Charging information management device

Abstract

Provided is a charging information management device which exchanges prescribed information with a charging control device that controls a charger for charging a battery of an electric vehicle according to a charging plan created on the basis of the state of charge of the battery. The charging information management device comprise: a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires, at prescribed intervals, vehicle information from an electric vehicle connected to a charger; a charger information acquisition unit that acquires charger information from a charging control device; a charging contract information storage unit that stores charging contract information including a combination of a charger and an electric vehicle which has been predetermined; a state-of-charge information management unit that, if the electric vehicle and the charger corresponds to the stored combination, permits the transmission of information indicating the state of charge to the charging control device; and a charging plan information acquisition unit that acquires charging plan information which has been created by the charging control device. When the difference between the value of the state of charge acquired at the prescribed intervals by the vehicle information acquisition unit and an expected value of the state of charge based on the charging plan information exceeds a prescribed value, the state-of-charge information management unit further permits the transmission of information indicating the most recent state of charge to the charging control device.

Description

Charging information management device

[0001] The present invention relates to a charging information management device that manages information used when charging a battery of an electric vehicle.

[0002] One known technology of this type is a charging control device that charges the batteries of multiple electric vehicles during times when electricity is cheap, such as late at night (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This charging control device charges multiple electric vehicles, such as golf carts. It measures the amount of discharge of each electric vehicle using a discharge amount measuring device and sets a charging time period for each electric vehicle based on the measured amount of discharge.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-80071

[0004] Conventional technologies are intended for businesses that have electrical equipment for charging the batteries of multiple electric vehicles, and are not intended for general personal use. Electric vehicles are used in a variety of ways by individuals, and even if charging is performed according to an initially set plan, the state of charge after charging begins may not increase as planned. Appropriate charging control based on a personal plan could contribute, for example, to leveling out electricity demand and increasing the proportion of electricity used from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.

[0005] A charging information management device according to one aspect of the present invention creates a charging plan for a battery of an electric vehicle based on the state of charge of the battery, and exchanges predetermined information with a charging control device that controls a charger that charges the battery in accordance with the created charging plan. The charging information management device includes: a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information, including a vehicle ID and a charging state, at predetermined intervals from an electric vehicle connected to the charger; a charger information acquisition unit that acquires charger information, including a charger ID and an operating state of a charger connected to the electric vehicle, from the charging control device; a charging contract information storage unit that stores charging contract information including a predetermined combination of an electric vehicle and a charger; a charging state information management unit that, when the vehicle ID acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit and the charger ID acquired by the charger information acquisition unit correspond to the combination stored in the charging contract information storage unit, permits transmission of information indicating the charging state acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit to the charging control device; and a charging plan information acquisition unit that acquires charging plan information created by the charging control device. The charging state information management unit further permits transmission of information indicating the most recent charging state to the charging control device when a difference between a value of the charging state acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit at predetermined intervals and a predicted value of the charging state based on the charging plan information created by the charging control device exceeds a predetermined value.

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform appropriate charging control based on an individual charging plan.

[0007] A schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of a charging system according to an embodiment. A block diagram illustrating the configuration of a main part of a charging information management device according to an embodiment. A block diagram illustrating the configuration of a main part of an electric vehicle. A block diagram illustrating the configuration of a main part of a charger. A flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of processing executed in the charging information management device. A flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of processing executed in the charging information management device.

[0008] <Overview> A charging information management device according to an embodiment acquires charger information from a charger connected to an electric vehicle and vehicle information, including information on the current location of the electric vehicle, to determine whether the electric vehicle is a contracted vehicle. If the electric vehicle is a contracted vehicle, the charging information management device transmits battery state of charge (e.g., SOC: State of Charge) information acquired from the electric vehicle to a charging control device (which may also be referred to as a power supply management device). The charging control device creates a charging plan for the battery of the contracted vehicle based on the state of charge information acquired from the electric vehicle, and controls charging power supplied to the electric vehicle from a charger connected to the electric vehicle in accordance with the created charging plan. For example, the charging plan is created to perform charging during a time when electricity rates fluctuate throughout the day, or to complete charging by a fixed time when the contracted vehicle will next be used. However, there are cases in which the state of charge after charging begins does not improve as planned. For example, if the amount of battery discharge changes due to the use of an auxiliary device such as an air conditioner in the electric vehicle after the charging plan is created, the state of charge of the battery may deviate from the original charging plan. Therefore, the charging information management device of the embodiment acquires the charging state after the start of charging at predetermined intervals and further transmits the charging state information to the charging control device depending on the degree of deviation between the charging state and the charging plan. The charging control device recreates a charging plan for the battery of the contracted vehicle based on the most recent charging state information acquired from the electric vehicle, and controls the charging power supplied to the electric vehicle from a charger connected to the electric vehicle in accordance with the recreated charging plan. This makes it possible to charge the contracted electric vehicle based on an accurate charging plan using a simple mechanism. The configuration of a charging system including such a charging information management device will be described in further detail with reference to the drawings.

