DE102019125928A1 - Method and control system for controlling activation of a service function as a function of usage behavior of a user of an electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling activation (41) of a service function (23) as a function of the usage behavior of a user of an electric vehicle (10). The invention provides that an energy class (21) and an amount of energy (18) are generated by a computing device (26) during at least one energy exchange (22) of electrical energy (14) between the electric vehicle (10) and a respective electrical charging station (13). the exchanged energy (14) are recorded and the respective energy exchange (22) is assigned an addition value (33) as a function of the recorded energy class (21) and the recorded amount of energy (18) and the addition value (33) is assigned a counter reading (35) in a data memory (34) is added and the service function (23) is only enabled if the counter reading (35) is greater than a threshold value (37) dependent on the service function (23).

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling a release of a service function as a function of a usage behavior of a user of an electric vehicle. The method thus controls whether a service function can be used by a user or not. This depends on a usage behavior of the user. The usage behavior relates to the user's electric vehicle. If the user uses his electric vehicle in a predetermined manner, this is automatically recognized and the user can then use the service function - as a reward, so to speak. The invention also comprises a control system by means of which the method according to the invention can be carried out.

In the course of the switch from electric vehicles to electric vehicle propulsion, there is an interest in accelerating this transition by creating an incentive for users to switch their electric vehicle to electric propulsion. One circumstance that discourages users from switching to an electric vehicle with a purely electric drive or a hybrid drive is the procurement or recharging of electrical energy, as there are great differences and therefore uncertainties in terms of procurement costs. If you own an electric vehicle, you always have to pay in different currencies at the charging station in different countries. In addition, you may have to install different smartphone applications (so-called apps) on the smartphone in order to be able to pay at the different charging stations. In addition, electricity costs are different in different countries, which makes it difficult to get an overview of the likely costs of using an electric vehicle. There are also different costs for electrical energy within a country, depending on the source, so for example electricity from a coal-fired power plant can have a different price per kilowatt hour than, for example, a power plant that uses renewable energy, such as solar energy or hydropower.

This currently makes it difficult to persuade users to switch to an electric vehicle with an electric drive.

An example of the said charging station, which can be used by means of a smartphone and an app installed on it, is from DE 10 2016 111 420 A1 known.

Controlling a payment process for an electrical charge process at a charging station is from the DE 10 2016 209 380 A1 known, whereby an app for a smartphone is also used here.

However, the payment methods mentioned do not offer any technical incentive to switch to an electric vehicle, i.e. an electric vehicle with an electric drive.

From the DE 10 2017 216 688 A1 a charging station is known which, in addition to a charging cable, also has a cable for data transmission, which can also be connected to an electric vehicle. Among other things, this additional cable can be used to process a payment digitally. This saves the electric vehicle user having to install an app on a smartphone. Nevertheless, a user has no influence on compensating for the differences in energy costs that exist at charging stations.

The invention is based on the object of providing a user of an electric vehicle with access to a service function as a function of how the user adjusts his usage behavior in relation to his electric vehicle in a predeterminable manner.

The object is achieved by the subjects of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described by the dependent claims, the following description and the figures.

The invention provides a method for controlling a release or activation of a service function as a function of a usage behavior of a user of an electric vehicle. The user can therefore influence the activation of the service function through his usage behavior in relation to his electric vehicle. This is controlled automatically by the process. The method thus technically couples the usage behavior of the user with the release of a service function.

For this purpose, the user must first accumulate a credit through his usage behavior, which is referred to below as a virtual unit of measurement, which is referred to here as the meter reading and also as EnergyCoin (EC). The user can therefore use his electric vehicle to generate a counter reading of, for example, EnergyCoins based on his usage behavior, which can then be used to enable a service function. For this purpose, the following steps are provided in the method according to the invention.

