Power supply method and apparatus for electric vehicle, controller, storage medium, and vehicle

Abstract

A power supply method and apparatus for an electric vehicle, a controller, a storage medium, and a vehicle. The method comprises: detecting a connection state between an electric vehicle and an external charging device; and when the electric vehicle is connected to the external charging device, controlling the external charging device to supply power to an electric device of the electric vehicle.

Description

Power supply method, device, controller, storage medium and vehicle for electric vehicle

[0001] Cross-reference to Related Applications

[0002] The present application claims priority to the Chinese patent application No. 202410848752.7, filed on June 27, 2024, to the Chinese Patent Office, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present application relates to the technical field of electric vehicles, and in particular to a power supply method, device, controller, storage medium and vehicle for electric vehicle. BACKGROUND

[0004] With the continuous development of electric vehicle technology, the vehicle owner can set a reservation vehicle time according to personal vehicle use habits. In daily use, the vehicle needs to start battery heating and air conditioning temperature control in advance according to the reservation vehicle time, so as to keep the battery and passenger cabin in a suitable temperature range, thereby improving the comfort and driving performance of the vehicle. However, starting battery heating and air conditioning temperature control in advance will consume part of the battery power, thereby reducing the battery endurance.

[0005] In the existing solution, some vehicles heat the battery and supply power to the air conditioner by using the battery power before the reservation vehicle time arrives, which may consume the battery power and reduce the endurance of the vehicle. TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0006] The present application provides a power supply method, device, controller, storage medium and vehicle for electric vehicle, which can use the power provided by the external charging device as much as possible to control the battery and passenger cabin at a suitable temperature, thereby improving the endurance of the vehicle.

[0007] In a first aspect, the embodiments of the present application provide a power supply method for electric vehicle, comprising:

[0008] detecting a connection state of the electric vehicle and an external charging device; and

[0009] when the electric vehicle is connected with the external charging device, controlling the external charging device to supply power to the electric device of the electric vehicle.

[0010] It can be seen that, in the embodiment of the application, firstly, the connection state of the electric vehicle and the external charging device is detected, and when the electric vehicle is connected with the external charging device, the external charging device is controlled to supply power to the electric device of the electric vehicle. Through the implementation of the embodiment, when the user reserves the vehicle, the battery and the passenger compartment can be controlled at a suitable temperature as much as possible by using the power provided by the external charging device. Both the best working state of the vehicle before departure and the maximum possible range of the vehicle can be ensured, and the user experience can be improved.

[0011] Based on the first aspect, in possible implementation manners, the method further includes:

[0012] In response to at least one of the condition that the battery of the electric vehicle is in a full power state and the condition that the battery of the electric vehicle is in a non-charging state being met, the external charging device is controlled to supply power to the electric device of the electric vehicle.

[0013] It can be seen that, in the embodiment of the application, according to the battery charging state and the power condition, the vehicle control unit can intelligently select whether to use the external charging device or the power of the battery itself to supply power to the electric device of the electric vehicle. In this way, the power source can be flexibly allocated according to the actual situation, and the power of the battery of the electric vehicle can be maintained in a full power state as much as possible, and the range of the vehicle can be improved.

[0014] Based on the first aspect, in possible implementation manners, the electric device includes an air conditioner and / or a heating device.

[0015] Based on the first aspect, in possible implementation manners, the control of the external charging device to supply power to the electric device of the electric vehicle includes:

[0016] The vehicle control unit determines the actual power allocated to the heating device according to the power provided by the external charging device to the electric vehicle and the power required by the heating device when heating the battery;

[0017] The vehicle control unit determines the actual power allocated to the air conditioner according to the power provided by the external charging device to the vehicle and the power required by the air conditioner when temperature control is performed on the passenger compartment; and

[0018] The heating device is controlled to heat the battery according to the actual power allocated to the heating device, and the air conditioner is controlled to perform temperature control on the passenger compartment according to the actual power allocated to the air conditioner.

[0019] It can be seen that, in the embodiment of the application, the vehicle control unit reasonably allocates the power required by the heating device and the air conditioner according to the power provided by the external charging device, thereby realizing the control of the heating of the battery and the temperature control of the passenger compartment. This method can effectively optimize energy utilization, ensure reasonable heating and temperature control of the battery and the passenger compartment, and improve the energy efficiency and comfort of the electric vehicle.

[0020] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the vehicle control unit determines the actual power allocated to the heating device according to the power provided by the external charging device to the vehicle and the power required by the heating device when the battery is heated, including:

[0021] The vehicle control unit determines the available power to be allocated according to the power provided by the external charging device to the vehicle;

[0022] In a case where the available power to be allocated is greater than or equal to the power required by the heating device when the battery is heated, the actual power allocated to the heating device is the power required by the heating device when the battery is heated; and

[0023] In a case where the available power to be allocated is less than the power required by the heating device when the battery is heated, the actual power allocated to the heating device is the available power to be allocated.

[0024] It can be seen that, in the embodiment of the present application, the vehicle control unit can intelligently determine the actual power allocated to the heating device according to the power provided by the external charging device and the power required by the heating device. In a case where the available power to be allocated is greater than or equal to the power required by the heating device, the required power is allocated; in a case where the available power to be allocated is less than the required power, the available power is allocated. In this way, the available power can be maximized to avoid power waste and improve energy utilization efficiency. In addition, by intelligently allocating power to the heating device, the battery can be heated within the range of available power, avoiding damage to the battery caused by power overload. By reasonably controlling the heating power, the battery can be protected and the battery life can be prolonged.

[0025] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the vehicle control unit determines the actual power allocated to the air conditioner according to the power provided by the external charging device to the vehicle and the power required by the air conditioner when the passenger compartment is temperature-controlled, including:

[0026] The actual power allocated to the air conditioner is determined according to the power provided by the external charging device to the vehicle, the power actually allocated to the heating device, and the power required by the air conditioner when the passenger compartment is temperature-controlled.

