EV Convenience Charging for Priority Location Range Assurance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles often face insufficient charge outside of their scheduled charging times, preventing them from reaching priority locations such as hospitals or emergency services, especially when connected to chargers during non-scheduled hours.
Innovation Solution
A convenience charging system that allows electric vehicles to charge outside of their scheduled times if they have insufficient range to reach priority locations, determining the necessary charge amount and cost, and notifying users with options to accept or cancel the out-of-schedule charging based on a user-set cost sensitivity index.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the vehicle charges according to the scheduled charging time, then the charging cost is reduced, but the vehicle range is insufficient to reach priority locations during the day
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system dynamically adjusts the charging schedule based on real-time conditions. When the vehicle is connected to a charger during non-scheduled hours and the state of charge is insufficient to reach priority locations, the system overrides the scheduled charging time and initiates charging immediately. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain cost efficiency while ensuring adequate range when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the charging parameter (charging time) from a fixed scheduled value to a variable value based on current conditions. By monitoring the state of charge, connection status, and ability to reach priority locations, the system modifies the charging timing parameter to balance cost savings with range requirements.
2Length of moving object
If the vehicle charges outside of the scheduled charging time, then the vehicle range is sufficient to reach priority locations, but the charging cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the vehicle's state of charge, charger connection status, and calculates whether the current charge level is sufficient to reach priority locations. This feedback loop enables the system to make informed decisions about whether to override the charging schedule, presenting cost information to the user and allowing them to accept or decline the out-of-schedule charging based on their cost sensitivity.
3Reliability
If the system overrides the charging schedule to charge early, then the vehicle can reach priority locations, but the charging schedule reliability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The charging schedule is designed to be dynamic rather than rigid. The system maintains schedule consistency by only overriding charging times when specific conditions are met (vehicle connected to charger, insufficient charge to reach priority locations). This conditional override approach preserves schedule reliability for normal operations while enabling flexibility when safety or accessibility requirements demand it.
4Ease of operation
If the system provides detailed cost information and user notifications, then the user can make informed decisions, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically calculates charging costs, determines sufficiency to reach priority locations, and presents informed options to the user. By handling the complex calculations and data gathering automatically, the system reduces the operational burden on the user while maintaining transparency through clear cost presentations and acceptance/decline options.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for convenience charging of an electric vehicle. A convenience charging system and related method, including, memory to store a charging schedule for charging an electric vehicle during a charging timeframe, processing circuitry to determine whether the current state of charge of the electric vehicle is insufficient to reach a priority location and in response to the electric vehicle being connected to a charger at a time outside of the charging timeframe of the charging schedule and determining that the current state of charge of the electric vehicle is insufficient to reach the priority location, facilitate initiation of charging at an earlier time than the charging timeframe so that the electric vehicle is charged to a sufficient range to reach the priority location.