EV Charging Control Device for Multiple Vehicles
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Charging multiple electric and hybrid vehicles at home can lead to inefficiencies, including delayed charging completion, risk of breaker overload, and increased electricity costs due to sequential charging and varying power consumption patterns, which may result in incomplete charging when needed.
Innovation Solution
A charging control device that independently manages the charging of multiple vehicles by detecting state of charge, expected power consumption, and usage time, setting optimized charging schedules to ensure vehicles are charged efficiently within contract power limits, prioritizing vehicles based on usage needs and considering factors like air conditioning and fuel levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple vehicles are charged simultaneously from household commercial power supply, then charging efficiency is improved, but breaker overload risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging control device dynamically adjusts charging parameters based on real-time power consumption monitoring. When the sum of power consumption from multiple vehicles approaches the breaker's rated capacity, the system automatically reduces charging current or pauses charging for certain vehicles to prevent overload, while resuming when power consumption decreases.
Solution Approach 2:
Before initiating simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles, the system performs preliminary calculations to determine whether the total expected power consumption exceeds the breaker's rated capacity. Based on this preliminary assessment, the system either allows simultaneous charging with appropriate current limits or schedules sequential charging to prevent breaker overload before it occurs.
2Reliability
If charging is performed sequentially in order of arrival, then breaker overload is avoided, but charging time increases and vehicle availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static sequential charging to dynamic parallel charging control. Multiple vehicles can charge simultaneously with dynamically adjusted current distribution. The control device continuously monitors total power consumption and adjusts individual charging rates to maintain operation within breaker capacity while maximizing overall charging throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of charging current distribution from uniform sequential allocation to optimized parallel allocation. By adjusting charging current parameters for each vehicle based on their state of charge, power consumption characteristics, and arrival time, the system achieves faster overall charging while staying within breaker limits.
3Productivity
If contract power capacity is increased to accommodate multiple vehicles, then charging speed is improved, but contract fee increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the parameter of power distribution timing and magnitude to match actual charging needs. By intelligently controlling when and how much power is delivered to each vehicle based on state of charge, expected power consumption, and usage time, the system maximizes utilization of existing contract power capacity, reducing the need for power upgrades.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging control device autonomously manages power allocation among multiple vehicles without requiring increased contract capacity. The system self-adjusts charging parameters to efficiently utilize available power capacity, performing load management and scheduling functions that would otherwise require infrastructure upgrades.
4Ease of operation
If charging is performed without considering usage time, then charging simplicity is maintained, but vehicle availability at desired time cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of required charge amount based on expected power consumption and usage time. Before charging begins, the control device determines the target state of charge needed to ensure vehicle availability when required, and adjusts charging parameters to achieve this target within the available time window.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring state of charge during charging and comparing it against the target charge amount calculated based on usage time requirements. When the target is approached or usage time is nearing, the system adjusts or terminates charging to ensure the vehicle is ready for use at the desired time.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging control device is a charging control device for independently controlling charging of power storage devices in a plurality of vehicles, respectively, each having the power storage device mounted thereon, from an external power supply, in which a control ECU detects a state of charge of the power storage device when each vehicle and the external power supply are coupled to each other, detects an expected amount of power consumption for each of the plurality of vehicles, calculates a required amount of power to be charged for each vehicle based on the detected state of charge and the expected amount of power consumption, detects a time to start use of each vehicle, determines a charging schedule of a charging time period and an amount of power to be charged for each vehicle based on the required amount to be charged and the time to start use, and controls charging of the power storage devices mounted on the vehicles according to the charging schedule. A charging control device and a charging control method achieving increased possibility that a vehicle desired to be used can be used at a desired time of use, while performing charging within contract power can be provided.