DE102021103044A1 - Method of exchanging electrical energy - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for exchanging electrical energy between a plurality of vehicles (18a, 18b, 18c) on the one hand and a charging infrastructure (2) on the other hand, the charging infrastructure (2) having a plurality of electrical charging points (6a, 6b, 6c), with a Electrical charging system that has a charging assistant (8), with at least one charging option for exchanging electrical energy during a charging process between a vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) and a respective charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) and at a current point in time Depending on the utilization of the charging infrastructure (2) at the current time, a charging tariff is assigned to a charging option, with a terminal (16a, 16b, 16c) of a user (14a, 14b, 14c) of a respective vehicle (18a, 18b , 18c) from the charging assistant (8) at the current time the at least one charging option with the respectively assigned charging tariff for selection is triggered when the respective vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) is connected to one of the charging points (6a, 6b, 6c) to carry out the charging process, with one of the users (14a, 14b, 14c) using the terminal device (16a, 16b, 16c) selected charging option is transmitted to the charging assistant (8), whereby between the vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) connected to the charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) and the charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) during the implementation during the charging process, the electrical energy is exchanged with the selected charging option and the assigned charging tariff, whereby the utilization of the charging infrastructure (2) is dynamically adapted to all charging processes currently being carried out.

Description

The invention relates to a method for exchanging electrical energy between a charging infrastructure on the one hand and a plurality of vehicles on the other. The invention also relates to a charging system.

As the number of electrically powered vehicles increases, so does the need for public charging options. These are often not available in sufficient numbers. For example, charging stations provided by charging station operators are often occupied by vehicles to be charged longer than necessary, since users do not always remove their vehicles from a respective charging station immediately after the charging process is complete, which is why available charging capacities cannot be used effectively. This can mean that users do not have enough charging options despite the existing charging stations. In addition, charging stations are blocked as temporarily unused.

The pamphlet DE 10 2017 207 281 A1 describes a method and a charging device for the temporal coordination of the charging processes of several electrical consumers connected to a distribution network branch.

Against this background, one task was to utilize charging points more effectively to provide electrical energy for vehicles.

This object is achieved by a method and a charging system having the features of the independent patent claims. Embodiments of the method and the charging system emerge from the dependent patent claims.

The method according to the invention is intended for exchanging, e.g. for mutually providing, electrical energy between a plurality of or vehicles on the one hand and a charging infrastructure on the other hand, the charging infrastructure having a number of electrical charging points, e.g. charging columns or charging stations. The method is carried out with an electrical charging system that has a charging assistant for carrying out charging management. The charging assistant automatically selects at least one charging option, e.g. for a charging power, a charging duration and/or for a charging current, for exchanging or transferring electrical energy during a charging process between a vehicle and a respective charging point, i.e. from the charging point to the Vehicle or from the vehicle to the charging point, provided, a charging tariff being assigned to a charging option at a current time depending on a load of the charging infrastructure present at the current time. In this case, a user, usually a driver, of a respective vehicle is automatically suggested at the respective current time by the charging assistant via a terminal at least one charging option that is valid at this current time with a respectively assigned charging tariff for selection if the respective vehicle of the user is to carry out a charging is or will be connected to one of the charging points. Based on this, the user uses the terminal device to select a charging option with an assigned charging rate from the at least one charging option that is currently valid at this point in time and transmits it to the charging assistant from the terminal device. During the charging process, the electrical energy is exchanged between the vehicle connected to the charging point and the charging point with the selected charging option and the assigned charging tariff.

In addition, the user can be informed by the charging assistant about at least one updated valid charging option with an associated charging tariff, which is proposed for selection, at a point in time via the terminal device while the charging process is being carried out between the vehicle connected to the charging point and the charging point at the charging point be, whereby the utilization of the charging infrastructure is dynamically adapted or adapted and/or can be adapted to all charging processes that are currently being carried out or have been carried out.

The charging assistant dynamically determines the utilization of the charging infrastructure at the respective times or for the respective times. The method is provided in an embodiment for providing electrical energy for the majority or multiple vehicles from the electrical charging infrastructure or for providing electrical energy for the charging infrastructure from the vehicles, the electrical energy depending on the utilization of the charging infrastructure, the vehicle, usually an electrical energy storage device of the vehicle, is provided by the charging point, or alternatively the charging point is provided with electrical energy from the vehicle or from its electrical energy store.

During a charging process, either electrical energy is transferred from the respective charging point to the vehicle connected to it or from the vehicle to the respective charging point to which the vehicle is connected, with the electrical energy being transferred with the selected charging option and the their assigned charging tariff between the charging point on the one hand and the vehicle on the other hand. One vehicle at a time may be designed or referred to as a motor vehicle, being powered entirely or partially with electrical energy, such that it is an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle.

In addition, the utilization of the charging infrastructure is automatically adapted dynamically to all charging processes that are currently being carried out or are being carried out. As a rule, a number of charging options, each with assigned charging rates, are available at a particular point in time. The user can also switch from a currently existing charging option with an assigned charging tariff to another charging option with a further assigned charging tariff during a charging process that is currently being carried out and/or ongoing and cause the electrical energy to be exchanged between the vehicle and the charging point becomes. It is possible that at the current point in time at least two or more charging options with assigned charging tariffs are proposed for selection. If only one charging option with only one assigned charging tariff is proposed for selection at a time, this can be selected or rejected by the user.

