Network-Side Energy Measurement for Vehicle Billing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining vehicle-specific energy consumption in external energy supply networks are complex and prone to errors, particularly in scenarios where multiple vehicles share the same network section, making accurate billing challenging for operators.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that measure energy consumption from the network side, using central configuration and redundancy checks, allowing for vehicle-specific energy determination by tracking changes in energy quantities across network sections and accounting for energy flow between them, with on-board and network-side measuring devices comparing data for plausibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If vehicle-side measuring systems are used to determine energy consumption, then energy quantity determination can be performed on the vehicle, but the system becomes complex and prone to disturbances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy quantity determination accuracyVSAvoidmeasuring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional approach by performing energy measurements on the network side rather than on the vehicle side. The measuring device is installed in the energy supply network to directly measure the energy drawn by each vehicle, eliminating the need for complex vehicle-side measuring systems while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The energy supply network acts as an intermediary that facilitates energy measurement. By placing the measuring device in the network, the system uses the network infrastructure itself as a mediator to capture energy consumption data, avoiding the need for separate vehicle-mounted measurement systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If multiple vehicles share the same network section, then network utilization increases, but it becomes difficult to accurately allocate energy consumption to individual vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork utilizationVSAvoidvehicle-specific energy allocation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the energy consumption measurement by vehicle identity. The measuring device on the network side distinguishes between multiple vehicles in the same network section by identifying each vehicle's energy draw separately, allowing accurate allocation of energy consumption to individual vehicles even when they share the same physical network section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring energy consumption on the network side and attributing it to specific vehicles. This real-time feedback mechanism allows the network operator to accurately track and allocate energy consumption for each vehicle as it passes through the network section.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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

Simplifies energy quantity determination, reduces complexity, and enables accurate vehicle-specific energy allocation by detecting jumps in energy consumption associated with vehicle entry and exit, ensuring accurate billing and error detection.

Implementation Method 1

The current is measured together with a voltage, which results in a power and ultimately the energy consumption can be derived and calculated.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical measurement: Ohm's Law

Data Source

PatentEP3170692B1Method and device for determining at least one vehicle-specific amount of energy
Publication Date: 2021.01.27 SIEMENS MOBILITY GMBH
  • EP3170692B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3170692B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3170692B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and a device for determining at least one vehicle-specific amount of energy (E) that a vehicle (1) has drawn from an external energy supply network (5). In order to determine the amount of energy (E) as simply as possible, the invention provides that the amount of energy (E) is determined on the side of the energy supply network (5).