Route simulation device and route simulation method

Abstract

The present invention, when a route search instruction is received from a user, searches for a route that causes less anxiety regarding a charging facility.　This route simulation device comprises: a map information storage unit that stores map information which includes road information including link cost information between nodes and includes charging facility information including locations of a plurality of charging facilities; an electric vehicle information input unit that receives, as inputs, departure position information and target position information of an electric vehicle provided with a motor driven by electricity; a simulation unit that, when setting a route for minimizing the total sum of the link cost information as a route connecting the departure position information and the target position information, subtracts, from the total sum of the link cost information, facility cost subtraction information set for each of the charging facilities existing on the route, and sets a route in which the total sum of the link cost information after the subtraction becomes minimum as electric vehicle route information; and an output unit that outputs the electric vehicle route information.

Description

Route simulation device and route simulation method

[0001] The present invention relates to a route simulation device and a route simulation method for searching for a route where users of electric vehicles have fewer concerns about charging facilities.

[0002] In recent years, efforts to realize a low-carbon or carbon-free society have become more active, and research and development into electric vehicles (EVs) is underway to reduce CO2 emissions and improve energy efficiency. While various automobile manufacturers are selling EVs, owners of conventional internal combustion engine vehicles that use gasoline or diesel fuel have expressed concerns about switching to EVs. One of the reasons for this concern is the shift from refueling at gas stations to charging at charging facilities. Charging at charging facilities increases waiting times compared to refueling, which can lead to the possibility that other vehicles are using the facility when the user wants to charge. Additionally, charging facilities are scarce. In response to these concerns, Patent Literature 1, while not related to charging facilities, discloses a technology for a navigation system that adds information about the number of facilities included in a route searched for by the system. Patent Literature 2 also discloses a technology for providing a safe route by determining virtual waypoints between a minimum-cost route and charging stations to mitigate the risk of a vehicle not being able to reach a charging station. However, the technology described in Patent Literature 1 only presents the number of facilities, and there is the possibility that other routes more suitable for EVs exist. Furthermore, the technology described in Patent Document 2 includes charging facilities that are not present along the route, so it is not suitable for EV users who want to charge their vehicles whenever they notice a problem. As a result, it has not yet been able to alleviate the anxiety of replacing an EV.

[0003] Patent No. 5837192 Patent No. 5301421

[0004] In the field of EV technology, it is desirable for EV owners to be able to search for routes that reduce concerns about charging facilities.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of these problems, and aims to provide a route simulation device and a route simulation method that, when a route search instruction is received from a user, searches for a route that minimizes concerns about charging facilities. By doing so, when using an EV, the route that minimizes concerns about charging facilities can be guided, which can help alleviate users' concerns and ultimately contribute to improving energy efficiency.

[0006] (1) A route simulation device according to one aspect of the present invention (for example, a route simulation device 1 described later) includes: a map information storage unit (for example, a map information storage unit 121 described later) that stores map information including road information including link cost information between nodes and charging facility information including locations of a plurality of charging facilities; an electric vehicle information input unit (for example, an electric vehicle information input unit 110 described later) that inputs start position information and destination position information of an electric vehicle equipped with an electrically driven motor; a simulation unit (for example, a simulation unit 111 described later) that, when setting a route that minimizes the sum of the link cost information as a route connecting the start position information and the destination position information, subtracts facility cost subtraction information that is set for each of the charging facilities present on the route from the sum of the link cost information, and sets the route that minimizes the sum of the link cost information after the subtraction as electric vehicle route information; and an output unit (for example, an output unit 112 described later) that outputs the electric vehicle route information.

[0007] According to (1) above, when using an EV, the route that minimizes concerns about charging facilities is guided, which can help alleviate users' concerns.

[0008] (2) In the route simulation device described in (1) above (e.g., the route simulation device 1 described later), the map information storage unit (e.g., the map information storage unit 121 described later) may further include congestion prediction information related to the road information, and the simulation unit (e.g., the simulation unit 111 described later) may be configured to estimate a higher value for the facility cost subtraction information in accordance with an increase in the required time for the route estimated by the congestion prediction information.

