Server and lease fee calculation method

Abstract

To provide a server capable of suppressing an increase in lease fee when a secondary battery is deteriorated due to discharging of the secondary battery in response to a request for adjusting the power supply and demand state.SOLUTION: A server 100 comprises: an acquisition unit (communication unit 103) for acquiring information regarding the degree of deterioration of a battery 13 (a secondary battery), and a processor 101 (a control unit) for calculating a lease fee for the battery 13 using the information regarding the degree of deterioration of the battery 13. The processor 101 performs a suppression process for suppressing an increase in the lease fee based on the worsening of the degree of discharge-induced deterioration caused by discharge in response to a request for adjusting the power supply and demand state in the power system PG.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[[Technical Field]]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a server and a lease fee calculation method. [[Background Art]]

[0002] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-029430 (Patent Document 1) discloses that a data center receives information about a secondary battery from an electric vehicle and calculates the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery. [[Prior Art Documents]] [[Patent Documents]]

[0003] [[Patent Document 1]] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2018-029430 [[Summary of the Invention]] [[Problem to be Solved by the Invention]]

[0004] When an electric vehicle or a secondary battery is leased, the lease fee is set based on the degree of deterioration of the secondary battery. Further, the secondary battery deteriorates due to being discharged. Here, when the secondary battery is discharged in response to a request for adjusting the power supply and demand status in an electric power system, the lease fee may increase for the user of the electric vehicle despite the user contributing to society. Accordingly, when the secondary battery deteriorates due to the secondary battery being discharged in response to a request for adjusting the power supply and demand status, it is desired to suppress an increase in the lease fee.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problem, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a server and a lease fee calculation method that can suppress an increase in the lease fee when the secondary battery deteriorates due to the secondary battery being discharged in response to a request for adjusting the power supply and demand status. [[Means for Solving the Problem]]

[0006] The server relating to the first aspect of this disclosure is a server for calculating lease fees for electric vehicles or secondary batteries of electric vehicles, and comprises an acquisition unit for acquiring information on the degree of degradation of the secondary battery, and a control unit for calculating lease fees using the information on the degree of degradation. The control unit performs suppression processing to suppress increases in lease fees due to the deterioration of the degree of degradation caused by discharge resulting from discharge in response to requests to adjust the power supply and demand state in the power grid. Suppression of increases in lease fees includes not only mitigating increases in lease fees but also reducing increases in lease fees to zero.

[0007] In the server relating to the first aspect of this disclosure, as described above, suppression processing is performed to suppress an increase in lease fees due to the deterioration of the degree of discharge-induced degradation. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in lease fees by the above suppression processing when the secondary battery deteriorates due to discharge in response to requests to adjust the power supply and demand state in the power grid.

[0008] In the server relating to the first phase described above, preferably, the control unit calculates the lease fee based on the difference between the total degree of degradation of the secondary battery and the degree of degradation caused by discharge. With this configuration, the lease fee can be calculated based on the value obtained by subtracting the degree of degradation caused by discharge from the total degree of degradation of the secondary battery. As a result, the increase in the lease fee due to the deterioration of the degree of degradation caused by discharge can be made zero.

[0009] In the server relating to the first phase described above, preferably, a calculation formula storage unit is further provided, which stores a calculation formula for calculating the degree of degradation of the secondary battery based on the discharge execution conditions. The control unit calculates the degree of discharge-induced degradation using the calculation formula. With this configuration, the degree of discharge-induced degradation can be calculated relatively accurately using the calculation formula.

[0010] In the server relating to the first phase described above, preferably, a table storage unit is provided that stores a table showing the relationship between the discharge execution conditions and the degree of degradation of the secondary battery. The control unit derives the degree of degradation caused by discharge by referring to the above table. With this configuration, the processing load on the control unit can be reduced compared to when the degree of degradation caused by discharge is calculated by computation.