[0027] It can be seen that, in the embodiment of the present application, the actual power allocated to the air conditioner is determined according to the power provided by the external charging device to the vehicle, the power actually allocated to the heating device, and the power required by the air conditioner. Since there may be energy competition between battery heating and air conditioner operation under the limited power provided by the external charging device, the present application can avoid the competition between battery heating and air conditioner operation by dynamically adjusting the power allocation of the air conditioner, so as to ensure that both can be satisfied when necessary.

[0028] In a possible implementation manner of the first aspect, the method further includes:

[0029] In the case that the battery has a heating demand and the passenger cabin has a temperature control demand, the vehicle control unit preferentially satisfies the heating demand of the battery through the external charging device.

[0030] It can be seen that the external charging device generally provides limited power output. In the case that the battery has a heating demand and the passenger cabin has a temperature control demand, the vehicle control unit preferentially satisfies the heating demand of the battery through the external charging device in the embodiment of the application. In this way, the battery can be ensured to be at a suitable working temperature at the time of starting, and the starting performance of the whole vehicle is improved. In addition, the energy required for heating the battery is relatively small, while the energy required for starting the air conditioner can be relatively large. Therefore, in the case of limited power, preferentially satisfying the heating demand of the battery can more effectively utilize the power provided by the external charging device, avoid consuming more electric energy due to low temperature of the battery at the time of starting, and thus save energy. Moreover, by preferentially satisfying the heating demand of the battery, the vehicle can be started more quickly and stably at the time of starting, and the use experience of the user is improved.

[0031] Based on the first aspect, in possible implementation manners, after the heating device is controlled to heat the battery according to the actual power allocated to the heating device, the method further includes:

[0032] The vehicle control unit uses the electric energy of the battery itself to supply power to the heating device to heat the battery in the case that the vehicle control unit receives a request for exiting constant voltage output from the battery management system, wherein the battery management system is configured to control the heating device to heat the battery, and the request for exiting constant voltage output is an instruction for requesting the vehicle control unit to stop maintaining constant voltage output;

[0033] After the air conditioner is controlled to perform temperature control on the passenger cabin according to the actual power allocated to the air conditioner, the method further includes:

[0034] The vehicle control unit uses the electric energy of the battery itself to supply power to the air conditioner to perform temperature control in the case that the vehicle control unit receives a request for exiting constant voltage output from the air conditioner.

[0035] It can be seen that in the embodiment of the application, when the power allocated to the battery heating or the air conditioning system is insufficient, the battery management system or the air conditioner sends a request for exiting constant voltage output to the vehicle control unit, so that the vehicle control unit can stop maintaining constant voltage output and supply the related device with the electric energy of the battery itself to make up for the insufficient power. This way not only ensures the normal operation of the battery heating and the air conditioning system of the vehicle, but also effectively manages the power allocation of the power system of the vehicle, ensures the balance between supply and demand among the systems, and improves the overall energy utilization efficiency.

[0036] In a second aspect, the embodiment of the application provides a power supply device of an electric vehicle, including:

[0037] a detection unit configured to detect a connection state of the electric vehicle and an external charging device; and

[0038] a control unit configured to control the external charging device to supply power to an electric device of the electric vehicle.

[0039] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the control unit is configured to:

[0040] in response to at least one of the following conditions being met: the battery of the electric vehicle is in a full power state, and the battery of the electric vehicle is in a non-charging state, control the external charging device to supply power to the electric device of the electric vehicle.

[0041] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the electric device comprises an air conditioner and / or a heating device.

[0042] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the apparatus further comprises a determination unit configured to:

[0043] determine the actual power allocated to the heating device according to the power provided by the external charging device to the electric vehicle and the power required by the heating device when heating the battery;

[0044] determine the actual power allocated to the air conditioner according to the power provided by the external charging device to the vehicle and the power required by the air conditioner when temperature-controlling the passenger compartment;

[0045] the control unit is configured to: control the heating device to heat the battery according to the actual power allocated to the heating device; and

[0046] control the air conditioner to temperature-control the passenger compartment according to the actual power allocated to the air conditioner.

[0047] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the determination unit is configured to: determine the available power to be allocated according to the power provided by the external charging device to the vehicle.

[0048] in a case where the available power to be allocated is greater than or equal to the power required by the heating device when heating the battery, the actual power allocated to the heating device is the power required by the heating device when heating the battery; and

[0049] in a case where the available power to be allocated is less than the power required by the heating device when heating the battery, the actual power allocated to the heating device is the available power to be allocated.

[0050] In a possible implementation manner of the second aspect, the determination unit is configured to: determine the actual power allocated to the air conditioner according to the power provided by the external charging device to the vehicle, the actual power allocated to the heating device, and the power required by the air conditioner when temperature-controlling the passenger compartment.

[0051] Based on the second aspect, in possible implementations, when the battery has a heating requirement and the passenger compartment has a temperature control requirement, the vehicle control unit prioritizes meeting the battery's heating requirement through an external charging device.

[0052] Based on the second aspect, in a possible implementation, when the vehicle control unit receives a request from the battery management system to exit constant voltage output, it uses the battery's own electrical energy to power the heating device so that the heating device heats the battery. The battery management system controls the heating device to heat the battery, and the request to exit constant voltage output refers to an instruction that requires the vehicle control unit to stop maintaining constant voltage output.

[0053] When the vehicle control unit receives a request from the air conditioner to deactivate constant pressure output, it uses the battery's own power to supply power to the air conditioner so that the air conditioner can perform temperature control.

[0054] The various functional units in the second aspect are used to implement the methods described in the first aspect and the possible implementations of the first aspect.

[0055] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a controller, including a memory and a processor, wherein the memory is used to store instructions, and the processor is used to execute the instructions stored in the memory to implement the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0056] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer storage medium including program instructions that, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to perform the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0057] Fifthly, this application provides a computer program product, including program instructions, which, when executed by a controller, performs the methods described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof. The computer program product may be a software installation package; when the methods provided by any possible design of the first aspect are required, the computer program product may be downloaded and executed on the controller to implement the methods described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof.