[0009] <Charging System> Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a charging system 1 including a charging information management device 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the charging system 1 includes the charging information management device 100, a charging control device 200, chargers 10 and 20, and communication terminals P1 and P2, and charges traction batteries installed in electric vehicles C1 and C2 as contracted vehicles. The example in Fig. 1 illustrates a case where there are two contractors (reference numerals 11 and 12), two electric vehicles (reference numerals C1 and C2), two communication terminals (reference numerals P1 and P2), and two chargers (reference numerals 10 and 20), but there may be three or more contractors, and three or more electric vehicles, communication terminals, and chargers.

[0010] <Charging Information Management Device> Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of the main parts of the charging information management device 100. The charging information management device 100 is configured by, for example, a server device, and has a CPU that performs various calculations, a memory that stores various data, programs, etc. The charging information management device 100 includes, as functional components, a vehicle information acquisition unit 110, a charger information acquisition unit 120, a charging contract information storage unit 130, a determination unit 140, a charging state information management unit 150, a charging plan information acquisition unit 160, and a communication unit 170.

[0011] The vehicle information acquisition unit 110 acquires vehicle information from the electric vehicles C1 and C2, which are contracted vehicles, via the communication unit 170. The vehicle information includes the vehicle ID of the electric vehicle C1, etc., current location information, and state-of-charge information of the driving battery. The vehicle ID is, for example, the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the electric vehicle C1, etc. The current location information is location information of the electric vehicle C1, etc., and is information measured by the electric vehicle C1, etc. based on positioning information received by a positioning sensor equipped in the electric vehicle C1, etc. The state-of-charge information is SOC information measured by the electric vehicle C1, etc. The vehicle information acquisition unit 110 acquires signals carrying vehicle information from the electric vehicle C1, etc. by burst reception. The electric vehicle C1, etc. transmits vehicle information, for example, at a predetermined first reception interval. This allows the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 to acquire the most recent vehicle information at each first reception interval. The first reception interval is, for example, 3 seconds when the power switch of the electric vehicle C1 or the like is on (which may be called the activated state), and is, for example, 5 minutes when the power switch of the electric vehicle C1 or the like is off (which may be called the non-activated state).

[0012] The charger information acquisition unit 120 acquires charger information from the chargers 10 and 20 via the communication unit 170. The charger information is transmitted from the charge control device 200 to the charge information management device 100. The charger information includes the charger ID and operating state of the charger 10 or the like connected to the electric vehicle C1 or the like. The operating state includes, for example, whether the charger is supplying power to the electric vehicle C1 or the like (charging) or is on standby. The charger information acquisition unit 120 acquires a signal carrying the charger information from the charge control device 200 by burst reception. The charge control device 200 transmits the charger information, for example, when it detects the connection of the charger 10 or the like and the electric vehicle C1 or the like, and at every second reception interval while the charger 10 or the like and the electric vehicle C1 or the like are connected. This enables the charger information acquisition unit 120 to acquire the most recent charger information at every second reception interval. The second reception interval is, for example, five minutes.

[0013] The charging contract information storage unit 130 stores charging contract information including predetermined combinations of electric vehicles C1 and C2 and chargers 10 and 20, and installation location information of the chargers 10 and 20. The business operator Z that manages the charging information management device 100 of the charging system 1 in FIG. 1 determines, with the contractor 11, etc., combinations of the electric vehicles C1, etc. used by the contractor 11, etc. and the chargers 10, etc. used by the contractor 11, etc., and location information (charger installation location information) of the home, etc. (garage) of the contractor 11, etc. where the charger 10, etc. is installed, and records these contents in the charging contract information storage unit 130 in advance.

[0014] The determination unit 140 determines whether the vehicle ID acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 and the charger ID acquired by the charger information acquisition unit 120 correspond to the combination stored in the charging contract information storage unit 130.

