Fire Apparatus Charge Readiness Control for Peak-Cost Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cost of charging electrified vehicles can fluctuate significantly throughout the day based on power grid demand, leading to higher charges during peak hours, which increases operational expenses for fire stations maintaining fleets of electric vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A charge management system that utilizes processing circuits to determine a charge readiness score for electrified vehicles, dynamically controlling charging operations based on factors like response history, current and future electricity costs, and state of charge, to optimize charging and reduce costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If charging is performed continuously to maintain vehicle readiness, then vehicle availability is improved, but operating costs increase due to peak hour electricity rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging actions during off-peak hours when electricity costs are lower, proactively maintaining vehicle charge levels before peak demand periods occur. This allows vehicles to be ready for deployment without charging during expensive peak hours.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system dynamically adjusts charging rates and timing based on real-time electricity pricing signals, vehicle usage patterns, and forecasted demand. This dynamic optimization balances vehicle readiness requirements with cost minimization by shifting charging load away from peak periods.
2Loss of energy
If charging is delayed to avoid peak hours, then operating costs are reduced, but vehicle readiness may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vehicle charge levels, usage patterns, and electricity pricing signals, using this feedback to dynamically adjust charging schedules. This ensures vehicles maintain adequate charge for expected deployments while optimizing charging timing to avoid peak costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary charging during off-peak hours to proactively build charge reserves before anticipated vehicle deployments, ensuring readiness is maintained without requiring peak-hour charging. This advance preparation eliminates the need to charge during expensive periods while maintaining availability.
3Reliability
If multiple vehicles are charged simultaneously, then fleet readiness is improved, but electricity demand and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the charging load across multiple time periods and vehicles, distributing charging demands rather than concentrating them simultaneously. This segmentation allows the fleet to maintain readiness while avoiding peak demand periods by charging different vehicles at different times during off-peak hours.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system dynamically allocates charging resources across the fleet based on individual vehicle needs, anticipated deployments, and real-time pricing signals. This dynamic load management ensures adequate fleet readiness while optimizing the timing and distribution of electricity demand to minimize costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A charge management system includes one or more processing circuits. The one or more processing circuits include one or more memory devices coupled to one or more processors. The one or more memory devices are configured to store instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to receive an indication regarding an electrified fire apparatus being connected to a charging station, determine a charge readiness score for the electrified fire apparatus, and provide a charge management function by transmitting a signal to at least one of the charging station or the electrified fire apparatus to prevent charging from starting, stop charging if already charging, start charging if not already charging, or continue charging if already charging based on the charge readiness score.