[0011] The lease fee calculation method relating to the second aspect of this disclosure is a lease fee calculation method for calculating the lease fee for an electric vehicle or a secondary battery for an electric vehicle, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring information on the degree of degradation of the secondary battery; and a calculation step of calculating the lease fee using the information on the degree of degradation. The calculation step includes a suppression process for suppressing an increase in the lease fee due to the deterioration of the degree of degradation caused by discharge resulting from discharge in response to a demand for adjusting the power supply and demand state in the power grid.

[0012] In the lease fee calculation method relating to the second aspect of this disclosure, as described above, a suppression process is performed to suppress an increase in lease fees due to the deterioration of the degree of discharge-induced degradation caused by discharge in response to requests to adjust the power supply and demand state in the power grid. This makes it possible to provide a lease fee calculation method that can suppress an increase in lease fees through the above suppression process when a secondary battery deteriorates due to discharge in response to requests to adjust the power supply and demand state in the power grid. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to this disclosure, it is possible to suppress the increase in lease fees that occurs when a secondary battery deteriorates due to discharge in response to a request to adjust the power supply and demand conditions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] This is a diagram showing the system configuration according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] This diagram shows the degree of battery degradation caused by discharge to the power grid. [Figure 3] It is a diagram showing sequence control of the system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a diagram showing a configuration of the system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a diagram showing a table stored in a memory of the server according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing sequence control of the system according to the second embodiment. MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0015] [First Embodiment] Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference symbols, and description thereof will not be repeated.

[0016] Figure 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system 1 according to the first embodiment. The system 1 includes a server 100, a grid management server 900, a power grid PG, an electric vehicle 10, and an EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) 20.

[0017] The electric vehicle 10 includes, for example, a PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), a BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), and an FCEV (Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle).

[0018] The electric vehicle 10 includes a car navigation system 11 and a communication device 12. The electric vehicle 10 also includes a battery 13 that supplies power to electrical devices such as the car navigation system 11 and the communication device 12. Further, the communication device 12 may include a DCM (Data Communication Module), or may include a communication I / F compatible with 5G (fifth generation mobile communication system).

[0019] The EVSE 20 is configured to be electrically connectable to the electric vehicle 10. Connecting a charging cable 21 connected to the EVSE 20 to an inlet of the electric vehicle 10 enables charging of a battery 13 of the electric vehicle 10 and discharging from the battery 13.

[0020] The power grid PG is a power network constructed by power plants and power transmission / distribution facilities not shown in the figure. In this embodiment, an electric power company serves as both a power generation business operator and a power transmission / distribution business operator. The electric power company corresponds to a general power transmission / distribution business operator, and maintains and manages the power grid PG. The electric power company corresponds to an administrator of the power grid PG.

[0021] The grid management server 900 manages power supply and demand in the power grid PG. Also, the grid management server 900 is owned by the electric power company. The grid management server 900 transmits a request for adjusting the power demand of the power grid PG (supply-demand adjustment request) to the server 100 based on generated power and power consumption from each power adjustment resource managed by the grid management server 900. Specifically, when it is expected that the generated power or power consumption of the aforementioned power adjustment resources will be larger than in normal times (or is larger at the current time), the grid management server 900 transmits a request to the server 100 to increase or decrease the power demand compared to normal times, respectively.

[0022] The server 100 is a server managed by an aggregator. An aggregator is an electric power business operator that provides energy management services by aggregating a plurality of power adjustment resources from a region, predetermined facilities, or the like.

[0023] As one means for increasing or decreasing the power demand of the power grid PG, the server 100 requests the electric vehicle 10 to perform discharging to the power grid PG (external discharging) and charging from the power grid PG (external charging). The server 100 transmits a request signal requesting external discharging or external charging to the electric vehicle 10 or a mobile terminal 14 or the like owned by a user of the electric vehicle 10.