[0015] The determination unit 140 makes the above determination using a first condition that the time difference between the acquisition time of the charger information from the charger 10, etc. constituting the combination stored in the charging contract information storage unit 130 and the acquisition time of the vehicle information from the electric vehicle C1, etc. constituting the combination is within a predetermined time (for example, within one second). The acquisition time of the charger information in the first condition refers to the acquisition time of the charger information transmitted from the charging control device 200 at the time when connection of the charger 10, etc. and the electric vehicle C1, etc. is detected. Furthermore, the determination unit 140 makes the above determination using a second condition that the current location of the electric vehicle C1, etc. constituting the combination stored in the charging contract information storage unit 130 matches (for example, within 5 m) the installation location of the charger 10, etc. constituting the combination.

[0016] When the determination unit 140 determines that the vehicle ID and the charger ID correspond to the combination stored in the charging contract information storage unit 130, the charging state information management unit 150 permits the transmission of the charging state information acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 to the charging control device 200. As a result, the charging state information of the battery for driving the electric vehicle C1 or the like is transmitted to the charging control device 200 via the communication unit 170.

[0017] The charging plan information acquisition unit 160 requests charging plan information from the charging control device 200 via the communication unit 170. The charging plan information acquisition unit 160 further acquires, from the charging control device 200 via the communication unit 170, charging plan information created by the charging control device 200 based on the charging state information transmitted to the charging control device 200.

[0018] The communication unit 170 communicates with various servers and the like via a network including a wireless communication network such as the Internet network or a mobile phone network, and transmits and receives necessary information periodically or at any timing. Networks include not only public wireless communication networks but also closed communication networks established for each predetermined management area, such as wireless LAN, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), etc.

[0019] <Electric vehicle> Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating the main configuration of the electric vehicle C1. In Figure 3, only the important components of the electric vehicle C1 are shown, and other components are omitted. The electric vehicle C1 includes a communication unit C10, a control unit C11, a battery C12, a drive unit C13, and a power receiving unit C14.

[0020] The communication unit C10 communicates with various servers and the like via a network including a wireless communication network such as the Internet network or a mobile phone network, and transmits and receives necessary information periodically or at any timing. As described above, the network includes not only a public wireless communication network but also a closed communication network established for each predetermined management area.

[0021] The control unit C11 controls each part of the electric vehicle C1 and includes a CPU that performs various calculations and a memory that stores various data and programs. This control unit C11 may be configured by combining multiple control units. The memory of the control unit C11 stores the capacity, internal resistance, etc. of the battery C12. In addition to these, the memory of the control unit C11 also stores the temperature, voltage, and current values ​​of the battery C12 detected by various sensors, the outside air temperature, and the SOC, etc., as state of charge information of the battery C12 calculated by predetermined calculations. The various pieces of information stored in this manner are sent to the charging information management device 100 via the communication unit C10 as necessary. The control unit C11 also controls the driving of the drive unit C13. As an example, the control unit C11 arbitrates and determines the allocation (sharing) of the load to be borne by the battery C12 and the load to be borne by the motor of the drive unit C13 as a regenerative power source from the load required for the electric vehicle C1 as a whole, which is determined based on the state of the battery C12, the state of the drive unit C13, and inputs (load requests) from various switches and various sensors not shown, and sends commands to the drive unit C13, etc.

[0022] The battery C12 is a secondary battery that exchanges power with a motor provided in the drive unit C13. When charging, the battery C12 stores (charges) power supplied to the electric vehicle C1 from the charger 10 or the like, and when the power switch is on, discharges the power to operate the drive unit 13 and auxiliary machinery (not shown).

[0023] The drive unit C13 controls the drive of a motor (not shown) using power supplied from the battery C12 based on a command from the control unit C11.

[0024] The power receiving unit C14 includes, for example, an AC / DC converter. When AC power, which is a commercial power source, is received from the charger 10 or the like, the power receiving unit C14 converts the AC power into DC power required to charge the battery C12. In the embodiment, the power receiving unit C14 is supplied with AC power from the charger 10 or the like. However, the power receiving unit C14 may also be supplied with DC power from a rapid charger (not shown) different from the charger 10 or the like, and in that case the power receiving unit C14 supplies the received power as DC to the battery C12. The configuration of the electric vehicle C2 is the same as the configuration of the electric vehicle C1 described above.

[0025] <Charger> Fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the main components of charger 10. Fig. 4 illustrates only the important components of charger 10, and omits other components. Charger 10 includes a communication unit 101, a control unit 102, and a power supply unit 103.

[0026] The communication unit 101 communicates with various servers and the like via a network including a wireless communication network such as the Internet network or a mobile phone network, and transmits and receives necessary information periodically or at any timing. As described above, the network includes not only a public wireless communication network but also a closed communication network established for each predetermined management area.

