EV Charge Controller Balancing Energy Cost and Battery Degradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid vehicles charged from external power sources face challenges in balancing environmental impact and cost, as excessive external charging increases fuel consumption and reduces environmental benefits while decreasing the power storage device's lifespan, and insufficient charging increases fuel consumption and reduces the power storage device's degradation, thus affecting overall cost efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A charging control apparatus and method for electrically powered vehicles that includes an energy cost prediction unit, lifetime prediction unit, usage cost prediction unit, and charge command generation unit, allowing users to select the amount of charge from an external power supply based on energy and usage costs, optimizing the vehicle's travel mode and charging strategy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the amount of charge supplied to the power storage device from an external power supply is increased, then the travel distance using only the motor increases and fuel consumption decreases, but the load on the power storage device increases causing further degradation and increasing the cost of using the power storage device
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of charge amount to multiple discrete levels (first charge level, second charge level greater than the first) allowing the user to select different charging amounts. This enables trade-off between fuel consumption reduction and power storage device degradation based on user preferences and cost considerations.
2Reliability
If the amount of charge from the outside of the vehicle is decreased, then the fuel consumption of the engine increases and the rate of contribution to environment protection decreases, but the load on the power storage device decreases and degradation is restrained
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides multiple charge level parameters (first charge level, second charge level) that allow the user to select between different charging amounts. This parameter variation enables the user to choose between minimizing power storage device degradation or reducing fuel consumption based on their priorities.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the amount of charge to the power storage device is increased, then the energy cost decreases but the cost of using the power storage device increases due to reduced lifetime
Solution Approach 1:
The system varies the charge amount parameter across multiple levels, allowing the user to select between different combinations of energy cost and power storage device lifetime cost. This enables informed decision-making based on total cost considerations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system presents information about both energy cost and power storage device usage cost to the user, enabling them to make informed decisions. The feedback mechanism allows the user to understand the trade-offs before selecting a charge level.
4Reliability
If the amount of charge to the power storage device is decreased, then the cost of using the power storage device decreases but the energy cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides multiple charge level parameters that allow the user to select between different cost combinations. By varying the charge amount parameter, the user can prioritize either power storage device lifetime or energy cost based on their needs.
Data Source
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AI summary
An energy cost prediction unit (114) predicts an energy cost for the next travel. A lifetime prediction unit (116) uses a charge amount - lifetime map to predict the lifetime of a power storage device according to an amount of charge to the power storage device. A usage cost prediction unit (118) predicts the cost of using the power storage device according to the amount of charge to the power storage device, based on the lifetime of the power storage device predicted by the lifetime prediction unit (116). The predicted cost associated with the amount of charge to the power storage device is indicated on a display device. In accordance with an instruction from a user, the power storage device is charged from a charging station.