EV Charging Notification System for Range Anxiety Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Drivers of all-electric vehicles experience range anxiety due to concerns about battery depletion before reaching their destination, exacerbated by forgetfulness in charging their vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A system that determines the optimal time to start charging the vehicle's battery based on historical usage data, destination data, and charging data, using a telematics system to send notifications via text message, phone call, or email to ensure sufficient charge for daily commutes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If drivers charge their vehicles frequently to eliminate range anxiety, then battery charge level is improved, but driver convenience and time management deteriorate due to forgetfulness and disruption of daily routine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery charge levelVSAvoiddriver convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations to determine the optimal charging time in advance, considering historical usage data, destination information, and charging rates. By notifying drivers beforehand when to charge, the system eliminates the need for frequent monitoring and manual decision-making, thus improving battery charge reliability while maintaining driver convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors vehicle usage patterns, battery charge levels, and destination data, then provides feedback to drivers through notifications. This closed-loop feedback mechanism automatically adjusts charging recommendations based on actual driving behavior, ensuring reliable battery charge levels without requiring active driver intervention or sacrifice of convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If drivers monitor battery charge manually to ensure sufficient range, then battery charge level is improved, but driver time and attention are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery charge levelVSAvoiddriver time and attention

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically calculating optimal charging times, monitoring battery levels, and sending notifications without requiring driver intervention. The system independently manages battery charge reliability by processing historical usage data, destination information, and charging rates, thereby eliminating the need for drivers to spend time manually monitoring battery status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If the system provides detailed charging notifications, then charging timing accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging timing accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculations using historical usage data, destination information, and charging rates to determine optimal charging times in advance. By pre-processing this information and providing specific timing notifications, the system achieves high charging timing accuracy without requiring complex real-time calculations or additional hardware, thus maintaining relatively simple system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9333872B2Charging notification and inquiry of an electric vehicle

Publication Date: 2016.05.10 CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

A text message, phone call or e-mail is sent to an owner/operator of an all-electric vehicle, stating when the vehicle should be plugged in (charging started) in order to provide enough charge to the vehicle in order to reach an expected destination.