once a comparison vehicle is selected, the power generation amounts Ws and Wsref of the solar cells 31 of the own vehicle 20 and the comparison vehicle for a predetermined time T1 are input (step S510), and it is determined whether the power generation amount Ws of the solar cells 31 of the own vehicle 20 for a predetermined time T1 is less than the value obtained by subtracting a margin α from the power generation amount Wsref of the solar cells 31 of the comparison vehicle for a predetermined time T1 (Wsref-α) (step S520). The process in step S520 is the same as the process in step S430, and determines whether a decrease in the power generation of the solar cells 31 has occurred while the vehicle is parked. If it is determined in step S520 that the power generation amount Ws of the solar cells 31 of the own vehicle 20 for a predetermined time T1 is equal to or greater than the value (Wsref-α), it is determined that a decrease in the power generation of the solar cells 31 has not occurred while the own vehicle 20 is parked, and the value of the parking decrease flag F2 is set to 0 (step S440), and this routine ends. On the other hand, if step S520 determines that the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 of the vehicle 20 for a predetermined time T1 is less than the value (Wsref-α), then it is determined that a decrease in the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 has occurred while the vehicle 20 is parked, and the parked decrease flag F2 is set to value 1 (step S450), and this routine is terminated. In this way, it is also possible to determine whether or not a decrease in the amount of power generated by the solar cell 31 has occurred while the vehicle 20 is parked.
[0041] In the parking-time depletion flag setting routine shown in Figure 5, the routine selects as a comparison vehicle another vehicle parked closest to the vehicle 20, among other vehicles whose maximum power generation of the solar cell 31 and maximum power generation during a predetermined time T1 are similar to those of the vehicle 20. However, it is not limited to this other vehicle, as long as the maximum power generation of the solar cell 31 and maximum power generation during a predetermined time T1 are similar to those of the vehicle 20. Furthermore, instead of a comparison vehicle, any other object whose maximum power generation of the solar cell 31 and maximum power generation during a predetermined time T1 are similar to those of the vehicle 20 does not have to be a vehicle; for example, a solar cell installed on the roof of a house may also be used.
[0042] In the embodiment described above, the electronic control unit 40 illuminates the warning light 42 when it determines that the decrease in power generation of the solar cell 31 is due to an abnormal condition of the solar cell 31. However, the electronic control unit 40 may also, at this time, display on the navigation device 38's display that the decrease in power generation of the solar cell 31 is due to an abnormal condition of the solar cell 31, output an audio message from the vehicle 20's speaker, display on the display of a pre-configured mobile device (e.g., a smartphone or tablet), or send a message to a pre-configured email address.
[0043] In the embodiment described above, a battery 26 is used as the energy storage device, but a capacitor or the like may be used instead.
[0044] In the embodiment described above, the vehicle 20 was configured to include a drive unit 22 having a motor 23, a battery 26, and a solar cell system 30. However, any configuration including a drive unit 22, a battery 26, and a solar cell system 30 is acceptable. For example, the drive unit 22 could be configured to include an engine in addition to the motor 23, as in a hybrid vehicle.
[0045] The correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem will be explained. In the embodiment, the drive unit 22 corresponds to the "drive unit", the battery 26 corresponds to the "energy storage device", the solar cell system 30 corresponds to the "solar cell system", the vehicle 20 corresponds to the "vehicle", and the electronic control unit 40 corresponds to the "vehicle management device".
[0046] Furthermore, the correspondence between the main elements of the embodiment and the main elements of the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem is merely an example to specifically explain the form in which the embodiment implements the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem, and does not limit the elements of the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem. In other words, the interpretation of the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem should be based on the description in that section, and the embodiment is merely one specific example of the invention described in the section on means for solving the problem.
[0047] While embodiments for implementing this disclosure have been described above, this disclosure is not limited in any way to these embodiments, and can of course be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of this disclosure. [Industrial applicability]
[0048] This disclosure can be used in industries such as the manufacturing of vehicle management systems. [Explanation of symbols]
[0049] 20 Vehicle (own vehicle), 20a~20f Other vehicles, 22 Drive unit, 23 Motor, 24 Inverter, 26 Battery, 30 Solar cell system, 31 Solar cell, 32 Converter, 38 Navigation device, 40 Electronic control unit, 42 Warning lights, 60 Information center.
Claims
1. A vehicle management device used in a vehicle comprising a drive unit for driving, a power storage device capable of supplying power to the drive unit, and a solar cell system capable of generating electricity using solar cells and supplying it to the power storage device, for determining the cause of a decrease in the amount of power generated by the solar cells, Based on whether or not the decrease in power generation occurs while the vehicle is in motion, and whether or not the decrease in power generation occurs while the vehicle is parked, it is determined whether the decrease in power generation is due to a malfunction in the solar cell or to the external environment. Furthermore, while the vehicle is in motion, the amount of power generated by the solar cells during operation, which is the amount of power generated while the vehicle is in motion, is compared with a first predetermined amount of power generated to determine whether or not a decrease in power generation has occurred. While the vehicle is parked, the amount of power generated by the solar cells while the vehicle is parked is compared with a second predetermined amount of power generated, or the amount of power generated by the solar cells surrounding the vehicle is compared with the amount of power generated while the vehicle is parked to determine whether or not a decrease in power generation has occurred. Vehicle management system.
2. A vehicle management device according to claim 1, When it is determined that the decrease in power generation has occurred while the vehicle is in motion, it is determined that the decrease in power generation is due to the abnormal condition. If it is determined that the decrease in power generation occurred while the vehicle was parked, and that the decrease in power generation did not occur while the vehicle was in motion, then it is determined that the decrease in power generation was caused by the external environment. Vehicle management system.
3. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, While the vehicle is in motion, the amount of power generated during operation when sunlight conditions are met is used to determine whether or not a decrease in power generation has occurred. While the vehicle is parked, the amount of power generated while parked when the sunlight conditions are met is used to determine whether or not a decrease in power generation has occurred. Vehicle management system.
4. A vehicle management device according to claim 1 or 2, When it is determined that the decrease in power generation is caused by the abnormal state, predetermined information is notified. Vehicle management system.