The method assumes that the said service function is carried out by a Service facility is provided. Such a service facility can be, for example, a server on the Internet which, as a service function, can enable the use of predetermined software, for example. For this purpose, the service facility can have at least one microprocessor and a data memory coupled to it with program instructions for executing the service function. In order to be able to request the activation of the service function, the service facility has a control interface which receives a request for activation of the service function. The request is not made anonymously, but for a specific identifier, i.e. a user identification or a user ID. This identifier is assigned to the electric vehicle. In other words, the control interface can receive request data that describe a request that the service function should be enabled for a specific electric vehicle that is identified by its identification feature. The identification feature can be described by identification data and can specify, for example, the chassis number or the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the electric vehicle.

The service facility then checks whether the service function may be activated. If the requested service is then activated, the service function is activated by the service facility. This means that the service function can be used. An example of such a service function can also be, for example, the provision of electrical charging energy at a charging station. The request can then relate to the activation of a charging function and the charging function is activated if the service function is activated by the service facility.

In order to technically couple such a process of activating a service function to the usage behavior of a user of the electric vehicle, it is provided according to the invention that at least one exchange of electrical energy between said electric vehicle and a respective electrical charging station, i.e. during a charging process or feed-in process of electrical energy at a charging station, an energy class and an energy quantity of the exchanged energy can be recorded. It is therefore checked which energy class the electrical energy exchanged during the energy exchange has. As an energy class, it can be specified, for example, that the exchanged energy was obtained using a regenerative energy source or using nuclear power. In addition, the amount of energy is recorded (for example in kilowatt hours - kWh).

An addition value is assigned to the respective energy exchange in accordance with a predetermined evaluation rule as a function of the recorded energy class and the recorded amount of energy. The evaluation rule therefore combines the energy class and the amount of energy into an addition value. In this way, for example, the addition value can be set higher, the more ecological the energy class is and the greater the amount of energy in this energy class. The addition value is added to a counter reading assigned to the identification feature in a data memory. In other words, the addition value for the electric vehicle is accumulated. If the user exchanges energy with his electric vehicle at an electric charging station, the meter reading of the electric vehicle (i.e. the meter reading of the identifier) in the data memory is changed depending on the energy class of the exchanged energy and the amount of energy exchanged. It should be noted that said added value can have a positive value or a negative value, which in turn can be determined depending, for example, on the direction of transmission of the exchanged energy (charging or feeding). When the electric vehicle is operated at a charging station, the total counter reading is changed. This is a quantification of the usage behavior in relation to the energy class and amount of energy used for the electric vehicle.

In order to create a connection between this usage behavior and the activation of the requested service, the requested service function is only activated at said service facility if the counter reading is greater than a threshold value dependent on the service function. The user must therefore carry out an energy exchange with his electric vehicle at at least one charging station (recharge energy or feed energy into a power grid) in order to increase the count in said data memory. If the counter reading then has a sufficiently large value, namely greater than the threshold value for the activation of the service function, this ensures that the said request for the service function to be activated actually leads to activation of the same. In this way, however, the technical coupling between an energy exchange at at least one charging station on the one hand and a control of the activation of a service function on a control interface of a service facility on the other hand is established. The necessary steps for recording the energy class and the amount of energy as well as calculating the The addition value and the storage of the counter reading in the data memory can be carried out by a control system with a computing device.

The invention has the advantage that access to a service function, namely its release, is controlled by charging and / or feeding processes, that is to say the exchange of energy at at least one electrical charging station. Thus, a user has to adapt his usage behavior with regard to his electric vehicle so that he exchanges or transfers energy of a certain energy class with a corresponding amount of energy at the at least one charging station in a predetermined transmission direction in order to access a service function, i.e. its activation to reach. Each service function can require a different counter reading, which is determined by the said threshold value, which is dependent on the service function, when the service function is activated.

Overall, the activation of a service function is linked to the described usage behavior.

The invention also encompasses embodiments which result in additional advantages.

In one embodiment, the service device (which provides the service function) and the computing device which carries out the said method steps for determining the counter reading access the data memory in which the counter reading is stored independently of one another. For this purpose, they are coupled to the data memory for independent access. For example, the service device and the computing device can each be coupled to the data memory via their own Internet connection. The service facility and the computing facility access the data memory with a corresponding time delay. In particular, the time offset can be more than 10 minutes or more than a day. In other words, the user can first accumulate a counter reading in the data memory through his usage behavior of the electric vehicle, so that it is greater than the said threshold value for activating the service function, and then request the service function at an independent later point in time. For example, several energy exchange processes can also be used in order to each obtain an addition value which is added to the counter reading until the counter reading has become greater than the threshold value. This corresponds to an accumulation of credit, for example an accumulation on the said EnergyCoins.

