EV Charging Station Fault Prioritization for Large Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicle charging stations often experience faults, leading to inefficiencies in fault management, particularly in large networks where manual handling is resource-intensive and prone to false alarms, with existing detection methods failing to differentiate between critical and non-critical issues.

Innovation Solution

A method for managing faults in electric vehicle charging stations involves detecting triggers, calculating a fault priority index based on indicators like offline duration and frequency, and initiating actions such as rebooting or alerting maintenance, with a hierarchical escalation system to prioritize and automate fault resolution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual fault handling is used in large networks, then all faults can be addressed, but resource consumption increases and false alarms cannot be differentiated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault management efficiencyVSAvoidmanagement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms fault management from manual to automated by changing the operational parameters through a structured index system. Multiple fault indicators (duration, frequency, recurrence) are combined with weighted parameters to generate an automated priority index, enabling the system to self-manage faults without increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Manual fault handling is replaced with an automated calculation system that uses predefined indicators and algorithms to determine fault priority. The mechanical process of manual assessment is substituted with an automated index calculation that processes multiple parameters simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If all faults are treated equally, then no priority differentiation is made, but maintenance resources are wasted on non-critical issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance efficiencyVSAvoidfault priority information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by treating different faults differently based on their specific characteristics. Each fault is assessed using localized indicators (duration, frequency, type) and assigned a specific priority level, allowing maintenance resources to be precisely targeted at critical issues rather than treating all faults uniformly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Extent of automation

If fault priority index calculation is implemented, then automated prioritization is achieved, but calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault management automationVSAvoidcalculation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fault management system is segmented into distinct modular components: fault detection, indicator measurement (duration, frequency, recurrence), parameter weighting, and priority index calculation. This segmentation allows each component to be independently managed and processed, reducing overall system complexity while enabling automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12194882B2Scalable method to handle faults in a network of electric vehicle charging stations

Publication Date: 2025.01.14 LIIKENNEVIRTA OY VIRTA LTD

AI summary

Example embodiments enable a scalable method (200) to manage faults of a wide network of electric vehicle charging stations comprising even thousands electric vehicle charging stations. The occurred faults may be solved automatically when possible. The faults may be prioritized based on one or more criterion. The method (200) and an apparatus (600) is provided to handle the faults more efficiently.