If at a certain point in time the charging assistant recommends at least one new charging option with an assigned charging tariff, i. H. at least one updated valid charging option with an assigned charging tariff is set and/or provided, with the selection of charging options being adjusted accordingly, the user's terminal device is automatically informed by the charging assistant. This at least one new charging option with the assigned new charging tariff is offered to the user for selection at the specific point in time. If the user selects a new charging option with the assigned charging tariff, a charging process that has already been carried out, for which an older charging option has been implemented up to now, will be continued with the new charging option, whereby it is possible, for example, that the charging tariff remains the same, but the new charging option provides better conditions, e.g. a higher charging capacity, or that a new, in particular lower charging tariff is provided, but the new charging option corresponds to the older charging option with regard to the associated conditions, such as charging capacity. In addition, it is also conceivable that the new charging option has different conditions than the older charging option and that the new charging option is also assigned a different charging tariff than the charging tariff assigned to the older charging option.

In one embodiment, it is possible for a respective charging tariff for the at least one charging option to be determined automatically, dynamically and/or flexibly by the charging assistant at a particular point in time, with the at least one respective charging tariff being based on a load of the charging infrastructure that is current at the time and a current demand is adjusted depending on the current demand for electrical energy and depending on an available supply of electrical energy that can be provided by the charging infrastructure. When determining the charging tariffs by the charging assistant, the charging assistant takes into account the utilization of the charging infrastructure, which is dependent on a supply of electrical energy from the charging infrastructure and a demand for electrical energy from the vehicles. This can depend, for example, on how many loading processes are currently being carried out and which loading option is used in each case. It is still possible that every user or customer is informed about better conditions for charging tariffs at the selected charging point via the terminal device during the charging process. The option is offered of influencing the current charging process even without being physically present at the charging point and of continuing the charging process by adjusting the charging tariff at changed, e.g adjust and/or change.

Furthermore, it is possible in one embodiment that at a certain point in time, depending on the current demand and depending on the current supply of electrical energy, there is either an excess amount of electrical energy or an insufficient and/or small amount of electrical energy within the charging infrastructure . In such a case, it is possible that at least one new charging option, each with a new charging tariff, will be offered at a given point in time. It is thus possible, for example, to distribute excess charging capacities or amounts of electrical energy to other users or their vehicles or to provide electrical energy from vehicles to the charging infrastructure as required if the amount of electrical energy that can be provided by the charging infrastructure is too low.

In the method, it is possible for a charging power that defines the amount of electrical energy that can be provided per time or unit of time, a charging speed and/or a charging duration or charging time for providing a specific amount of electrical energy to be provided as a charging option. It is still possible that the charging tariff is usually higher or larger, the higher or larger the drawer performance or charging speed. Alternatively, the lower or shorter the charging time, the higher the charging tariff, with the charging time usually being inversely proportional to the charging power or charging speed. Whether and to what extent a charging tariff is changed, i.e. increased or reduced, when a charging option is changed at a point in time also depends on the respective supply and demand for electrical energy. If a respective vehicle is provided with electrical energy from the respective charging point, this must be paid for by the user to the charging infrastructure and/or the charging system in accordance with the currently planned charging tariff. Conversely, the user is remunerated by the charging system according to the current charging tariff if electrical energy is provided to the charging infrastructure and/or the charging system by or from the vehicle.

Since the charging infrastructure has a number of spatially distributed charging points, for example charging stations, it is also possible for at least one charging option, each with an assigned charging tariff, to be assigned to one charging point at a time. It is possible for the charging point to be selected by the user with the end device. This means that the user preselects and reserves the charging point arranged at a location chosen by him for charging the vehicle and drives the vehicle to this selected charging point, connects the battery to the charging point and completes the charging process with the charging option provided and the assigned charging tariff performs. It is also possible for the charging assistant to automatically suggest a charging point at a selected location to a user and thus to his vehicle.

The electrical charging system according to the invention is designed to exchange electrical energy between a plurality of vehicles or vehicles on the one hand and a charging infrastructure on the other hand, the charging infrastructure having a number of electrical charging points, e.g. charging columns or charging stations, which are usually arranged on at least one charging device are. The charging system includes a charging assistant for carrying out charging management. The charging assistant is designed to automatically provide the at least one charging option, e.g or whose battery is or will be connected to the charging point during a charging process. In this case, the charging assistant is also designed to automatically assign a charging tariff to a charging option at a current time depending on the utilization of the charging infrastructure at the current time, i.e. depending on supply and demand, and to assign a charging tariff to a terminal device of a user of a respective vehicle propose the current time at least one charging option with the respectively assigned charging tariff for selection if the respective vehicle is connected to one of the charging points to carry out the charging process or will. It is provided here that the user uses the terminal device to select a charging option that is suggested for selection and transmits it to the charging assistant. The charging assistant can automatically activate the charging option selected by the user for a respective charging point and initiate the charging process. When exchanging electrical energy, each charging point is designed to provide the vehicle connected to the charging point with the electrical energy with the selected charging option and the charging tariff assigned at the current time while the charging process is being carried out. Furthermore, when electrical energy is exchanged, one charging point is designed to receive the electrical energy with the selected charging option and the assigned charging tariff from the vehicle connected to the charging point while the charging process is being carried out.

The charging assistant is also designed to inform the user while the charging process is being carried out via the terminal device about the at least one updated, valid charging option proposed for selection at the charging point and thereby dynamically adapt the utilization of the charging infrastructure to the charging processes currently being carried out .

