Battery Swap Station Charging Strategy for Uninterrupted Service

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery swapping stations face challenges in matching battery demand with supply due to long charging times, limited capacity, and imbalanced resource allocation, leading to user experience issues and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for determining a battery charging strategy that optimizes the target charging capacity of depleted batteries based on the number of serviceable batteries, charging ratio, and replacement time, ensuring uninterrupted service by adjusting minimum allowable remaining capacity and load factors, and incorporating a control device and charger configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If batteries are charged to high voltage (e.g., 4.4V or 4.5V) to increase energy density and reduce swapping frequency, then the battery cycle life and safety deteriorate due to overcharging damage and thermal runaway risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery operating cycleVSAvoidbattery cycle life
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic charging strategy adjustment based on real-time battery state monitoring. The charging voltage and current parameters are dynamically optimized according to battery temperature, state of charge, and health status, allowing the system to adapt charging conditions to prevent overcharging while maximizing energy utilization. This resolves the contradiction by making the charging voltage flexible rather than fixed at high levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs feedback mechanisms through battery management units that continuously monitor charging status, temperature, and voltage levels. Based on this feedback, the charging parameters are automatically adjusted to prevent overcharging conditions. The feedback loop ensures that charging stops or parameters are reduced when batteries approach safe voltage thresholds, thereby extending cycle life while maintaining efficient charging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Duration of action of moving object

If batteries are charged to high voltage (e.g., 4.4V or 4.5V) to increase energy density and reduce swapping frequency, then battery safety deteriorates due to overcharging damage and thermal runaway risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery operating cycleVSAvoidthermal runaway risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary monitoring and prediction of battery charging status before dangerous conditions occur. Battery management units continuously assess charging parameters and predict potential thermal runaway risks based on temperature trends, voltage levels, and charging current. This preliminary action allows the system to adjust charging parameters proactively to prevent thermal runaway rather than reacting after the problem occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harmful effect of high voltage charging into a benefit by implementing intelligent control that uses the high voltage potential only when safe. The system monitors battery conditions and applies high voltage charging only when temperature and state of charge are within safe ranges, thereby converting the harmful high voltage into a beneficial energy-dense charging mode under controlled conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Device complexity

If uniform charging parameters are applied to all batteries to simplify charging management, then charging efficiency deteriorates because individual battery characteristics (capacity, health, temperature) are not considered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging management complexityVSAvoidcharging efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality by applying different charging parameters to different batteries based on their individual characteristics. Each battery receives customized charging voltage and current profiles according to its specific capacity, health status, and temperature conditions. This localized approach optimizes charging efficiency for each battery while the automated system manages the complexity, achieving both goals through intelligent differentiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary assessment of each battery's characteristics before charging begins. Battery management units evaluate capacity, health status, and temperature in advance to pre-determine optimal charging parameters. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare individualized charging strategies, improving efficiency while the automation handles the computational complexity of managing multiple parameter sets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3700044B1Method and apparatus for determining battery charging strategy of battery swap station
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 NIO ANHUI HLDG CO LTD
  • EP3700044B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3700044B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3700044B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention relates to new energy vehicle technology, and in particular relates to a method for determining a battery charging strategy for battery swapping stations, a control device for implementing the method, a battery swapping station comprising the control device, and a computer storage medium for implementing the method. The method according to the present invention comprises the steps of obtaining a number of currently serviceable batteries in a battery swapping station, a charging ratio of a charger, time required to complete vehicle battery replacement, and a remaining capacity of a battery to be replaced; and optimizing a target charging capacity of a depleted battery to be charged by the charger, according to the number of currently serviceable batteries in the battery swapping station, the charging ratio of the charger, the time required to complete vehicle battery replacement, and the remaining capacity of the battery to be replaced, so that the battery swapping station can provide an uninterrupted battery swapping service as much as possible.