Opportunity Charging Routing for On-Route Electric Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicles face limitations in range and battery lifespan due to the need for frequent recharging, which can be time-consuming and inefficient, especially in transit and delivery services, leading to increased costs and reduced operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing strategic wireless opportunity charging along predefined routes to maintain battery state of charge within optimal thresholds, utilizing real-time data and predictive modeling to optimize charging based on utility rates, vehicle conditions, and environmental factors, allowing for continuous operation without the need for dedicated recharging stops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electric vehicles perform frequent recharging to maintain operation, then vehicle availability is improved, but operational efficiency deteriorates due to time loss and increased costs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging actions during scheduled stops (passenger boarding/alighting, delivery pickups/dropoffs) before the vehicle would otherwise need to stop for charging. By anticipating charging needs and utilizing pre-planned stop opportunities, the system maintains vehicle availability without sacrificing operational efficiency or requiring dedicated charging stops.
2Duration of action of moving object
If electric vehicles use larger batteries to extend range, then operational duration is improved, but vehicle weight increases leading to reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables continuous charging action during scheduled stops throughout the vehicle's operational route. By providing multiple opportunre charging points along the route and charging the battery in incremental amounts during each stop, the system maintains continuous energy replenishment without requiring a single large battery, thus avoiding increased vehicle weight while extending operational duration.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If electric vehicles charge at all stops to maintain optimal battery state, then battery lifespan is improved, but energy costs increase due to suboptimal charging timing
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from real-time data about utility rates, vehicle battery state, and scheduled stops to dynamically determine optimal charging timing and amounts. By continuously monitoring these parameters and adjusting charging strategies accordingly, the system maintains battery lifespan through appropriate charging while minimizing energy costs by avoiding charging during high-rate periods when possible.
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
Extends battery lifespan, reduces operational costs, and enhances vehicle efficiency by maintaining optimal battery state of charge, thereby improving the total cost of distance traveled and enabling continuous operation of electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
WPT acts as an open core transformer with a primary (ground-side) coil and a secondary (vehicle-side) coil to transfer power over an air-gap in accordance to Faraday's first law of electromagnetic induction
Data Source
AI summary
Electric vehicles (EVs) for pick-up and delivery services using opportunity charging are routed in response to a task request for package or person pick-up and drop-off. A candidate EV for the task is determined based on a preliminary route analysis of routes between the pick-up and drop-off locations including an estimate of point-to-point travel time and electrical power consumption for each candidate EV. The candidate EVs are winnowed by determining which candidate EV is available during a time window of service that has sufficient state of charge to reach at least the pick-up location. Routing calculations are performed for each remaining candidate to develop an individual route between the pick-up location and the drop-off location and a predicted power consumption for the individual route. A candidate EV is assigned to service the task request that has sufficient state of charge, with minimal recharging delay, to meet the predicted power consumption for its individual route.