EV Charging Reservation Interface for Reliable EVSE Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electric vehicle charging systems face issues with low interoperability between different charging networks, inefficient utilization of Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSEs), unpredictable availability, and long wait times due to first-come-first-served models, leading to a suboptimal user experience and inefficient use of public infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enable reserved and ad-hoc charging sessions, improve load management, and facilitate user-friendly access through a centralized reservation system, integrating with EVSEs to manage power distribution and authentication, ensuring efficient charging sessions and optimized EVSE utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a first-come-first-served model is used for EVSE access, then the system is simple to operate, but wait times become unpredictable and charging availability is unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to make reservations for EVSE charging sessions in advance, performing the charging action preparation before actually needing the service. This resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable charging availability through pre-booking while maintaining operational simplicity through automated reservation management.
Solution Approach 2:
A centralized reservation system acts as an intermediary between users and EVSEs, managing the complex coordination of reservations, authentication, and session management. This mediator handles the complexity internally while presenting a simple interface to users, resolving the contradiction between reliability and operational complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple charging networks operate independently, then each network can be managed separately, but interoperability between networks remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The reservation system is designed to work across multiple charging networks and EVSE providers simultaneously, providing universal access to different networks through a single interface. This enables high interoperability while the centralized system manages the integration complexity internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple independent charging networks into a unified reservation platform, combining their capabilities while maintaining individual network operations. This resolves the contradiction by achieving network interoperability through consolidation while the underlying systems remain separately manageable.
3Ease of operation
If EVSEs are distributed across multiple locations, then charging accessibility improves, but utilization efficiency decreases due to uneven distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The reservation system collects and analyzes data on charging patterns, EVSE utilization, and user preferences across multiple locations. This feedback enables dynamic optimization of EVSE distribution and reservation allocation, resolving the contradiction by improving both accessibility and utilization efficiency through data-driven decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts reservation allocations and EVSE assignments based on real-time demand, location popularity, and utilization patterns. This dynamic approach ensures that EVSEs at highly accessible locations are efficiently utilized while maintaining broad geographic accessibility, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and efficiency.
4Adaptability or versatility
If charging sessions are unreserved and spontaneous, then user flexibility is high, but load management becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
Users can make preliminary reservations for charging sessions, allowing the system to prepare and pre-coordinate power distribution, authentication, and session management. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining user flexibility through optional pre-booking while enabling efficient load management through advance planning and resource allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservation system enables continuous optimization of load management across multiple charging sessions by learning from patterns and maintaining steady-state efficient operations. This resolves the contradiction by allowing flexible spontaneous charging while maintaining continuous efficient load distribution through automated system management.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a method and/or system for charging one or more electric vehicles (e.g., based on one or more reserved charging sessions; for charging an electric vehicle during a scheduled time period; etc.) can include: receiving a reservation request (e.g., a reservation request including one or more reservation parameters; etc.); scheduling a reserved charging session based on the reservation request (e.g., based on reservation parameters from the reservation request; etc.); determining a check in at an Electric Vehicle Service Equipment (EVSE) for the reserved charging session; and/or causing the EVSE to charge the electric vehicle based on the reserved charging session (e.g., during the scheduled time period; etc.). Embodiments can support load management across groups of vehicles, offline access control, and improved user interfaces with improved security for facilitating charging sessions.