It is possible to carry out an embodiment of the presented method for charging electrical energy with an embodiment of the presented charging system. Furthermore, the charging system or the charging assistant includes user software, for example an application or app, which is provided to the end device and via which the end device communicates with the charging assistant to carry out an embodiment of the method.

In one refinement, the charging system has the charging infrastructure with a plurality of charging devices that are spatially or locally distributed, with each charging device having at least one charging point. The charging assistant of the charging system is also designed as a central module or as a central unit for coordinating all current and future charging processes for all charging points. The charging facilities, e.g. charging parks, can NEN can be spatially distributed over several towns and/or several streets within a respective town, with the charging points assigned to the charging devices, e.g. charging stations, being spatially distributed accordingly. Furthermore, the charging system can have at least one charging device, for example at least one charging park, with this at least one charging device being designed, for example, as a spatially connected charging park with several charging points or charging stations.

In one possible embodiment of the method with the charging assistant, at least one charging tariff is determined flexibly and automatically for the at least one charging option, with a corresponding number of charging tariffs to be assigned or assigned to the respective charging options being determined at the respective point in time for a number of charging options. A respective charging tariff is adapted to a charging demand and a charging offer for electrical energy as well as the utilization of the charging infrastructure. Charging options and/or corresponding conditions for carrying out a respective charging process can be adjusted during a charging process to be carried out and thus usually changed, with the charging infrastructure being used as a charging network, i. H. whose utilization can be used optimally.

With the charging system presented, an intelligent, dynamic charging assistant is provided for carrying out intelligent, dynamic charging management. This will u. enables significantly more vehicles to be connected to the charging points of the charging infrastructure at the same time and thus to increase the charging capacity and/or utilization of the charging infrastructure. The users of the vehicles as customers can use the planned flexible charging tariffs themselves to determine which charging options are called up or to be called up. It is thus possible that a longer charging time for charging the battery of a vehicle can be bought, for example, via a lower electricity price for the electrical energy to be charged. Optimal utilization of the charging network or the charging points is determined dynamically in real time, with all charging points being taken into account at a given point in time. The charging tariffs are determined dynamically and flexibly on an ongoing basis, with the charging tariffs being adapted to a current demand and a current supply of electrical energy.

The charging infrastructure or the charging network is publicly accessible for each driver's vehicle as a user and includes at least two charging points. It is conceivable that a total charging capacity of the charging infrastructure, depending on the definition, is less than a maximum charging capacity of the individual charging points, with a driver as the user of a vehicle to be charged being provided with a fee-dependent charging capacity as a charging option according to a respectively selected charging tariff at each charging point becomes. It is provided that the charging assistant, usually a central processing unit, automatically determines optimal utilization of the charging infrastructure or charging points in real time using an algorithm. At the beginning of a charging process, each user is automatically created and submitted a flexible offer for this charging process by the charging assistant. An offer is determined depending on network utilization of the charging infrastructure and a charging time desired by the user, for example charging start time and/or charging end time. Furthermore, an optimal charging tariff is automatically determined as a usage price by the charging assistant depending on supply and demand, whereby electrical energy can be offered to potential other users as in an electricity exchange. It is also possible for the user to be able to select the charging start time, with the charging start time for the charging process being postponed to a specific future point in time, for example, and scheduled later if the network utilization is lower at this future or later point in time and the electrical energy is therefore available at a lower price.

With the method, it is possible for each user to be contacted at any time, if desired, via their mobile device, for example a smartphone or tablet that can also be used independently of a vehicle, or a device arranged and/or permanently installed in the vehicle to inform you about better conditions at the selected charging point during the charging process. Furthermore, it is possible for every user to reject or accept a new charging option with an assigned charging tariff, which influences the price of the electricity, the charging time and/or charging speed, and thus influences the ongoing charging process. Furthermore, loading capacities that are no longer used can be optimally redistributed to the remaining users or their vehicles.

Any potential user of the process can contact the charging system's charging assistant using their terminal device by means of data transmission, e.g. via the Internet, whereby charging behavior and a choice of location for a charging point are determined by passing on information on charging options and charging tariffs as required, in terms of optimal capacity utilization or other economic or environmental factors can be influenced, whereby usage fees for charging processes, for Locations of charging points and any special services are taken into account with the information passed on. It can be made possible for the user to feed energy already charged into a vehicle battery back into the charging infrastructure for a higher fee, in order to make it available to other users profitably, depending on the respective demand. If the user is in the vicinity of a charging point or a charging station and thus the charging infrastructure, the user can use a mobile device, which can also be used independently of the vehicle, to communicate with or contact the charging assistant. As long as the user is in the vehicle, he can also contact or communicate with the charging assistant via a device permanently installed in the vehicle.

In a further embodiment, it is possible for every user as a customer to influence the current charging process and continue it at more advantageous conditions by using their terminal device, even without being physically present at the charging point. It is provided that the intelligent, dynamic charging assistant, when determining an optimal charging plan, assumes that a user has already made a decision for a charging option with an assigned charging tariff as flexible and automatically determines factors that lead the user to a new decision with regard to a charging option and an assigned charging tariff move and thus improve the overall charging capacity of the charging infrastructure and/or its utilization.

