Distributed Ledger for Electric Vehicle Charge Event Transparency

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing credit-based systems for reducing greenhouse gas emissions lack transparency and accountability, particularly in tracking and rewarding low-carbon fuel usage, due to opaque credit generation and exchange processes, and the difficulty in measuring electricity usage in private households for vehicle charging.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a distributed ledger system to store and compute environmental credits based on charge event information from vehicles, allowing transparent and publically accessible tracking of transactions, eliminating the need for separate meters by enabling vehicles to record and report energy usage directly, and using smart contracts to ensure compliance with carbon intensity standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a credit-based system is implemented to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, then environmental protection is improved, but transparency and accountability of the system deteriorate due to opaque credit generation and exchange processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegreenhouse gas emissionsVSAvoidtransparency of credit generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

A distributed ledger system acts as an intermediary between charge event data and environmental credits. The ledger transparently records all charge events and automatically computes credits through smart contracts, making the credit generation process publicly auditable while maintaining system integrity. This resolves the contradiction by introducing a transparent intermediary layer that preserves environmental benefits while eliminating opacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual, opaque administrative process of credit verification with an automated digital system based on distributed ledger technology and smart contracts. This substitution eliminates human intervention in credit computation, ensuring transparency and preventing manipulation while maintaining the environmental protection goal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If multiple meters are installed in each household to track electricity usage for vehicle charging, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectricity usage trackingVSAvoidnumber of meters required

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle itself performs the measurement function by recording its own charge events through onboard systems. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external meters in households, as the vehicle autonomously tracks and reports its charging data to the distributed ledger, achieving precise measurement without additional infrastructure complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle's onboard systems perform multiple functions: they serve as both the energy consumer and the measurement device. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated meters, reducing device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through the vehicle's own monitoring capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If private auctions are used for credit exchange, then market flexibility is improved, but transparency and public accessibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecredit exchange flexibilityVSAvoidpublic accessibility of market data

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments credit exchange into two layers: private negotiations for flexibility and public ledger recording for transparency. The distributed ledger maintains a public, auditable record of all credit transactions while allowing parties to negotiate terms privately, thus achieving both market flexibility and public accessibility simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The distributed ledger provides continuous, real-time public visibility of credit transactions and market data. This continuous transparency ensures that market information is always accessible to the public while private auction mechanisms continue to operate flexibly, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3709253A1A system for processing and storing charge event information, a method to process and store charge event information and a computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2020.09.16 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

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AI summary

The reduction of green house gas is a key challenge for the automotive industry. Proposed credit based system are not sufficient in providing the necessary transparency and flexibility to suit all participants in the value chain. The invention thereofre provides a system for processing and storing charge event information (100), comprising: - a vehicle (101) with a rechargable battery (102) adapted to store electric energy to supply electric energy to at least one electric component (103) of the vehicle (101); - a distributed ledger system (310) adapted to store charge event information (107, 200) of the rechargable battery (102); wherein the distributed ledger system (310) is being adapted to compute an environmental credit (315) based on the charge event information (107, 200) and is being adapted to store the environmental credit (315) in a wallet (313, 314) of the distributed ledger (310).