JP2009148121A - Charging system for plug-in vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a charging system for a plug-in vehicle which further reduces a charging cost. <P>SOLUTION: The charging system for a plug-in vehicle charges a battery B that is mounted on a plug-in vehicle. A plurality of power lines L for the power from a plurality of kinds of power sources (midnight power, daytime power, the power generated by a solar power generating device, or the like), having different unit costs of power, can be switched over by a power line switching device 10. One or more scheduled charge periods are set for the plurality of power sources, which utilize the entire period starting from a charge start time to a predicted start time, from a power source of the lowest power unit charge. The battery B is charged according to set scheduled charge periods. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a plug-in vehicle charging system for charging a battery mounted in a plug-in vehicle.

  There is known a plug-in vehicle capable of charging a battery with electric power supplied from the outside of the vehicle. As plug-in vehicles, there are known plug-in electric vehicles that use only a motor as a driving force source and plug-in hybrid vehicles that use an engine and a motor as power sources.

  It has been proposed to use late-night power as power used to charge a battery mounted on a plug-in vehicle (for example, Patent Document 1). By using late-night power, the charging cost can be kept low.

Further, in Patent Document 1, when the scheduled boarding time of the next day is input, the time required for charging with midnight power is calculated on the scheduled date of boarding and the day before that, and the time required for charging with midnight power can be calculated from the amount of battery discharge. When the period is exceeded, charging is performed only with midnight power. On the other hand, when the time that can be charged by midnight power is less than the required charging period, charging is continued using daytime power even after the midnight power time period ends.
JP-A-8-228406

  In the technology described in Patent Document 1, there are only two types of power that can be used for charging: late-night power and daytime power. Even if a private power generator that can generate power at a low power unit price is provided. , You can not use it to charge.

  Also, even if the plug-in vehicle is not used for several days, it only uses midnight power in the midnight power time zone from the scheduled date of boarding to the day before it, and charging is completed with that midnight power. If not, charging is continued using daytime power having a high power unit price, and as a result, the charging cost cannot be sufficiently reduced.

  The present invention has been made based on this situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a plug-in vehicle charging system capable of further reducing the charging cost.

In order to achieve the object, the invention according to claim 1 is a plug-in vehicle charging system for charging the battery in a plug-in vehicle capable of charging the battery with electric power supplied from the outside of the vehicle,
The battery can be charged by a plurality of types of power sources having different power unit prices,
In order from the power source with the lowest power unit price among the plurality of types of power sources, using all the periods from the charging start time to the scheduled departure time, one or more power sources can be charged by the power source or A plurality of scheduled charging periods are set, and the battery is charged according to the set scheduled charging periods.

  In this way, since the battery is charged by using a plurality of types of power sources in order from the lowest power unit price in order, the charging cost can be reduced.

  Note that the above power source is not limited to using different types of power supplied from different power sources, and even if it is supplied from the same power source, daytime power and nighttime power supplied from the power company When power unit prices are different like power, they are different types of power sources.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the scheduled departure time is changed after the scheduled charging period is set, the scheduled charging period is reset.

  In this way, when the scheduled departure time is changed to a time later than the initial time, a power source with a lower power unit price is also used in the period between the initially set scheduled departure time and the changed scheduled departure time. Since the scheduled charging period is reset, the charging cost can be further reduced. In addition, when the scheduled departure time is changed to an earlier time than the initial time, the period that was not scheduled to be charged can be reset as the scheduled charging period, and the amount of charge up to the departure time can be increased.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the predicted charging capacity of the battery predicted when the battery is charged according to the scheduled charging period is calculated, and the calculated predicted charging capacity is notified to the user.

  In this way, when the notified predicted charge capacity is insufficient, the user can consider whether or not the scheduled departure time can be delayed to increase the charge capacity.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the scheduled charging period is reset at a predetermined review time when the battery is being charged.

