Vehicle Energy Management System for Extended Range

Solution Overview

Problem

Electrically driven vehicles have limited travel ranges due to battery size and capacity limitations, necessitating a solution to enhance their operational range without increasing battery size.

Innovation Solution

An energy power depositing/charging management system that includes an energy storage station and a vehicle, with management units to deposit, charge, and discharge renewable energy, using a unique ID code to track and manage energy levels, allowing for the extension of vehicle range by leveraging external energy storage and grid power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If the battery size and capacity are increased to extend travel range, then the travel range is improved, but the vehicle weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetravel rangeVSAvoidbattery weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is segmented into two parts: an onboard power storage device for immediate use and an external energy storage station for extended capacity. This allows the vehicle to achieve extended travel range without carrying a single large heavy battery, as the external station remains stationary while providing additional energy when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An external energy storage station acts as an intermediary between the vehicle and the power grid. The station stores renewable energy and provides it to the vehicle when needed, eliminating the need for the vehicle to carry all the energy required for extended travel, thus reducing battery weight while maintaining travel range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Duration of action of moving object

If the battery size is increased to extend travel range, then the travel range is improved, but the vehicle cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetravel rangeVSAvoidvehicle cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The battery system is segmented into two parts: an onboard power storage device for immediate use and an external energy storage station for extended capacity. This allows the vehicle to achieve extended travel range without carrying a single large heavy battery, as the external station remains stationary while providing additional energy when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

An external energy storage station acts as an intermediary between the vehicle and the power grid. The station stores renewable energy and provides it to the vehicle when needed, eliminating the need for the vehicle to carry all the energy required for extended travel, thus reducing battery weight while maintaining travel range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of moving object

If frequent recharging is required to maintain operational range, then the travel range is maintained, but the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational rangeVSAvoidrecharging time

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Energy is deposited into the external storage station in advance when renewable energy is available and excess capacity exists. This preliminary action ensures that energy is already available when needed, eliminating the need for frequent recharging stops and reducing time loss during operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables continuous operation by maintaining energy availability in the external storage station. Instead of interrupting operation for frequent recharging, the pre-deposited energy allows continuous useful action, reducing time loss and improving operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9174548B2Renewable energy power depositing/charging management system

Publication Date: 2015.11.03 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

An energy power depositing/charging management system and method is provided. When energy is deposited in an energy storage station from an onboard power storage device of a vehicle, a vehicle energy management unit manages reductions in the remaining stored energy level of energy in the onboard power storage device. The vehicle energy management unit and a storage station energy management unit manage increases in the energy remaining amount of deposited energy in the energy storage station, thereby allowing for charging up to the remaining amount of deposited energy of energy identified with an ID for the vehicle in the energy storage station.