[0009] According to (2) above, concerns about running out of power are stronger during traffic jams, so this can further alleviate users' anxiety.

[0010] (3) In the route simulation device described in (1) above (for example, the route simulation device 1 described later), the map information storage unit (for example, the map information storage unit 121 described later) may further include charging fee information as the charging facility information, and the simulation unit (for example, the simulation unit 111 described later) may estimate a lower value for the facility cost subtraction information as the charging fee information increases.

[0011] According to the above (3), there is less concern about high charging fees, which can further alleviate users' concerns.

[0012] (4) In the route simulation device described in (1) above (for example, the route simulation device 1 described later), the map information storage unit (for example, the map information storage unit 121 described later) may further include availability information as the charging facility information, and the simulation unit (for example, the simulation unit 111 described later) may estimate a lower value for the facility cost subtraction information as the availability information increases.

[0013] According to (4) above, there is less concern that the charging facility will be used by another user and the user will be unable to charge, which can further alleviate users' anxiety.

[0014] (5) In the route simulation device described in (1) to (4) above (for example, the route simulation device 1 described later), the electric vehicle information input unit (for example, the electric vehicle information input unit 110 described later) may input the starting position information and the destination position information of the electric vehicle by estimating them from driving information from an internal combustion engine vehicle equipped with the user's internal combustion engine.

[0015] According to (5) above, users can imagine how they would use the car if they switched from an internal combustion engine vehicle to an EV, which can further alleviate their concerns.

[0016] (6) A route simulation method according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a map information storage step for storing map information including road information including link cost information between nodes and charging facility information including locations of a plurality of charging facilities; an electric vehicle information input step for inputting start position information and destination position information of an electric vehicle equipped with an electrically driven motor; a simulation step for subtracting facility cost subtraction information set for each charging facility present on the route from the sum of the link cost information when setting a route connecting the start position information and the destination position information such that the sum of the link cost information is minimized, and setting the route having the smallest sum of the link cost information after the subtraction as electric vehicle route information; and an output step for outputting the electric vehicle route information.

[0017] According to the method (6) above, the same effect as that of the route simulation device (1) above can be achieved.

[0018] According to the present invention, when a route search instruction is received from a user, a route that minimizes concerns about charging facilities can be searched for. This allows users to be guided to a route that minimizes concerns about charging facilities when using an EV, which can help alleviate their concerns.

[0019] It is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the route simulation device.It is a flowchart showing the simulation process by the route simulation device.

[0020] A preferred embodiment of a route simulation device of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of the route simulation device 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the route simulation device 1 is, for example, a navigation device, a computer device, a tablet terminal, a smartphone, or the like, and is configured to include a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, a communication unit 13, a display unit 14, and an input unit 15.

[0021] The control unit 11 is composed of an arithmetic processing device such as a microprocessor, and controls each unit constituting the route simulation device 1. The control unit 11 will be described in detail later.

[0022] The storage unit 12 is configured with a semiconductor memory or the like, and stores various programs such as control programs called firmware or operating systems, programs for performing route simulation processing and output processing, and other various information such as map information and facility cost subtraction information. As shown in FIG. 1 , the storage unit 12 includes a map information storage unit 121 and a facility cost subtraction information storage unit 122. In the present embodiment, a configuration is illustrated in which the map information includes charging facility information, but this is not limiting. The charging facility information may be stored in a charging facility information storage unit (not shown) or the like.