[0027] The control unit 102 controls each unit of the charger 10 and includes, for example, a CPU that performs various calculations and a memory that stores various data and programs. The control unit 102 drives the power supply unit 103 and the like in response to commands from the charge control device 200 received via the communication unit 101, thereby causing charging of the battery C12 of the electric vehicle C1 connected to the charger 10 to be performed during a time period in accordance with the charging plan.

[0028] The power supply unit 103 receives power transmitted from an external source and converts it into a predetermined voltage required by the charger 10. The configuration of the charger 20 is the same as the configuration of the charger 10 described above.

[0029] <Charging control device> A detailed description of the configuration of the charging control device 200 will be omitted, but the charging control device 200 is configured to perform the following operations. 1. When an electric vehicle C1 or the like is connected to a charger 10 or the like that it manages via a charging cable, the charging control device 200 acquires charger information including the charger ID and operating state of the charger 10 or the like from the charger 10 or the like. The charging control device 200 further acquires charger information including the charger ID and operating state of the charger 10 or the like from the charger 10 or the like at each second reception interval while the charger 10 or the like and the electric vehicle C1 or the like are connected. 2. The charging control device 200 sends the charger information acquired from the charger 10 or the like in 1 above to the charging information management device 100.

[0030] 3. When the charging control device 200 receives SOC information of the battery C12 of the electric vehicle C1 or the like and a request for charging plan information from the charging information management device 100, the charging control device 200 creates a charging plan based on information on variable electricity rates, a usage schedule of the electric vehicle C1 or the like specified by the subscriber 11 or the like who is the user of the electric vehicle C1 or the like, and the SOC information of the battery C12, so that charging will be performed, for example, during a time period when electricity rates are low and / or a time period when electricity from renewable energy sources is secured. The charging control device 200 further transmits (presents) information about the created charging plan to the communication terminal P1 or the like of the subscriber 11 or the like via the charging information management device 100.

[0031] 4. When the charging control device 200 receives, via the charging information management device 100, information indicating an execution instruction transmitted from the communication terminal P1 or the like of the subscriber 11 or the like who has presented the information on the charging plan, the charging control device 200 controls the charger 10 or the like to charge the battery C12 of the electric vehicle C1 in accordance with the presented charging plan.

[0032] 5. When the charging control device 200 receives the SOC information of the battery C12 of the electric vehicle C1 etc. and a re-request for charging plan information from the charging information management device 100, the charging control device 200 recreates the charging plan based on the information on the variable electricity rate, the usage schedule of the electric vehicle C1 etc. specified by the contractor 11 etc. who is the user of the electric vehicle C1 etc., and the SOC information of the battery C12. The charging control device 200 also retransmits information on the recreated charging plan to the charging information management device 100. The charging control device 200 further controls the charger 10 etc. to charge the battery C12 of the electric vehicle C1 in accordance with the recreated charging plan.

[0033] <Charging Service Flow> The charging service provided by the charging system 1 described above can be jointly provided by, for example, an electric power company X that provides electricity at a variable electricity rate, a company Y that handles smart charging, resource aggregation, etc., and a company Z that manufactures, sells, or leases the electric vehicles C1 and C2. In this embodiment, the charging information management device 100 is managed by the company Z, and the charging control device 200 and the charger 10, etc. are managed by the company X or Y. A person who wishes to use the charging service provided by the charging system 1 becomes a subscriber 11, etc., by accessing the charging control device 200 managed by the company X or Y via, for example, a communication terminal P1, etc., and concluding an online contract with the company X or Y.

[0034] <Connection of Contracted Vehicle and Charger> A contractor 11 or the like (which may also be referred to as a user) of a charging service inputs the required amount of charge into a dedicated application (hereinafter referred to as an app) launched on a smartphone, which is an example of a communication terminal P1, used by the contractor 11 or the like, and connects the electric vehicle C1 or the like (which may also be referred to as a contracted vehicle) used by the contractor 11 or the like to a charger 10 or the like installed in a pre-registered home or the like. The electric vehicle C1 or the like connected to the charger 10 or the like transmits vehicle information including the vehicle ID and current location information of the electric vehicle C1 or the like to the charging information management device 100 via the communication unit C10. Meanwhile, the charging control device 200 acquires charger information including the charger ID and operating status of the charger 10 or the like from the charger 10 or the like as described above, and transmits the charger information to the charging information management device 100.

