EV Charging Matchmaking for Low-Battery Range Anxiety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face challenges in quickly replenishing their battery power, leading to 'range anxiety' due to the lack of easily accessible power sources, unlike fuel-powered cars, which can be refueled quickly.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that determines when an electric vehicle's state of charge falls below a threshold, identifies nearby capable charging stations or vehicles, ranks them based on various factors, and schedules a rendezvous for recharging, utilizing vehicle telematics data and home owner availability to ensure efficient and convenient charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electric vehicles use traditional charging stations, then charging capability is provided, but accessibility and convenience are insufficient leading to range anxiety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging infrastructure into multiple distributed home charging units rather than relying on centralized charging stations. Each home with an electric vehicle can independently provide charging capacity to nearby vehicles in need, creating a decentralized network that improves both accessibility and reliability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service charging where vehicles with excess battery capacity automatically offer their charging capability to the network. When another vehicle needs charging, the system autonomously matches them and facilitates the energy transfer without requiring manual intervention from vehicle owners, thus improving convenience while maintaining reliability.
2Duration of action of moving object
If electric vehicles carry larger batteries to extend range, then operating duration is improved, but vehicle weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes electric vehicle batteries multi-functional by enabling them to serve not only their primary function of powering their own vehicle but also to provide charging services to other vehicles in the network. This universal application allows vehicles to maintain smaller, lighter batteries while still achieving extended operational duration through access to the peer-to-peer charging network.
3Productivity
If more traditional charging stations are built, then charging infrastructure capacity is improved, but system complexity and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the charging infrastructure function into existing home environments rather than building separate dedicated charging stations. By combining the charging capability with residential properties that already have electrical infrastructure, the system increases overall charging capacity without adding significant system complexity or deployment costs.
Data Source
AI summary
Computer-implemented methods and computer systems are disclosed herein as implemented by one or more local or remote processors, transceivers, servers, and/or sensors. The methods and systems include the one or more processors (i) determining an electric vehicle has a state of charge (SOC) below a predetermined threshold; (ii) if the SOC is determined to be below the predetermined threshold, determining homes capable of charging electric vehicles within a vicinity of, or a predetermined distance of, the low SOC vehicle's GPS location; (iii) from among the homes within the predetermined distance of the low SOC vehicle, ranking the homes based upon various factors; and/or (iv) scheduling a rendezvous or appointment for the low SOC vehicle with the highest ranked home for recharging the low SOC vehicle, the highest ranked home being equipped to recharge the low SOC vehicle and is available to charge the low SOC vehicle.