EV Range Control with Adaptive Charging Stop SoC Planning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current range control systems for battery-powered vehicles often require manual user input and default settings, leading to inefficient charging stops due to improperly set target state of charge, and navigation planning is independent of vehicle settings, resulting in time inefficiencies and miscalculations.

Innovation Solution

A method for range control that determines a navigation route with specific charging stops and minimum charge levels, using data acquisition and user input to ensure a required remaining range at the destination, optimizing charging times and stops based on distance, charging speed, and energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual user input and default settings are used for charging stops, then the system is simple to operate, but charging stops are inefficient due to improperly set target state of charge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual operation simplicityVSAvoidcharging efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The navigation system automatically determines charging stops and target state of charge values without requiring manual user input. The system self-adjusts charging parameters based on route information, battery capacity, and consumption data, eliminating the need for users to manually configure charging settings while optimizing charging efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the target state of charge parameter based on varying conditions such as battery capacity, energy consumption rate, distance to charging stops, and remaining route distance. This adaptive parameter adjustment ensures optimal charging efficiency for each specific situation rather than using fixed default values.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If navigation planning is independent of vehicle settings, then the navigation system is simple and versatile, but time inefficiencies and miscalculations occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenavigation system independenceVSAvoidtime inefficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the navigation planning system with the vehicle's battery management settings by integrating route determination with state of charge calculations. The navigation system no longer operates independently but is combined with real-time battery data, energy consumption forecasts, and charging station information to create a unified system that eliminates time inefficiencies while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If fixed user settings for target state of charge are used, then the system is easy to configure, but unnecessarily long charging times or too many charging stops occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidcharging duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces fixed, static user settings with dynamic calculations that continuously adapt to current conditions. The target state of charge is not a fixed value but is dynamically determined based on real-time factors including battery capacity, energy consumption rate, distance to next charging stop, and distance to final destination. This dynamic approach optimizes charging duration by adjusting parameters according to actual journey requirements rather than predetermined settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4260011B1Method and device for controlling the range of a battery-operated motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 VOLKSWAGEN AG
  • EP4260011B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4260011B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4260011B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device (10) for controlling the range of a motor vehicle (100). The method comprises the identification of a navigation destination (N). The method also comprises the identification of a target residual range (R0) to be achieved at the navigation destination (N). Next, a navigation route to the navigation destination (N) via at least one charging stopover (L1, L2) is identified, and furthermore minimum states of charge (SoC1, SoC2) of a battery (120) to be achieved at the at least one charging stopover (L1, L2) are determined in such a way that the motor vehicle (100) has a residual range (R) upon arrival at the navigation destination which corresponds at least to the identified target residual range (R0).