Electric Vehicle Power Demand Calculation via Intermediary Communication

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Estimating a highly reliable power demand for electric vehicles is challenging due to limited information from charging stations, especially when the number of stations is small, and when charging station providers do not disclose charging results, making it difficult for business operators to accurately estimate power demand.

Innovation Solution

A power demand amount calculation system that establishes communication with vehicle-mounted devices to collect and analyze data on battery capacity, charge level, and position, allowing for the calculation of actual power demand and visualization of charging patterns, enabling accurate estimation of power needs for electric vehicles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If charging stations are installed to enable electric vehicles to travel greater distances, then the reliability of power demand estimation improves, but the cost and complexity of infrastructure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower demand estimation reliabilityVSAvoidcharging infrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication system that acts as an intermediary between charging stations and central management. This system collects charging result information automatically and transmits it to the power demand estimation system, eliminating the need for direct complex connections between numerous charging stations and the estimation system, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing infrastructure complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where charging result information is continuously collected from charging stations and fed back to the power demand estimation system. This feedback loop enables accurate estimation of power demand by analyzing actual charging patterns and results, improving estimation reliability without requiring excessive charging infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If charging result information is collected from multiple charging station providers to improve estimation accuracy, then the reliability of power demand estimation improves, but the difficulty of information collection and coordination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower demand estimation reliabilityVSAvoidinformation collection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal communication interface and standardized information format that can be used across different charging station providers. This multi-functional communication system enables the collection of charging result information from multiple providers without requiring separate collection mechanisms for each, thereby improving estimation reliability while keeping information collection complexity manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a central communication management system that acts as an intermediary between multiple charging station providers and the power demand estimation system. This mediator standardizes and consolidates information from various providers, improving estimation reliability while simplifying the coordination complexity through centralized management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If the number of charging stations is kept small to reduce infrastructure cost, then the cost decreases, but the reliability of power demand estimation deteriorates due to limited information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging station quantityVSAvoidpower demand estimation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous monitoring and collection of charging result information from existing charging stations. By continuously gathering data over time rather than relying on a large number of stations, the system maintains reliable power demand estimation with a smaller charging station infrastructure, reducing costs while preserving estimation quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP2793342B1Power demand amount calculation system, power demand amount calculation method, power demand amount calculation apparatus, program, and recording medium
Publication Date: 2021.01.06 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP2793342B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2793342B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2793342B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a power demand amount calculation system that calculates the amount of demand for power that is necessary for charging a plurality of electric vehicles, and that is provided with a power demand amount calculation apparatus that calculates the amount of demand for power that is necessary for charging each of the electric vehicles. The power demand amount calculation apparatus comprises a power demand amount calculation unit that calculates, on the basis of at least the rated capacities and the actual capacities of batteries of electric vehicles that satisfy prescribed conditions, among the plurality of electric vehicles, the amount of demand for power necessary for charging the electric vehicles that satisfy the prescribed conditions.