The process means that a user is not rigidly bound to an originally selected charging option with an associated charging tariff that and/or which he/she selected before the charging process. Depending on the supply and demand for resources, e.g. electrical energy and available charging points, and at least one correspondingly adapted charging option with an assigned charging tariff, the user is offered a respective point in time to change and/or update the charging option and the assigned charging tariff and thus To optimize charging conditions for carrying out the respective charging process during the charging process. The technical effect of this is that operation of the charging infrastructure with the charging points is optimized.

As part of the method, it is provided that the charging assistant communicates with the end devices of the users during operation of the charging system via a usually radio-based data transmission or communication system provided for this purpose. It is possible that when a charging plan is calculated at a point in time, the at least one charging option and the at least one charging tariff assigned to it are determined. Both users who are already logged in and whose vehicles are already being charged, as well as new users whose vehicles still need to be charged and whose vehicles may be on the way to a potential charging point at the time, are informed by the charging assistant via the at least informed of a charging option and the at least one assigned charging tariff, with each user being able to choose a charging configuration that is optimal for him or her, d. H. to flexibly select charging options with assigned charging tariffs, whereby a current charging process can be continued at the request of a respective user at new conditions, which is also possible if the user is not present at the charging point and thus at his vehicle. At the same time, the charging infrastructure is optimally utilized and the operator of the charging infrastructure increases the income if the electrical energy is charged into the vehicles or into their batteries or accumulators, taking into account the flexibly adaptable charging options with assigned charging tariffs. It is also possible that different charging tariffs can be assigned to a specific charging option depending on a particular point in time and depending on the utilization of the charging infrastructure and the demand for electrical energy, with the charging rate for this specific charging option being updated depending on the point in time.

In an embodiment of the method, it is possible to adapt the load or use to the needs of the user as a customer by means of intelligent charging and/or communication management, with provision being made here for the communication management to be implemented by a respective user based on changes to charging options with assigned charging tariffs automatically informed by the charging assistant via his end device. In this way, the utilization and/or use of the charging infrastructure can be significantly increased and ideally be up to 100%. An existing charging capacity for exchanging, e.g. for providing, electrical energy is not blocked by a vehicle still connected to the charging point after a completed charging process, but can be made available to another vehicle in real time at another charging point. Better controlled utilization of the charging infrastructure allows costs to be reduced, both for the operator of the charging infrastructure and for the users of the charging infrastructure. Furthermore, it is provided that monetary or financial advantages for a respective user increase the willingness to accept restrictions with regard to a charging time as a charging option, for example if the charging time is extended, or to accept a longer journey to a charging point. At the same time, a higher charging capacity or charging speed and/or a charging point close to the user in terms of location or location is available to those users who are prepared to pay a higher charging tariff and thus an increased fee for charging their vehicle with electrical energy. It is also possible, through sponsorship of energy prices for electrical energy or corresponding charging tariffs by advertising partners, e.g. a restaurant or a shopping facility near a charging point, to recruit a potential user about the respective energy requirements of his vehicle and the user also away from his known environment to provide information on appropriate facilities.

With the method, a more efficient exploitation of the available charging capacities or amounts of electrical energy in real time is possible, since ongoing charging processes can be adapted at any time through the constant exchange of information on charging options and assigned charging tariffs.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The invention is shown schematically on the basis of embodiments in the drawing and is described schematically and in detail with reference to the drawing.

1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the charging system according to the invention, which is designed to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

This in 1 Schematically illustrated charging system according to the invention includes a charging infrastructure 2, which is designed or designated here as a charging network. This charging infrastructure 2 comprises a plurality of spatially distributed charging devices 4a, 4b, each charging device 4a, 4b having at least one electrical charging point 6a, 6b, 6c with an associated interface 10, which is an electrical charging station at which a vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c can be connected or connected, with each charging point 6a, 6b, 6c being designed to provide electrical energy for an electrical energy store, e.g. for a battery, of a respective vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c and to charge this electrical energy store if the vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c is connected to a respective charging point 6a, 6b, 6c. Conversely, it is also possible for electrical energy to be provided from a vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c to a charging point 6a, 6b, 6c and to be charged in the process. The charging infrastructure 2 can also include the electrical energy that is made available or can be made available by a network operator, the availability of which can be subject to fluctuations depending on the time of day and/or the weather.

Furthermore shows 1 a schematic representation of several users 14a, 14b, 14c, who are drivers of vehicles 18a, 18b, 18c, each user 14a, 14b, 14c having a terminal 16a, 16b, 16c for data processing and communication is formed, wherein it can act at a respective terminal 16a, 16b, 16c to a smartphone or a tablet and thus a portable computing unit. The charging system has a charging assistant 8 with a data transmission system 12 or communication system. 1 also shows a third-party provider 20, which is associated here with the charging assistant 8 and thus with the charging system.

It is also possible here that such a terminal 16a, 16b, 16c can also be arranged in a vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c and designed as part of the vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c. However, it is also possible that a respective end device 16a, 16b, 16c can also be used independently of a respective vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c and also independently of the embodiment of the method according to the invention presented here.

