Fleet Emergency Charging via Shared Power Module Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle fleet depots face challenges in efficiently managing emergency charging due to the unsuitability of fast charging technology and the need for specialized hardware, which limits widespread adoption and poses safety risks when coordinating power delivery among multiple vehicles.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that allows for the expropriation of power modules from one vehicle to another based on a shared rule set and priority/severity mapping, using a load control management system to manage power distribution efficiently during emergency charging scenarios, and employing a distributed power management system with a layered software architecture for intelligent control and interoperability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If L3 or DC fast chargers are used to deliver high power, then charging speed is improved, but device complexity and safety risks increase due to specialized hardware requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging infrastructure into two distinct components: L2 chargers for normal operation and L3 fast chargers for emergency use only. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high charging speeds when needed while avoiding the complexity of deploying L3 hardware universally. The L3 chargers are strategically placed at specific ports rather than installed at every charging location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating L3 fast charging capability at specific strategic locations (certain ports) rather than uniformly across the entire depot. This allows high power delivery to be available where most needed while keeping the overall system simpler. The L3 chargers are deployed selectively based on vehicle priority and charging demand patterns.
2Power
If L3 chargers are deployed for emergency charging, then charging power is improved, but ease of manufacture and widespread adoption deteriorate due to specialized hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes L2 chargers universal and multi-functional by designing them to handle both normal charging operations and emergency charging scenarios. The L2 chargers are configured to dynamically adjust power delivery based on system needs, serving as the primary charging solution for most vehicles while being capable of supporting emergency situations through coordinated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-positioning L3 fast chargers at specific strategic ports before emergencies occur. These L3 chargers remain in standby mode, ready to be activated immediately when emergency charging is detected. This preliminary preparation ensures high power availability without requiring the entire system to be built with complex L3 hardware.
3Reliability
If power modules are expropriated from one vehicle to another during emergencies, then emergency charging reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized controller as an intermediary that manages power allocation and coordination across all chargers and vehicles. This controller receives emergency notifications, determines which vehicles need power, and orchestrates the expropriation of power modules from lower-priority vehicles to high-priority emergency vehicles. The intermediary simplifies the complexity by centralizing decision-making logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by making power allocation flexible and adaptive rather than static. The L2 chargers dynamically adjust their power delivery based on real-time conditions, vehicle priorities, and emergency needs. Power modules are dynamically reassigned from non-emergency vehicles to emergency vehicles as situations evolve, allowing the system to respond fluidly to changing conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, apparatus, and methods for emergency charging. Within the context of an EV fleet depot, the fleet vehicles are typically owned/controlled by a company or organization which has an interest in communal resource allocation. The communal resource management considerations of vehicle fleets create new opportunities for resource allocation which are not readily available to e.g., individual consumers. Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed to shared communication protocols within a fleet of vehicles that facilitate efficient resource allocation. Communication and evaluation may be formalized according to a shared rule set and metrics (promulgated by the fleet authority, etc.). Various aspects of the present disclosure may further extend the concepts of priority and/or severity to site-wide power management. Conceptually, power may be distributed to power a first priority, before distributing the remaining power to the next priority, etc. This isolates the first prioritization level from internal and/or external throttling.