EP4045354A1

EP4045354A1 - Method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of vehicles

Info

Publication number: EP4045354A1
Application number: EP20800794.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Andreas Heinrich
Original assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
Current assignee: Vitesco Technologies GmbH
Priority date: 2019-10-15
Filing date: 2020-10-14
Publication date: 2022-08-24
Also published as: US20240100983A1; WO2021074195A1; DE102019215839A1; CN114555413A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles, comprising the steps of: forecasting a total energy requirement for electrically charging vehicle batteries for the group of member vehicles in a future period; forecasting a temporal distribution of the charging power requirement for the group of member vehicles over the future period, calculating an overall charging power profile for the group of member vehicles, optimized in respect of one or more optimization criteria, on the basis of the forecast total energy requirement and the forecast temporal distribution of the charging power requirement; purchasing an amount of energy in accordance with the optimized overall charging power profile on a relevant energy market; and controlling the timing of the charging processes of the individual member vehicles from the group using a respective charging profile in such a manner that the sum of the respective charging profiles of the individual member vehicles corresponds to the optimized overall profile of the charging power.

Description

description

Method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of vehicles

The invention relates to a method for charging vehicle batteries for a group of vehicles and a central control device for charging vehicle batteries for a group of vehicles.

In the course of the increasing electrification of the drive of vehicles, solutions are required that enable intelligent and as ecological or economical charging as possible for a large number of vehicles. On the one hand, the availability of energy from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind energy is heavily dependent on the weather and the time of day. On the other hand, the prices for energy are subject, among other things, to strong daily and long-term fluctuations. These prices are obtained on regional or national electricity markets or electricity exchanges and are valid in the respective region or country.

To charge electrically powered vehicles with an electric traction machine that is fed from a vehicle battery, such as pure electric vehicles or so-called plug-in hybrids, more and more electrical power is required. For a user of an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid, it can therefore be of interest to charge the vehicle battery whenever possible when the electricity is particularly cheap and / or as much energy as possible is available from renewable energy sources. As an individual user of a vehicle, however, you cannot trade on the electricity exchange. This is only possible for authorized dealers, network operators, electricity providers or large consumers such as large companies.

The invention is therefore based on the object of making it possible for drivers of electric vehicles to charge the electric vehicle inexpensively and, if necessary, ecologically. The object is achieved with a method and a control device according to the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are given in the dependent claims.

The invention makes use of the knowledge that buyers of large amounts of energy can trade on the electricity exchange.

The method according to the invention for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles has the following steps:

- forecasting a total energy requirement for the electrical charging of vehicle batteries for the group of member vehicles in a future period of time;

- Forecasting a temporal distribution of the charging power requirement for the group of member vehicles over the future period,

- Calculation of an overall charging power profile optimized with regard to one or more optimization criteria for the group of member vehicles as a function of the forecast total energy requirement and the forecast distribution of the charging power requirement over time

- Purchase of an amount of energy according to the optimized overall charging power profile in a relevant energy market;

- and temporal control of the charging processes of the individual member vehicles from the group with a respective charging profile, so that the sum of the respective charging profiles of the individual member vehicles corresponds to the optimized overall profile of the charging capacity.

The method according to the invention is suitable for charging electrically operated vehicles, ie vehicles that have at least one electric traction machine that is fed by a vehicle battery. Preferably the vehicles are networked vehicles. According to the invention, a group consists of a number X of member vehicles with a vehicle battery which is provided at least for operating an electric traction machine of the vehicle. The number X of vehicles in the group and their common energy requirement is preferably large enough to appear as a group on the energy market can. The number X therefore depends on the regulations of the respective energy market, for example a country. For example, a number X of at least 50, 100 or 1000 vehicles in a group is conceivable. The number X is further preferably not specified, but depends on the number of vehicles participating in the method or. Driver. The number X is also not constant or limited, but grows with the number of users. A user can, for example, register a vehicle with the group and thus the vehicle becomes a member vehicle in the group. All vehicles registered in the group are preferably referred to as member vehicles in this application. Alternatively, the term member vehicles can only refer to the proportion of registered vehicles that are connected to a charging socket at the time the procedure is carried out and are therefore “ready to charge”. In certain energy markets, regional marketing of energy in the form of small markets may also be possible. For example, electricity can be obtained directly from a neighbor who operates a photovoltaic system. In such small markets, which are usually only operated at the low voltage level, a group can only consist of a few vehicles, in extreme cases a single “plugged in” vehicle, ie a vehicle that is ready to be charged. In general, a group according to the invention can also be referred to as a “cluster”.