In the 1 The components provided are shown schematically here by square boxes, with two components or boxes being connected to one another via either a solid or dashed line. If there is a point at each end of a line between a user 14a, 14b, 14c and a terminal 16a, 16b, 16c or the interface 10, this will result in an interaction between the user 14a, 14b, 14c and his terminal 16a, 16b, 16c or the interface 10 symbolized as the respective user interface or user interface. If, depending on the definition, there is a triangle or an arrowhead at the two ends of a line between two boxes or components, this symbolizes a bidirectional exchange of data or information, with the data being exchanged, among other things, between a terminal device 16a, 16b, 16c and the data transmission system 12 of the charging assistant 8 or a vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c, between a vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c and a charging device 4a, between a charging device 4a, 4b and the charging infrastructure 2 or between the data transmission system 12 of the charging assistant 8 and the Charging infrastructure 2 can be exchanged. If at the at If there is a square at the ends of a line between a vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c and a charging point 6a, 6b, 6c, this symbolizes an exchange of electrical energy, which can be bidirectional.

Furthermore shows 1 in a schematic representation that a first user 14a is located directly at the charging device 4a and his vehicle 18a or a first vehicle 18a is coupled or connected to a first charging point 6a. A vehicle 18b or a second vehicle 18b of a second user 14b is connected here to a second charging point 6b, but the second user 14b has left his vehicle 18b. A third user 14c is in his vehicle 18c or a third vehicle 18c in the nearer or further vicinity of the charging devices 4a, 4b. His vehicle 18c is therefore not yet connected to the charging infrastructure 2.

1 also shows that a respective charging device 4a, 4b has the interface 10, in particular a user interface, which can be operated or operated by a respective user 14a, 14b, 14c, the user 14a, 14b, 14c entering information into the interface 10 can enter via a planned loading process. The user 14a, 14b, 14c can connect his vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c to a charging point 6a, 6b, 6c in order to charge its electrical energy storage device during the charging process to be carried out with electrical energy from the charging point 6a, 6b, 6c or electrical energy from the to be able to transfer electrical energy storage in the charging point 6a, 6b, 6c.

In addition, the charging system comprises the charging assistant 8 as a central component, which in the embodiment of the method according to the invention presented here is designed to provide charging management for exchanging electrical energy between a plurality of vehicles 18a, 18b, 18c on the one hand and the charging points 6a, 6b, 6c on the other To organize and / or carry out charging infrastructure 2 on the other hand. This central charging assistant 8 includes the data transmission system 12, via which the charging assistant 8 in the embodiment of the method with the terminals 16a, 16b, 16c of the users 14a, 14b, 14c in the embodiment of the method here exchanges radio-assisted data and thus information, the charging assistant 8 is connected via the data transmission system 12 to the terminals 16a, 16b, 16c of the users 14a, 14b, 14c. Furthermore, the charging assistant 8 is also connected to all charging points 6a, 6b, 6c of the spatially distributed charging devices 4a, 4b and also exchanges data and thus information with them.

In the method for exchanging electrical energy between a plurality of vehicles 18a, 18b, 18c and charging points 6a, 6b, 6c with the electrical charging system, a plurality of charging options for parameters for exchanging electrical energy during a respective charging process between a vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c provided on the one hand and a charging point 6a, 6b, 6c on the other hand, one of these charging options being assigned a charging tariff. A respective charging option usually includes as a parameter a charging duration, a charging time or a charging start time, a charging current, a charging power and/or a charging speed with which between a vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c or its electrical energy storage device and a Charging point 6a, 6b, 6c electrical energy is exchanged when it or he is connected to a respective charging point 6a, 6b, 6c.

In the method, the charging assistant 8 automatically proposes a selection of at least one charging option, each with an assigned charging tariff, to a terminal 16a, 16b, 16c of a user 14a, 14b, 14c at a time, which can be used to carry out a charging process. In this case, only one charging option with a charging tariff can be provided. Alternatively, several or at least two charging options with correspondingly assigned charging tariffs can be proposed, with each charging option being assigned a charging tariff at the time. A respective assignment of a specific charging tariff to a specific charging option can change dynamically with a change in the utilization of the infrastructure, so that at a different point in time other tuples (charging option ₁ , charging tariff ₁ ), (charging option ₂ , charging tariff ₂ ),... , (charging option _n , charging tariff _n ), where n is a natural number, can be made available for selection. This means that at each point in time j, a set of tuples (charging option _ij , charging tariff _ij ) with i ∈ [1,k], k ≥ 1 that are valid at this point in time j are provided.

Provision is made for the third user 14c to be offered a charging option without having actively made a request to the charging assistant 8 . For this purpose, the charging assistant 8 detects the third vehicle 18c in the nearer or further vicinity by means of communication between the data transmission system 12 or communication system and the terminal device 16c. Relevant vehicle data, for example a state of charge of the vehicle battery, is transmitted from the third vehicle 18c to the third terminal 16c and from there to the data transmission system 12 of the charging assistant 8 .

It is provided that the selection of charging options with associated charging tariffs is transmitted to a terminal 16a, 16b, 16c of a respective user 14a, 14b, 14c by the charging assistant 8 starting from the data transmission system 12 and is thus made available. Furthermore, it is provided that a respective user 14a, 14b, 14c selects a charging option with an assigned charging tariff from this selection of charging options with assigned charging tariffs and transmits a corresponding result of his selection with the terminal device 16a, 16b, 16c back to the charging assistant 8, who in turn causes the respective vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c of the respective user 14a, 14b, 14c, when it is connected to a respective charging point 6a, 6b, 6c, to be charged during an electrical charging process using the selected charging options with the assigned charging tariff with electrical energy is supplied. With this method, it is possible to dynamically adapt a utilization of the charging infrastructure 2 to all charging processes currently being carried out.

