Secondary Battery Reuse Planning for Supply Timing and Performance

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for reusing secondary batteries from end-of-life vehicles struggle with imbalances in supply and demand, leading to inefficiencies in the distribution and utilization of battery modules due to unpredictable demand and supply timing.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that predicts the supply time and performance of secondary batteries by acquiring and analyzing battery performance data, allowing for advanced planning to match supply with demand, including transportation costs and site allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If battery packs are collected from end-of-life vehicles and then the degree of degradation is acquired, then battery performance information becomes available for reuse, but supply and demand imbalance occurs leading to inefficiency in distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery performance information availabilityVSAvoiddistribution efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting the supply time and battery performance of secondary batteries before they are actually removed from vehicles. The prediction unit estimates when batteries will become available and their expected performance at that time, allowing the distribution plan to be created in advance rather than waiting until batteries are collected. This preliminary planning ensures that supply and demand are matched more effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If demand for battery modules is predicted at various sites and vehicle types, then distribution can be optimized, but supply timing cannot be controlled leading to excess or shortage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistribution optimizationVSAvoidsupply timing uncertainty

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring actual battery removal times and performance data from vehicles, then comparing these actual values with the predicted values. The prediction unit is updated based on this feedback to improve future predictions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust its predictions and distribution plans to better match actual supply timing and battery performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If battery modules are distributed based on current performance data, then immediate distribution can occur, but future supply and demand balance cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedistribution speedVSAvoidsupply and demand balance

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting the supply time and battery performance of secondary batteries before they are actually removed from vehicles. The prediction unit estimates when batteries will become available and their expected performance at that time, allowing the distribution plan to be created in advance rather than waiting until batteries are collected. This preliminary planning ensures that supply and demand are matched more effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12455324B2System to support reuse of secondary battery, server used therein, and method

Publication Date: 2025.10.28 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A system to support reuse of a mounted secondary battery mounted on a vehicle includes at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to acquire supply time information on supply time of a used secondary battery that will be removed from the vehicle and first battery performance information on battery performance of the mounted secondary battery mounted on the vehicle, and generate supply information on supply of a used secondary battery, including battery performance of the used secondary battery at the supply time, in accordance with the supply time information and the first battery performance information.