Kerbside EV Charger with Underground Power Data Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for electric vehicle charging on residential streets poses challenges due to the sporadic installation of charge points, peak electricity demand, and the need for smart charging solutions, particularly for residents without parking facilities, as the UK transitions to ban petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 and anticipates widespread deployment of Connected Autonomous Vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A kerbside smart charging system comprising power/data units installed underground, providing high-speed, secure data connections and power transfer between vehicles and nearby dwellings, with removable charger units and IoT components for efficient load balancing and data management, enabling two-way data communication and power exchange.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If charge points are installed on residential streets to enable EV charging, then accessibility to charging is improved, but infrastructure disruption and installation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: power/data units installed in the ground, removable charger units for vehicle connection, and terminal units for grid connection. This segmentation allows minimal disruption during installation while maintaining full charging functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Power and data units are pre-installed in the ground at parking locations before chargers are deployed. This preliminary infrastructure installation enables rapid deployment of charging points without repeated ground disruption, as chargers can be simply connected to pre-positioned units.
2Productivity
If multiple charge points are deployed to meet growing EV demand, then charging availability is improved, but peak electricity demand increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates smart charging control that monitors grid conditions, vehicle battery states, and charging patterns. This feedback mechanism enables dynamic load management, adjusting charging rates to prevent peak demand while ensuring charging availability through off-peak charging incentives and demand response protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic charging schedules that distribute energy demand across different time periods. By encouraging off-peak charging during nighttime or low-demand periods and reducing peak-period charging, the system maintains charging availability while smoothing out demand fluctuations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If charge points are installed for street parking locations, then on-street charging is enabled, but data security and connection reliability challenges arise
Solution Approach 1:
The power and data units provide multiple functions in a single integrated system: electrical power transfer for charging, high-speed data communication for vehicle-cloud connectivity, and wireless network access for nearby devices. This multi-functionality enables comprehensive on-street charging capabilities while consolidating security and reliability measures in a unified platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs secure intermediary components including encrypted communication channels between vehicles and cloud, authenticated connection protocols, and protected data transmission pathways. These intermediary security layers ensure reliable and secure data exchange while enabling versatile on-street charging operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A charging apparatus for a vehicle where a terminal (1, FIG. 2) is connected to at least one kerbside power/data unit (9) to provide a power (4) and a data connection (5) to the power/data unit (9), the power/data unit (9) being connected to a nearby vehicle (17) to provide power to charge the vehicle (17) and receive data from the vehicle (17). The fact that the kerbside power/data unit (9) can charge a vehicle (17) using power supplied from a terminal (1, FIG. 2) and can transmit data from the vehicle (17) to the terminal (1, FIG. 2) provides the power and data requirements for connected autonomous vehicles at a kerbside location.