It is also provided that the charging options with assigned charging tariffs are offered to the first user 14a, who is in the immediate vicinity of the charging device 4a, alternatively via the interface 10 and that he sends feedback to the charging assistant 8 and/or the charging device 4a, also via the Interface 10 outputs a selection of a charging option with an associated charging tariff.

As part of the embodiment of the method presented here, the charging assistant 8 is designed to automatically take into account a respective supply of electrical energy that can be provided and a respective demand for electrical energy by the users 14a, 14b, 14c and constantly and dynamically new charging options with assigned new charging tariffs to calculate and adjust. Furthermore, the charging assistant 8 is designed to automatically inform the terminals 16a, 16b, 16c of the users 14a, 14b, 14c about the new charging options with the charging tariffs assigned to them and to offer them for selection. If a user 14a, 14b, 14c has already connected his vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c to a charging point 6a, 6b, 6c and a charging process is currently being carried out, with a charging option that is already running with an assigned charging tariff being used first, the Users 14a, 14b, 14c are given the opportunity to select and use a newly determined charging option with an assigned charging tariff that is offered to them for selection, with the charging assistant 8 continuing to automatically cause the previously used charging option with an assigned charging tariff to be activated during the ongoing charging process replaced by the new charging option with the new charging tariff and the charging process is continued with this new charging option with the new charging tariff assigned. This also makes it possible to adapt the utilization of the charging points 6a, 6b, 6c of the charging infrastructure 2 to updated charging options with updated charging tariffs.

In the embodiment of the method presented here, different examples or variants can be carried out, with at least one example or at least one variant being carried out at a particular point in time, it being possible for several of those presented below to be carried out simultaneously or synchronously at the particular point in time Examples or variants can be carried out.

In a first example, it is provided that a user 14a, 14b, 14c couples his vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c to a charging point 6a, 6b, 6c and thus connects it. A charging option desired or selected by the user 14a, 14b, 14c with an assigned charging tariff for carrying out the charging process from the charging point 6a, 6b, 6c and/or the charging device 4a, 4b, optionally to the charging infrastructure 2 or optionally directly to the Charging assistant 8 transmitted via the data transmission system 12. Based on this, the charging assistant 8 automatically determines at least one charging scenario, ie a combination of a charging option and an associated charging tariff, which is advantageous with regard to the utilization of the charging infrastructure 2, with regard to a benefit for the customer and/or taking into account environmental aspects. The charging assistant 8 automatically takes into account information from the charging infrastructure 2 or the charging network, as well as requests from the user 14a, 14b, 14c, which the user requests, for example, via the interface 10 from the charging device 4a, 4b. The charging assistant 8 automatically proposes an offer to the user 14a, 14b, 14c with a selection of several charging options with associated charging tariffs for a charging capacity for the electricity to be provided, for its price and/or an intended charging duration of the charging process. After a decision by the user 14a, 14b, 14c for one of the charging options, the charging process is started and the information on this for further use of the charging point 6a, 6b, 6c, to which the vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c is connected, via the data transmission system 12 transmitted to the charging assistant 8. If the wishes of the user 14a, 14b, 14c can no longer be fulfilled with the framework conditions currently available for charging options, e.g , 16c communicate with the charging assistant 8, but their vehicles 18a, 18b, 18c do not, or not yet, communicate with the charging infrastructure 2 to exchange electrical energy are connected, automatically participate in the creation of an optimal charging concept, as is described below using the second example.

In this second example or a second variant of the method, it is provided that the charging assistant 8 automatically recognizes a charging capacity requirement surplus and at least one charging scenario is determined that is more advantageous in terms of the utilization of the charging infrastructure 2, for the customer and/or in terms of environmental aspects. In this case, the charging assistant 8 automatically contacts at least one user 14a, 14b, 14c who is already logged in via the data transmission system 12 via his mobile terminal device 16a, 16b, 16c. In this case, the end device 16a, 16b, 16c of the user 14a, 14b, 14c is optionally provided with several charging options with assigned charging tariffs with regard to a price for the electrical energy that can be provided and a remaining charging time. This can also include the offer that the user 14a, 14b, 14c can continue to charge his vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c according to a charging option with an assigned charging tariff at a reduced usage fee with a lower charging capacity if the charging process is continued. If the user 14a, 14b, 14c decides to accept a changed charging option with a changed charging tariff, he communicates his decision with his mobile terminal device 16a, 16b, 16c to the data transmission system 12 of the charging assistant 8. When the at least one user 14a, 14b, 14c to change the charging process, the charging assistant 8 automatically transmits the changed parameters for the charging option with the assigned charging tariff to the charging infrastructure 2 via the data transmission system 12 to the charging device 4a, 4b and/or the charging point 6a, 6b, 6c, the charging option and the assigned charging tariff i.e. H. e.g. the usage fee, can be adjusted.