In one embodiment, said data memory is designed or organized as a blockchain. In this way, access by the computing device and / or the service device is secured against manipulation. This prevents a user from changing the meter reading of his electric vehicle for an energy exchange by manipulating the data memory.

In one embodiment, that counter reading of the electric vehicle (i.e. the counter reading that is assigned to the identification feature) is reduced by the threshold value in order to carry out the service function. In other words, the use of the service function, i.e. its activation and provision, leads to a reduction in the meter reading. This means that the coupling with a service function is only possible once through each specific energy exchange. In other words, the credit on the data memory, that is to say the counter reading, is used up.

In order to be able to recognize for which service facility the counter reading was used, one embodiment provides that a counter reading assigned to the service facility is increased by the threshold value when the latter activates and provides the service function. Thus, the counter reading for the user who uses the identification feature when requesting the service function is reduced, while the counter reading of the service facility which provides the service function increases. As a result, the credit gained through the exchange of energy (meter reading or EnergyCoins) is not lost, but is transferred. The credit can thus be used by the service facility, for example to control the activation of another service function.

In one embodiment, said energy class indicates the technology of that energy source that was used to generate the exchanged energy. The technology can for example specify at least one of the following classes: nuclear power, water power, wind power, renewable energy, coal power. Thus, the usage behavior of the user in relation to the energy source used is controlled or coupled in such a way that a service function can be activated the more easily the more often an energy source of a certain technology, for example a renewable energy source, is used. This can be quantified by the aforementioned evaluation rule, which can output different addition values for the same amount of energy, depending on the energy class used.

In one embodiment, the respective addition value is also determined by the evaluation rule as a function of a direction of transmission of the exchanged energy, namely one possible direction of transmission from the energy store of the electric vehicle to the charging station (energy recovery from the electric vehicle) and another possible direction of transmission from the charging station to the energy store (recharging the energy store of the electric vehicle). Thus, feeding back and reloading can have different effects on the activation of the service function. The direction of transmission can be recognized on the basis of a current flow direction, which in turn can be recognized on the basis of a potential difference between the energy storage device of the electric vehicle and the charging station or on the basis of a direction of a magnetic field generated by the current flow. A corresponding measuring circuit can be installed in the respective charging station and / or in the electric vehicle and read out by the computing device.

In one embodiment, the control interface is provided to the user on a central Internet platform together with other control interfaces of other service facilities, which also provide a respective service function. The platform thus represents a market in which the user can select the control interface at which he would like to use a service function for his credit in the data memory, that is to say his counter reading. Thus, several service facilities with their interfaces can be combined in the Internet platform and the user can control the activation of different service functions at the control interfaces through his usage behavior via the counter reading in the data memory.

In one embodiment, said threshold value or price for the respective service function is received from a smart contract of a blockchain. In other words, the threshold value that the user's counter reading must exceed so that he can activate a service function results from the smart contract. This makes the threshold value, i.e. the price of the service function, tamper-proof.

The invention also includes the control system already described, which the said computing device for detecting an energy class and an energy amount of energy and which is exchanged in at least one energy exchange between an electric vehicle and a respective charging station. The control system also has said internet platform for providing at least one control interface for requesting a service function of a respective service facility. The control system therefore couples a process of exchanging energy at at least one charging station with controlling the activation of a service function of at least one service facility. For this purpose, the computing device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller. The computing device can be formed as a computer or as a network of several computers. The computing device can be designed, for example, as an Internet server. The internet platform can also be based on an internet server. The computing device can be installed, for example, in one charging station or distributed over several charging stations to record the amount of energy and the energy class. The amount of energy can be determined in an integrated manner over time, for example on the basis of the transmitted electrical power. For this purpose, for example, current and voltage can be measured. Corresponding measuring circuits are known per se from the prior art. This means that the amount of energy transferred can be measured in each charging station. The energy class can be determined, for example, for an energy exchange process as a function of billing data, by means of which the exchanged energy is assigned a technology of an energy source (for example green electricity or conventional electricity). The control system according to the invention is set up to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

