Movable EV Charging Facility Elevation for Heavy Rainfall
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Solution Overview
Problem
Movable charging facilities for vehicles are susceptible to submersion during heavy rainfall events, such as sudden heavy downpours or typhoons, when not in use and stored underground.
Innovation Solution
A movable charging facility with an elevating device that can switch between an underground and exposed state, controlled by a system that acquires rainfall information from nearby vehicles' wiper operations or rainwater sensors to predict and prevent submersion by elevating the facility when excessive rainfall is predicted.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the charging facility is stored underground when not in use, then the installation space is saved and interference with walking or traveling is reduced, but the facility is susceptible to submersion during heavy rainfall events
Solution Approach 1:
The charging facility is designed with movable portions that can dynamically change position between stored and operational states. The elevating device enables the movable portion to transition from an underground stored position to an exposed operational position on the ground, allowing the system to adapt its vertical position based on operational needs and environmental conditions such as rainfall predictions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device receives rainfall information in advance and predicts heavy rainfall events before they occur. When heavy rainfall is predicted, the control device activates the elevating device to elevate the movable portion to the exposed position on the ground beforehand, preventing submersion before the harmful rainfall occurs.
2Ease of operation
If the charging facility is exposed on the ground, then the facility is accessible for charging operations, but the installation space is occupied and interference with walking or traveling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging facility employs movable portions that can transition between exposed and stored positions. When charging operations are needed, the movable portion is elevated to the exposed position on the ground for accessibility. When not in use, it is lowered to the underground stored position, freeing up installation space and reducing interference with pedestrian or vehicle traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable portion of the charging facility is designed to be nested within or retract into the ground-level structure when not in use. The elevating device enables the movable portion to be inserted into or stored within the underground space, creating a compact configuration that minimizes the footprint and allows the facility to occupy minimal installation space during non-operational periods.
3Reliability
If the charging facility is made movable with elevating capability, then submersion risk is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging facility incorporates an elevating device that enables the movable portion to transition between underground and ground-level positions. This dynamic capability allows the system to elevate above potential flood levels during heavy rainfall, significantly improving submersion resistance. The movable design replaces static underground installation with a controllable vertical positioning system.
4Measurement precision
If rainfall information is acquired from nearby vehicles, then submersion prediction accuracy is improved, but the information acquisition complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device uses nearby vehicles as intermediary sources for rainfall information. Instead of installing complex rainfall sensing equipment at the charging facility itself, the system acquires rainfall data from wiper device operation status or rainwater sensor readings of nearby vehicles. These vehicles serve as mobile sensing nodes that provide indirect but reliable rainfall information to the charging facility's control system.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device executes a process including a step of determining whether a first state is established, a step of acquiring an operating state of a wiper of a surrounding vehicle when the first state is determined to be established, a step of determining whether rainfall of which rainfall amount is equal to or more than a predetermined amount is predicted, and a step of executing elevating control when the rainfall of which rainfall amount is equal to or more than the predetermined amount is predicted.