[0024] Furthermore, the server 100 is configured to manage information on registered electric vehicles 10 (hereinafter also referred to as "vehicle information"), information on registered users (hereinafter also referred to as "user information"), and information on registered EVSEs 20 (hereinafter also referred to as "EVSE information"). User information, vehicle information, and EVSE information are distinguished by identification information (ID) and stored in the memory 102 described later.

[0025] The user ID is identification information used to identify a user, and also functions as information that identifies the mobile terminal 14 carried by the user (terminal ID). The server 100 is configured to store information received from the mobile terminal 14 separately for each user ID. User information includes the communication address of the mobile terminal 14 carried by the user and the vehicle ID of the electric vehicle 10 belonging to the user.

[0026] The vehicle ID is identification information used to identify the electric vehicle 10. The vehicle ID may be a license plate number or a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). The vehicle information includes the planned movements of the electric vehicle 10.

[0027] The EVSE-ID is identification information used to identify the EVSE20. The EVSE information includes the communication address of the EVSE20 and the status of the electric vehicle 10 connected to the EVSE20. The EVSE information also includes information indicating the combination of the electric vehicle 10 and the EVSE20 that are connected to each other (for example, a combination of the EVSE-ID and the vehicle ID).

[0028] The server 100 includes a processor 101, a memory 102, and a communication unit 103. The processor 101 and the communication unit 103 are examples of the "control unit" and "acquisition unit" as defined in this disclosure, respectively. The memory 102 is an example of the "arithmetic expression storage unit" as defined in this disclosure.

[0029] The processor 101 calculates the lease fee for the battery 13 using information regarding the degree of battery degradation. For example, the processor 101 calculates the lease fee for the battery 13 based on the difference between the capacity retention rate of the battery 13 before leasing and the capacity retention rate of the battery 13 after leasing. Information regarding the degree of battery degradation may also be provided, specifically the degradation level of the battery 13 (100 - capacity retention rate [%]).

[0030] Memory 102 stores the program executed by the processor 101, as well as information used by the program (for example, maps, formulas, and various parameters). The communication unit 103 includes various communication interfaces. The processor 101 controls the communication unit 103. Specifically, the processor 101 communicates with the system management server 900, the communication device 12 of the electric vehicle 10 (or the user's mobile terminal 14 of the electric vehicle 10), and the EVSE 20 through the communication unit 103.

[0031] The communication unit 103 acquires information regarding charging and discharging by the electric vehicle 10. Specifically, the communication unit 103 acquires information such as the amount of charge / discharge, the charging / discharging time, and the time period during which charging / discharging occurred between the electric vehicle 10 and the EVSE 20 during charging / discharging.

[0032] In conventional systems, if the battery 13 is discharged (externally discharged) in response to a request to adjust the power supply and demand state in the power grid PG, the user of the electric vehicle 10 may incur higher lease charges for the battery 13, even though they are contributing to society. Therefore, it is desirable to suppress the increase in lease charges for the battery 13 when the battery 13 deteriorates due to discharge performed in response to a request to adjust the power supply and demand state.

[0033] Therefore, in the first embodiment, the processor 101 performs suppression processing to suppress an increase in lease charges based on the deterioration of the degree of discharge-induced degradation caused by discharge in response to requests to adjust the power supply and demand state in the power grid PG. This will be explained in detail below.

[0034] The communication unit 103 acquires information regarding the degree of degradation of the battery 13. Specifically, the communication unit 103 acquires from the electric vehicle 10 the Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) of the battery 13 at the start of discharge, the OCV of the battery 13 at the end of discharge (preferably the OCV approximately 30 minutes after the actual end, taking into account the effect of polarization), and the discharge current ΔAh of the battery 13 between the start and end of discharge.