[0035] <Determination of service eligible vehicle> When the first condition and the second condition are satisfied, the charging information management device 100 makes a determination based on the vehicle information acquired from the electric vehicle C1, etc. and the charger information of the charger 10, etc. acquired from the charging control device 200. In the embodiment, the determination unit 140 determines that the electric vehicle C1, etc. is a contracted vehicle.

[0036] <Provision of Charging Plan> When the charging information management device 100 determines that the electric vehicles C1, etc. are contracted vehicles, it transmits SOC information of the battery C12 of the electric vehicles C1, etc. and a request for charging plan information to the charging control device 200. As described above, upon receiving the request for the SOC information and charging plan information, the charging control device 200 calculates a charging plan so that charging is performed and completed within a predetermined time period based on information about variable electricity rates, a usage schedule of the electric vehicles C1, etc. specified by the contractor 11, etc. who is the user of the electric vehicles C1, etc., and the SOC information of the battery C12. Information about the calculated charging plan is transmitted from the charging control device 200 to the charging information management device 100. When the charging information management device 100 acquires the charging plan information from the charging control device 200, it transmits the charging plan information to the communication terminal P1, etc. of the contractor 11, etc., and displays it on its display unit.

[0037] <Execution of charging plan> The contractor 11 or the like checks the charging plan displayed on the communication terminal P1 or the like and issues an execution instruction operation by, for example, tapping an execution button. When the charging information management device 100 acquires information indicating an execution instruction from the communication terminal P1 or the like, it sends the information to the charging control device 200. As a result, the charging control device 200 controls the charger 10 or the like so that the battery C12 of the electric vehicle C1 or the like is automatically charged in accordance with the charging plan created by the charging control device 200.

[0038] <Monitoring SOC information during execution> After issuing an instruction to execute a charging plan, the charging information management device 100 acquires SOC information of the battery C12 from the electric vehicle C1, etc. at the first reception interval described above. The charging information management device 100 also calculates a predicted value of the SOC information of the battery C12 during charging, based on the most recent charging plan information acquired from the charging control device 200. The charging information management device 100 further monitors the difference (which may be referred to as the deviation) between the most recent SOC information and the predicted value of the above-mentioned SOC information.

[0039] <Re-request for charging plan> When the difference between the most recent SOC information and the predicted value of the SOC information exceeds a predetermined value, the charging information management device 100 transmits the most recent SOC information of battery C12 and a re-request for charging plan information to the charging control device 200. Upon receiving the re-request for SOC information and charging plan information, the charging control device 200 recalculates the charging plan. Information on the newly calculated charging plan is transmitted from the charging control device 200 to the charging information management device 100.

[0040] 5A and 5B are flowcharts illustrating an example of the flow of processing executed by the charging information management device 100. The CPU of the charging information management device 100 repeatedly executes the processing exemplified in Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B in accordance with a predetermined program.

[0041] In step S10 of FIG. 5A, the charging information management device 100 acquires vehicle information from the electric vehicle C1 or the like as a contracted vehicle via the communication unit 170 using the vehicle information acquisition unit 110, and then proceeds to step S20.

[0042] In step S20, the charging information management device 100 acquires charger information from the charger 10 or the like via the communication unit 170 using the charger information acquisition unit 120, and then proceeds to step S30.

[0043] In step S30, the charging information management device 100 determines, via the determination unit 140, whether or not a charging contract exists. As described above, when the determination unit 140 determines that the vehicle ID and the charger ID correspond to the combination stored in the charging contract information storage unit 130, the determination unit 140 makes a positive determination in step S30 and proceeds to step S40. When the determination unit 140 determines that the vehicle ID and the charger ID do not correspond to the combination stored in the charging contract information storage unit 130, the determination unit 140 makes a negative determination in step S30 and terminates the processing shown in FIG. 5A . Note that, when a negative determination is made in step S30, the charging system 1 may not provide a charging service to the electric vehicle C1 or the like connected to the charger 10 or the like, or may provide a service of charging the battery C12 of the electric vehicle C1 or the like to a predetermined minimum SOC value without creating a charging plan.

[0044] In step S40, the charging information management device 100 allows the charging state information management unit 150 to transmit the SOC information acquired in step S10 to the charging control device 200. As a result, the SOC information of the battery C12 for propulsion of the electric vehicle C1 or the like is transmitted to the charging control device 200 via the communication unit 170.

[0045] In step S50, the charging information management device 100 causes the charging plan information acquisition unit 160 to request the charging plan information from the charging control device 200 via the communication unit 170, and then proceeds to step S60.