The electric vehicle used in the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger vehicle or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

The invention also includes the combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Steuersystems;
• 2 eine Skizze zur Veranschaulichung des Einsatzes des Steuersystems beim Bezahlen von Dienstleistungsfunktionen; und
• 3 ein Diagramm zur Veranschaulichung der Nutzung von Zählerständen, die als EnergyCoins (digitale Währung) genutzt werden.

The invention is described below on the basis of exemplary embodiments. This shows:

• 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the control system according to the invention;
• 2 a sketch to illustrate the use of the tax system when paying for service functions; and
• 3 a diagram to illustrate the use of meter readings that are used as EnergyCoins (digital currency).

The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. Both Exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention which are to be considered independently of one another and which also further develop the invention in each case independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is also intended to include combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those illustrated. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

In the figures, the same reference symbols denote functionally identical elements.

1 shows an electric vehicle 10 , for example a passenger car or a truck. The electric vehicle can have a purely electric drive or a hybrid drive (electric drive combined with an internal combustion engine). The electric vehicle 10 can through identification data 11 be identified, which is an identification feature 12th of the electric vehicle 10 represent. A user (not shown) can use the electric vehicle 10 to a charging station 13th have connected to electrical energy 14th between an energy store 15th of the electric vehicle 10 one hand and a power grid 16 , for example a public power grid. Through the charging station 13th itself and / or a charger 17th of the electric vehicle 10 can do an amount of energy 18th of exchanged energy 14th as well as a direction of transmission 19th of energy 14th be determined. In addition, a (not shown) control circuit of the power grid 16 or the electric vehicle has been signaled which energy source 20th , in particular what technology or energy class 21 , effectively the energy 14th has generated. This can be done when generating the energy 14th have been captured.

Said user can benefit from such an energy exchange 22nd of electrical energy 14th at the charging station 13th and at other charging stations to the effect that this energy exchange 22nd is detected and for activating at least one service function 23 a service facility 24 can be used. The service facility 24 can for example be a server of the Internet. The service function 23 can for example be a digital service, such as a digital shopping function.

About the exchange of energy 22nd with the service function 23 and in particular to couple their activation, a control system 25th are provided, on the one hand a computing device 26th for recording the energy class 21 and the amount of energy 18th can have and on the other hand can be configured to carry out a method described further below. For this purpose, for example, corresponding program code can be stored in a program memory of the computing device 26th be saved. The tax system 25th can also use an internet platform 27 include, in which a control interface 28 for activation 29 the service function 23 the service facility 24 can be provided. Further control interfaces can be used 30th other service facilities 24 ' on the internet platform 27 be available.

The computing device 26th can be done in one step S10 the amount of energy 18th and the energy class 21 the exchanged electrical energy 14th determine. For this purpose, the computing device can receive corresponding loading process data. The amount of energy 18th can for example by a corresponding measuring device 31 for example in the charging station 13th and / or in the charger 17th are recorded. Only the embodiment with the measuring device is shown 31 in the charging station 13th . In one step S11 can the respective energy exchange according to a predetermined evaluation rule 32 depending on the recorded energy class 21 and the amount of energy recorded 18th an addition value 33 which indicates how much energy in which energy class 21 was exchanged, this in an addition value 33 is expressed as an equivalent, also referred to herein as EnergyCoin EC. This addition value 33 can be done in one step S12 to a meter reading 35 in a data store 34 be assigned. This meter reading 35 is here the identification feature 12th assigned, that is, there is a counter reading for the identification feature 35 or an account for EnergyCoins EC.