In a third example or a third variant of the method, it is provided that the charging assistant 8 automatically detects a charging capacity excess if there is a surplus of available electrical energy. Taking this into account, the charging assistant 8 determines at least one charging scenario that is more advantageous with regard to the utilization of the infrastructure 2, for the customer and/or with regard to environmental aspects. In this case, the charging assistant 8 automatically contacts at least one user 14a, 14b, 14c who is already logged in via the data transmission system 12 via his mobile terminal device 16a, 16b, 16c. Here, too, the charging assistant 8 automatically provides the user 14a, 14b, 14c or his terminal device 16a, 16b, 16c with a modified offer with a selection of several charging options with assigned charging tariffs with regard to the charging power, the price and/or the remaining charging time. It is possible for the user 14a, 14b, 14c with a charging option and assigned charging tariff to be presented with an offer to continue charging his vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c with the same or unchanged usage fee, but with a higher charging capacity. If the user 14a, 14b, 14c decides to accept a changed charging option or a corresponding charging option package with an associated charging tariff, he communicates his decision with his mobile terminal 16a, 16b, 16c to the data transmission system 12 of the charging assistant 8. When the decision made by the at least a user 14a, 14b, 14c to change the charging process for his vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c, the charging assistant 8 automatically transmits the selection for the new charging option with an associated new charging tariff via the data transmission system 12 to the charging infrastructure 2, optionally to the charging device 4a, 4b and/or or optionally the charging point 6a, 6b, 6c, providing the changed charging parameters for this new charging option with an associated new charging tariff, the charging process being adjusted, for example with regard to the charging power.

In a fourth example or a fourth variant of the embodiment of the method, the charging assistant 8 automatically detects a charging capacity requirement excess of electrical energy and, based on this, determines at least one charging scenario that is more advantageous in terms of capacity utilization, customer benefits and/or environmental aspects. In this case, the charging assistant 8 automatically contacts at least one user 14a, 14b, 14c who is already logged in via the data transmission system 12 via their mobile terminal device 16a, 16b, 16c. In this case, the user 14a, 14b, 14c is automatically provided by the charging assistant 8 with a selection of several charging options and associated charging tariffs with regard to charging power, price and/or remaining charging time. Such an offer includes the suggestion that the user 14a, 14b, 14c electrical energy that has already been fed into the electrical energy storage device of his vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c and/or charged back into the charging infrastructure 2 or the charging network for a fee feed and provide the charging infrastructure 2 according to electrical energy. If the at least one user 14a, 14b, 14c decides to accept such a changed charging option with an associated charging tariff, he communicates his decision with his mobile terminal device 16a, 16b, 16c to the data transmission system 12 of the charging assistant 8. When the at least one user decides 14a, 14b, 14c to change the charging process that is already running, the charging assistant 8 transmits the changed parameters for the new charging option with the assigned new charging tariff via the data transmission system 12 to the charging infrastructure 2, the charging device 4a, 4b and/or the charging point 6a, 6b, 6c , where the charging power to the usage fee is adjusted, in which case the user 14a, 14b, 14c sells electrical energy from the electrical energy store back to the charging infrastructure 2 and the user 14a, 14b, 14c is remunerated accordingly.

In a fifth example or a fifth variant of the embodiment of the method, it is provided that the charging assistant 8 automatically detects a charging capacity excess of electrical energy. In this case, the charging assistant 8 automatically contacts at least one new potential user 14a, 14b, 14c via the data transmission system 12, who is in the vicinity of at least one charging point 6a, 6b, 6c with his vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c, with his vehicle 18a , 18b, 18c is not yet connected to the charging infrastructure 2. In this case, the user 14a, 14b, 14c is automatically notified by the charging assistant 8 via his mobile terminal device 16a, 16b, 16c. The charging assistant 8 is automatically sent information about a type of vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c, a state of charge of the electrical energy store of the vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c and a destination of the vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c or of the user 14a, 14b, 14c provided. On the basis of this, the charging assistant 8 automatically determines an optimal offer for a charging option with an assigned charging tariff for the at least one potential new user 14a, 14b, 14c. Optionally, offer values from at least one third party 20, for example at least one local advertising partner, also flow in here. The charging assistant 8 sends the at least one potential user 14a, 14b, 14c an offer with a selection of several charging options with assigned charging tariffs for a respective charging capacity, a price, a length of stay and, if applicable, a discount option from the third-party provider 20, e.g. a restaurant in near the charging point 6a, 6b, 6c, automatically provided. Furthermore, the potential user 14a, 14b, 14c communicates via his mobile device 16a, 16b, 16c via the data transmission system 12 with the charging assistant 8. Depending on a decision by the at least one potential user 14a, 14b, 14c, the charging assistant 8 automatically takes appropriate precautions taken to carry out a loading process. These precautions can include, for example, reserving a charging point 6a, 6b, 6c for the vehicle 18a, 18b, 18c of the user 14a, 14b, 14c and possibly also reserving a table in a restaurant as a third-party provider 20.

In a sixth example or a sixth variant of the method, an optimization of a yield from the charging infrastructure 2 is provided. If, for example, a total charging power is 50 kW, the first user 14a receives the offer to use a charging option with a charging power of, for example, 30 kW with an assigned charging tariff of, for example, 50 ct/kWh and to supply his vehicle 18a with electrical energy accordingly load, it being further provided that this first user 14a accepts this charging option with an associated charging tariff. If a second user 14b is added later, he receives the offer for a charging option with a charging capacity of, for example, 20 kW with an assigned charging tariff of, for example, 50 ct/kWh, in order to charge his vehicle 18b. It is possible that this second user 14b is also offered a higher charging power. In this case, it is possible for the second user 14b to offer a price of e.g €/kWh to be accepted as charging tariff. In this case, the charging assistant 8 makes the offer to the first user 14a via a corresponding message on their end device 16a to continue the charging process with a charging tariff of e.g. 30 ct/kWh and a charging capacity of e.g. 10 kW and be already at the first charging point 6a to charge the vehicle 18a connected accordingly and to continue the charging process that is already in progress with a changed charging option and a changed charging tariff. If the first user 14a accepts this, the second user 14b or his vehicle 18b is provided by the charging assistant 8 with a charging capacity of 40 kW at a charging tariff of €1/kWh. In this way, the first user 14a is offered a saving in money if the charging process is continued. The result for the second user 14b is that the charging process is completed more quickly and a charging end time for the charging process is reached more quickly. For the operator of the charging infrastructure 2 it also results that with the same charging power of the charging device 4a, 4b he now receives (30 + 100) ct/kWh = 130 ct/kWh instead of 2 x 50 ct/kWh = 100 ct/kWh.