A statistical total energy requirement of all member vehicles of the group in a future period can be forecast from the information collected about past charging processes, the current state of charge of the vehicle batteries of the member vehicles, user profiles, such as driving habits, charging habits, in particular their temporal information. The future period lasts for example 12 or 24 hours or a week and can start immediately, or also start in the future with a delay of 12, 24, 48 hours or a week, for example.

In addition, a statistical temporal distribution of the charging power requirement in the future period is generated from the user and vehicle data mentioned forecast. This means that it is statistically determined until when and how many vehicles require which charging power. For this purpose, vehicle and user information is preferably taken into account, which allows conclusions to be drawn as to when the vehicles are needed again and which state of charge is required. For example, experience has shown that some member vehicles require fast charging, while others can wait for a more favorable time window.

On the basis of the forecast total energy requirement and the forecast distribution of the charging capacity requirement over time, an optimized overall charging capacity profile is determined for the group of member vehicles, which is optimized with regard to one or more optimization criteria. Possible optimization criteria are, for example, the lowest possible price for the total amount of energy. Another possible optimization criterion is the highest possible proportion of electricity from renewable energy sources. Another possible optimization criterion is the shortest possible loading time, whereby this criterion may conflict with the other optimization criteria.

On the basis of the optimized total charging power profile thus determined, electrical power is now, according to the invention, bought on a relevant electricity market, i.e. for example on the electricity exchange. This means that the power producers are contractually obliged to feed the requested power into the power grid according to the time profile and at the current electricity prices.

Finally, individual charging profiles are preferably determined for the individual member vehicles and, according to the invention, the charging processes of the individual member vehicles are controlled according to the respective profile. This control of the charging processes of the member vehicles takes place via known chargers built into the vehicles, so-called "on board chargers". The sum of the individual charging profiles for the member vehicles corresponds to the optimized overall charging capacity profile and thus the amount of energy purchased on the electricity market. According to a preferred development of the invention, an expected price development for electrical power on a relevant energy market in the future period is forecast as an additional step. This forecast price development is preferably taken into account when determining the optimized overall charging power profile. Thus, for example, charging times with a low energy price can be preferred, and thus the total price for the amount of energy purchased on the electricity market can be reduced.

For the forecast of the electricity price development, known forecasting methods can be used that are already in use on the electricity market. The expected price development for electrical power in a relevant energy market in the future period is preferably forecast, however, also as a function of weather data.

Corresponding weather data are, for example, a weather forecast. A forecast about the availability of wind or solar energy in the future period can be derived from the weather forecast. The availability of renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind energy, can in turn influence the price development on the energy market. The prognosis of the price development on the energy market can thus preferably be made taking into account weather data or a weather forecast.

Weather data can also be of immediate interest for the calculation of the optimized overall charging capacity profile, namely if one optimization criterion is to use the highest possible proportion of renewable energy sources. Therefore, the determination of the optimized overall charging power profile is preferably carried out as a function of weather data and / or as a function of the forecast price development on the relevant energy market.

In addition, weather data can also be used to forecast the total energy requirement or the forecast of the temporal distribution of the charging power requirement. For example, high temperatures and high Solar radiation make a high need for air conditioning in the member vehicles necessary, which increases the energy demand.

