EV Charging Station Selection Using Privacy-Preserving Location Approximation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for locating charging stations for electric vehicles raise concerns regarding personal data processing, particularly due to GDPR regulations, necessitating a solution that respects data privacy while providing real-time charging station information.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines approximate vehicle positions by adding a random error to GPS data, allowing for the selection of nearby charging stations without storing precise location data, using statistical learning to identify parking habits and prioritize stations based on frequency and duration of use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If precise GPS location data is collected and stored for real-time charging station selection, then the accuracy of charging station recommendation is improved, but personal data privacy protection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoiddata privacy risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates approximate position data as a copy of the precise GPS location, adding random error within a defined range. This copy retains sufficient accuracy for charging station selection while eliminating personally identifiable information, thus resolving the contradiction between location accuracy and privacy protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the precise location parameter by introducing random error values within a specific range. This parameter change maintains the location data's utility for finding charging stations while degrading it enough to protect privacy, achieving both goals simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If approximate position data with random error is used instead of precise GPS data, then data privacy protection is improved, but the precision of vehicle location determination deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata privacy riskVSAvoidlocation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial degradation to the location data by adding random error within a controlled range rather than completely anonymizing the data. This partial action preserves sufficient accuracy for the specific application (charging station selection) while achieving privacy protection, resolving the contradiction between privacy and precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If real-time tracking of vehicle journeys is implemented to identify parking habits, then the personalization of charging station recommendation is improved, but the quantity of personal data processed increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecommendation personalizationVSAvoiddata volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential pattern information (parking habit frequencies and durations) from the journey data, discarding the detailed personal location information. This extraction achieves personalization through aggregated statistics while minimizing personal data retention, resolving the contradiction between personalization and data quantity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4405201B1Method and device for selecting a charging station for an electrically powered vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 STELLANTIS AUTO SAS
  • EP4405201B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4405201B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and a device for selecting a charging station for an electrically powered vehicle (10). To do this, first data indicative of the stop and/or start status of a motor of the vehicle (10) at the current moment are received by a remote device (101). The first data include a first position of the vehicle (10) at the current moment. A first approximate position of the vehicle at the current moment is determined by applying to the first position a first distance selected at random from a determined range of distances. This first approximate position is compared against a plurality of positions associated with a plurality of charging stations. The charging station closest to the first approximate position of the vehicle is then selected from among the stations that make up the plurality of charging stations.