[0023] The map information storage unit 121 stores road information including link cost information, facility type information indicating attributes of each facility for a plurality of facilities, and facility information including location information of the facility linked to the facility. The road information includes display map data for displaying roads and the background of a road map, road network data including location information and type information of nodes (e.g., road intersections, bends, and endpoints), location information and type information of links that are routes connecting the nodes, and link cost information related to cost information of all links (e.g., required time, distance, average speed, etc.). The map information storage unit 121 may also store congestion prediction information related to road information acquired via, for example, VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) (registered trademark). In this embodiment, the facility information includes charging facility information. The charging facility information includes, for example, facility type information indicating the charging facility, a charging facility identification number (charging facility identification ID) that identifies the charging facility, the name of the charging facility, location information of the charging facility (including information about the road facing the charging facility), a telephone number, an address, business hours, power supply performance information of chargers installed at the charging facility, charging fee information regarding the charging fee, and availability information regarding the availability rate of the charging facility. Here, the power supply performance information indicates, for example, the charging method (normal charging, rapid charging) and the output amount (power supply amount per hour; in the case of the CHAdeMO standard, this is approximately 20 kW to 50 kW, and manufacturer-specific rapid charging is also available, such as 60 kW, 90 kW, 150 kW, and 250 kW). Note that the map information storage unit 121 may also include, for example, fueling facility (gas station) information in addition to the charging facility information. The fueling facility information includes, for example, facility type information indicating the fueling facility, the name of the fueling facility, location information of the fueling facility (including information about the road facing the fueling facility), and the like.

[0024] The facility cost subtraction information storage unit 122 stores facility cost subtraction information related to costs set for each charging facility present on each route, which is to be subtracted from the sum of link cost information for each route calculated by the route simulation device 1 in order to search for a route connecting departure location information and destination location information received by a user via the input unit 15 (described later). The facility cost subtraction information includes a cost (e.g., "1" or "10") that is set in advance for each charging facility. Note that the cost in the facility cost subtraction information may be the same value for all charging facilities, or may be a value set according to charging performance information for each charging facility (e.g., charging method, output amount, etc.).

[0025] The storage unit 12 has been described above, but for example, the facility information stored in the map information storage unit 121 and the facility cost subtraction information stored in the facility cost subtraction information storage unit 122 may be configured to be stored in advance, or may be configured to be downloaded as needed from a server device (not shown) connected to a communication network (not shown) via the communication unit 13 (described later). Furthermore, this information may be modified as needed in response to user input, etc.

[0026] The communication unit 13 has a DSP and the like, and conforms to standards such as 4G (4th Generation), 5G (5th Generation), and Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and realizes wireless communication and wired communication with the server device (not shown) and the like via a communication network (not shown). The communication network (not shown) is realized by a network such as the Internet or a mobile phone network, or a combination of these. Furthermore, a local area network (LAN) may be included as part of the network.

[0027] The display unit 14 is configured by a display device such as a liquid crystal display, an organic electroluminescence panel, etc. The display unit 14 receives an instruction from the control unit 11 and displays an image.

[0028] The input unit 15 is configured with an input device (not shown) such as a physical switch called a numeric keypad or a touch panel provided over the display surface of the display unit 14 .

[0029] Next, the control unit 11 will be described in detail. The control unit 11 is configured with a microprocessor having a CPU, RAM, ROM, I / O, etc. The CPU executes each program read from the ROM or storage unit 12, and during execution, reads information from the RAM, ROM, and storage unit 12, writes information to the RAM and storage unit 12, and exchanges signals with the communication unit 13. In this way, the processing in this embodiment is realized by the cooperation of hardware and software (programs).

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1 , the control unit 11 includes, as functional blocks, an electric vehicle information input unit 110 , a simulation unit 111 , and an output unit 112 .

[0031] The electric vehicle information input unit 110 receives, for example, based on input operations by the user via the input unit 15, departure position information indicating the departure point of an EV equipped with an electrically driven motor and destination position information indicating the destination.