Reference List

2

charging infrastructure

4a, 4b

loading device

6a, 6b,

charging point

6c 8

loading assistant

10

interface

12

data transmission system

14a, 14b,

user

14c 16a, 16b,

end device

16c 18a, 18b,

vehicle

18c 20

Third party providers

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited 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 102017207281 A1 [0003]

Claims (9)

Method for exchanging electrical energy between a plurality of vehicles (18a, 18b, 18c) on the one hand and a charging infrastructure (2) on the other hand, the charging infrastructure (2) having a plurality of electrical charging points (6a, 6b, 6c), with an electrical charging system that has a charging assistant (8), with at least one charging option for exchanging electrical energy during a charging process between a vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) and a respective charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) and at a current time depending on a A charging tariff is assigned to a charging option depending on the utilization of the charging infrastructure (2) at the current time, with a terminal (16a, 16b, 16c) of a user (14a, 14b, 14c) of a respective vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) of the charging assistant (8) at the current point in time proposes the at least one charging option with the respectively assigned charging tariff for selection, if ever respective vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) is connected to one of the charging points (6a, 6b, 6c) to carry out the charging process, with one selected by the user (14a, 14b, 14c) with the terminal (16a, 16b, 16c). Charging option is transmitted to the charging assistant (8), with the electrical energy being transferred between the vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) connected to the charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) and the charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) while the charging process is being carried out is exchanged with the selected charging option and the assigned charging tariff, whereby the utilization of the charging infrastructure (2) is dynamically adapted to all charging processes currently being carried out. procedure after claim 1 , in which during a charging process either electrical energy is transferred from the respective charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) to the vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) connected to it, or in which during a charging process electrical energy is transferred from the vehicle (18a, 18b , 18c) to the respective charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) to which the vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) is connected. procedure after claim 1 or 2 , in which, in the event that a new charging option with a newly assigned charging tariff is set at a point in time, the end device (16a, 16b, 16c) of the user (14a, 14b, 14c) is informed of this by the charging assistant (8), the user (14a, 14b, 14c) being offered this new charging option with the newly assigned charging tariff for selection, in the event that the user (14a, 14b, 14c) selects the new charging option with the newly assigned charging tariff, a charging process that has already been carried out is continued with the new charging option and the newly assigned charging tariff. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the charging tariff to be assigned to the at least one charging option is determined flexibly and adapted to a current demand and a current supply of electrical energy. Procedure according to one of claims 3 or 4 , in which a new charging option with a newly assigned charging tariff is offered in each case in the event that there is an excess amount of electrical energy or an insufficient amount of electrical energy at a time. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which as a charging option a charging power that defines a quantity of electrical energy that can be provided per unit of time, a charging speed, a charging duration or a charging time for providing a specific quantity of electrical energy is provided, with the charging tariff usually being provided the higher the charging power or the charging speed, or the shorter the charging time. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one charging option with an associated charging tariff is assigned to each charging point (6a, 6b, 6c), the charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) being provided by the user (14a, 14b, 14c). the terminal (16a, 16b, 16c) is selected. Charging system for exchanging electrical energy between a plurality of vehicles (18a, 18b, 18c) on the one hand and a charging infrastructure (2) on the other hand, the charging infrastructure (2) having a number of electrical charging points (6a, 6b, 6c), the charging system having a charging assistant ( 8), wherein the charging assistant (8) is designed to provide at least one charging option for charging electrical energy during a charging process between a vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) and a respective charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) and one charging option in each case to assign a charging tariff at a current time depending on the utilization of the charging infrastructure (2) at the current time and to assign a charging tariff to a terminal device (16a, 16b, 16c) of a user (14a, 14b, 14c) of a respective vehicle (18a, 18b , 18c) to propose the at least one charging option with the respectively assigned charging tariff for selection at the respective current time if the respective vehicle ( 18a, 18b, 18c) to carry out the charging process at one of the charging points (6a, 6b, 6c) is connected, with a user (14a, 14b, 14c) with the terminal (16a, 16b, 16c) selected charging op tion is transmitted to the charging assistant (8), with the electrical energy being transferred between the vehicle (18a, 18b, 18c) connected to the charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) and the charging point (6a, 6b, 6c) while the charging process is being carried out is to be exchanged with the selected charging option and the assigned charging tariff, whereby the utilization of the charging infrastructure (2) can be dynamically adapted to all charging processes currently being carried out. charging system after claim 8 Having the charging infrastructure (2) with a plurality of spatially distributed charging devices (4a, 4b), each charging device (4a, 4b) having at least one charging point (6a, 6b, 6c).

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