All-Solid-State Battery Heating for High-Altitude Charging

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Solution Overview

Problem

All-solid-state batteries in vehicles tend to experience voltage increases during charging, leading to suppressed additional charging after external charging ends, which can result in insufficient regenerative braking force and decreased energy efficiency, ultimately causing vehicle performance deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control system that includes a heater and a control device to manage the battery temperature by heating it when specific conditions are met, such as high elevation during charging, to prevent voltage rises and maintain performance by setting a higher target temperature or increased heating output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If external charging is performed on the all-solid-state battery, then the battery charge level is improved, but the battery voltage increases and may reach the upper limit control voltage, suppressing additional charging and deteriorating vehicle performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery charge levelVSAvoidvehicle performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device performs preliminary heating of the battery before or during external charging when the elevation is high. This preliminary action prevents voltage rise during charging by maintaining higher battery temperature, thereby avoiding the upper limit control voltage threshold and ensuring additional charging can occur after external charging ends, maintaining regenerative braking capability and vehicle performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device changes the temperature parameter of the battery by controlling heater operation. When high elevation is detected during external charging, the system increases battery temperature through heating, which reduces internal resistance and prevents excessive voltage rise during charging, allowing the battery to accept additional charge after external charging without reaching the upper limit control voltage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the battery temperature is increased during external charging at high elevation, then the voltage rise is reduced and additional charging is maintained, but additional energy consumption is incurred for heating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadditional charging capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control device applies heating locally and selectively based on specific conditions. Instead of continuous heating, the system activates the heater only when both high elevation and external charging are detected, applying thermal energy precisely where and when needed to prevent voltage rise during charging, thereby minimizing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining additional charging capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The control device uses feedback from elevation detection and charging state monitoring to control heater operation. The system continuously monitors whether the vehicle is at high elevation and whether external charging is occurring, and adjusts heating accordingly, ensuring energy is consumed only when necessary to maintain battery temperature and prevent voltage rise during charging

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

The system effectively suppresses battery voltage from reaching the upper limit control voltage, reducing the risk of performance deterioration by promoting lithium ion diffusion and minimizing overvoltage, thereby maintaining efficient regenerative braking and energy recovery.

Implementation Method 1

The heater is configured to heat the battery

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

promoting lithium ion diffusion and minimizing overvoltage

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLithium ion diffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP4368445A1Vehicle and vehicle control method
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4368445A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4368445A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4368445A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle (1) includes a battery (21) including an all-solid-state battery externally chargeable with electric power supplied from outside of the vehicle (1), a heater (22) configured to heat the battery (21), and a control device (100) for controlling the heater (22). The control device (100) controls the heater (22) such that when at least one predetermined condition related to the external charging is satisfied, the temperature of the battery (21) during execution of the external charging is higher than when the at least one predetermined condition is not satisfied. The at least one predetermined condition includes a condition that an elevation of the vehicle (1) during the execution of the external charging is higher than a predetermined height.