[0035] The processor 101 converts the difference between the OCV at the start and end of discharge into an SOC difference ΔSOC by referring to an SOC-OCV curve pre-stored in the memory 102. Then, the processor 101 calculates the full charge capacity C of the battery 13 according to the following formula (1), which assumes that the ratio of the discharge current amount ΔAh to the SOC difference ΔSOC is equal to the ratio of the full charge capacity C to the SOC difference = 100%. Since the full charge capacity C0 in the initial state is known from the specifications of the battery 13, the capacity retention rate Q can be calculated from the full charge capacity C (Q = C / C0). Note that the following formula (1) is stored in the memory 102. Furthermore, the following formula (1) is an example of an "arithmetic formula" in this disclosure.

[0036] C = ΔAh / ΔSOC × 100 ... (1) The processor 101 stores information on the decrease in capacity retention rate Q ΔQ due to discharge to the power grid PG in the memory 102 each time a discharge is performed. As a result, as shown in Figure 2, the total decrease in the capacity retention rate of the battery 13 (ΔQ1) is distinguished into the decrease in capacity retention rate due to discharge to the power grid PG (ΔQ2) and the decrease in capacity retention rate due to normal discharge other than the above (ΔQ3). Note that the decrease in capacity retention rate due to discharge to the power grid PG (ΔQ2) is an example of the "degree of discharge-induced degradation" in this disclosure.

[0037] In detail, the processor 101 calculates the lease fee for the battery 13 based on the difference (ΔQ1-ΔQ2=ΔQ3) between the total amount of capacity retention rate reduction (ΔQ1) and the amount of capacity retention rate reduction due to discharge to the power grid PG (ΔQ2). A table showing the relationship between the amount of capacity retention rate reduction and the lease fee may be stored in the memory 102.

[0038] Furthermore, the degree of degradation (decrease in capacity retention rate) caused by charging of battery 13 may also be considered. Specifically, the amount of the decrease in capacity retention rate caused by charging may be calculated using the formula for calculating the capacity retention rate caused by charging, which corresponds to formula (1) above. The lease fee may then be calculated based on the difference between the total amount of the decrease in capacity retention rate due to charging and discharging and the amount of the decrease in capacity retention rate caused by discharging to the power grid PG. Alternatively, the lease fee may be calculated based on the difference between the total amount of the decrease in capacity retention rate due to charging and discharging and the total amount of the decrease in capacity retention rate caused by discharging to the power grid PG and charging from the power grid PG.

[0039] (Lease fee calculation method) Referring to the sequence diagram in Figure 3, the method for calculating the lease fee for the battery 13 by the server 100 will be explained.

[0040] In step S1, the processor 101 determines whether or not the electric vehicle 10 has performed a discharge. Specifically, the processor 101 may make the above determination in response to a signal sent from the electric vehicle 10 or EVSE 20 to the server 100 when the electric vehicle 10 performs a discharge. If the electric vehicle 10 has performed a discharge (Yes in S1), the process proceeds to step S2. If the electric vehicle 10 has not performed a discharge (No in S1), the process in step S1 is repeated.

[0041] In step S2, the processor 101 requests information on the discharge execution conditions (actual results) performed in step S1 via the communication unit 103. Specifically, as described above, the processor 101 obtains the OCV of the battery 13 at the start and end of the discharge, and the discharge current ΔAh of the battery 13 between the start and end of the discharge.

[0042] In step S3, the electric vehicle 10 transmits information about the discharge execution conditions (actual results) to the server 100 in response to the request in step S2.

[0043] In step S4, the processor 101 calculates the amount of decrease in the capacity retention rate of the battery 13 using the information obtained in step S3 and the above formula (1). At this time, the processor 101 can determine whether or not a discharge to the power grid PG has been performed based on whether or not there is a supply and demand adjustment request from the grid management server 100. Based on this determination, the processor 101 stores the total amount of decrease in the capacity retention rate due to the discharge of the battery 13 (ΔQ1) and the amount of decrease in the capacity retention rate due to the discharge to the power grid PG (ΔQ2) in the memory 102, distinguishing them from normal discharges other than those mentioned above.