[0032] When setting a route that minimizes the sum of link cost information as a route connecting the departure position information and destination position information received by the electric vehicle information input unit 110, the simulation unit 111 subtracts facility cost subtraction information set for each charging facility present on the route from the sum of link cost information, and sets the route with the smallest sum of link cost information after subtraction as electric vehicle route information. Specifically, the simulation unit 111 calculates the sum of link cost information (e.g., required time, distance, etc.) for each of multiple routes connecting the departure position information and the destination position information, based on, for example, map information stored in the map information storage unit 121. The simulation unit 111 subtracts the cost of each charging facility present on each route from the calculated sum of link cost information, based on the facility cost subtraction information stored in the facility cost subtraction information storage unit 122. The simulation unit 111 sets the route with the smallest sum of link cost information as electric vehicle route information. However, the simulation unit 111 may set a plurality of routes, such as three routes, in ascending order of the sum of the link cost information as the electric vehicle route information.

[0033] The simulation unit 111 may estimate a higher cost for charging facilities (e.g., double the cost) based on the congestion forecast information stored in the map information storage unit 121 as the required time for the estimated route (the sum of link cost information) increases, and subtract the estimated cost from the sum of link cost information. In this way, the route simulation device 1 can address users' concerns and anxieties about running out of battery power during congestion by setting, as electric vehicle route information, a route that passes through more charging facilities. Furthermore, the simulation unit 111 may estimate a lower cost for charging facilities (e.g., 0.5 times the cost) based on the charging fee information stored in the map information storage unit 121 as the charging fee at the charging facility increases, and subtract the estimated cost from the sum of link cost information. In this way, the route simulation device 1 can address users' concerns and anxieties about high charging fees by setting, as electric vehicle route information, a route that passes through more low-cost charging facilities. Alternatively, the simulation unit 111 may estimate a lower cost for a charging facility (for example, 0.5 times) as the operating rate of the charging facility increases, and subtract the estimated cost from the total link cost information, based on the operating rate information stored in the map information storage unit 121. In this way, the route simulation device 1 can further alleviate the user's anxiety and worry that the charging facility is being used by another user and they will not be able to charge, by setting a route that passes through charging facilities with low operating rates as electric vehicle route information.

[0034] The output unit 112 outputs, for example, the electric vehicle route information set by the simulation unit 111 to the display unit 14, and causes the route of the electric vehicle route information to be displayed on the display unit 14. Note that if the electric vehicle route information includes multiple routes, the display unit 14 may display the multiple routes, and the input unit 15 may accept route selection by the user.

[0035] <Simulation Processing of Route Simulation Device 1> Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the simulation processing by the route simulation device 1.

[0036] In step S10 , the electric vehicle information input unit 110 receives, based on an input operation by the user via the input unit 15 , departure position information indicating the departure point of the EV and destination position information indicating the destination.

[0037] In step S11, the simulation unit 111 calculates the sum of link cost information for each of multiple routes connecting the departure location information and destination location information received in step S10, based on the map information stored in the map information storage unit 121.

[0038] In step S12, the simulation unit 111 subtracts the cost of each charging facility present on each route from the total sum of link cost information based on the facility cost subtraction information stored in the facility cost subtraction information storage unit 122.

[0039] In step S13, the simulation unit 111 sets the route that minimizes the sum of the link cost information as the electric vehicle route information.

[0040] In step S14, the output unit 112 outputs the electric vehicle route information set in step S13 to the display unit 14, and causes the display unit 14 to display the route of the electric vehicle route information.

[0041] As a result, when a route search instruction is received from a user, a route that minimizes concerns about charging facilities can be searched for. This helps alleviate the user's anxiety when using an EV because the route that minimizes concerns about charging facilities is displayed.

[0042] Each device can be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of these. Furthermore, the navigation method performed by the cooperation of each device included in the navigation system can also be realized by hardware, software, or a combination of these. Here, "realized by software" means that it is realized by a computer reading and executing a program.