[0046] In step S60, when the charging plan information acquisition unit 160 acquires the charging plan information created by the charging control device 200, the charging information management device 100 causes the charging plan information to be transmitted to the communication terminal P1 or the like of the contractor 11 or the like via the communication unit 170, and the process proceeds to step S70. As a result, the charging plan information is displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal P1 or the like, allowing the contractor 11 or the like to check it.

[0047] In step S70, when the charging information management device 100 acquires information indicating an execution instruction from the communication terminal P1 or the like via the communication unit 170, the charging information management device 100 transmits the information to the charging control device 200 via the communication unit 170, and the process proceeds to step S80. As a result, the charging control device 200 controls the charger 10 or the like to automatically charge the battery C12 of the electric vehicle C1 or the like in accordance with the created charging plan.

[0048] In step S80, the charging information management device 100 repeatedly acquires vehicle information from the electric vehicles C1, etc. via the communication unit 170 at each first reception interval using the vehicle information acquisition unit 110, and then proceeds to step S90 in Fig. 5B. As described above, the first reception interval when the power switch of the electric vehicles C1, etc. is on is, for example, three seconds, and the first reception interval when the power switch of the electric vehicles C1, etc. is off is, for example, five minutes. This enables the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 to acquire the most recent vehicle information at each first reception interval.

[0049] In step S90 of FIG. 5B, the charging information management device 100 compares the value of the SOC information as the latest state of charge information with the predicted value of the SOC information based on the charging plan information, and then proceeds to step S100.

[0050] In step S100, the charging information management device 100 determines whether the difference between the value of the most recent SOC information and the predicted value of the SOC information based on the charging plan information exceeds a predetermined value. If the difference exceeds the predetermined value, the charging information management device 100 makes a positive determination in step S100 and proceeds to step S130 in Fig. 5B. If the difference does not exceed the predetermined value, the charging information management device 100 makes a negative determination in step S100 and proceeds to step S110.

[0051] In step S110, which is reached when a negative determination is made in step S100, the charging information management device 100 determines whether charging has ended. For example, when the operating status of the charger 10, etc. included in the most recent charger information acquired by the charger information acquisition unit 120 at every second reception interval indicates that charging has ended, the charging information management device 100 makes a positive determination in step S110 and proceeds to step S120. When the operating status of the charger 10, etc. included in the charger information does not indicate that charging has ended, the charging information management device 100 makes a negative determination in step S110 and returns to step S90, and repeats the above-described processing.

[0052] In step S120, the charging information management device 100 transmits end information indicating the end of charging to the communication terminal P1 of the contractor 11 or the like via the communication unit 170, and ends the processing in Fig. 5A. As a result, the charging end information is displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal P1 or the like, making it possible to notify the contractor 11 or the like.

[0053] In step S130, which is reached when a positive determination is made in step S100, the charging information management device 100 allows the charging state information management unit 150 to transmit SOC information as the most recent charging state information to the charging control device 200. As a result, the most recent SOC information of the battery C12 for propulsion of the electric vehicle C1 or the like is transmitted to the charging control device 200 via the communication unit 170.

[0054] In step S140, the charging information management device 100 causes the charging plan information acquisition unit 160 to request the charging control device 200 again for the charging plan information via the communication unit 170, and then proceeds to step S150.

[0055] In step S150, when the charging plan information newly created by the charging control device 200 is acquired by the charging plan information acquisition unit 160, the charging information management device 100 compares the value of the SOC information as the most recent charging state information with the predicted value of the SOC information based on the new charging plan information, and proceeds to step S160.

[0056] In step S160, the charging information management device 100 determines whether the difference between the value of the most recent SOC information and the predicted value of the SOC information based on the new charging plan information exceeds a predetermined value. If the difference exceeds the predetermined value, the charging information management device 100 makes a positive determination in step S160, returns to step S130, and repeats the above-mentioned processing. If the difference does not exceed the predetermined value, the charging information management device 100 makes a negative determination in step S160, and proceeds to step S170.

[0057] In step S170, which is reached when a negative determination is made in step S160, the charging information management device 100 determines whether charging has ended. As in the case of step S110, when the operating status of the charger 10, etc. included in the most recent charger information acquired by the charger information acquisition unit 120 at every second reception interval indicates that charging has ended, the charging information management device 100 makes a positive determination in step S170 and proceeds to step S180. When the operating status of the charger 10, etc. included in the charger information does not indicate that charging has ended, the charging information management device 100 makes a negative determination in step S170 and returns to step S150, and repeats the above-described processing.

