Vehicle Traction Battery Charging Controller
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle traction battery charging systems are insufficient for long journeys, causing range anxiety and higher costs at charging points, as they lack efficient automatic control over charging parameters like state of charge, rate, duration, and start time.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that automatically determines and adjusts the charging parameters based on the next vehicle journey, overriding user settings if necessary, to ensure sufficient energy and optimal charging at available points, considering factors like tariffs and wait times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic control of charging parameters is implemented, then charging efficiency and cost optimization are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system performs self-service through automatic control where the controller autonomously determines charging parameters (state of charge, rate, duration, start time) based on journey requirements and charging point characteristics, eliminating the need for manual user intervention and optimization while managing complexity through integrated decision-making algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring charging progress, battery state of charge, and comparing actual charging parameters against optimal values, allowing dynamic adjustment of charging rate and duration to maintain high charging efficiency while adapting to real-time conditions
2Loss of energy
If charging is delayed to optimize costs, then charging cost is reduced, but journey time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts charging start time and duration based on real-time conditions including charging point tariffs, battery state of charge, and journey requirements. The controller can switch between immediate charging and delayed charging strategies, optimizing the balance between charging cost and journey time by selecting the most appropriate charging window
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of charging requirements by analyzing journey distance, battery capacity, and available charging points before initiating charging. This allows pre-planning of optimal charging schedules that minimize both cost and time impact on the journey
3Productivity
If user settings are overridden for automatic control, then charging optimization is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The charging system performs self-service through automatic control where the controller autonomously determines charging parameters (state of charge, rate, duration, start time) based on journey requirements and charging point characteristics, eliminating the need for manual user intervention and optimization while managing complexity through integrated decision-making algorithms
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system 100, for controlling charging of a traction battery 110 of a vehicle 400, comprising: means 130 for, when a next vehicle journey 10 requires charging of a traction battery 110, automatically controlling a charging level 14 of charging the traction battery 110, in dependence upon the next vehicle journey 10, and a timing 12 of charging of the traction battery 110.