Now the user of the electric vehicle would like 10 the service function 23 use, he can make a corresponding request 36 at the control interface 28 generate or trigger, for example by means of an app in a mobile device, such as a smartphone. The request 36 can be described by corresponding request data that the user can generate. The request 36 can the service function 23 identify as well as the identification feature 12th specify, for example the said identification data 11 reproduce or contain. The service facility 24 can for the activation of the service function 23 a threshold 37 in relation to the meter reading 35 of the identification feature 12th demand. This can be done, for example, via the control interface 28 in the tax system 25th an inquiry regarding the meter reading 35 as a booking request with corresponding booking data that exceeds the threshold 37 can specify, submit. Is the meter reading 35 larger than the one in the booking request 40 specified threshold 37 so can an activation 41 eg with corresponding confirmation data from the control system 25th for example via the control interface 28 to the service facility 24 be transmitted.

Receives the service facility 24 the activation 41 so can through the service facility 24 the requested service function 23 to be activated.

The tax system 25th can be used, for example, in the context described below.

This shows 2 an arrangement of the tax system 25th at which in the data memory 34 the meter readings in a blockchain 42 (BC) are stored for different users. Possible users can be end customers 43 , private electricity providers 44 , Energy provider 45 , Banks 46 , the respective types of users being represented by a respective symbol. Through the blockchain 42 the different users can use digital contracts or smart contracts (smart contracts) 47 be linked to each other. For further details on the meter readings and their transmission when using a service function 23 can be a database 48 be provided.

In connection with the internet platform 27 is also shown as a user 49 (it can be one of the blockchain-related 42 user described) on a control interface 28 a smart contract at a specific point in time, which can be described by a time stamp, a new contract or a new connection as a smart contract 47 forms, whereby a further link of meter readings between different users is possible. It is shown how the internet platform 27 the user 49 for example on a mobile device 50 as a control program or application 51 can be shown.

3 illustrates which exchange possibilities of services and goods are made possible by the in 2 control system described 25th can result. It is shown how the meter readings as digital currency EnergyCoins EC via the Internet platform 27 can be exchanged or traded. For example, money providers 52 with the private electricity providers 44 and the energy providers 45 couple. A private electricity provider 44 can be, for example: an owner of an electric vehicle, a home storage system for electrical energy, a photovoltaic system, a wind turbine, an emergency power generator with hydrogen and / or fuel obtained from a natural renewable resource (so-called e-fuel). The coupling with the internet platform 27 can be via a trading interface 53 respectively. The money providers 52 are here as different banks 54 which represents the EnergyCoin EC via a change of course 55 in different currencies, shown here as examples are EUR, NOK, USD. The energy providers can use the EnergyCoin by changing course 56 and / or via remuneration in an amount of energy (X kilowatt hours kW / h), with different rates 57 can result. The courses can be described as contracts using the smart contracts 47 secured and in the blockchain 42 get saved. Such a smart contract 47 contains all contractual agreements between the customer (user, energy provider and supplier). A smart contract 47 thus represents a channel so that EnergyCoins EC can be exchanged.

Another coupling 58 to the internet platform 27 can by different users 49 who use an electric vehicle. This group of users 49 with electric vehicle 10 is here as members 60 designated. One user 49 the member 60 EnergyCoins can generate EC by using its electric vehicle when charging energy or when regenerating energy. This is the counter reading described 35 , which is determined by the addition value 33 can be enlarged. An electric vehicle is absolutely necessary to generate EnergyCoins EC. An EnergyCoin EC is generated or consumed by charging the electric vehicle, depending on the contract or agreement.

More users 49 ' without an electric vehicle are here as members 61 denotes that cannot generate EnergyCoins EC themselves, but only via the Internet platform 27 EnergyCoins can be obtained. One such user 49 ' buys energy from a private energy provider or from an energy provider company with the EC platform 27 in one currency. The EC platform 27 carries out the transaction with the banks and transfers EnergyCoins to the seller. In this way, a user 49 'can also use the Internet platform 27 use.

The following are about the tax system 25th according to 2 and 3 further possible application examples are described.

The evaluation rule 32 can be designed, for example, as an assignment table or as a calculation formula. In general, the assessment rule 32 be a function f for calculating energy coins as a function of the amount of energy E and energy class K: EC = f (E, K). The energy class K can be a scaling factor, the amount of energy can be specified in kilowatt hours (kWh).

