Vehicle Battery Grouping for Grid Power Dispatch and Wear Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems fail to consider the progression of battery deterioration in multiple vehicles when managing electric power delivery and vehicle operations.

Innovation Solution

A system that categorizes vehicles into groups based on battery deterioration levels and states of charge, prioritizing the use of vehicles with lower deterioration and higher charge for electric power delivery and operation tasks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If vehicles are selected for electric power delivery without considering battery deterioration levels, then electric power supply/demand can be met, but battery deterioration progresses unevenly across the vehicle fleet

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectric power delivery capabilityVSAvoidbattery health uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the vehicle fleet into multiple groups based on battery deterioration levels (e.g., first group with lower deterioration, second group with higher deterioration). This segmentation enables differentiated management strategies for different battery conditions, allowing the system to meet electric power demands while distributing wear across the fleet to maintain overall reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the selection parameter from arbitrary or random vehicle selection to selection based on battery deterioration levels. By using deterioration level as the key parameter for grouping and selection, the system optimizes both productivity (electric power delivery) and reliability (battery health management) simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If batteries are used for electric power delivery without categorization, then system complexity is reduced, but battery deterioration cannot be properly managed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle management system complexityVSAvoidbattery deterioration control
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces segmentation by categorizing vehicles into groups based on battery deterioration levels. While this adds some management structure, it enables automated selection algorithms that actually reduce operational complexity by eliminating the need for manual assessment of each vehicle's battery condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the management approach from treating all vehicles uniformly to using deterioration level as a key parameter for categorization. This parameter-based management simplifies decision-making by providing clear criteria for vehicle selection in different operational scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If vehicles with higher state of charge are used for power delivery, then immediate power supply capability is improved, but battery deterioration may accelerate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectric power supply capabilityVSAvoidbattery longevity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments vehicles into groups considering both deterioration levels and state of charge. This enables the system to select appropriate vehicles based on current needs: vehicles with higher charge can be used when power delivery is needed, while vehicles with lower charge or higher deterioration are protected, balancing immediate power requirements with long-term battery health.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary categorization of vehicles based on battery characteristics before power delivery operations. This advance organization allows the system to quickly identify suitable vehicles for power delivery while considering their remaining capacity and deterioration level, preventing overuse of vulnerable batteries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4344937B1System, method, and program
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4344937B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4344937B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4344937B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

(Solution) A system includes a management module which manages a plurality of vehicles by categorization into a plurality of groups based on combinations of deterioration levels and states of charge of a plurality of batteries included in the plurality of vehicles, and a selection module which selects, based on electric power supply/demand information in an electric power grid, a vehicle in which a battery is to be used for an electric power delivery to/from the electric power grid from among vehicles categorized into a particular group of the plurality of groups. A method includes steps of acquiring information representing deterioration levels and states of charge of a plurality of batteries included in a plurality of vehicles, managing the plurality of vehicles by categorization into a plurality of groups based on combinations of the deterioration levels and the states of charge, and selecting, based on electric power supply/demand information in an electric power grid, a vehicle in which a battery is to be used for an electric power delivery to/from the electric power grid from among vehicles categorized into a particular group of the plurality of groups.