EV Charging Server Aggregating Energy Throughput for Grid Load Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle charging infrastructure lacks optimal control and aggregation of energy use for plug-in electric vehicles, leading to inefficiencies in tracking and managing electrical load, particularly during peak and off-peak hours, which can strain the power grid and result in suboptimal utility billing.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle charging network that includes a server communicating with vehicle telematics units (VTUs) to receive and transmit charging control signals, enabling or interrupting charging based on load adjustment requests, aggregating energy throughput data, and generating output reports for owners and utility providers, thereby optimizing energy use and grid management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate electric metering is installed to track electrical use during vehicle charging, then energy measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A server acts as an intermediary between utility meters and PEVs, aggregating energy throughput data from multiple vehicles. The server receives meter readings, processes energy usage information, and provides consolidated data to utility providers, eliminating the need for complex individual metering systems at each charging location.
Solution Approach 2:
The server provides multiple functions including energy aggregation, data storage, communication coordination, and billing support. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate specialized systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
2Use of energy by moving object
If charging control signals are transmitted to enable or interrupt charging based on load adjustment requests, then energy use optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback loops where the server monitors energy usage patterns, receives load adjustment requests from utility providers, and transmits charging control signals back to PEVs. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic optimization of energy use by adjusting charging operations based on grid conditions and utility requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
PEVs autonomously respond to charging control signals by enabling, postponing, or interrupting charging operations based on server instructions. The vehicles self-regulate their charging behavior without requiring complex external control infrastructure, simplifying the overall system architecture.
3Measurement precision
If energy throughput values are aggregated over multiple active charging events, then billing accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The server continuously collects and pre-aggregates energy throughput data during charging events, maintaining running totals rather than waiting for complete billing cycles. This preliminary aggregation reduces the time required for final billing calculations while ensuring accurate energy measurement across multiple charging events.
Solution Approach 2:
Energy data aggregation operates continuously throughout charging events rather than in discrete batches. The server maintains continuous tracking of energy throughput, enabling real-time billing accuracy without requiring time-consuming periodic data collection and processing cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A network includes vehicle(s) having a battery pack and vehicle telematics unit (VTU), and a server. A server in communication with the VTUs and remote client device(s) is programmed to receive vehicle information from the VTU, including an energy throughput value defined by charging power delivered to the battery pack during an active charging event. The server receives utility information and a load adjustment request from the remote client device, including a power interrupt permission status describing whether interruption of power by a host of the client device is permitted. Charging control signals are transmitted in response to the load adjustment request to enable or postpone the charging event. Energy throughput is recorded over multiple active charging events, which are then combined or aggregated. Output data, e.g., a bill or report describing the aggregated energy throughput values, may be generated by the server. A method and server are also disclosed.