The idea creates a uniform platform as a decentralized system for customers (users) and creates a new link between currency and energy sources such as electric power, CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), e-fuel, H2 and / or other environmentally friendly energy sources. The EnergyCoin (EC) is a new, virtual unit of measurement (virtual, physical quantity).

• • einen virtuellen Marktplatz (Analogie zu z.B. Amazon® :
  • - mit einer Kryptowährung (Analogie zu z.B. BitCoin);
  • - mit einer länderübergreifend einheitlichen Währung (Analogie zu z.B. Euro/5);
• • mit dem Besitz von e-Fahrzeug(en);
• • mit der Blockchain-Technologie;
• • mit dem Finanzsystem;
• • mit den privaten und nicht privaten Energieerzeuger; dank einer Mischung vom zentralen und dezentralen System.

The idea described links:

• • a virtual marketplace (analogy to e.g. Amazon®:
  • - with a cryptocurrency (analogy to BitCoin, for example);
  • - with a cross-border uniform currency (analogy to, for example, Euro / 5);
• • owning an e-vehicle (s);
• • with blockchain technology;
• • with the financial system;
• • with private and non-private energy producers; thanks to a mixture of the centralized and decentralized system.

E.g. you could generate your own currency for e-vehicles, the EnergyCoin (EC). It is a virtual means of exchange and payment. An EnergyCoin (EC) is not only a means of exchange and payment, but also a uniform billing system, i.e. a new, virtual unit of measurement for users of vehicles with an alternative drive or for stationary use.

In order to generate EnergyCoin (EC), an e-vehicle (electric vehicle) is absolutely necessary. That is the key to being able to participate in this system. That is why the EnergyCoin (EC) described is more than just a crytocurrency. It must be an approved, certified e-vehicle from the manufacturer (recognizable by the identification feature); no computer / emulator can generate an EnergyCoin (EC), only the e-vehicle itself.

• Zum Beispiel: Der Besitzer des Fahrzeuges hat auf dem Dach seines Hauses eine PV-Anlage. Mit Hilfe dieser PV-Anlage lädt er die HV-Batterie des E-Fahrzeuges auf. Da diese Energie rein aus erneuerbarer Energiequelle stammt, wird er für dieses Vorhaben mit EnergyCoins (EC) belohnt.

EnergyCoin (EC) can be traded without an e-vehicle, but EnergyCoin (EC) cannot be generated. An EnergyCoin (EC) is generated or consumed by charging the electric vehicle (s) (bidirectional charging) or driving (consumption of energy or ECs). If the e-vehicle is charged with energy from a coal-fired power station, for example, the e-car generates less EnergyCoin (EC) than if the e-car is charged from a renewable energy source. -) Incentive system for the use of green electricity. As a result, there is a bonus system and trading in EnergyCoins (EC):

• For example: The owner of the vehicle has a PV system on the roof of his house. With the help of this PV system, he charges the HV battery of the electric vehicle. Since this energy comes from a purely renewable energy source, he is rewarded for this project with EnergyCoins (EC).

Another example: An incentive is created to give preference to green electricity. This results in advantages and competition for charging station owners and electricity providers.

If someone charges their e-vehicle with electricity from their own PV system and consequently wants to resell the energy not used in the e-vehicle, e.g. via the EnergyCoin (EC) platform, the customer has the opportunity to profitably receive additional EnergyCoins (EC) to acquire.

The EnergyCoin (EC) is user-related, i.e. several e-vehicles of one owner can generate several EnergyCoins (EC), which promotes the possession of one or more e-vehicles (even for small and large customers there are advantages). The customer thus becomes an energy supplier himself. There is thus the possibility of increasing EnergyCoin (EC) assets through trading.

Memberships: It is planned to offer a simple and a premium membership. Simple membership users can obtain energy via the EnergyCoin platform from private electricity providers and / or from other commercial companies. All customers can pay for the energy with EnergyCoins (EC). In addition, equivalent currency sums can be rebooked / changed, e.g. with the help of an "EnergyCoin platform" in cooperation with banks (e.g. current account) and / or transferred directly to the seller as EnergyCoin (EC). Premium membership users own an e-vehicle (e-car, e-bus, e-truck). These users can use, sell and trade the EnergyCoin (EC). In addition, EnergyCoins (EC) can earn interest. Each customer is to be seen as an independent bank (micro-bank) - 9 this creates decentralized action.