[0044] In step S5, the processor 101 determines whether the lease period for the battery 13 has ended. For example, the processor 101 may perform the above determination when it detects that a predetermined lease period has elapsed. Alternatively, the processor 101 may perform the above determination when it receives a command signal from the electric vehicle 10 or the like to calculate the lease fee. If the lease period has ended (Yes in step S5), the process proceeds to step S6. If the lease period has not ended, the process returns to step S1.

[0045] In step S6, the processor 101 calculates the difference (ΔQ1 - ΔQ2 = ΔQ3) between the total amount of decrease in the capacity retention rate of the battery 13 calculated in step S4 (ΔQ1) and the amount of decrease in the capacity retention rate due to discharge to the power grid PG (ΔQ2).

[0046] In step S7, the processor 101 calculates the lease fee based on the difference calculated in step S6. For example, the processor 101 may calculate the lease fee by referring to a table stored in memory 102 that shows the relationship between the decrease in capacity retention rate and the lease fee. That is, the processor 101 calculates the lease fee assuming that the impact of the degree of battery degradation due to discharge to the power grid PG on the lease fee is zero.

[0047] In step S8, the processor 101 transmits the lease fee calculated in step S7 to the electric vehicle 10 or mobile terminal 14 via the communication unit 103.

[0048] As described above, in the first embodiment, the processor 101 performs suppression processing to suppress an increase in lease charges based on the deterioration (increase) of the degree of discharge-induced degradation (ΔQ2) caused by discharge in response to requests to adjust the power supply and demand state in the power grid PG. This makes it possible to suppress the reflection of the degree of battery 13 degradation caused by discharge to the power grid PG in the lease charges.

[0049] [Second Embodiment] Next, the server 200 and system 2 in the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6. Unlike the first embodiment, in the second embodiment, the degree of degradation of the battery 13 due to discharge to the power grid PG (decrease in capacity retention rate) is calculated by computation, and the decrease in capacity retention rate is not calculated by computation. Components that are the same as in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment and will not be described repeatedly.

[0050] Figure 4 shows the configuration of System 2 according to the second embodiment. System 2 comprises a server 200, a grid management server 900, a power grid PG, an electric vehicle 10, and an EVSE 20.

[0051] The server 200 includes a processor 201, a memory 202, and a communication unit 203. The processor 201 and the communication unit 203 are examples of the "control unit" and "acquisition unit" as defined in this disclosure. The memory 202 is an example of the "table storage unit" as defined in this disclosure.

[0052] Memory 202 stores a table 202a (see Figure 5) which contains a table showing the relationship between the discharge execution conditions and the amount of decrease in capacity retention rate caused by the discharge of the battery 13. Specifically, table 202a shows the relationship between the amount of power discharged from the electric vehicle 10 and the amount of decrease in capacity retention rate.

[0053] The processor 201 derives the amount of decrease in the capacity retention rate due to the discharge, based on the information of the amount of electricity discharged from the electric vehicle 10. For example, if the total amount of discharged electricity is 28 kWh, it is estimated that the capacity retention rate has decreased by 15%. Also, if the amount of discharged electricity in the discharge to the power grid PG is 15 kWh, it is estimated that the capacity retention rate has decreased by 10%. Note that the table 202a shown in Figure 5 is merely an example and is not limited to the example in Figure 5. Furthermore, a table that also considers information other than the amount of discharged electricity (for example, discharge time) may be used.

[0054] (Lease fee calculation method) Referring to the sequence diagram in Figure 6, the method for calculating the lease fee for the battery 13 by the server 200 will be explained. Note that the same reference numerals are used for the same processes as in the first embodiment described above, and repeated explanations will not be provided.

[0055] If the answer in step S1 is Yes, then the process in step S12 is performed. In step S12, the processor 201 requests information on the discharge conditions (actual results) performed by the electric vehicle 10 via the communication unit 203. Specifically, the processor 201 obtains information on the amount of discharged power by the electric vehicle 10.

[0056] In step S13, the electric vehicle 10 transmits information about the amount of discharged power to the server 100 in response to the request in step S12.

