EV Fleet Charging Schedules Using Battery Reserve Categories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing charging schedules in fleets of electric vehicles do not effectively account for dynamic power needs and infrastructure availability, leading to inefficiencies and increased idling time.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a command unit with a processor and memory to define discharge categories (transportation, transfer, reserve energy) and proportion battery power accordingly, signaling vehicles to charge when categories fall below allocated percentages, and optimizing energy transfers between vehicles and charging stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing charging schedule management systems are used, then charging operations can be performed, but they do not effectively account for dynamic power needs and infrastructure availability, leading to inefficiencies and increased idling time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-emptively managing battery power allocation across discharge categories (transportation, transfer, reserve energy) before charging needs arise. The command unit proactively signals vehicles to charge when categories fall below allocated percentages, rather than reacting to immediate charging requests, thereby reducing idling time and improving charging efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic power allocation by continuously monitoring and adjusting battery power distribution across multiple discharge categories. The command unit adapts charging schedules in real-time based on changing power needs, vehicle locations, and infrastructure availability, transforming static charging management into a dynamic optimization process that reduces inefficiencies
2Use of energy by moving object
If battery power is proportioned by setting percentage allocations for multiple discharge categories, then efficient energy use is optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments battery power into distinct discharge categories (transportation, transfer, reserve energy), each with its own percentage allocation. This segmentation allows the command unit to independently manage and optimize power distribution across different functional needs, improving overall energy use efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular categorization
Solution Approach 2:
The command unit serves multiple functions simultaneously: it monitors battery levels across different discharge categories, determines when charging is needed, signals vehicles to charge, and manages power allocation percentages. This multi-functionality consolidates complex energy management tasks into a single centralized system, improving energy efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A system of managing charging schedules in a fleet having electric vehicles includes a command unit. The command unit has a processor and tangible, non-transitory memory on which instructions are recorded. The command unit is adapted to define a plurality of discharge categories, including a transportation category, a transfer category and a reserve energy category. The respective battery power in the electric vehicles is proportioned by setting a respective percentage allocation for the plurality of discharge categories. The command unit is adapted to signal the electric vehicles to charge when at least one of the plurality of discharge categories falls below the respective percentage allocation. The command unit may be adapted to group the electric vehicles in respective virtual boxes based in part on their respective physical locations.