There is also the possibility, for example, of generating just one user account in an EnergyCoin cloud (decentralized system), where several sub-accounts (account for the child, prepaid account, several accounts for several vehicles / fleet) can be combined and managed.

The entire administration of the accounts runs, for example, via an EnergyCoin app, which can be made available, for example, by an operator. This EnergyCoin platform works like a virtual market (see Amazon®, E-Bay®). On this EnergyCoin platform, all electricity providers can transparently indicate their prices for electricity or for alternative energy sources. The customer can choose the most suitable / most attractive provider for himself. After every transaction, the platform operator (e.g. Audi) receives remuneration in the form of money or other incentives, or EnergyCoin (EC) to stimulate trading with ECs.

The EnergyCoin (EC) and the entire protection is based on blockchain technology, i.e. the prerequisites for trading are secured here (users, exchange rates, energy providers, consumers, and other information, such as e-vehicles).

The algorithms for the generation of an EnergyCoin currency are available (see crypto currency), you have to expand the service.

If EnergyCoin (EC) is based on blockchain technology, you have all the advantages, i.e. decentralized storage of information, unchangeable, transparent and anonymous (to the outside world).

All transactions themselves are not stored in the blockchain or in the platform (mirrored databases). Optionally, all transaction numbers could be secured in the blockchain at a defined point in time in order to avoid data loss.

The agreements between users are stored in “smart contracts”. A "timestamp" holds the time of the agreement unchangeably.

Ideally, the platform should represent a central exchange medium for all users and providers. This should on the one hand avoid economic "bubbles" and on the other hand offer a real existing interface to the customer. "One Face to the Costumer" (usability and customer loyalty). When the exchange rate changes from EnergyCoin (EC) to euros, the platform and / or the banks that participate in this system earn.

• - Mit EnergyCoins EC werden die Verwendung und die Erzeugung von Energie aus erneuerbarer Quelle ohne eine staatliche Subvention gefördert.
• - Der EnergyCoin kann als eine Art (Öko-)Gütesiegel verwendet werden, weil nachweislich belegt werden kann, woher die Energie (erneuerbarer Quelle) stammt.
• - Mit EnergyCoins kann Handel betrieben werden, d.h. das Fahrzeug kann sich zu einer rollenden E-Ladestation wandeln: andere E-Fahrzeuge (Autos, e-Bikes usw.) können mit Energie aus einem anbietenden E-Fahrzeug aufgeladen werden und es kann mit EnergyCoin (EC) bezahlt werden.

The advantages of the described idea are:

• - EnergyCoins EC promotes the use and production of energy from renewable sources without a government subsidy.
• - The EnergyCoin can be used as a kind of (eco) seal of approval because it can be proven where the energy (renewable source) comes from.
• - EnergyCoins can be used to trade, ie the vehicle can be transformed into a rolling e-charging station: other e-vehicles (cars, e-bikes, etc.) can be charged with energy from an e-vehicle that is offering it, and EnergyCoin (EC) to be paid.

So more EnergyCoins (EC) can be generated through bidirectional charging. The customer can sell his energy in the car for a profit (it can again be EnergyCoins, or a real currency).

The user can pay with their own EnergyCoin (EC) at each charging station, because the EnergyCoin unites all of the markets across countries. The EnergyCoin simplifies the billing system for electricity between the customer and the operator of charging stations. For a charging station operator, billing is much easier because you no longer need different currencies, i.e. you do not necessarily have to conclude contracts with credit card operators. This creates an additional profit margin for the charging station operator and an incentive for the e-vehicle user (e.g. because of discounts).

With every charging process, the eco-charging station operator can earn EnergyCoins himself, as he is rewarded for providing green electricity.

