EV Battery Preconditioning for Faster, Safer Fast Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The time required for charging electric vehicle batteries is prolonged due to temperature variations, which affect charging speed and can lead to battery degradation, posing challenges in regions with varying climates.
Innovation Solution
An electric vehicle is equipped with a navigation system and a vehicle management system that precondition the energy storage to an optimal temperature range (20-30°C) while en route to a charging station using active and passive thermal conditioning methods, based on parameters received from a cloud server, including charger details and destination information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the battery is charged without preconditioning to optimal temperature, then the charging process is simpler and requires less energy, but the charging time is prolonged and charging speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary thermal conditioning of the battery before charging begins. The vehicle management system activates heating or cooling mechanisms during the travel phase to reach optimal temperature (20-30°C) before the vehicle arrives at the charging station, ensuring the battery is ready for fast charging without delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts battery temperature parameters through active thermal management. By controlling coolant flow, heating elements, or insulation based on real-time temperature monitoring, the system maintains the battery within the optimal temperature range for fast charging, thereby increasing charging speed.
2Productivity
If the battery is charged at high power without temperature control, then charging speed increases, but battery degradation accelerates and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle management system continuously monitors battery temperature during charging and adjusts charging power accordingly. When temperature approaches optimal ranges, the system enables higher charging power; when temperature deviates, it reduces power or activates thermal management, preventing degradation while maximizing charging speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts both temperature and power parameters in coordination. By maintaining temperature within 20-30°C through active thermal management, the battery can safely accept high charging power without degradation, thus improving both charging speed and reliability simultaneously.
3Loss of time
If active thermal conditioning is used to precondition the battery, then the battery reaches optimal temperature faster, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system initiates thermal conditioning during the travel phase before charging begins. By using waste heat from the motor or coolant system during transit, the battery is pre-heated or pre-cooled without requiring dedicated energy input at the charging station, reducing both preconditioning time and overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the vehicle's own thermal resources (motor heat, coolant circulation) to condition the battery. Rather than requiring external heating/cooling infrastructure at charging stations, the vehicle self-preconditions using its existing thermal management infrastructure, minimizing additional energy requirements.
4Loss of time
If fast charging is performed without temperature optimization, then charging time is reduced, but battery degradation increases and safety risks arise
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the temperature parameter to enable safe fast charging. By maintaining battery temperature within 20-30°C through active thermal management during fast charging, the system allows high-power charging that reduces charging time while preventing thermal runaway, degradation, and other safety hazards associated with uncontrolled high-power charging.
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
This approach reduces charging time, minimizes battery degradation, and decreases congestion at charging stations by ensuring the battery is within the optimal temperature range for fast charging.
Implementation Method 1
precondition the energy storage to an optimal temperature range (20-30°C) while en route to a charging station using active and passive thermal conditioning methods
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, an electric vehicle (EV) includes an energy storage, a navigation system, and a vehicle management system configured to receive, from the navigation system, parameters associated with preconditioning the energy storage for charging, precondition, while travelling to a destination charger and based on the parameters, the energy storage to a target temperature, and charge the energy storage to a target state of energy using the destination charger.