[0058] Sixthly, this application provides a vehicle including a vehicle control unit to implement the method described in the first aspect and any possible implementation thereof. Beneficial effects

[0059] The beneficial effects of the embodiments of this application are as follows: In the embodiments of this application, the connection status between the electric vehicle and the external charging device is first detected. When the electric vehicle is connected to the external charging device, the external charging device is controlled to supply power to the electric vehicle's electrical equipment. By implementing this embodiment, when a user schedules a ride, the power provided by the external charging device can be used as much as possible to keep the battery and passenger compartment at a suitable temperature. This ensures that the vehicle is in optimal working condition before departure and maximizes the vehicle's range, thereby improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0060] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the background art, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments of this application or the background art will be described below.

[0061] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the workflow of the PAD before the scheduled car rental time provided in this application;

[0062] Figure 2 is a schematic flowchart of a power supply method for an electric vehicle provided in this application;

[0063] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the process by which the VCU, provided in this application, determines whether to use an external charging device to power the heating device and the air conditioner.

[0064] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the process by which the VCU determines the power actually allocated to the BMS, as provided in this application.

[0065] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the process of the BMS-controlled heating device provided in this application for scheduled heating of the battery;

[0066] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a power supply device for an electric vehicle provided in this application;

[0067] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a controller provided in this application. Embodiments of the present invention

[0068] The embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0069] It should be noted that the terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and includes any or all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0070] It should be noted that, when used in this specification and the appended claims, the term "comprising" and any variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a system, product, or apparatus that comprises a series of units / devices is not limited to the units / devices listed, but may optionally include units / devices not listed, or may also optionally include other units / devices inherent in such products or apparatuses.

[0071] It should also be understood that the term "if" can be interpreted, depending on the context, as "when," "once," "in response to determination," "in response to detection," or "in the case of."

[0072] Before introducing the embodiments of this application, let's first introduce the technical terms involved in the embodiments of this application.

[0073] Vehicle Control Unit (VCU): An electronic control unit used to control and manage various systems of a vehicle. The VCU is responsible for monitoring and coordinating various components of the vehicle, such as the powertrain, braking system, and steering system, to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the vehicle. A VCU typically includes components such as processors, sensors, and actuators, achieving intelligent management of the entire vehicle by monitoring and controlling the operating status of various aspects of the vehicle in real time.

[0074] A battery management system (BMS) is a key device used to monitor, control, and protect battery packs. The BMS monitors parameters such as battery voltage, temperature, and current to ensure the batteries operate within safe ranges and performs functions such as charge / discharge management and equalization control. Through the BMS, battery performance can be improved, battery life extended, and the safe and stable operation of the battery pack ensured.

[0075] An on-board charger (OBC) is a charging device installed inside an electric vehicle to convert external power into a charging current and voltage acceptable to the vehicle's battery pack. The OBC manages the charging process, including charging power control and charging safety protection. Through the OBC, electric vehicles can conveniently accept charging in various locations, meeting the charging needs of daily use and long-distance travel.

[0076] Tablet PC (Portable Android Device, PAD): In the automotive field, PADs can be used as part of an in-vehicle infotainment system, providing functions such as navigation, music playback, and vehicle status monitoring, offering convenience and entertainment for drivers and passengers.

[0077] A direct current to direct current converter (DCDC) is a power conversion device whose main function is to convert the direct current supplied by the battery into the direct current required by other electronic devices inside the vehicle to meet the power needs of various components of the vehicle.

[0078] On-board power supply: This is a comprehensive power management system in electric vehicles that provides power support for the entire vehicle. Through the coordinated operation of high and low voltage power supplies, it can both charge the electric vehicle's battery to ensure the power supply required for vehicle operation and provide stable and reliable power support for various on-board electronic devices, achieving comprehensive management and control of the vehicle's power consumption. On-board power supply includes OBC (On-Board Charger) and DC-DC (Digital-to-Digital Converter).

[0079] Before introducing the embodiments of this application, let's first introduce the scenarios involved in the embodiments of this application.

[0080] This application applies to scenarios involving reservation-based car use of electric vehicles. Vehicle owners can set up car use plans using a dedicated application on a remote terminal device, such as a mobile phone, laptop, or tablet. This application can communicate with the PAD (Pad on the vehicle) to enable the setting of car use plans. Alternatively, vehicle owners can also set up car use plans directly on the PAD in the vehicle.

[0081] The vehicle usage plan includes the usage time. Owners can also configure the operating parameters of the vehicle's electrical equipment, including air conditioning and / or heating devices, within the usage plan. The usage plan can include settings such as starting the battery heater, how far in advance the air conditioning should be turned on, and the temperature inside the passenger compartment when starting the vehicle.

[0082] For example, car owners can use a mobile application to set their vehicle to start at 8:00 AM on April 28th and turn on the air conditioning 10 minutes in advance to set the passenger compartment temperature to 24 degrees Celsius. By pre-setting a usage plan, relevant preparations can be made before using the vehicle, ensuring it is in optimal condition and greatly improving user convenience and the overall driving experience.

[0083] This application uses the vehicle usage plan, including usage time, battery heating upon startup, how far in advance to turn on the air conditioning, and the temperature inside the passenger compartment when starting the vehicle, as an example.

[0084] The PAD sets the battery heating time and air conditioning start time according to the vehicle usage plan and sets an alarm for this. When the battery heating time is reached, the PAD notifies the BMS, and the BMS sends a high-voltage request signal to the VCU to start the battery heating process. When the air conditioning start time is reached, the PAD notifies the air conditioning system, and the air conditioning system sends a high-voltage request signal to the VCU to start the air conditioning and adjust the interior temperature. See the method embodiment below for details.

[0085] Before introducing the embodiments of this application, let's first explain how the PAD sets the battery heating time and air conditioning start time according to the vehicle usage plan.