According to a preferred development, the total energy requirement for electrical charging and / or the temporal distribution of the charging power requirement for the group of member vehicles over the future period is forecast using a statistical evaluation of information about previous charging processes of the member vehicles.

For this purpose, information about previous charging processes and / or other vehicle data and / or user data can preferably be sent from the member vehicles to a central processing unit via a wireless communication interface.

Vehicle data contain, for example, information about the state of charge of the vehicle battery (SOC, State Of Charge), information about previous charging processes, user profiles, e.g. information obtained from previous trips (driving habits, repeated or regular trips, schedules, personal charging behavior of the user). The data transfer is preferably carried out anonymously, without personal data. However, a limited vehicle identification is preferably made possible, since the individual vehicles are to be controlled individually later. In the central processing unit, information about previous charging processes of the vehicles contained in the group is evaluated, preferably statistically. Information about past charging processes can be recorded, for example, about usage times of the electric chargers on the vehicles (on board charger) and transmitted to the central server unit. A central processing unit can be, for example, a server device or in a cloud. While the chargers installed in the vehicles regulate the individual charging processes, the central processing unit forms the backend of the application. This is where the information is collected, evaluated, forecasts are made, optimized overall charging capacity profiles are calculated, individual charging profiles are determined and the on-board chargers are controlled to carry out the charging process. Alternatively, individual steps of the method can also take place in a vehicle memory or computing unit in the member vehicles. Here, the data on previous charging processes and / or other vehicle data and / or user data, data from previous charging processes, can be (temporarily) stored and sent to the central processing unit via a communication interface. This vehicle storage or computing unit can, for example, also at least partially carry out the evaluation of the data and a prognosis about the future charging requirements.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles, the timing of the charging processes of the individual member vehicles can be adjusted with respective performance profiles if necessary.

Since the purchase of the amount of energy is made on the basis of forecasts about the total energy requirement and the temporal distribution, and these can be incorrect, the charging profiles may be corrected. In addition, the group of member vehicles with their large number X of energy storage devices (each vehicle battery of a member vehicle is an energy storage device) as a participant in the electricity market can intercept current peaks or current sinks in the power grid. In such a case, even cheaper electricity prices can be achieved on the energy market or regular fees may apply. Feeding energy back from the vehicle batteries into the power grid can be of particular interest in small markets in the low-voltage range.

The method according to the invention thus offers the advantages that current peaks or current sinks in the power grid can be skillfully avoided or exploited and, in addition, financial or ecological benefits can be generated for the group members. Network stabilization or frequency equalization can be brought about, particularly in the case of small markets at the low voltage level.

As mentioned above, forecasts about the total energy demand and the temporal distribution can be subject to errors or uncertainties. The error to be expected in a forecast is usually greater, the further the forecast future period for which the forecast is made is in the future. Among other things, the number of “plugged in” vehicles that are ready to be charged can also change. In the case of a total charging power profile predicted according to the invention, the error will usually lie in fluctuations in the profile above a basic requirement.

According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, the steps of forecasting the total energy requirement, forecasting the temporal distribution of the charging power requirement over the future period, calculating the optimized total charging capacity profile and purchasing an amount of energy are carried out repeatedly with decreasing time intervals from the future period, with When purchasing the amount of energy, initially only part of the optimized total charging power profile is purchased, and when it is repeated, part or all of the difference between the optimized total charging power profile and the amount of energy already purchased for the future period is purchased.

During the first implementation, for example, only a basic requirement can be purchased on the electricity market. With a greater distance to the future period, a cheaper price may apply. The closer the future period gets, the more precise the forecast and calculation of the optimized overall charging capacity profile will be. However, you are less flexible with the timing of the charging processes and have to pay the current electricity price. Due to the basic requirement already covered, only the difference between the required amount of electricity at the current price now has to be purchased. This can preferably be repeated several times, the prognoses preferably becoming more precise each time.

A central control unit for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles is a further aspect of the invention.

