EV Charging Station DC Bus Balancing for Battery Depletion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Charging stations with batteries at electric vehicle charging sites face imbalances due to varying usage rates, leading to depletion of batteries in frequently used stations, causing driver frustration and adoption issues.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle charging system with a power input port, battery, vehicle coupling, and system controller that enables direct current (DC) charge transfers between charging stations through a DC bus connection, managed by a centralized management system to balance energy distribution based on charge levels and demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If charging stations use local batteries to store energy, then installation costs and infrastructure requirements are reduced, but batteries in frequently used stations deplete more quickly than those in less used stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges previously independent charging stations into an interconnected energy management system where batteries are combined into a shared pool through DC bus connections. This allows energy to be distributed across multiple stations, ensuring that frequently used stations can draw from the collective battery capacity rather than relying solely on individual local batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal energy pool that serves multiple charging stations simultaneously. The centralized energy management system enables each battery to serve multiple functions: storing energy for its local station, providing backup for other stations, and participating in load balancing across the entire network, thereby improving overall system reliability.
2Device complexity
If charging stations operate independently with local batteries, then system complexity is reduced, but energy distribution becomes unbalanced leading to driver frustration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an automated energy management system that operates autonomously to balance energy distribution. The centralized controller automatically monitors battery charge levels, detects imbalances, and executes charge transfers without human intervention, thereby maintaining user satisfaction while managing system complexity through automation rather than manual coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates continuous monitoring of battery charge levels at each charging station, with the centralized energy management system receiving feedback data and automatically initiating charge transfers when imbalances are detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures equitable energy distribution and maintains high user satisfaction without requiring complex manual management.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures reliable power at each charging station by transferring energy from less used to more used stations, maintaining sufficient charge levels and reducing battery depletion, thus enhancing user satisfaction and adoption of electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a battery configured to receive and store electric power derived from the input electric power received at the power input port
Implementation Method 2
an inter-charger connection communicatively connected to the battery and configured to provide a direct current (DC) output to an addition vehicle charging system and to receive a DC input from the additional vehicle charging system via a direct connection
Data Source
AI summary
In order to ensure reliable power for charging electric vehicles is available at each charging station at a charging site having multiple charging stations, the systems and methods disclosed herein provide for charge transfers between batteries of such charging stations. A plurality of charging stations at a charging site are connected via a direct current (DC) bus in order to transfer energy between the charging stations, such as to balance the energy stored at the respective batteries of the charging stations. Each charging station includes a system controller controlling operation of the charging station and a DC bus connection to provide DC current from the battery to the DC bus and to provide DC current from the DC bus to the battery, as controlled by the system controller. A centralized management system may also communicate with and control aspects of operation of the respective system controllers of the charging stations.