Vehicle Dark Start Control for Home Backup Power

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electric-drive vehicles lack the capability to provide backup power to residential or commercial buildings during power outages without the need for an in-home dark start battery, as they rely on bidirectional charging infrastructure to communicate with the vehicle and initiate power transfer.

Innovation Solution

Equipping electric vehicles with a bidirectional DC-AC converter and control logic that enables them to detect power outages, communicate with off-board chargers, and supply AC voltage at multiple amplitudes, allowing them to provide auxiliary and backup power to buildings through a microgrid interconnect device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electric vehicles are equipped with bidirectional charging infrastructure to enable backup power, then power transfer capability is improved, but system complexity increases due to communication requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup power capabilityVSAvoidcommunication infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle autonomously detects power outages through monitoring the control pilot signal and automatically initiates backup power provision without requiring external communication or activation signals. The vehicle's controller independently determines when to discharge the battery pack and at what power level, eliminating the need for complex bidirectional communication protocols between the vehicle and charging infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The vehicle continuously monitors the control pilot signal from the EVSE during normal charging operations, maintaining readiness to detect power outages. This preliminary monitoring state allows the vehicle to immediately respond to grid failures without requiring additional activation or communication steps, reducing system complexity while ensuring reliable backup power capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If vehicles provide backup power without on-site batteries, then cost is reduced, but power delivery reliability deteriorates without dark start battery support

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery infrastructureVSAvoidpower delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle provides partial power delivery by operating the battery pack at reduced power levels during backup operation, rather than attempting to match full grid capacity. The controller dynamically adjusts discharge rates based on battery state of charge and load requirements, ensuring reliable power delivery for essential loads without requiring oversized battery capacity or dark start batteries at the premises.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts power delivery parameters including voltage amplitude and current discharge rates based on real-time battery state of charge, load demands, and outage duration. The controller modulates power output to maintain reliable delivery while preserving battery health, eliminating the need for static oversized battery systems while ensuring adequate power supply during outages.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If vehicles autonomously detect and respond to power outages, then response time is improved, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoutage response timeVSAvoidcontrol logic

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing vehicle controller and battery management system are extended to perform multiple functions including normal charging control, outage detection, and backup power management. By making the control system universal rather than adding dedicated separate systems, the patent achieves rapid outage response while minimizing control complexity through resource sharing and integrated functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables vehicles to autonomously supply backup power to buildings during grid failures, enhancing grid resilience and reducing the need for dedicated on-site batteries, thus improving power reliability and efficiency in emergency situations.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDC-AC conversion:

Data Source

PatentUS20250340137A1Smart vehicle systems and control logic with dark start functionality for vehicle-to-home backup power

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

Presented are intelligent vehicle systems for provisioning backup power to buildings during power outages, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles equipped with such systems. A method of operating a vehicle includes a resident or remote vehicle controller detecting a charging port of the vehicle coupling to a charging plug of an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). Responsive to the charging plug coupling to the charging port, the vehicle controller detects a power outage of a main power supply to the EVSE. Upon detecting the power outage, the controller responsively commands a vehicle battery assembly to discharge an auxiliary power feed to the EVSE. After discharging the auxiliary power feed to the EVSE, the controller determines if the vehicle is communicating with the EVSE; if so, the vehicle controller responsively commands the vehicle battery assembly to discharge a backup power feed, greater than the auxiliary power feed, to the EVSE.