Vehicle Battery Charger Time-Delay Control for Off-Peak Charging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power infrastructure is incapable of meeting the demand for widespread use of rechargeable electric vehicles, leading to strain on community power systems and potential peak demand issues.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle charger system that includes a controller, a display, and user-manipulatable controls, allowing users to schedule charging sessions based on time of day, and communicate with a remote controller to adjust charging rates, start, or stop charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electric vehicles are widely adopted and charged during peak hours, then vehicle availability and user convenience are improved, but power infrastructure strain and peak demand increase
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system implements periodic action by scheduling charging operations during off-peak hours when power demand is lower. The controller automatically delays charging until predetermined time periods, transforming continuous peak-demand charging into periodic off-peak charging cycles, thereby reducing peak power demand while ensuring vehicle availability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary action by pre-scheduling charging operations during off-peak hours before the vehicle is actually needed. Users can set desired charging completion times, and the system proactively charges the battery during low-demand periods, ensuring the vehicle is ready by the specified time without contributing to peak demand.
2Power
If charging is delayed to off-peak hours, then power infrastructure strain is reduced, but user convenience and immediate vehicle availability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors charging status, battery level, and user preferences. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts charging schedules, notifies users of charging completion, and ensures the vehicle is ready by the desired time, thereby maintaining user convenience while implementing off-peak charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing users to program their own charging preferences and desired completion times. Once configured, the system autonomously manages the charging process during off-peak hours without requiring user intervention, automatically ensuring the vehicle is ready by the specified time, thus maintaining convenience while reducing peak demand.
3Productivity
If multiple vehicles are charged simultaneously, then overall energy utilization is improved, but individual household power capacity is exceeded
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system applies segmentation by dividing the charging load across different time periods. Instead of charging multiple vehicles simultaneously during peak hours, the system segments charging operations into off-peak periods when power demand is lower, allowing multiple vehicles to be charged without exceeding household power capacity while still achieving high overall energy utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle battery charger and a vehicle battery charging system are described and illustrated, and can include a controller enabling a user to enter a time of day at which the vehicle battery charger or system begins and/or ends charging of the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery charger can be separate from the vehicle, can be at least partially integrated into the vehicle, can include a transmitter and/or a receiver capable of communication with a controller that is remote from the vehicle and vehicle charger, and can be controlled by a user or another party (e.g., a power utility) to control battery charging based upon a time of day, cost of power, or other factors.