Electricity Management Device for EV Charging with Solar Priority

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home systems with solar cells often require an additional expensive rechargeable battery for electric vehicles, as they may not generate enough electricity when the vehicle is connected to a charger, leading to reliance on grid power for charging.

Innovation Solution

An electricity management device that includes a charging electricity accumulator and a discharging electricity accumulator, controlled by a system that adjusts a counter value based on CO2 emissions, prioritizing solar-generated electricity for vehicle charging and discharging excess electricity into the house to minimize grid power use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a house-side rechargeable battery is installed to enable electric vehicle charging from solar power, then the electric vehicle can be charged without grid power, but the system cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to charge electric vehicle without grid powerVSAvoidsystem cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the electric vehicle battery with the house energy storage system, allowing the EV battery to serve dual purposes: powering the vehicle and storing solar energy for the house. This eliminates the need for a separate house-side battery, reducing system cost while maintaining the ability to charge the EV without grid power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The EV battery is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both the vehicle's power source and the house's energy storage device. The battery can charge the vehicle, store excess solar power, and supply power to the house, making the system more versatile and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If solar cells are used to generate electricity for the electric vehicle, then CO2 emissions are reduced, but the solar cells do not always generate enough electricity when the vehicle is connected to a charger

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveCO2 emissionsVSAvoidelectricity generation sufficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary charging of the EV battery using solar power when sunlight is available and generation exceeds immediate needs. The battery is charged in advance during periods of high solar generation, ensuring sufficient energy is stored before the vehicle is needed, even though solar generation varies throughout the day.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The EV battery acts as an intermediary energy storage device between the solar cells and the vehicle motor. It buffers the mismatch between intermittent solar generation and continuous vehicle power needs, allowing the system to reduce CO2 emissions while ensuring sufficient electricity availability when the vehicle is charged.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10913371B2Electricity management device, electricity management method, and electricity distribution system inside a house with electricity generating device, utility grid connection, and electric vehicle containing a rechargeable battery in a vehicle-to-grid connection with counter device

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A electricity management device increases a counter value as an electric vehicle is charged from grid power that is supplied from an electrical grid, retains the counter value when the electric vehicle is charged from electricity generated by an electricity generation device, and reduces the counter value as electricity in the electric vehicle is discharged to a distribution board.