- a receiving device for receiving vehicle data and / or user data from member vehicles belonging to the group,

a forecasting unit for forecasting a total energy requirement of the group of member vehicles in a future period a forecasting unit for forecasting a temporal distribution of the charging power requirement of the member vehicles over the future period; a computing unit for calculating a total charging power profile optimized with regard to one or more optimization criteria for the group of member vehicles as a function of the forecast total energy requirement and the forecast distribution of the charging power requirement over time,

- A control unit for the timing of charging processes of the individual member vehicles from the group with a respective charging profile, so that the sum of the respective charging profiles of the individual member vehicles corresponds to the optimized overall profile of the charging capacity.

The central control unit is preferably set up to carry out the method according to the invention in accordance with one or more of the embodiment variants described above.

Another aspect of the invention is a vehicle storage or computing unit which is set up to store information about past charging processes and / or other vehicle data and / or user data from past charging processes and to send it to the central control unit via a communication interface. This vehicle storage or computing unit is preferably arranged in a vehicle, in particular in a member vehicle.

According to an advantageous development, the vehicle storage unit or computing unit is also designed to evaluate the stored data and / or to forecast a future energy requirement and preferably its temporal profile. The forecast of the future energy demand for the member vehicle can then preferably be created in the vehicle itself and sent to the central control unit.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

They show schematically: FIG. 1: a group consisting of N member vehicles;

Figure 2: Steps of the method according to the invention for determining the

Energy requirements of the group of vehicles and a statistical power distribution over a future period;

FIG. 3: the forecasting of a price development on the energy market; and

FIG. 4: an overview of the method according to the invention.

In FIG. 1, group 10 contains X participating member vehicles (1, 2, ... N, N + 1, ... X) of which a subset N is connected to a charging station 12 at one point in time, ie plugged into a charging socket are. The subset N can in turn comprise several regionally limited subgroups (not shown)

FIG. 2 shows schematically how the N member vehicles send user and vehicle data to the central processing unit (backend) 20 via wireless communication 13. The vehicle data contain, for example, information about the state of charge of the vehicle battery (SOC, State Of Charge), information about previous charging processes, user profiles, e.g. information obtained from previous trips (driving habits, repeated or regular trips, schedules, personal charging behavior of the user)

In the central server unit 20, information about past charging processes of the vehicles contained in the group is preferably evaluated statistically. Information about previous charging processes can be recorded, for example, about usage times of the electrical charging devices 14 on the vehicles (on-board charger) and transmitted to the central processing unit 20. Information about past charging processes can be obtained, for example, on the basis of the usage times of the electrical chargers installed in the member vehicles. On the basis of the received data, a prognosis 21 is made in the central processing unit 20 about the Total energy requirement for the N vehicles in the future period T and its temporal distribution.

FIG. 3 shows the creation of a prognosis 22 for the development of electricity prices for the future period T. For this, the computing unit 20 receives price information 24 from the energy market. In addition, weather data 23 are taken into account and an improved electricity price forecast 22 for the period T is created.

An overall overview of the method according to the invention is shown in FIG. N vehicles 1, 2, 3, ... N from group N are plugged into the charging socket 12 and send users or vehicle data to the central processing unit 20 via wireless communication 13 Information already collected about previous charging processes and, based on weather data 23, a total energy requirement of the N vehicles in the period T, a temporal distribution of the charging requirement over the period T and a forecast for the development of the electricity price in the period T are created. From this, an optimized overall charging power profile POPT _, 25 is calculated, which is optimized, for example, in relation to a low electricity price or in relation to a proportion of renewable energy sources. In accordance with this optimized overall charging power profile 25, energy is purchased 27 on the electricity exchange 26.

For each of the N member vehicles 1, 2, 3,... N, a respective charging power profile P 1 is calculated and the respective charger 14 of the member vehicle is controlled accordingly to carry out the charging process. The sum of the individual charging line profiles Pi then corresponds to the optimized overall charging power profile POPT.

