Vehicle Charging Session Restart for Low State-of-Charge Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric and hybrid vehicles often experience incomplete charging sessions due to faults or errors, leading to reduced state-of-charge upon restart, and chronic issues are difficult to diagnose as the reasons for session termination are not apparent, resulting in delayed vehicle usage and potential cancellation of events.
Innovation Solution
A charging system with a controller that monitors and compares the battery state-of-charge with a predetermined threshold, automatically restarts the charging session if below the threshold, inhibits low voltage battery drain, and tracks metrics to identify the reason for session failure, allowing for troubleshooting and maintaining an optimal state-of-charge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the charging session is automatically restarted when the battery state-of-charge drops below the threshold, then the vehicle can maintain optimal charge levels, but the system complexity increases due to additional monitoring and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by monitoring the state-of-charge continuously and preparing to restart the charging session before the battery is fully depleted. The controller detects when the state-of-charge drops below the threshold and automatically initiates restart procedures, preventing complete discharge and ensuring the vehicle is ready for the next usage event.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller continuously monitors the state-of-charge, compares it against the predetermined threshold, and adjusts charging session management accordingly. When the threshold is breached, the system receives feedback about the low charge level and automatically triggers session restart, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains reliability without requiring complex manual intervention.
2Reliability
If the charging session is interrupted by faults or errors, then the system can respond to immediate issues, but the vehicle state-of-charge decreases and usage events are delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by automatically restarting the charging session after fault interruption, counteracting the negative effect of charge loss. When a fault interrupts the session, the controller detects the interruption, monitors the state-of-charge, and automatically initiates a restart to prevent the vehicle from being left in a depleted state, thereby reducing vehicle availability loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically managing charging session restarts without requiring operator intervention. The controller independently detects session interruptions, evaluates the need for restart based on state-of-charge thresholds, and executes restart commands, enabling the system to recover from faults autonomously and minimize vehicle availability delays.
3Productivity
If the charger remains connected to the vehicle after charging session termination, then the vehicle can be quickly recharged, but the low voltage battery may continue to deplete without powertrain regulation
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by monitoring the low voltage battery state-of-charge even after the charging session terminates. The controller detects when the low voltage battery drops below its threshold and proactively initiates a new charging session before the vehicle is needed, preventing complete depletion and ensuring charging readiness without requiring manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring both the high voltage battery state-of-charge and the low voltage battery voltage. When the low voltage battery voltage drops below the threshold after session termination, the controller receives feedback and automatically triggers a new charging session, creating a protective mechanism that prevents energy loss while maintaining productivity.
4Ease of repair
If the system monitors and tracks detailed charging session metrics, then charging issues can be diagnosed efficiently, but the data processing and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and records only the essential charging session metrics and fault information needed for diagnosis. The controller identifies and captures key parameters such as state-of-charge levels, session duration, interruption reasons, and threshold breaches, storing them in a structured format that facilitates efficient fault diagnosis without requiring comprehensive data collection on all system parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
A charge system and corresponding method for maintaining an available state-of-charge above a predetermined threshold during an extended charging session and/or restarting a charging session if said charging session terminates and the resulting available state-of-charge remains below the predetermined threshold. Additionally, a charge system and corresponding method for tracking metrics of a charge session to allow for accessibility in reviewing and/or troubleshooting charging session-related events.