  In this way, for example, when a scheduled charging period is set using a power source that may not be able to generate scheduled power, such as a solar power generation device, the amount of charge in the scheduled charging period is Even if it is lower than the planned amount, if the period that was not originally scheduled for charging is added to the scheduled charging period by resetting the scheduled charging period, the battery at the scheduled departure time It can suppress that charge capacity of becomes insufficient.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a plug-in vehicle charging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This plug-in vehicle charging system is a device for charging a battery B mounted on a plug-in vehicle (not shown), and a power line switching device 10 installed near a charging outlet C; The vehicle side apparatus 100 mounted in a plug-in vehicle is provided.

  The charging outlet C is an outdoor outlet or the like disposed in the parking lot of the owner of the plug-in vehicle. The power line switching device 10 is disposed in the vicinity of the charging outlet C (for example, in a house adjacent to the parking lot). A plurality of types of power lines L1, L2,... Ln are input to the power line switching device 10. For example, the power line L1 is a power line through which commercial power supplied from a power company flows, and the power line L2 flows through power generated by a solar power generator installed in a home. Line. In addition, power from a power source that can supply power that can charge the battery B is input to the power line switching device 10 by the power line Ln as much as possible. As another power source, for example, a private power generation device using gas or a fuel cell can be considered. Moreover, when using the charging system for plug-in vehicles of this embodiment in a factory, it is good also considering the private power generation device of the factory as an electric power source.

  The power line switching device 10 is a device that selects and electrically connects one of the input power lines Ln to the charging outlet C, and is controlled by the arithmetic control device 120 of the vehicle side device 100. Note that the charging cable 102 can be used to transmit a signal from the arithmetic control device 120 to the power line switching device 10. In addition, the vehicle-side device may include a wireless communication device and a wireless communication device that is wired to the power line switching device 10, and signals may be transmitted by the pair of wireless communication devices.

  The vehicle-side device 100 includes a charging cable 102, a charging circuit 104, a charge / discharge amount integrating device 106, a speaker 108, a display 110, a data updating device 112, a power source data storage device 114, a departure time setting device 116, and an arithmetic control device 120. I have.

  The charging cable 102 electrically connects the power line switching device 10 and the charging circuit 104 when the plug 103 provided at the tip thereof is inserted into the charging outlet C. A plug may also be provided on the charging circuit 104 side of the charging cable 102.

  The charging circuit 104 includes a transformer or the like inside, converts the power supplied from the charging outlet C via the charging cable 102 into power that can charge the battery B, and outputs the power. Note that a contactor is provided in the charging circuit 104, and the output of power from the charging circuit 104 is controlled by the arithmetic control device 120 by controlling the contactor by the arithmetic control device 120.

  The charge / discharge amount accumulating device 106 includes a current sensor and a voltage sensor in a power path between the charging circuit 104 and the battery B and a power path from the battery B to the vehicle-mounted device. The amount of power charged and the amount of power discharged from battery B are integrated.

  As the speaker 108, a normal speaker provided in the passenger compartment can be used. The display 110 can be a navigation device.

  The data update device 112 is a device that inputs update information of power source data stored in a power source data storage device 114 described below. The data update device 112 is, for example, a control that updates power source data stored in the power source data storage device 114 based on an input switch for direct input by a user and information input from the input switch. Device. Further, instead of the input switch or in addition to the input switch, a device for acquiring update information by communicating with an external information center may be provided.

  The power source data storage device 114 is a rewritable storage device such as a hard disk, and stores power source data. This power source data is data in which the unit price of power, the period in which power can be used, and the amount of charge possible per hour are determined for each power source.

  The departure time setting device 116 is a device that inputs to the arithmetic and control device 120 the scheduled departure time for the next ride on the plug-in vehicle and departure to the destination. As the departure time setting device 116, a mechanical switch provided around the display 110 or a touch switch provided on the display surface of the display 110 can be used. Further, it may be configured to be able to communicate with a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone, and a switch of the mobile terminal device may be used.

  The arithmetic control device 120 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown). The CPU executes a program stored in the ROM while using a temporary storage function of the RAM, thereby calculating a scheduled charging period. In addition, the charging control process is executed according to the calculated estimated charging period.

  In the charging control process, the battery B is charged by controlling the charging circuit 104 during the scheduled charging period while switching the power line switching device 10 according to the scheduled charging period. During charging, a signal indicating the accumulated charge amount is sequentially acquired from the charge / discharge amount control device 106, and the remaining charge amount of the battery B is sequentially calculated based on the accumulated charge amount. When the remaining charge amount becomes the target remaining charge amount, an instruction signal is output to the charging circuit 104, and the charging is terminated.

