External EV Battery Assessment Using Variable Charge Current

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for assessing the performance of electric vehicle energy storage devices are limited, as they require access to internal vehicle systems and are not accessible to independent third parties, and they are time-consuming, focusing on full charge cycles without considering environmental data.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines the performance of electric vehicle energy storage devices externally, using a charging device with two current-carrying power channels to measure current and voltage, and applies a time-variable current increase or decrease to calculate resistance, accounting for parasitic effects and environmental influences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If current methods use internal vehicle systems (BMS, CPU) to determine battery performance, then measurement precision is improved, but accessibility to independent third parties deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery performance measurement precisionVSAvoidaccessibility to independent third parties
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary assessment system that can operate independently of the vehicle's internal BMS and CPU systems. This intermediary system uses external measurements and calculations to determine battery performance, allowing independent third parties to assess battery health without requiring access to proprietary internal vehicle systems while maintaining measurement accuracy through alternative measurement approaches

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If current methods perform full charge cycles to assess battery performance, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery performance measurement precisionVSAvoidtime for performance assessment
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by performing only the necessary portion of a full charge cycle assessment. Instead of requiring complete charge-discharge cycles, the system uses selective measurements during charging processes combined with algorithmic models to determine battery performance, significantly reducing the time required while maintaining adequate measurement precision for practical purposes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If current methods ignore environmental data during battery assessment, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassessment system complexityVSAvoidbattery performance measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, etc.) as additional variables in the battery performance assessment model. By integrating these environmental data points into the algorithmic model, the system compensates for environmental influences on battery behavior, thereby improving measurement precision without requiring complex additional hardware, as the environmental factors are processed through software-based corrections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables quick, precise, and accurate assessment of energy storage device performance, allowing for objective comparison and independent evaluation by third parties without accessing internal vehicle systems, and considers environmental factors for improved accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

Determining at least one resistance of the vehicle energy storage device... to determine the performance, in particular the resistance, of the vehicle energy storage device, a time-variable current increase or current decrease is used

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical Resistance: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP4217754B1Method for determining the performance capability of electrical vehicle energy stores
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 VOLYTICA DIAGNOSTICS GMBH
  • EP4217754B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4217754B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4217754B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

The present invention relates to the field of electric vehicles, in particular to a method for determining the performance capability of an electrical vehicle energy store. A method is provided that allows the performance capability of electrical energy stores to be ascertained from outside a vehicle without accessing its internal communication and electronics systems. The method may be implemented using a charging device. The performance capability is related to the resistance and/or the energy storage capacity of the electrical energy store. The resistance is ascertained using a variable charge or discharge current, the variable current having a defined rise or fall in a defined period and reaching a predefined amperage. The performance capability is calculated either using the measured resistance using known or ascertainable relationships, for example using statistics or prior measurement, or by analysis via the measurement period, charge current and advantageously information about the voltage.