EV Battery Management Mode Selection for Cycle Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle battery packs face challenges in extending their lifespan due to factors like charging rates, temperatures, and depth of discharge, which affect performance, range, and reliability, necessitating a management system to optimize battery life.
Innovation Solution
A battery pack management system that allows users to select operational modes, such as Battery Life mode, which adjusts maximum State of Charge (SOC), charging and discharge rates, and temperature ranges to prolong battery life, including setting minimum and maximum SOC levels, charge and discharge rates, and temperature settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the maximum State of Charge (SOC) level is increased to improve battery capacity and range, then the battery's service life is reduced due to increased stress and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of maximum SOC levels based on selected operational modes. In Battery Life mode, the maximum SOC is limited to a first level (e.g., 80-90%), while in Range mode, it is increased to a second level (e.g., 95-100%). This dynamic parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize between capacity utilization and battery longevity depending on user needs, resolving the contradiction between maximizing battery capacity and extending service life.
2Productivity
If the maximum charging rate is increased to reduce charging time, then the battery experiences increased thermal stress and reduced cycle life
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the maximum charging rate based on the operational mode selected by the user. In Battery Life mode, the charging rate is limited to a first maximum rate that reduces thermal stress on the battery. In Range mode or when fast charging is selected, the system allows a second maximum charging rate that is higher, accepting increased thermal stress in exchange for faster charging. This resolves the contradiction between charging productivity and battery reliability.
3Power
If the maximum discharge rate is increased to improve power delivery and acceleration, then the battery undergoes increased degradation and reduced lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements mode-dependent discharge rate limits. In Battery Life mode, the maximum discharge rate is constrained to a first level that minimizes degradation. In Sport mode or when performance is prioritized, the system allows a second maximum discharge rate that provides higher power delivery but accelerates battery aging. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between power performance and battery lifetime.
4Productivity
If the battery is charged to higher SOC levels and discharged at higher rates to improve range and performance, then thermal imbalance increases and battery reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes operational parameters (SOC limits, charge/discharge rates, temperature thresholds) based on the selected mode. In Battery Life mode, the system maintains more conservative parameters that reduce thermal imbalance and improve reliability. In Range mode, the system allows higher SOC levels and discharge rates that extend vehicle range but increase thermal stress. The system monitors temperature and adjusts parameters dynamically to manage thermal imbalance, resolving the contradiction between range and reliability through parameter optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of setting the operational mode of an electric vehicle is provided, where the operational mode is selected from a plurality of operational modes that include at least a Battery Life mode and a Standard mode, wherein the Battery Life mode is configured to select operating and charging parameters that emphasize battery health and battery life over vehicle range and/or vehicle performance. The system includes a thermal management system for maintaining the vehicle's battery pack to within any of a plurality of temperature ranges, and a charging system for charging the vehicle's battery pack to any of a plurality of minimum and maximum SOC levels and at any of a plurality of charging rates.