Vehicle Battery Controller for Energy Disruption Preparation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicles lack a systematic approach to prepare and transfer energy to a building during expected energy disruption events, such as weather-related power outages or scheduled blackouts, without requiring manual user intervention.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-to-building (V2H) system that includes a controller to identify an expected energy disruption event, determine a target charge level based on event severity and time, and automatically charge the vehicle battery to that level, then transfer energy to the building during the event.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle battery is charged to a high charge level in advance of an energy disruption event, then the building can receive sufficient energy during the disruption, but the vehicle operator loses flexibility in using the vehicle battery for other purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary charging of the vehicle battery when an energy disruption event is forecasted, automatically charging the battery to a target charge level before the disruption occurs. This preliminary action ensures energy availability during the disruption while the system can later adjust based on whether the disruption actually occurs or if the vehicle needs the battery for other purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The target charge level is dynamically adjusted based on multiple factors including the forecasted disruption severity, expected duration, current battery charge level, and vehicle operator preferences. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize between ensuring building energy supply and maintaining vehicle battery flexibility for different scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle automatically charges to a target charge level without user input, then the building receives energy support during disruptions without manual setup, but the user loses control over vehicle battery management
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates user feedback mechanisms where operators can review forecasted disruption events, proposed target charge levels, and actual disruption occurrences. Users can provide feedback to adjust preferences, approve or modify charging decisions, and control the level of automation, thereby maintaining oversight while enabling convenient automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service automatic charging by monitoring forecasted energy disruptions and autonomously charging the vehicle battery to appropriate levels without requiring manual user intervention. This self-service capability provides convenient automatic energy support to the building while the system respects user-defined preferences and boundaries.
3Reliability
If the vehicle charges the battery system quickly to meet the target charge level before the disruption, then the building is prepared for the energy event, but the charging infrastructure may be overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the charging rate based on the time remaining until the forecasted disruption event and the current battery charge level. When the disruption is far away, charging occurs at lower rates to avoid overloading infrastructure. As the disruption approaches and the battery nears the target charge level, the system can increase charging intensity if time permits, optimizing between readiness and infrastructure capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage system includes an energy distribution system. A battery system is connected to, and configured to provide energy to, the energy distribution system. The battery system includes an energy storage system and a controller. The controller includes a memory storing instructions for causing the vehicle to respond to receiving a notice of an expected energy disruption event at the controller by identifying a severity of the expected energy disruption event, a type of the expected energy disruption event, and a time until an occurrence of the expected energy disruption event using the controller, determining a target charge level of the vehicle battery system based on at least one of the severity, type, and time until the expected energy disruption event and charging the vehicle battery system to the target charge level.