  Next, processing performed by the arithmetic control device 120 will be described in detail. 2 and 3 are flowcharts showing calculation processing for the scheduled charging period among the processing performed by the calculation control device 120. This process is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle.

  First, in step S10, it is determined whether or not there is a request for setting a scheduled departure time from the departure time setting device 116. If it is determined that there is no setting request, step S10 is repeated. In addition, a process is complete | finished when step S10 becomes negative determination continuously for a fixed period. On the other hand, if it is determined that a setting request has been made, an input of a scheduled departure time is accepted, and a setting mode is set in which the scheduled departure time is set based on the input, and the process proceeds to step S12.

  In step S12, it is determined whether or not the input of the scheduled departure time from departure time setting device 116 has been completed. If this determination is a negative determination, the process proceeds to step S14, and if the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S16.

  In step S14, it is determined whether or not an operation for canceling the setting mode has been input. If this determination is affirmative, the setting mode is canceled and the process returns to step S10. On the other hand, if step S14 is negative, the process returns to step S12 to continue the setting mode.

  In step S16, it is determined whether or not the plug 103 provided at the tip of the charging cable 102 is connected to the charging outlet C. This determination is made by determining the voltage of the charging cable 102 via the charging circuit 104. When the plug 103 is connected to the charging outlet C, the voltage of the charging cable 102 becomes the voltage of the power line L. On the other hand, when the plug 103 is not connected to the charging outlet C, the charging cable 102 This is because the voltage becomes 0V.

  If the determination in step S16 is negative, a message indicating that the plug 103 is not connected is output from the display 110 and the speaker 108 in step S18. Thereafter, the determination in step S16 is performed again.

  If step S16 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S20. In step S20, the required charge amount Q is calculated. Specifically, the remaining charge amount of the battery B is calculated based on the signal from the charge / discharge amount integrating device 106, and the difference between the calculated remaining charge amount and a preset target remaining charge amount is calculated as the required charge amount Q. And

  In subsequent step S22, the midnight power available time is calculated with reference to the power source data stored in the power source data storage device 114. This midnight power available time is the total time during which midnight power can be used as a power source between the current time and the scheduled departure time. If the scheduled departure time is a few days later, there are multiple periods in which midnight power can be used up to the scheduled departure time. In this case, the total of the periods can be used for midnight power. It will be time.

  In the next step S24, the solar power available time is calculated with reference to the power source data stored in the power source data storage device 114. This solar power available time is the total time during which the power generated by the solar power generation device can be used as a power source between the current time and the scheduled departure time. In the power source data, the period in which the power generated by the solar power generation device can be used is, for example, simply the same as the sunshine hours, but if the weather information can be acquired sequentially from the outside, the sunshine hours It is good also as a period when the electric power generated with a solar power generation device can be used for the time zone which is a belt and is fine weather.

  In the next step S26, the private power generation available time is calculated with reference to the power source data stored in the power source data storage device 114. This private power generation available time is the total time during which the power generated by the private power generation device can be used as a power source between the current time and the scheduled departure time. In addition, the private power generation device here means a private power generation device excluding a solar power generation device.

  In the next step S28, the power available time is set for other power, that is, power other than midnight power, solar power, and private power, and the power line L is input to the power line switching device 10. Calculate by power source. In addition, when the power line L which inputs the electric power from the applicable electric power source is not provided, step S24 thru | or step S28 will be abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  In step S30, for the available power source (that is, the power source calculated in steps S22 to S28 having a power available time greater than 0), the power unit price rank in the available power source is set as the power. Determine with reference to source data. Then, it progresses to step S32 of FIG.

