EV Battery Charging Based on Predicted Power Outages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicles do not continuously monitor for potential power outages, leading to reduced capability to supply power to locations during actual outages if the battery State-of-Charge (SoC) is low.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle processor monitors weather and electrical grid data to predict outages, determines an optimal battery charge level based on severity and duration, and adjusts charging to ensure the battery is at the optimal SoC before and during the outage, utilizing bidirectional charging stations and energy storage devices to supply power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle continuously charges the battery to maintain high State-of-Charge, then the capability to supply power during outages is improved, but the energy consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging of the battery when outages are predicted, rather than continuously charging. The processor monitors weather data and grid status to predict outages, then initiates charging operations in advance, ensuring the battery is sufficiently charged before the outage occurs while avoiding unnecessary continuous charging.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the charging parameters (charge rate, charge duration, target SoC) based on predicted outage characteristics such as severity and duration. When a severe or prolonged outage is predicted, the system increases charging intensity and target SoC, whereas for minor outages, charging is minimized or skipped entirely.
2Measurement precision
If the vehicle monitors weather and grid data continuously to predict outages, then the accuracy of outage prediction is improved, but the computational load and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages existing multi-functional components in the vehicle (processors already used for navigation, entertainment, and vehicle management) to handle outage prediction tasks. Rather than adding dedicated monitoring hardware, the existing processor is utilized to analyze weather data and grid status, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining prediction accuracy.
3Reliability
If the vehicle uses bidirectional charging stations to supply power during outages, then the reliability of power supply is improved, but the availability of charging infrastructure is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses bidirectional charging stations as intermediary points between the vehicle battery and the locations requiring power during outages. The charging station acts as a mediator that enables power transfer from the vehicle to external loads, allowing the vehicle to supply power to locations even when the grid is down, while utilizing existing charging infrastructure rather than requiring direct vehicle-to-location connections.
Data Source
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Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
An example operation includes one or more of: determining, by a vehicle, a severity and a length related to a predicted outage at a location; determining, by the vehicle, an optimal charge of a battery of the vehicle prior to the predicted outage, wherein the optimal charge is based on the severity and the length; comparing, by the vehicle, a current charge of the battery to the optimal charge; and charging, by the vehicle, the battery to the optimal charge when the current charge is below the optimal charge.