In-Vehicle Charging Fare Offset for Electric Vehicle Range Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited availability of charging options for electric vehicles, particularly in transit, restricts their range and usage in services like taxis and ridesharing, as they are often tethered to a home base due to battery charge constraints.
Innovation Solution
A fare adjustment system that allows passengers to generate electric charge using in-vehicle devices like stationary bikes, which is then used to offset the trip fare, incentivizing energy production and extending the vehicle's range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric vehicles are used in transit services, then environmental benefits and operational efficiency are improved, but charging infrastructure limitations reduce vehicle range and usability
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables passengers to generate their own electric charge during the trip using exercise equipment, eliminating dependence on external charging infrastructure. The generated charge is stored in the vehicle battery, extending range without requiring stops at charging stations.
Solution Approach 2:
Exercise equipment serves as an intermediary device that converts mechanical energy from passenger exercise into electrical energy through a generator. This intermediary mechanism bridges the gap between limited charging infrastructure and the vehicle's energy needs.
2Use of energy by moving object
If in-vehicle exercise equipment is added, then passenger-generated charge increases vehicle range, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The exercise equipment serves multiple functions: providing physical exercise to passengers, generating electrical charge through a generator, and potentially serving as entertainment or fitness therapy. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single system addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges the exercise equipment with the vehicle's existing electrical system, including the battery and control systems. The generator from the exercise equipment is integrated with the vehicle battery, creating a unified energy management system that reduces overall complexity compared to separate systems.
3Productivity
If passengers exercise to generate charge, then fare offset increases and vehicle range extends, but passenger convenience may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the fare offset based on the amount of charge generated during each trip. Passengers can choose to exercise more to earn greater discounts, creating a flexible, adaptive incentive system that responds to individual passenger behavior and needs rather than imposing fixed requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides real-time feedback to passengers about the charge being generated and the corresponding fare discount being earned. This feedback loop motivates continued exercise by making the connection between physical effort and financial benefit immediately visible and tangible to the passenger.
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
This system incentivizes passengers to generate electric charge, overcoming charging limitations and enhancing the vehicle's range and usability in services by providing fare discounts based on the generated energy.
Implementation Method 1
A fare adjustment system monitors for when a trip is initiated in a vehicle. Thereafter, electric charge provided from the use of various charging devices (e.g., stationary bike) in the vehicle is metered
Data Source
AI summary
System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to adjusting a trip fare according to in-vehicle charging provided by a passenger. In one embodiment, a method includes, in response to initiating a trip in the vehicle for a passenger, accumulating the trip fare as a function of traveling a route to fulfill the trip. The method includes metering one or more charging devices to identify a metered charge produced by the passenger operating the one or more charging devices during the trip. The method includes computing a fare offset according to at least the metered charge to identify an amount by which the trip fare is to be discounted. The method includes adjusting the trip fare according to the fare offset to account for an electric charge provided to the vehicle during the trip.