[0086] See Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram of the workflow of the PAD before the scheduled car rental time provided in this application.

[0087] S101 and PAD send the vehicle usage plan to BMS.

[0088] The PAD receives the vehicle usage plan and transmits it to the BMS via the controller area network (CAN) bus. The PAD can also transmit the vehicle usage plan to the BMS via other methods; this application does not specify the transmission method between the PAD and the BMS. The vehicle usage plan includes the usage time.

[0089] In some embodiments, car owners can also set how far in advance the air conditioning will be turned on and the temperature inside the passenger compartment when starting the vehicle in their car usage plan, according to their needs.

[0090] S102, BMS determines the time to activate battery heating based on the vehicle usage plan.

[0091] After receiving the vehicle usage plan from the PAD, the BMS can obtain the ambient temperature for the usage time by accessing the weather forecast API or receiving real-time weather information from the vehicle system. This application does not specify the method by which the BMS obtains the ambient temperature for the usage time.

[0092] The Battery Management System (BMS) can predict the battery temperature at the time of vehicle use using a battery temperature model. This model estimates the battery temperature at the time of vehicle use through mathematical calculations, based on the current battery temperature, the current ambient temperature, the ambient temperature at the time of vehicle use, and the performance of the battery heating system. The BMS can also infer the battery temperature at the time of vehicle use based on historical data and statistical analysis. For example, by analyzing historical data under similar time and ambient temperature conditions, an estimated value of the battery temperature at the scheduled time can be obtained. This application does not specifically limit the method by which the BMS obtains the battery temperature at the time of vehicle use.

[0093] The Battery Management System (BMS) calculates the change in battery temperature per unit time, i.e., the heating rate, based on the performance parameters of the battery heating system. It then calculates the required heating time based on the difference between the battery temperature at the scheduled time and the target temperature, along with the heating rate.

[0094] When a vehicle usage plan includes the usage time, how far in advance to turn on the air conditioning, and the temperature inside the passenger compartment when starting the vehicle, both battery heating and air conditioning temperature control consume energy. To avoid power overload, battery heating should be activated first when booking the vehicle, and the air conditioning temperature control should be activated only after the battery reaches a suitable operating temperature. To ensure that battery heating and air conditioning temperature control do not operate simultaneously, a time interval, such as 1 to 5 minutes, should be set between the end of battery heating and the activation of air conditioning temperature control to ensure that battery heating and air conditioning temperature control do not work at the same time. This application does not specify a particular time interval.

[0095] The BMS determines the battery heating time based on vehicle usage time, the duration of air conditioning operation, and battery heating duration.

[0096] For example, the car owner sets the vehicle to start at 8:00 AM on April 28th and turns on the air conditioning 10 minutes in advance, setting the passenger compartment temperature to 24 degrees Celsius. The BMS calculates the battery heating time to be 30 minutes based on the usage time. The battery heating time is calculated as 8:00 AM - 10 minutes - 5 minutes - 30 minutes, which is 7:15 AM on April 28th. The 5 minutes refers to the time interval mentioned above.

[0097] S103, BMS sends the battery heating start time to PAD.

[0098] The BMS can send the battery heating start time to the PAD via the CAN bus.

[0099] S104, PAD settings include alarms for when battery heating is enabled and when the air conditioner is turned on.

[0100] The PAD calculates the air conditioning start time, which is the vehicle usage time minus the amount of time the air conditioning will be turned on in advance. The PAD sets an alarm based on the battery heating start time and the air conditioning start time.

[0101] When the battery heating time is up, the PAD notifies the BMS via a CAN message. When the air conditioning turn-on time is up, the PAD notifies the air conditioning system via a CAN message.

[0102] Referring to Figure 2, which is a schematic flowchart of a power supply method for an electric vehicle provided in this application, the method includes, but is not limited to, the following description.

[0103] S201, VCU determines whether to use an external charging device to power the heating unit and air conditioner.

[0104] After receiving the PAD's wake-up request, the BMS sends a high-voltage power supply request to the VCU. The VCU then determines, based on a series of conditions, whether to use an external charging device to heat the battery and to supply power to the air conditioner.

[0105] The following details how the VCU determines whether to use external charging equipment to heat the battery and power the air conditioner.

[0106] Referring to Figure 3, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the process by which the VCU provided in this application determines whether to use an external charging device to power the heating device and the air conditioner.

[0107] S2011. Determine whether the vehicle is in a non-operational state.

[0108] When the vehicle is not in operation, it indicates that the vehicle may be connected to an external charging device, and further judgment is needed to determine whether the external charging device can be used to heat the battery; when the vehicle is in operation, it indicates that the vehicle is not connected to an external charging device, and the battery can only be heated by its own electrical energy.

[0109] The VCU (Vehicle Control Unit) determines whether an electric vehicle is in operation by monitoring the status of its motor. By detecting parameters such as motor speed and power output, the VCU can determine if the electric vehicle is running.

[0110] The VCU can also detect the vehicle's actual speed using a vehicle speed sensor. When the vehicle speed is not zero, it indicates that the vehicle is in operation and can only be heated by the battery's own electrical energy. When the vehicle speed is zero, it indicates that the vehicle is in a stopped or dormant state, and it is possible to use an external charging device to heat the battery.

[0111] The VCU can also detect the vehicle's braking status through sensors in the vehicle system. If the brake pedal is not depressed or the brake lights are not illuminated, the VCU can determine that the vehicle is running. Otherwise, it indicates the possibility of using the vehicle's power supply to heat the battery.

[0112] This application does not specify the method by which the VCU determines whether a vehicle is in operation.

[0113] If the VCU determines that the vehicle is in operation, it executes S2016; otherwise, it executes S2012.

[0114] S2012. Determine whether the vehicle is connected to an external charging device.

[0115] The external charging device can be a charging gun or other devices. This application does not specifically limit the type of external charging device.

