EV Charging Control System with Dynamic Price Offsets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle owners face challenges in charging their vehicles at optimal times due to peak electricity demand during evenings, leading to higher costs and potential forgotten charging sessions, with no guarantee of lower rates during early morning off-peak hours and insufficient time to reach desired charge levels.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a smart thermostat, personal computer, and electric vehicle charger that monitors energy rates and initiates charging based on user-defined parameters, including price set points and offsets, charge rate adjustments, and energy storage unit management to optimize charging times and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If electric vehicle owners wait for early morning hours to charge their vehicles, then they can take advantage of lower energy rates, but they risk forgetting to couple their vehicle or sleeping through the charging window
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically coupling the electric vehicle to the grid during off-peak hours without requiring user intervention. The automated system proactively monitors energy rates and initiates charging before the user would need to remember to do so manually, ensuring charging occurs during low-cost periods while eliminating the risk of forgetting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by autonomously managing the charging process. The automated system monitors energy rates, determines optimal charging windows, couples the vehicle to the grid, and manages the charging session without human intervention, allowing the system to serve itself and eliminating reliance on user memory or action.
2Reliability
If electric vehicle owners charge during peak evening hours, then they ensure the vehicle is charged and ready for use, but they pay premium electricity rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging actions during off-peak hours before the vehicle is needed. By automatically charging the vehicle during low-cost periods and ensuring the charging session completes before the vehicle is required for use, the system maintains vehicle readiness while avoiding peak pricing periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors energy rates and charging status, using feedback to adjust charging operations. When energy rates drop below a threshold, the system initiates charging; when rates rise or charging reaches the target state of charge, the system stops charging, optimizing cost while ensuring vehicle readiness.
3Loss of energy
If the system waits for desired price set points to be reached, then it minimizes charging costs, but there may not be sufficient time remaining to reach the desired state of charge
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the price threshold and charging strategy based on real-time conditions. When time remaining is sufficient, the system waits for lower price set points; when time is limited, the system adapts by charging at higher price thresholds or increasing charge rate, balancing cost minimization with the constraint of available time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters based on time remaining. It monitors the time window available for charging and adjusts price thresholds, charge rates, and target states of charge dynamically. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize cost when time permits while ensuring adequate charging when time is constrained.
4Loss of energy
If the system monitors and waits for optimal energy rates, then it reduces charging costs, but it requires complex monitoring and decision-making systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary automated control system that bridges the user and the complex energy market. This intermediary automatically monitors energy rates, interprets pricing signals, makes charging decisions, and executes charging operations, shielding the user from complexity while achieving cost optimization through systematic monitoring and decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system provides for the charging of electric vehicles according to user defined parameters. The method and system can include an enhanced thermostat, personal computer, and/or an electric vehicle charger which can receive various user defined vehicle charging parameters such as an initial price set point at which to start the charging of an electric vehicle. Another charging parameter can include one or more price offsets relative to the initial set point that can be provided by a user or generated by a computer program. The price offsets allow charging of an electric vehicle at prices above the desired initial price set point when the time remaining to charge an electric vehicle has diminished and the desired initial price set point has not been reached by the energy market. The price offsets can be assigned according to predetermined increments of time, such as an on an hourly basis.