On-Route EV Charging Control for Battery Life and Range

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles face limitations in range and battery lifespan due to the need for frequent charging, which increases the total cost of distance and requires significant battery capacity, while existing charging methods are inefficient and inconvenient, especially for transit and delivery vehicles.

Innovation Solution

Strategic Opportunity Wireless Charging allows for continuous operation of electric vehicles by deploying wireless chargers along routes, maintaining battery state of charge within optimal thresholds to extend battery life and reduce charging time, utilizing real-time data and predictive modeling to optimize charging based on energy costs and vehicle conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If frequent charging is implemented to maintain battery charge levels, then vehicle operational availability is improved, but battery lifespan deteriorates due to increased charge cycles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle operational availabilityVSAvoidbattery lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary charging actions during scheduled stops (transit stops, loading/unloading, driver breaks) before the battery charge level becomes critical. By anticipating charging needs and acting in advance during these predetermined opportunities, the system maintains vehicle availability while avoiding excessive charge cycles that would degrade battery lifespan.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Length of moving object

If larger battery capacity is installed to extend range, then vehicle range is improved, but vehicle weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle rangeVSAvoidbattery weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If wired charging connections are used, then power transfer efficiency is improved, but operational convenience and safety deteriorate due to driver intervention requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower transfer efficiencyVSAvoidcharging convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical wired connection system with a wireless power transfer system using electromagnetic fields. This substitution eliminates the need for physical plugging and unplugging of charging cables, thereby maintaining power transfer efficiency while dramatically improving operational convenience and driver safety by removing the need for driver intervention during charging operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Length of moving object

If battery charge level is maintained at high levels to ensure range, then vehicle range availability is improved, but energy cost and battery degradation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange availabilityVSAvoidenergy cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors battery charge levels, vehicle location, scheduled stops, and route requirements to dynamically adjust charging strategies. This feedback mechanism allows the system to charge only when and where needed based on actual vehicle requirements, preventing unnecessary energy expenditure while ensuring range availability is maintained through intelligent, data-driven charging decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the charging parameters (charge amount, charge timing, charge location) based on real-time conditions including battery state of charge, vehicle location, scheduled stops, and route requirements. By dynamically adjusting these parameters rather than maintaining a fixed high charge level, the system reduces energy costs while ensuring range availability is maintained through adaptive charging strategies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 extends battery lifespan, reduces the need for larger batteries, lowers the total cost of distance, and enhances operational efficiency by minimizing downtime and energy waste, enabling electric vehicles to operate indefinitely while maintaining optimal battery health and minimizing energy costs.

Implementation Method 1

WPT acts as an open core transformer with a primary (ground-side) coil and a secondary (vehicle-side) coil to transfer power over an air-gap in accordance to Faraday's first law of electromagnetic induction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20240217369A1Strategic opportunity charging for on-route electric vehicles

Publication Date: 2024.07.04 INDUCTEV INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer-readable storage medium for improving the efficiency of charging an electric vehicle (EV) that follows a prescribed route. The efficiency of charging an electric vehicle is improved by receiving telemetry data from the EV, receiving charger data from a plurality of charges along the prescribed route, determining a charging plan for the EV based on a total cost per distance (TCD) of travel over each of the plurality of route segments that comprise the prescribed route and controlling a particular charger along the prescribed route to charge the EV according to the charging plan.