[0116] When the vehicle is connected to the charging gun, the heating device may be able to draw power directly from the charging station to heat the battery, without needing to draw power from the battery itself. When the vehicle is not connected to the charging gun, the heating device can only draw power from the battery's own electrical energy. Therefore, determining whether the vehicle is connected to the charging gun is crucial to determining whether the battery's own electrical energy is used to power the heating device.

[0117] The VCU can obtain information through the vehicle system or the charging station's communication interface. If the vehicle receives a signal from the charging gun or the charging station sends a connection status signal, then it can be determined that the vehicle is connected to the charging gun.

[0118] The VCU can also determine whether the vehicle is connected to the charging gun by detecting its connection status. By monitoring parameters such as the plug status and locking status of the charging gun, the VCU can determine whether the charging gun is connected to the vehicle.

[0119] The VCU can also determine whether the vehicle is connected to the charging gun through charging status feedback information. Once the charging gun is connected to the vehicle and charging begins, the charging system sends charging status feedback information to the VCU. The VCU can confirm whether the vehicle is connected to the charging gun and is charging by receiving the charging status feedback information.

[0120] The VCU can also determine whether the vehicle is connected to the charging gun in other ways. This application does not specify the method by which the VCU determines whether the vehicle is connected to the charging gun.

[0121] If the VCU determines that the vehicle is not connected to an external charging device, it executes S2016; otherwise, it executes S2013.

[0122] S2013. Determine if the vehicle is not in a charging state.

[0123] When the vehicle is charging, it means that an external charging device is being used to charge the battery. At this time, the battery is not fully charged. To ensure the battery is fully charged as much as possible, the external charging device can only be used to power the heating device once it is fully charged. Therefore, when the vehicle is confirmed to be charging, the battery's own power is used to power the heating device and air conditioning. When the vehicle is confirmed to be not charging, further assessment is needed to determine whether the external charging device can be used to pre-heat the battery.

[0124] The VCU (Vehicle Control Unit) can determine whether a vehicle is charging by monitoring the current in the vehicle's charging system. When the vehicle is receiving charging current, the VCU can determine that the vehicle is charging.

[0125] The VCU can determine whether a vehicle is charging based on its charging mode. Different charging modes (such as fast charging and slow charging) have different current and voltage characteristics, and the VCU can identify the charging mode to confirm whether the vehicle is charging.

[0126] The VCU can also determine whether the vehicle is charging by using the charging status feedback information in S2012.

[0127] This application does not specify the method by which the VCU determines whether the vehicle is charging.

[0128] If the VCU determines that the vehicle is not in a charging state, it executes S2014; otherwise, it executes S2016.

[0129] S2014. Determine if the battery is fully charged.

[0130] When the battery is fully charged, the vehicle can achieve its maximum range, and only then will it be able to use an external charging device to power the heating system, allowing the heating system to heat the battery. When the battery is not fully charged and the vehicle is charging, it needs to use its own battery power to power the heating system and / or the air conditioning.

[0131] The VCU can communicate with the BMS via an internal vehicle network (such as a CAN bus) to obtain the battery's power level. The VCU can also obtain the battery's power level through other means; this application does not specifically limit the methods by which the VCU obtains the battery's power level.

[0132] If the battery is not fully charged, execute S2016; otherwise, execute S2015.

[0133] S2015. Determine whether the charging station is a privately owned station.

[0134] When using public charging stations, scanning a QR code is usually required. If you need to charge again after the current charging period, you must scan the code again, which may prevent the onboard power supply from scheduling battery heating. Therefore, by determining whether the charging station is public, you can determine whether you need to use an external charging device to schedule battery heating.

[0135] The VCU sends a public / private charging station detection request to the vehicle power supply. The vehicle power supply connects to the charging station by turning off the S2 switch to detect the AC side voltage. The S2 switch is used to switch the connection status between the vehicle power supply and the charging station.

[0136] When the charging station is a private station, the voltage measured by the vehicle power supply should be within the normal range after closing S2. However, for public charging stations, the vehicle power supply will not be able to measure the voltage. Therefore, by detecting the AC side voltage, it is possible to determine whether the charging station is private or public, and thus decide whether to use the vehicle power supply to preheat the battery.

[0137] In some embodiments, a timeout detection can be performed when the voltage value measured by the on-board power supply is within the normal range. For example, if the timeout exceeds 8 seconds, the charging station is determined to be a public charging station. This application does not specifically limit the duration of the timeout detection.

[0138] In some embodiments, when the VCU sends a public / private charging station detection request to the vehicle power supply, it can also perform timeout detection. For example, if the timeout exceeds 10 seconds, the battery's own electrical energy can be used to pre-heat the battery. This application does not specify the timeout detection duration.

[0139] If the charging station is determined to be a public station, execute S2016; otherwise, execute S2017.

[0140] S2016. The heating device and air conditioner are powered by the battery's own electrical energy.

[0141] When at least one of the following conditions is met: the vehicle is in operation, the vehicle is not connected to the charging gun, the battery is charging, the battery is not fully charged, or the charging station is a public charging station, the VCU determines to use the battery's own electrical energy to heat the battery and control the temperature of the air conditioner, and executes S204.

[0142] S2017. Use an external charging device to supply power to the heating device and the air conditioner.

[0143] Once the conditions in S2011 to S2015 are met, the VCU determines to use an external charging device to pre-heat the battery and to control the temperature of the air conditioner, and executes S202.

[0144] It should be noted that the steps S2011 to S2017 described above represent only one implementation method for the VCU to determine whether to use an external charging device to power the heating device and air conditioner based on specific conditions. In addition, the VCU can also determine whether to use an external charging device to power the heating device and air conditioner based on combinations of other conditions. This application does not specifically limit the method for determining whether to use an external charging device to power the heating device and air conditioner.

[0145] S202. When it is determined that an external charging device is used to supply power to the heating device and the air conditioner, the VCU determines the power actually allocated to the BMS and the power actually allocated to the air conditioner.

[0146] (1) When it is determined that an external charging device will be used to heat the battery, the VCU determines the actual power allocated to the BMS. The BMS controls the heating device to heat the battery based on the actual allocated power.