The invention thus makes it possible, on the basis of user and vehicle data, to forecast weather forecasts for a group of vehicles, a common energy and charging requirement. On the basis of this forecast demand and a forecast development of electricity prices, energy can be purchased and used in an optimized way with regard to the price or the utilization of renewable energy sources. A financial advantage that comes from acting as a Group could be achieved on the electricity market, can thus be passed on to the users.

Claims

1 . Method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group (10) of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) with the steps:

- forecasting a total energy requirement for the electrical charging of vehicle batteries for the group (10) of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) in a future time period;

- Forecasting a temporal distribution (21) of the charging power requirement for the group (10) of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) over the future period,

- Calculation of a total charging capacity profile (POPT) optimized with regard to one or more optimization criteria for the group of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) depending on the forecast total energy requirement and the forecast distribution of the charging capacity requirement over time (21),

- Purchase of an amount of energy according to the optimized total charging power profile (POPT) on a relevant energy market (26);

- and temporal control of the charging processes of the individual member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) from the group with a respective charging profile, so that the sum of the respective charging profiles (Pi) of the individual member vehicles (1, 2, ... N ) corresponds to the optimized overall profile of the charging power.

2. A method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) according to claim 1, with the further step:

- Forecasting an expected price development (22) for electrical power on a relevant energy market in the future period.

3. The method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) according to claim 2, wherein the forecasting of the expected price development for electrical power on a relevant energy market in the future period as a function of weather data ( 23) takes place.

4. A method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the calculation of the optimized overall charging power profile (POPT) for the group (10) of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) is also carried out depending on weather data (23) and / or depending on the forecast price development (22) on the relevant energy market.

5. The method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the forecasting of the total energy requirement for the electrical charging and / or the temporal distribution of the charging power requirement (21) for the group of member vehicles is carried out over the future period on the basis of a statistical evaluation of information about past charging processes of the member vehicles.

6. A method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the member vehicles information about charging processes and / or other vehicle data and / or user data via a wireless communication interface to a send central processing unit.

7. The method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein for forecasting the total energy requirement and forecasting the temporal distribution of the charging power requirement for the group of member vehicles (1 , 2, ... N) over the future period

User data from drivers of the group can be evaluated.

8. A method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the timing of the charging processes of the individual member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) is adapted with respective performance profiles if necessary.

9. A method for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the steps

Forecasting the total energy demand, forecasting the temporal distribution of the charging power demand over the future period, calculating the optimized total charging power profile (POPT) and purchasing an amount of energy with decreasing time intervals to the future period, and with only part of the purchase being carried out initially the amount of energy is purchased in accordance with the optimized total charging power profile (POPT) and, in the case of repeated execution, part or all of the difference between the optimized total charging power profile and the amount of energy already purchased for the future period is purchased.

10. Central control unit for electrically charging vehicle batteries for a group of member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) with

- a receiving device for receiving vehicle data and / or user data from member vehicles belonging to the group (1, 2, ... N),

a forecasting unit for forecasting a total energy requirement of the group of member vehicles in a future period

- A forecasting unit for forecasting a temporal distribution of the charging power requirement of the member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) over the future period;

- A computing unit for calculating a total charging power profile (POPT) optimized with regard to one or more optimization criteria for the group of member vehicles as a function of the forecast total energy requirement and the forecast temporal distribution (21) of the charging power requirement,

- A control unit for the timing of charging processes of the individual member vehicles from the group with a respective charging profile, so that the sum of the respective charging profiles (Pi) of the individual member vehicles (1, 2, ... N) corresponds to the optimized overall profile (POPT) of the Charging power corresponds.

11. Vehicle storage or computing unit, which is set up to store information about previous charging processes and / or other vehicle data and / or user data and to send it to the central control unit via a communication interface.

12. Vehicle storage or computing unit according to claim 11, which is set up to evaluate the stored data and / or to forecast future energy demand and / or its temporal progression.