PHEV Route Planning for Carbon-Optimized Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
The environmental impact of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) varies significantly based on the source of electricity used to charge their batteries, making it challenging to minimize carbon emissions and optimize power utilization.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize source signatures to identify and manage the environmental impact of PHEVs by determining optimal routes and modes of operation, incorporating external power sources, and enabling carbon offsetting through a computing device, which includes a source signature component, route planning component, external source power identifier, and recharging optimizer to form a travel plan that minimizes environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the PHEV charges from external power sources, then the batteries can be recharged, but the environmental impact varies depending on the electricity source
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the carbon intensity of external power sources in real-time and dynamically adjusts charging decisions based on this feedback. The controller receives data about the current power mix from the grid and uses this information to determine the optimal charging timing, ensuring the vehicle charges when the environmental impact is lowest.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-plans charging schedules by predicting future power source carbon intensities along the vehicle's route. Before the vehicle actually charges, the controller has already identified optimal charging locations and times based on forecasted power source characteristics, allowing the vehicle to execute low-carbon charging without real-time decision delays.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the system optimizes for green energy sources, then carbon emissions are reduced, but the complexity of power management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system is divided into distinct functional modules: a carbon intensity monitoring module that tracks external power source characteristics, a route planning module that identifies optimal charging locations, and a charging control module that executes charging decisions. Each module handles a specific aspect of the optimization problem, making the overall complex system manageable and maintainable.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the vehicle's battery management and the external power grid. This intermediary controller acts as a smart intermediary that translates complex power source characteristics into simple charging/discharging commands, shielding the vehicle's internal systems from the complexity of grid variability while still achieving optimized carbon emissions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the PHEV uses multiple power sources, then flexibility is improved, but the difficulty of managing power utilization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the utilization of different power sources based on real-time conditions. Rather than using a fixed strategy for power source selection, the controller continuously adapts the charging/discharging mix based on current battery state, vehicle power needs, external power source availability, and carbon intensity levels, optimizing the use of multiple power sources flexibly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters such as charging rate, discharge rate, and power source selection based on varying conditions. By dynamically adjusting these parameters according to battery state of charge, power demand, and external power source characteristics, the system simplifies the management of multiple power sources through automated parameter optimization rather than complex manual control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing route plans for a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) includes: receiving a destination from a user of the PHEV; determining a route from a current location of the PHEV to the destination; determining locations of one or more external power sources that can provide power to recharge batteries of the PHEV and that are located along the route; forming, with a computing device, a travel plan that includes at least one of: planned recharging stops selected from the locations, modes of operation for the PHEV along the route, and an order in which power provided by the external sources is used by the PHEV.