This would encourage the charging station operators to prefer to offer electricity from renewable sources. This creates competition between the charging station operators. The charging station operator can sell his EnergyCoins (EC) or trade with the EnergyCoins (EC) and ideally make a profit in this way. EnergyCoins would give preferential incentives to buy electric vehicles. In addition, customers who only want to use the e-car as a rolling charging station, for example, to trade with ECS, could result. EnergyCoin (EC) could even be traded on exchanges.

An operator could generate and regulate its own platform as well as its own virtual stable energy currency and is thus freed from banks and financial systems. This platform could also be offered to other manufacturers who want to join.

The unique selling point of the idea is that an EnergyCoin (EC) can only be generated with e-vehicles themselves. The stability of the EC can be secured in a decentralized manner in the background using blockchain technology.

The idea thus relates to a method for controlling an activation ( 41 ) one Service function ( 23 ) depending on the usage behavior of a user of an electric vehicle ( 10 ). The invention provides that a computing device ( 26th ) with at least one energy exchange ( 22nd ) of electrical energy ( 14th ) between the electric vehicle ( 10 ) and a respective electric charging station ( 13th ) an energy class ( 21 ) and an amount of energy ( 18th ) the exchanged energy ( 14th ) and the respective energy exchange ( 22nd ) depending on the recorded energy class ( 21 ) and the recorded amount of energy ( 18th ) an addition value ( 33 ) is assigned and the addition value ( 33 ) a meter reading ( 35 ) in a data memory ( 34 ) is added and the service function ( 23 ) is only enabled if the counter reading ( 35 ) greater than one from the service function ( 23 ) dependent threshold ( 37 ) is.

Overall, the examples show how the invention can provide an energy currency.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102016111420 A1 [0004]
• DE 102016209380 A1 [0005]
• DE 102017216688 A1 [0007]

Claims (10)

A method for controlling activation (41) of a service function (23) as a function of the usage behavior of a user of an electric vehicle (10), a request ( 29) is received for the activation (41) of the service function (23), with an identification feature (12) which is assigned to the electric vehicle (10) and for which the activation (41) is to take place, being indicated, and if the requested service ( 23) is activated, the service management function (23) is activated by the service facility (24), characterized in that, prior to the request for activation (41) by a computing device (26) during at least one energy exchange (22) of electrical energy (14 ) an energy class between the electric vehicle (10) and a respective electric charging station (13) se (21) and an amount of energy (18) of the exchanged energy (14) are recorded and the respective energy exchange (22) according to a predetermined evaluation rule (32) depending on the recorded energy class (21) and the recorded amount of energy (18) an addition value (33) is assigned and the addition value (33) is added to a counter reading (35) assigned to the identification feature (12) in a data memory (34), and the service function (23) is only enabled if the counter reading (35) is greater than one on the service function (23) dependent threshold value (37). Procedure according to Claim 1 wherein the service device (24) and the computing device (26) are coupled to the data memory (34) for independent access and access the data memory (34) with a time delay. Procedure according to Claim 2 , wherein the data memory (34) for storing the counter reading (35) has a blockchain. Method according to one of the preceding claims, the counter reading (35) assigned to the identification feature (12) being reduced by the threshold value as a function of the performance of the service function (23). Procedure according to Claim 4 wherein a counter reading (35) assigned to the service facility (24) is increased by the threshold value. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy class (21) indicates a technology of an energy source (20) which was used to generate the exchanged energy. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the respective addition value (33) is determined as a function of a transmission direction, one possible transmission direction from an energy store (11) of the electric vehicle (10) to the charging station (13) and another possible transmission direction from the Charging station (13) points towards the energy store (11). Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control interface (28) is provided to the user on a central Internet platform (27) together with other control interfaces (28) of other service facilities, each of which provides a further service function. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the threshold value is received from a smart contract of a blockchain. Control system (25) with a computing device (26) for detecting an energy class (21) and an amount of energy (18) of energy (14) which is exchanged during at least one energy exchange between an electric vehicle (10) and a respective charging station (13), and with an internet platform (27) for providing at least one control interface (28) for requesting a service function (23) of a respective service facility (24), characterized in that the control system (25) is set up to implement a method according to one of the preceding claims perform.

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