[0057] In step S14, the processor 201 uses the information acquired in step S13 to calculate the decrease in the capacity retention rate of the battery 13. Specifically, the processor 201 uses the information acquired in step S13 and the table 202a stored in memory 102 to derive the decrease in the capacity retention rate of the battery 13. The processing from step S5 onward is the same as in the first embodiment described above.

[0058] The other configurations in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment described above, so no further explanation will be given.

[0059] In the first and second embodiments described above, examples were shown in which lease charges are calculated with the effect of the degree of battery degradation (decrease in capacity retention rate) due to discharge to the power grid PG on the lease charges being set to zero. However, this disclosure is not limited to these examples. Lease charges may also be calculated with the effect of the degree of battery degradation due to discharge to the power grid PG on the lease charges being reduced to a predetermined value greater than zero.

[0060] In the first embodiment described above, an example was shown in which the server 100 calculates the capacity retention rate of the battery 13, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The ECU (Electric Control Unit) of the electric vehicle 10 may calculate the capacity retention rate and the amount of decrease in the capacity retention rate. In addition, the table 202a in the second embodiment described above may be stored in the memory of the electric vehicle 10.

[0061] In the first and second embodiments described above, examples were shown of calculating the difference between the decrease in the capacity retention rate of the battery 13 (ΔQ1) and the decrease in the capacity retention rate due to discharge to the power grid PG (ΔQ2), but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The processor 101 (201) may directly calculate the decrease in the capacity retention rate due to normal discharge other than discharge to the power grid PG (ΔQ3).

[0062] In the first and second embodiments described above, examples were shown in which the battery 13 is leased, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The electric vehicle 10 may also be leased.

[0063] Furthermore, the configurations (processes) of the above embodiments and each of the above modified examples may be combined with each other.

[0064] 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]

[0065] 10 Electric vehicle, 13 Battery (secondary battery), 100, 200 Server, 101, 201 Processor (control unit), 102 Memory (arithmetic expression storage unit), 103, 203 Communication unit (acquisition unit), 202 Memory (table storage unit), PG Power system.

Claims

1. A server for calculating lease fees for electric vehicles or the secondary batteries of said electric vehicles, An acquisition unit that acquires information regarding the degree of degradation of the secondary battery, The system includes a control unit that calculates the lease fee from the degree of degradation of the secondary battery using relational information showing the relationship between the degree of degradation of the secondary battery and the lease fee, If the degree of degradation of the secondary battery caused by discharge in response to requests to adjust the power supply and demand state in the power grid is defined as the degree of discharge-induced degradation, The control unit is a server that uses the relevant information to calculate the lease fee based on the magnitude of the difference between the total degree of degradation of the secondary battery and the degree of degradation caused by discharge.

2. The system further comprises a calculation formula storage unit which stores a calculation formula for calculating the degree of degradation of the secondary battery based on the discharge execution conditions, The server according to claim 1, wherein the control unit calculates the degree of discharge-induced deterioration using the calculation formula.

3. The system further includes a table storage unit that stores a table showing the relationship between the discharge execution conditions and the degree of degradation of the secondary battery. The server according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit derives the degree of discharge-induced deterioration by referring to the table.

4. A lease fee calculation method executed by a server that calculates lease fees for electric vehicles or secondary batteries of said electric vehicles, An acquisition step to acquire information regarding the degree of degradation of the secondary battery, The system includes a calculation step of calculating the lease fee from the degree of degradation of the secondary battery using relational information showing the relationship between the degree of degradation of the secondary battery and the lease fee, If the degree of degradation of the secondary battery caused by discharge in response to requests to adjust the power supply and demand state in the power grid is defined as the degree of discharge-induced degradation, A lease fee calculation method, wherein the calculation step is a step of using the relational information to calculate the lease fee from the magnitude of the difference between the total degree of deterioration of the secondary battery and the degree of deterioration caused by discharge.

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