[0058] In step S180, the charging information management device 100 transmits end information indicating the end of charging to the communication terminal P1 of the contractor 11 or the like via the communication unit 170, and ends the processing in Fig. 5B. As a result, the charging end information is displayed on the display unit of the communication terminal P1 or the like, making it possible to notify the contractor 11 or the like.

[0059] The above-described embodiment provides the following advantageous effects. (1) The charging control device 200 constituting the charging system 1 creates a charging plan for the battery C12 of the electric vehicle C1 based on the state of charge of the battery C12, and controls the charger 10 that charges the battery C12 in accordance with the created charging plan. The charging information management device 100 constituting the charging system 1 exchanges predetermined information with the charging control device 200. More specifically, the charging information management device 100 includes a vehicle information acquisition unit 110 that acquires vehicle information including a vehicle ID and a charging state from the electric vehicle C1 connected to the charger 10 at predetermined intervals, a charger information acquisition unit 120 that acquires charger information including a charger ID and an operating state of the charger 10 connected to the electric vehicle C1 from the charging control device 200, a charging contract information storage unit 130 that stores charging contract information including a predetermined combination of the electric vehicles C1, C2 and the chargers 10, 20, the vehicle ID acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 110, the charger ID acquired by the charger information acquisition unit 120, and corresponds to a combination stored in the charging contract information storage unit 130, the charging state information management unit 150 permits the transmission of the SOC value, as information indicating the charging state acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 110, to the charging control device 200, and the charging plan information acquisition unit 160 acquires charging plan information created by the charging control device 200, and the charging state information management unit 150 further permits the transmission of the most recent SOC value to the charging control device 200 when the difference between the SOC value acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 at predetermined intervals and the predicted SOC value based on the charging plan information created by the charging control device 200 exceeds a predetermined value.

[0060] For example, if, after the initial charging plan is created, an auxiliary device such as an air conditioner is used in the electric vehicle C1, etc., as described above, causing a change in the discharge amount of the battery C12, a mechanism is needed to bring the actual SOC value of the battery C12 closer to the predicted SOC value based on the charging plan, in other words, a mechanism to reduce the difference between the two. To achieve this, it is desirable to recreate a charging plan for the battery C12 of the electric vehicle C1, etc., based on the most recent SOC value acquired from the electric vehicle C1, etc., and to control the charging power supplied to the electric vehicle C1, etc., from the charger 10, etc. connected to the electric vehicle C1, etc., in accordance with the recreated charging plan. In this embodiment, the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 acquires the SOC value of the battery C12 from the electric vehicle C1, etc., at the first reception interval described above. Meanwhile, the charging plan information acquisition unit 160 calculates the predicted SOC value of the battery C12 during charging based on the charging plan information acquired from the charging control device 200. The charging plan information acquisition unit 160 further monitors the difference (which may be referred to as the deviation) between the SOC value and the above-mentioned predicted SOC value. When the difference between the SOC value and the predicted SOC value exceeds a predetermined value, the charging state information management unit 150 permits the retransmission of the most recent SOC value of battery C12 to the charging control device 200. This enables the charging control device 200 to recalculate the charging plan based on the retransmitted most recent SOC value. In other words, a charging plan appropriate for the actual SOC value of battery C12 is recalculated. The charging plan information acquisition unit 160 can calculate the predicted SOC value of battery C12 during charging based on the charging plan information recalculated by the charging control device 200. This reduces the deviation between the most recent SOC value and the above-mentioned predicted SOC value, making it possible to appropriately charge battery C12. In this way, with a simple configuration, it is possible to provide appropriate charging services based on charging plans tailored to individual subscribers 11, etc.

[0061] (2) In the charging information management device 100 described in (1) above, the charging plan information acquisition unit 160 further reacquires the charging plan information created by the charging control device 200 based on the most recent SOC value. With this configuration, it is possible to reacquire a charging plan that reduces the deviation between the most recent SOC value and the above-mentioned predicted SOC value, and to appropriately charge the battery C12.

[0062] (3) In the charging information management device 100 described above in (1) or (2), the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 changes the predetermined interval for acquiring vehicle information depending on whether the electric vehicle C1, etc. is in an activated state or an inactivated state. Because of this configuration, the charging information management device 100 can acquire the SOC value of the battery C12 at an appropriate timing regardless of the state of the electric vehicle C1, etc.

