Autonomous Vehicle Battery Preconditioning for Fast Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle batteries face reduced charging efficiency due to temperature variations, with higher temperatures limiting charge rates and increasing the time required for charging, especially during direct current (DC) fast charging.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle's onboard battery management system (BMS) preconditions the battery by cooling it before arriving at a charging station, optimizing the temperature for higher charging rates and reducing charging time by estimating arrival time, destination information, and weather conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the battery is charged at higher temperatures, then the charging rate increases, but the charging time decreases only if temperature is optimized; otherwise, charging efficiency reduces
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling of the battery before charging to optimize temperature conditions. The BMS estimates arrival time at the charging station and initiates cooling operations in advance, ensuring the battery reaches optimal temperature range before charging begins, thereby maximizing charging rate and minimizing charging time
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts battery temperature by controlling cooling operations. The BMS monitors temperature parameters and modifies cooling intensity to maintain optimal temperature range for charging, transforming the temperature parameter to achieve both high charging rate and reduced charging time
2Productivity
If the battery is cooled before charging, then charging efficiency improves, but energy is consumed for cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs cooling operations in advance during periods when energy consumption has lower impact on charging productivity. By estimating arrival time and performing cooling beforehand, the system avoids energy waste during the charging process itself while still achieving optimal charging conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The BMS continuously monitors battery temperature and adjusts cooling operations based on feedback. This closed-loop control ensures cooling is applied only when and where needed, optimizing the balance between charging efficiency improvement and energy consumption for cooling
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
Preconditioning the battery allows for faster and more efficient charging by maintaining optimal temperature, thereby reducing the time needed to charge the battery and ensuring sufficient battery capacity upon arrival at the destination.
Implementation Method 1
The vehicle's onboard battery management system (BMS) preconditions the battery by cooling it before arriving at a charging station
Data Source
AI summary
Systems of an autonomous vehicle and the operations thereof are provided. During travel of an autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle can determine a charge is needed. Within the planned path of travel, the autonomous vehicle can determine when the autonomous vehicle may arrive at a charging station, what destinations are planned after reaching the charging station, the current temperature of the battery (and the temperature of the surroundings), the weather conditions at the charging station, etc. Based on these determinations and/or calculations, the autonomous vehicle can precondition the battery before the autonomous vehicle arrives at the charging station, for example, the autonomous vehicle starts cooling the battery at a quicker than normal rate so that the autonomous vehicle arrives at the charging station with the battery at the coldest possible temperature. The preconditioning allows the autonomous vehicle to charge at higher rate compared to charging without preconditioning.