In step S32, the maximum chargeable time T1 of the power source with the highest power unit price rank determined in step S30 (hereinafter referred to as the cheapest power source) is determined. Specifically, the power available time corresponding to the cheapest power source among the power available times calculated in steps S22 to S28 described above is set as the maximum chargeable time T1. Furthermore, in step S32, the charge amount C1 (kW / h) per hour of the cheapest power source is determined with reference to the power source data, and the maximum charge amount possible for the cheapest power source by the following equation 1 Q1 is calculated.
(Formula 1) Q1 = T1 × C1

  In step S34, it is determined whether or not the maximum charge amount Q1 calculated in step S32 is smaller than the required charge amount Q calculated in step S20. If this determination is negative, the battery B can be charged to the target remaining charge amount using only the cheapest power source. In this case, the process proceeds to step S36.

  In step S36, a required charging time is calculated by calculating Q1 ÷ C1, and a specific charging period (one or more sets of charging start time and charging end time) for charging the required charging time is further determined. decide. In addition, when performing this step S36, since it is not necessary to make all the periods in which the cheapest power source can be used as the charging period, any period in which the cheapest power source can be used is defined as the charging period. However, for example, in order to complete charging at the earliest possible time, charging periods are sequentially set from a period close to the current time in a period in which the cheapest power source can be used. After executing step S36, the process proceeds to step S56 described later.

  If the aforementioned step S34 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S38. In step S38, all periods in which the cheapest power source can be used are determined as charging periods using the cheapest power source. When charging is actually performed using the cheapest power source during the charging period determined in step S38, the charge amount is Q1 calculated in step S32.

  In the present embodiment, either step S38 or the above-described step S36 is executed. By this, the charging period in which charging is performed to the target remaining charge amount by making the best use of the cheapest power source. Will be set.

In step S40, the maximum chargeable time T2 of the power source higher in order than the lowest power source (hereinafter referred to as the second lowest power source) in the power unit price order determined in step S30 is determined. Specifically, a period during which the second low price power source can be used is determined with reference to the power source data between the current time and the scheduled departure time, and the lowest power is determined in step S38 during the determined period. The total time that is not determined as the charging period at the source is defined as the maximum chargeable time T2 of the second low-value power source. Furthermore, in step S40, the charge amount C2 (kW / h) per hour of the second low-value power source is determined with reference to the power source data, and the maximum possible at the second low-value power source is obtained by the following equation 2. A charge amount Q2 is calculated.
(Formula 2) Q2 = T2 × C2

  In step S42, the sum of the amount of charge that can be charged using the cheapest power source during the charging period determined in step S38 (becomes Q1 as described above) and the maximum amount of charge Q2 calculated in step S40 is obtained in step S20. It is determined whether or not the calculated required charge amount Q is smaller. If this determination is negative, the battery B can be charged to the target remaining charge amount using the lowest power source and the second lowest power source. In this case, the process proceeds to step S44.

  In step S44, the required charging time that needs to be charged by the second low-value power source is calculated by the calculation of (Q−Q1) ÷ C2. Further, a specific charging period (one or more sets of charging start time and charging end time) for performing charging for the necessary charging time is determined in the same manner as in step S36. After executing step S44, the process proceeds to step S56 described later.

  If the aforementioned step S42 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step S46. In step S46, all the periods determined in step S40 that the second low power source can be used are determined as charging periods using the second low power source.

Thereafter, the same processing as in steps S40 to S46 is executed in the order of the power unit price order for the power source whose power unit price order is determined in step S30. That is, in step S48, the maximum chargeable time Tn of the nth low price power source is determined. Specifically, the period during which the nth low power source can be used is determined with reference to the power source data between the current time and the scheduled departure time, and the nth low power source within the determined period is determined. A time obtained by adding up the periods in which the power unit price rank is not determined as the charging period in the higher power source is defined as the maximum chargeable time Tn of the nth low power source. Further, the charge amount Cn (kW / h) per hour of the n-th low-value power source is determined with reference to the power source data, and the maximum charge amount Qn possible for the n-th low-value power source is calculated by the following equation 3. calculate.
(Formula 3) Qn = Tn × Cn

  In step S50, it is determined whether the sum of the maximum charge amounts Q1, Q2,... Qn calculated so far is smaller than the required charge amount Q calculated in step S20. If this determination is negative, the process proceeds to step S52, and if positive, the process proceeds to step S54.

  In step S52, the required charging time that needs to be charged by the n-th low power source and the specific charging period for charging the required charging time are calculated and determined in the same manner as in step S44. After executing step S52, the process proceeds to step S56 described later.