[0147] See Figure 4, which is a schematic diagram of the process by which the VCU determines the power actually allocated to the BMS according to this application.

[0148] S2021, VCU sends a request to BMS to start OBC constant voltage output.

[0149] The VCU sends a request to the BMS to activate the OBC and enable constant voltage output, indicating that the VCU wants the OBC to be turned on and output a constant voltage. Constant voltage output is a voltage output method where the output voltage remains constant throughout the charging process until charging is complete.

[0150] Since the OBC is controlled by BMS commands, the VCU needs to indirectly control the OBC through the BMS. The VCU can send a request to the BMS via the CAN bus to start the OBC and set a constant output voltage. Upon receiving the request, the BMS will manage and control the operation of the OBC accordingly to ensure that the output voltage is stable and meets the preset value.

[0151] S2022, BMS sends a request to the vehicle power supply to request OBC to start constant voltage output.

[0152] After receiving the request from the VCU to start the OBC constant voltage output, the BMS can control the OBC in the vehicle power supply to start the constant voltage output via the CAN bus.

[0153] S2023, Vehicle power supply determines the output power of the OBC.

[0154] After receiving the OBC constant voltage output start request from the BMS, the on-board power supply checks its own status. If its status is normal, the on-board power supply controls the OBC to start constant voltage output. The on-board power supply determines the OBC output power based on the power supplied to the vehicle by the external charging equipment and the power of the DC-DC converter.

[0155] The power input to the vehicle's power supply from the charging pile is p0, where p0 represents the total power supplied to the vehicle's power supply from the external charging pile, including power used for charging the battery and powering other electronic devices. The power of the DC-DC converter is p, and the output power of the OBC is p0-p.

[0156] S2024, The vehicle power supply distributes the output power of the OBC to the VCU.

[0157] The onboard power supply distributes the output power of the OBC to the VCU, so that the VCU can allocate power to the heating device to perform scheduled heating of the battery.

[0158] S2025 and VCU determine the actual power allocated to BMS based on the output power of OBC.

[0159] To address temporary power demands, such as instantaneous motor acceleration, and to ensure these critical systems receive sufficient power support, the VCU subtracts a certain power value from the OBC's output power to determine the VCU's allocable power. For example, this certain power value could be 300W. This application does not specify the exact magnitude of this certain power value.

[0160] When the power that the VCU can allocate is greater than or equal to the power required by the heating device when heating the battery, the power actually allocated to the BMS is the power required by the heating device when heating the battery.

[0161] When the power available for allocation in the VCU is less than the power required by the heating device when the battery is heated, the power actually allocated to the BMS is the power available for allocation in the VCU.

[0162] (2) When it is determined that the vehicle power supply is used to control the temperature of the air conditioner, the VCU determines the power actually allocated to the air conditioner based on the power available to the VCU and the power actually allocated to the BMS.

[0163] When the battery requires pre-heating and the air conditioning requires temperature control, the VCU prioritizes meeting the battery's heating needs using the vehicle's power supply. Therefore, the power actually allocated by the VCU to the air conditioning is the VCU's allocable power minus the power actually allocated to the BMS.

[0164] In some embodiments, to address temporary power demands, when allocating power to the air conditioner, the VCU subtracts the reserved power value from the VCU's allocable power minus the power actually allocated to the BMS, and then subtracts the reserved power value as the actual power allocated to the air conditioner.

[0165] S203. Based on the actual power allocated to the BMS, the BMS controls the heating device to heat the battery.

[0166] After receiving the actual power allocated by the VCU, the BMS controls the heating device to heat the battery.

[0167] Referring to Figure 5, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the process of the BMS-controlled heating device provided in this application for scheduled heating of the battery.

[0168] S2031, BMS determines whether the power required by the heating device is greater than the power actually allocated to the BMS.

[0169] The BMS compares the power required by the heating device with the power actually allocated to the BMS to determine whether the power actually allocated to the BMS is sufficient for the heating device to function properly.

[0170] If the power required by the heating device is greater than the power actually allocated to the BMS, execute S2032; otherwise, execute S2033.

[0171] S2032. If it is determined that the power required by the heating device is greater than the power actually allocated to the BMS, the BMS sends a request to the VCU to disconnect the constant voltage power supply.

[0172] If the power required by the heating device exceeds the power actually allocated to the BMS, it indicates that the power allocated to the BMS is insufficient for the normal operation of the heating device. The BMS needs to send a request to the VCU to disconnect from constant voltage power supply so that the battery's own electrical energy can provide power to the heating device.

[0173] S2033. If it is determined that the power required by the heating device is less than or equal to the power actually allocated to the BMS, the BMS determines whether the battery heating has been turned on.

[0174] If the power required by the heating device is determined to be less than or equal to the power actually allocated to the BMS, the BMS needs to determine whether battery heating has been activated.

[0175] The BMS can interact with the heating device through its communication interface to obtain the device's operating status information. If the heating device is on, the BMS will receive corresponding signals or data feedback; conversely, if the heating device is off, the BMS will receive feedback indicating that the heating device is off.

[0176] S2034. If it is determined that the battery heating is not turned on, the BMS controls the heating device to turn on.

[0177] If the BMS determines that the battery heating is not turned on, the BMS sends a start command to the heating device, and the control device will activate the heating element to start heating the battery.

[0178] S2035. When it is determined that the battery heating has been turned on, the BMS sends the actual power consumed by the heating device to the VCU.

[0179] When the BMS determines that the battery heating has been turned on, it feeds back the actual power consumed by the heating device to the VCU in real time, so that the VCU can know the actual power consumed by the battery heating in real time.

[0180] It should be noted that when the VCU receives the request from the BMS to exit constant voltage power supply, it uses the battery's own electrical energy to provide power to the heating device.

[0181] S204. Control the air conditioner to perform cooling or heating operations according to the actual power allocated to it.

