Vehicle Charging Control for Reduced Wait Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face long waiting times for charging when a charger is occupied by another vehicle, leading to decreased battery temperature and increased charging time due to prolonged ignition-off periods.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control apparatus and system that recognizes when a charging cable is connected, receives the charging end time of a preceding vehicle, and starts charging upon notification, allowing preliminary control to increase battery temperature and performance, thereby reducing waiting and charging times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle waits until the charging of another electric vehicle is ended to charge the vehicle, then the vehicle can use the available charger, but the waiting time becomes very long (up to an hour or more)
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle connects to the charging cable in advance before the charger is fully available, performing the connection action preliminarily. The control apparatus receives the charging end time notification and automatically starts charging when the time arrives, eliminating the need to wait with the vehicle idle at the charging station.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus acts as an intermediary between the vehicle and the charging system. It manages the charging cable connection, receives notifications about charging end times, and automatically controls the charging process, allowing the vehicle to prepare in advance without manual intervention.
2Loss of energy
If the vehicle waits for a long time with the ignition turned off, then the vehicle can conserve energy, but the battery temperature decreases and charging performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus performs preliminary actions by receiving the charging end time notification in advance and preparing the charging system. It maintains the charging cable connection ready and automatically initiates charging at the precise moment when power becomes available, eliminating prolonged waiting periods that would cool the battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging cable remains connected to the vehicle continuously from the moment of arrival until charging begins, maintaining the useful action of being ready to charge. This continuous connection state prevents battery temperature drop while waiting, as the charging infrastructure remains engaged with the vehicle.
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment vehicle control apparatus includes a memory, a network interface, and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to recognize that a charging cable is connected to a vehicle, receive a charging end time of a preceding vehicle and a waiting time until charging of the vehicle starts, wait for the charging in a state in which the charging cable is connected to the vehicle, and start the charging at the charging end time indicating that the charging of the preceding vehicle is ended in the state in which the charging cable is connected to the vehicle.