EV Charging Control System Optimizes Utility Demand Billing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle charging systems face high utility costs due to demand billing rates, which increase when energy consumption peaks, leading to increased costs for commercial and industrial users like electric bus operators.
Innovation Solution
A control system that determines the maximum energy that can be consumed without triggering a higher demand billing rate and adjusts the charging schedule to avoid peak consumption periods by calculating the energy needed by electric vehicles and allocating it within available limits, ensuring that the demand billing rate is not exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If fast-charge batteries are used to charge electric vehicles quickly, then recharge time is reduced, but energy cost increases due to peak demand billing rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by charging electric vehicles during off-peak hours when utility rates are lower. The control system schedules charging events in advance during periods of low demand, thereby avoiding peak demand billing rates while still meeting the vehicles' energy requirements. This preliminary charging approach reduces energy costs without significantly impacting the vehicles' operational readiness.
2Reliability
If charging events are increased to meet vehicle energy needs, then vehicle operational readiness is improved, but demand billing rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts charging schedules based on real-time utility rate signals and vehicle energy requirements. When utility rates are low, the system increases charging activity to meet vehicle needs. When rates are high, it reduces or delays charging events. This dynamic adjustment maintains vehicle operational readiness while optimizing energy cost by adapting charging behavior to prevailing utility conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic charging actions synchronized with utility rate cycles. Instead of continuous or uniform charging, it schedules charging events periodically during off-peak rate periods. This periodic approach allows the system to accumulate necessary energy in vehicles during low-cost periods while avoiding the high demand billing rates that would result from concentrated peak-hour charging.
3Use of energy by moving object
If charging is delayed to avoid peak rates, then energy cost is reduced, but vehicle availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors vehicle energy levels, charging status, and utility rate signals to make real-time decisions about charging scheduling. This feedback mechanism ensures that vehicles are charged sufficiently before they are needed for operation, maintaining vehicle availability while still capturing cost savings from off-peak charging. The system adjusts charging timing based on actual vehicle requirements rather than fixed schedules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary charging actions during off-peak hours to ensure vehicles are fully charged before their scheduled operational periods. By anticipating vehicle energy needs and charging in advance during low-rate periods, the system maintains vehicle availability without requiring peak-hour charging, thereby preserving both cost savings and operational reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling the charging of one or more electric vehicles at one or more charging stations in a geographic locality includes determining if the charging event of an electric vehicle of the one or more electric vehicles increases a demand billing rate. The demand billing rate may be a cost per unit of energy in the locality. The method also includes charging the electric vehicle at the charging event such that the demand billing rate is not increased.