[0182] After receiving the actual power allocated by the VCU, the air conditioner determines whether the power required for its operation is greater than the power actually allocated to it. If the required power exceeds the allocated power, the air conditioner sends a request to the VCU to disconnect from the constant voltage power supply, allowing the battery's own energy to power the air conditioner. If the required power is less than or equal to the allocated power, the air conditioner sends its actual power consumption to the VCU, enabling the VCU to monitor the actual power consumed by the air conditioner's temperature control in real time.

[0183] S205. When it is determined that no external charging equipment is used to power the heating device and the air conditioner, the battery's own electrical energy is used to power the heating device and the air conditioner.

[0184] If it is determined that no external charging device is used to heat the battery, the battery's own electrical energy is used to provide power to the heating device so that the heating device can heat the battery in advance.

[0185] If it is determined that no external charging device is used to control the temperature of the air conditioner, the battery's own power is used to provide power to the air conditioner in order to achieve temperature control.

[0186] In one implementation, battery performance is also affected by high temperatures. Therefore, when booking a vehicle, the battery can be cooled to bring it to a suitable operating temperature and improve its performance.

[0187] It should be noted that when setting up a vehicle usage plan, users can choose whether to heat the battery and whether to control the temperature of the passenger compartment. Specifically, in one implementation, the user only sets the battery to heat up when setting up the usage plan. In another implementation, the user only sets the passenger compartment temperature control when setting up the usage plan. In yet another implementation, the user sets both battery heating and passenger compartment temperature control when setting up the usage plan.

[0188] As can be seen, by implementing this embodiment, when booking a vehicle, the power provided by the external charging equipment can be used as much as possible to keep the battery and passenger compartment at a suitable temperature. This ensures that the vehicle is in optimal working condition before departure and maximizes the vehicle's range, thereby improving the user experience.

[0189] This application provides a power supply device for an electric vehicle. Referring to Figure 6, Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of a power supply device 600 for an electric vehicle provided in this application. The device 600 can be configured as a vehicle control unit (VCU). The device 600 includes:

[0190] The detection unit 610 is used to detect the connection status between the electric vehicle and the external charging equipment.

[0191] The control unit 620 is used to control the external charging device to supply power to the electrical equipment of the electric vehicle.

[0192] In a possible implementation, the control unit 620 is used for:

[0193] In response to at least one of the conditions that the electric vehicle's battery is in a fully charged state and the electric vehicle's battery is in a non-charging state, the external charging device is controlled to supply power to the electric vehicle's electrical equipment.

[0194] In possible implementations, electrical appliances include air conditioning and / or heating devices.

[0195] In a possible implementation, the device 600 further includes a determining unit 630, which is used for:

[0196] The power actually allocated to the heating device is determined based on the power supplied to the electric vehicle by the external charging equipment and the power required by the heating device when heating the battery.

[0197] The actual power allocated to the air conditioner is determined based on the power supplied to the vehicle by the external charging equipment and the power required by the air conditioner when controlling the temperature of the passenger compartment.

[0198] The control unit 620 is used to: control the heating device to heat the battery according to the power actually allocated to the heating device;

[0199] The air conditioning system is used to control the temperature of the passenger cabin based on the actual power allocated to it.

[0200] In a possible implementation, the determining unit 630 is used to: determine the available power for allocation based on the power supplied to the vehicle by the external charging device;

[0201] When the available power is greater than or equal to the power required by the heating device when heating the battery, the power actually allocated to the heating device is the power required by the heating device when heating the battery.

[0202] When the available power is less than the power required by the heating device when the battery is heating, the power actually allocated to the heating device is the available power.

[0203] In a possible implementation, the determining unit 630 is used to: determine the power actually allocated to the air conditioner based on the power supplied to the vehicle by the external charging device, the power actually allocated to the heating device, and the power required by the air conditioner when the passenger compartment is temperature controlled.

[0204] In possible implementations, when both the battery and the passenger compartment require heating, the vehicle control unit prioritizes meeting the battery's heating needs via external charging equipment.

[0205] In one possible implementation, when the vehicle control unit receives a request from the battery management system to exit constant voltage output, it uses the battery's own electrical energy to power the heating device so that the heating device heats the battery. The battery management system controls the heating device to heat the battery, and the request to exit constant voltage output refers to an instruction that requires the vehicle control unit to stop maintaining a constant voltage output.

[0206] When the vehicle control unit receives a request from the air conditioner to deactivate constant pressure output, it uses the battery's own power to supply power to the air conditioner so that the air conditioner can perform temperature control.

[0207] The various functional units in Figure 6 are used to implement the steps of the method embodiments in Figures 2 to 5. For details, please refer to the description of the relevant content in the method embodiments in Figures 2 to 5. For the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0208] This application also provides a controller. Referring to Figure 7, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a controller 700 provided in this application. When the controller is configured as a vehicle control unit (VCU), the controller is used to implement the method embodiments described in Figures 2 to 5. The controller 700 includes a processor 710, a communication interface 720, and a memory 730. The processor 710, the communication interface 720, and the memory 730 can be interconnected via an internal bus 740, or they can communicate via wireless transmission or other means.

[0209] Taking a connection via bus 740 as an example, bus 740 can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus, etc. Bus 740 can be divided into address bus, data bus, control bus, etc. For ease of illustration, only one thick line is used to represent it in Figure 7, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0210] Processor 710 may consist of at least one general-purpose processor, such as a CPU, or a combination of a CPU and hardware chips. The hardware chips may be application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), or combinations thereof. The PLDs may be complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), generic array logic (GALs), or any combination thereof. Processor 710 executes various types of digital memory instructions, such as software or firmware programs stored in memory 730, enabling controller 700 to provide a wide range of services.

[0211] The memory 730 is used to store program code and is controlled by the processor 710 to execute the steps described in the embodiments of Figures 2 to 5 above. For details, please refer to the relevant descriptions of the embodiments shown above, which will not be elaborated here.

