Charging Column with Individual Vehicle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging columns for electric vehicles are often underutilized due to their exclusive occupation by a single vehicle during charging, limiting availability for other users and reducing operational efficiency for operators.
Innovation Solution
A method and charging column design that allows multiple electric vehicles to be charged simultaneously through a control system that charges each vehicle individually, enabling flexible prioritization and sequence management, including the option for lower priority connections and user-selectable rates, which can be implemented as a retrofittable expansion module or integrated during manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a charging column serves a single parking space exclusively, then the charging process can proceed without interruption, but the charging column cannot be utilized by other vehicles during the entire charging duration and after charging is completed
Solution Approach 1:
The charging column is segmented into multiple independent connection points (first connection and second connection), each capable of serving a separate vehicle. The charging control system divides the charging column's resources and manages multiple charging sessions independently, allowing simultaneous service of multiple vehicles without interfering with each other's charging continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging column is designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple vehicles simultaneously through different connections. The charging control system can dynamically allocate charging resources to different vehicles based on their needs, enabling the same charging column to function as multiple independent charging stations while maintaining reliable charging processes for each vehicle.
2Productivity
If vehicles are charged sequentially at a single connection, then the charging column remains blocked for the entire residence time of each vehicle, but if multiple vehicles are charged simultaneously, the charging control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging column is divided into multiple independent connection segments, each with its own charging capability. This segmentation allows the system to manage multiple vehicles in parallel without requiring complex inter-vehicle coordination, as each connection operates semi-independently under the unified control of the charging control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging control system dynamically adjusts charging parameters and resource allocation based on real-time conditions of connected vehicles. It can flexibly switch between serving one or multiple vehicles simultaneously, adjusting the level of parallel operation according to the number of connected vehicles and their charging requirements, thereby managing complexity adaptively.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the charging column serves multiple parking spaces, then more vehicles can be charged simultaneously, but the charging control must manage multiple connections and determine charging sequences
Solution Approach 1:
The charging column is designed as a universal platform that can accommodate multiple vehicles across different parking spaces through multiple connections. The charging control system provides unified management for all connections, handling vehicle identification, authentication, and charging parameter configuration through a single interface, thereby managing complexity centrally rather than requiring separate control systems for each connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging control system automatically determines charging sequences and allocates resources based on pre-established priorities and real-time vehicle requirements. Vehicles can specify their charging needs upon connection, and the system autonomously manages the charging schedule and power distribution without requiring manual intervention, reducing the operational complexity of managing multiple connections.
4Productivity
If priority-based charging is implemented for multiple vehicles, then charging efficiency can be optimized, but the charging control system requires sophisticated prioritization and sequence determination capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
Vehicles establish their charging priorities and requirements in advance when connecting to the charging column. The charging control system receives and stores this priority information beforehand, allowing it to pre-calculate optimal charging sequences and resource allocation strategies before actual charging begins, thereby simplifying real-time control decisions while maintaining high charging efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging control system continuously monitors the charging status of all connected vehicles and adjusts the charging sequence and power distribution based on real-time feedback. It compares actual charging progress with target priorities and dynamically reallocates resources to maintain optimal efficiency, using feedback loops to balance the complexity of prioritization control with the need for high productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a charging column, in which a plurality of electric vehicles that are simultaneously connected at respective connections of the charging column are charged by means of a charging control of the charging column, wherein the charging control charges the simultaneously connected electric vehicles exclusively individually. In addition, the invention relates to a charging column with a plurality of connections for the simultaneous connection of a plurality of electric vehicles.