[0063] The above-described embodiment can be modified into various forms. Modifications will be described below. (Modification 1) In the above description, the first reception interval at which the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 of the charging information management device 100 acquires vehicle information has been described as an example of three seconds when the power switch of the electric vehicle C1 or the like is on, and five minutes when the power switch of the electric vehicle C1 or the like is off. These acquisition intervals may be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, the second reception interval at which the charger information acquisition unit 120 of the charging information management device 100 acquires charger information has been described as an example of five minutes. This acquisition interval may also be changed as appropriate.

[0064] (Variation 2) In the above description, an example has been described in which the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 acquires vehicle information at a fixed time interval as the first reception interval when the power switch of the charging information management device 100 is off. Instead of acquiring vehicle information at fixed time intervals, the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 may acquire vehicle information at predetermined steps at which the SOC information changes. For example, the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 may acquire vehicle information every time the SOC value of the battery C12 increases by 10%. Note that the acquisition may not be every 10%, but may be every 5% or every 20%.

[0065] The configuration of Modification 2 provides the following advantageous effects in addition to the advantageous effects of the above-described embodiment. In the charging information management device 100, the vehicle information acquisition unit 110 acquires vehicle information from the electric vehicles C1, etc. at predetermined time intervals while the electric vehicles C1, etc. are activated, and acquires vehicle information from the electric vehicles C1, etc. every time the value of the SOC of the battery C12 changes by a predetermined amount while the electric vehicles C1, etc. are not activated. With this configuration, the charging information management device 100 can obtain the value of the SOC of the battery C12 at appropriate timing while the electric vehicles C1, etc. are activated and while they are not activated.

[0066] (Variation 3) In the above description, an example has been shown in which the charging information management device 100 is configured as one server device, but the charging information management device 100 may be configured using a virtual server function on a cloud, or may be configured as a distributed device across multiple devices.

[0067] (Variation 4) In addition, in the above description, an example in which the charging control device 200 is configured as a single server device has been shown, but the charging control device 200 may be configured using a virtual server function on the cloud, or may be configured as a distributed device across multiple devices.

[0068] The above description is merely an example, and the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and modifications, as long as the features of the present invention are not impaired. One or more of the above-described embodiment and modifications can be arbitrarily combined, and modifications can also be combined with each other.

[0069] 1 Charging system, 10, 20 Charger, 11, 12 Contractor, 100 Charging information management device, 101, 170, C10 Communication unit, 102, C11 Control unit, 103 Power supply unit, 110 Vehicle information acquisition unit, 120 Charger information acquisition unit, 130 Charging contract information storage unit, 140 Determination unit, 150 Charging state information management unit, 160 Charging plan information acquisition unit, 200 Charging control device, C1, C2 Electric vehicle, C12 Battery, C13 Drive unit, C14 Power receiving unit, P1, P2 Communication terminal

Claims

1. A charging information management device that creates a charging plan for a battery of an electric vehicle based on the charging state of the battery, and exchanges predetermined information with a charging control device that controls a charger that charges the battery in accordance with the created charging plan, the charging information management device comprising: a vehicle information acquisition unit that acquires vehicle information including a vehicle ID and the charging state from the electric vehicle connected to the charger at predetermined intervals; a charger information acquisition unit that acquires charger information including a charger ID and an operating state of a charger connected to the electric vehicle from the charging control device; a charging contract information storage unit that stores charging contract information including a predetermined combination of the electric vehicle and the charger; a charging state information management unit that, when the vehicle ID acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit and the charger ID acquired by the charger information acquisition unit correspond to the combination stored in the charging contract information storage unit, permits information indicating the charging state acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit to be transmitted to the charging control device; and a charging plan information acquisition unit that acquires the charging plan information created by the charging control device, the charging state information management unit further permits transmission of information indicating the most recent charging state to the charging control device when a difference between the value of the charging state acquired by the vehicle information acquisition unit at the predetermined intervals and a predicted value of the charging state based on the charging plan information created by the charging control device exceeds a predetermined value.

2. A charging information management device according to claim 1, wherein the charging plan information acquisition unit further reacquires the charging plan information created by the charging control device based on the most recent charging state.

3. A charging information management device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vehicle information acquisition unit changes the predetermined interval for acquiring the vehicle information depending on whether the electric vehicle is in an activated state or a non-activated state.

4. A charging information management device as described in claim 3, wherein the vehicle information acquisition unit acquires the vehicle information from the electric vehicle at predetermined time intervals while the electric vehicle is activated, and acquires the vehicle information from the electric vehicle every time the charging state of the battery changes by a predetermined amount while the electric vehicle is not activated.

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