[0212] The memory 730 may include volatile memory, such as RAM; the memory 730 may also include non-volatile memory, such as ROM or flash memory; the memory 730 may also include a combination of the above types.

[0213] The communication interface 720 can be a wired interface (e.g., an Ethernet interface), an internal interface (e.g., a high-speed serial computer expansion bus (PCIE) bus interface), a wired interface (e.g., an Ethernet interface), or a wireless interface (e.g., a cellular network interface or a wireless LAN interface), for communicating with other devices or functional units.

[0214] The processor 710, communication interface 720, etc. in the controller 700 can implement the functions and / or various steps and methods implemented in the above-described method embodiments, which will not be described in detail here for the sake of brevity. The detection unit 610, control unit 620, and determination unit 630 in the device 600 can be located in the processor 710 of the controller 700.

[0215] It should be noted that Figure 7 is merely one possible implementation of an embodiment of this application. In practical applications, the controller may include more or fewer components, which is not limited here. For content not shown or described in the embodiments of this application, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the foregoing method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0216] This application also provides a computer storage medium including program instructions, which, when executed by a controller, perform some or all of the steps described in the above embodiments of the power supply method for electric vehicles.

[0217] This application also provides a computer program product, including program instructions that, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to perform some or all of the steps described in the above embodiments of the power supply method for electric vehicles.

[0218] This application also provides a vehicle, including a vehicle control unit (VCU), which performs some or all of the steps described in the above embodiments of the power supply method for electric vehicles.

[0219] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0220] In the above embodiments, implementation can be achieved, in whole or in part, through software, hardware, or any combination thereof. When implemented using software, it can be implemented, in whole or in part, as a computer program product. The computer program product may contain code. When the computer program product is read and executed by a computer, some or all of the steps of the method described in the above method embodiments can be implemented. The computer may be a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a computer network, or other programmable device. The computer instructions may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium or transmitted from one computer-readable storage medium to another. For example, the computer instructions may be transmitted from one website, computer, server, or data center to another website, computer, server, or data center via wired (e.g., coaxial cable, fiber optic, digital subscriber line) or wireless (e.g., infrared, wireless, microwave, etc.) means. The computer-readable storage medium may be any available medium that a computer can access or a data storage device such as a server or data center that integrates one or more available media. The available medium may be a magnetic medium (e.g., floppy disk, hard disk, magnetic tape), an optical medium, or a semiconductor medium, etc.

[0221] The steps in the method of this application embodiment can be adjusted, merged, or deleted in order according to actual needs; the units in the device of this application embodiment can be divided, merged, or deleted according to actual needs.

[0222] The embodiments of this application have been described in detail above. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A method of supplying power to an electric vehicle, the method comprising: detecting a connection state of the electric vehicle with an external charging device; and controlling the external charging device to supply power to an electric device of the electric vehicle when the electric vehicle is connected with the external charging device.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: controlling the external charging device to supply power to an electric device of the electric vehicle in response to at least one of a condition that a battery of the electric vehicle is in a full charge state and a condition that the battery of the electric vehicle is in a non-charging state being satisfied. the electric device includes an air conditioner and / or a heating device.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein, controlling the external charging device to supply power to an electric device of the electric vehicle by the vehicle controller includes:

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, determining an actual power to be allocated to the heating device based on power supplied to the electric vehicle by the external charging device and power required by the heating device when the battery is heated; determining an actual power to be allocated to the air conditioner based on power supplied to the vehicle by the external charging device and power required by the air conditioner when the passenger compartment is temperature-controlled; and controlling the heating device to heat the battery based on the actual power to be allocated to the heating device and controlling the air conditioner to temperature-control the passenger compartment based on the actual power to be allocated to the air conditioner. determining the actual power to be allocated to the heating device based on power supplied to the vehicle by the external charging device and power required by the heating device when the battery is heated by the vehicle controller includes:

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, determining an allocable power based on power supplied to the vehicle by the external charging device; in response to the allocable power being greater than or equal to the power required by the heating device when the battery is heated, the actual power to be allocated to the heating device is the power required by the heating device when the battery is heated; and in response to the allocable power being less than the power required by the heating device when the battery is heated, the actual power to be allocated to the heating device is the allocable power. determining the actual power to be allocated to the air conditioner based on power supplied to the vehicle by the external charging device and power required by the air conditioner when the passenger compartment is temperature-controlled includes:

6. The method of claim 4 or 5, wherein, determining the actual power to be allocated to the air conditioner based on power supplied to the vehicle by the external charging device, the actual power to be allocated to the heating device, and power required by the air conditioner when the passenger compartment is temperature-controlled.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising: in response to the battery having a heating demand and the passenger compartment having a temperature-control demand, the vehicle controller prioritizes the heating demand of the battery over the temperature-control demand of the passenger compartment by the external charging device.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising, after the controlling the heating device to heat the battery based on the actual power to be allocated to the heating device: ​ The vehicle control unit, in response to receiving a request from the battery management system to exit the constant voltage output, uses the battery's own power to supply power to the heating device to cause the heating device to heat the battery, wherein the battery management system is configured to control the heating device to heat the battery, and the request to exit the constant voltage output is an instruction to require the vehicle control unit to stop maintaining the constant voltage output; After the step of controlling the air conditioner to control the temperature of the passenger compartment according to the actual power allocated to the air conditioner, the method further comprises: The vehicle control unit, in response to receiving a request from the air conditioner to exit the constant voltage output, uses the battery's own power to supply power to the air conditioner to cause the air conditioner to control the temperature.

9. A power supply device for an electric vehicle, the device comprising: a detection unit configured to detect a connection state of the electric vehicle and an external charging device; and a control unit configured to control the external charging device to supply power to an electric device of the electric vehicle when the electric vehicle is connected to the external charging device.

10. A controller comprising a memory configured to store instructions and a processor configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A computer storage medium comprising program instructions which, when executed by a controller, cause the controller to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 8.

12. A vehicle comprising a vehicle control unit configured to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 8. ​

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