[0043] The program can be stored and supplied to a computer using various types of non-transitory computer-readable media. Non-transitory computer-readable media include various types of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer-readable media include magnetic recording media (e.g., flexible disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (e.g., magneto-optical disks), CD-ROMs (Read Only Memory), CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and semiconductor memories (e.g., mask ROMs, PROMs (Programmable ROMs), EPROMs (Erasable PROMs), flash ROMs, and RAMs (Random Access Memory)). The program may also be supplied to a computer by various types of transitory computer-readable media. Examples of transitory computer-readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. The transitory computer-readable media can be supplied to a computer via wired communication paths such as electric wires and optical fibers, or via wireless communication paths.

[0044] The above-described embodiment is a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment alone, and the present invention can be implemented in various modified forms within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0045] <Modification 1> In the above embodiment, the route simulation device 1 is described as being realized by a single navigation device, computer device, etc. However, the functions of the route simulation device 1 may be distributed among a plurality of server devices as appropriate, forming a distributed processing system. Furthermore, the functions of the route simulation device 1 may be realized by using a virtual server function on the cloud, etc.

[0046] <Variation 2> In the above-described embodiment, the route simulation device 1 displays a route that minimizes the sum of link cost information obtained by subtracting the cost of each charging facility on the route connecting the start location information and destination location information input by the user. However, this is not limited to this. For example, the route simulation device 1 may display a route that minimizes the sum of link cost information obtained by subtracting the cost of each charging facility, as well as a route that minimizes the sum of link cost information without subtracting the cost of the charging facility, i.e., a route for a conventional internal combustion engine vehicle, so that they can be compared. This allows users who have not yet switched to an EV to imagine what their usage will be like after switching from an internal combustion engine vehicle to an EV, further alleviating their concerns. Note that, before the user switches to an EV, the route simulation device 1 may acquire driving information of the user's internal combustion engine vehicle as the start location information and destination location information for the EV, and estimate and accept the start location information and destination location information from the acquired driving information.

[0047] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Route simulation device 11 Control unit 110 Electric vehicle information input unit 111 Simulation unit 112 Output unit 12 Storage unit 121 Map information storage unit 122 Facility cost subtraction information storage unit 13 Communication unit 14 Display unit 15 Input unit

Claims

1. A route simulation device comprising: a map information storage unit that stores map information including road information including link cost information between nodes and charging facility information including the locations of a plurality of charging facilities; an electric vehicle information input unit that inputs start position information and destination position information of an electric vehicle equipped with an electrically driven motor; a simulation unit that, when setting a route connecting the start position information and the destination position information such that the sum of the link cost information is minimized, subtracts facility cost subtraction information that is set for each of the charging facilities present on the route from the sum of the link cost information, and sets the route such that the sum of the link cost information after the subtraction is the smallest as electric vehicle route information; and an output unit that outputs the electric vehicle route information.

2. The route simulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the map information storage unit further includes congestion forecast information relating to the road information, and the simulation unit overestimates the value of the facility cost subtraction information in accordance with an increase in the required time for the route estimated by the congestion forecast information.

3. The route simulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the map information storage unit further includes charging fee information as the charging facility information, and the simulation unit estimates a lower value of the facility cost subtraction information as the charging fee of the charging fee information increases.

4. The route simulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the map information storage unit further includes availability information as the charging facility information, and the simulation unit estimates a lower value of the facility cost subtraction information as the availability information increases.

5. A route simulation device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the electric vehicle information input unit estimates and inputs the departure position information and destination position information of the electric vehicle from driving information from an internal combustion engine vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine of the user.

6. A route simulation method comprising: a map information storage step for storing map information including road information including link cost information between nodes and charging facility information including locations of a plurality of charging facilities; an electric vehicle information input step for inputting start position information and destination position information of an electric vehicle equipped with an electrically driven motor; a simulation step for, when setting a route connecting the start position information and the destination position information such that the sum of the link cost information is minimized, subtracting facility cost subtraction information set for each of the charging facilities present on the route from the sum of the link cost information, and setting the route such that the sum of the link cost information after the subtraction is minimized as electric vehicle route information; and an output step for outputting the electric vehicle route information.

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