  In step S54, all periods determined to be able to use the nth low power source in step S48 are determined as charging periods using the nth low power source. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S56.

  In step S56, the charging period and final charge amount (remaining charge amount expected at the scheduled departure time) at each power source determined by executing steps S34 to S54 are notified to the user through the display 110. The final charge amount is Q1 + Q2 +... Qn when step S54 is executed, and the remaining charge amount is the target remaining charge amount.

  In a succeeding step S58, it is determined whether or not the confirmation result input by the user is OK. If this determination is a negative determination, the user may be dissatisfied with the charging period and the final charge amount notified from the display 110, and may wish to reset the scheduled departure time. Return to step S12. Thereby, the user can input the scheduled departure time again. When the final charge amount is the target remaining charge amount, the determination in step S58 may be omitted.

  On the other hand, when step S58 is affirmative determination, it progresses to step S60, the above-mentioned charge control is started, and the calculation process of this scheduled charging period is complete | finished.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment described above, charging to the battery B is performed by using a plurality of types of power sources in order from the lowest power unit price in order, so that the charging cost can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the final charge amount (remaining charge amount expected at the scheduled departure time) is notified in step S56. Therefore, when the notified final charge amount is insufficient, the user can consider whether the departure capacity can be delayed to increase the charge capacity.

  The calculation process for the scheduled charging period shown in FIGS. 2 to 3 is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle as described above. Therefore, even after the scheduled charging period is determined (of course, even during charging), the determination in step S10 is repeated at a predetermined cycle. Therefore, when the scheduled departure time is changed to a time later than the initial time, there is a scheduled charging period using a power source with a lower power unit price even during the period between the originally scheduled departure time and the changed scheduled departure time. Since the resetting is performed, the charging cost can be further reduced. In addition, when the scheduled departure time is changed to an earlier time than the initial time, the period that was not scheduled to be charged can be reset as the scheduled charging period, and the amount of charge up to the departure time can be increased.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, The following embodiment is also contained in the technical scope of this invention, and also the summary other than the following is also included. Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, even when the scheduled charging period is determined, if there is a request for setting the scheduled departure time from the user, the scheduled charging period is reset. Furthermore, during the charging, the scheduled charging period may be automatically reset at a predetermined review time (for example, periodically or when the charging period with one power source is completed). In this way, for example, when a scheduled charging period is set using a power source that may not be able to generate scheduled power, such as a solar power generation device, the amount of charge in the scheduled charging period is Even if it is lower than the planned amount, if the period that was not originally scheduled for charging is added to the scheduled charging period by resetting the scheduled charging period, the battery at the scheduled departure time It can suppress that charge capacity of becomes insufficient.

  In the above-described embodiment, charging is started from the current time. However, the charging start time may be set.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the charging system for plug-in vehicles of embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation process of the scheduled charging period among the processes which the calculation control apparatus 120 of FIG. 1 performs. It is a flowchart which shows the calculation process of the scheduled charging period among the processes which the calculation control apparatus 120 of FIG. 1 performs.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Electric power line switching apparatus, 100: Vehicle side apparatus, 102: Charging cable, 103: Plug, 104: Charging circuit, 106: Charging / discharging amount integration apparatus, 108: Speaker, 110: Display, 112: Data update apparatus, 114 : Power source data storage device, 116: departure time setting device, 120: arithmetic control device, B: battery, C: outlet for charging

Claims (4)

A plug-in vehicle charging system for charging the battery in a plug-in vehicle capable of charging the battery with electric power supplied from outside the vehicle,
The battery can be charged by a plurality of types of power sources having different power unit prices,
In order from the power source with the lowest power unit price among the plurality of types of power sources, using all the periods from the charging start time to the scheduled departure time, one or more power sources can be charged by the power source or A plug-in vehicle charging system, wherein a plurality of scheduled charging periods are set, and the battery is charged according to the set scheduled charging periods. 2. The plug-in vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein when the scheduled departure time is changed after the scheduled charging period is set, the scheduled charging period is reset. 3. The predicted charge capacity of the battery predicted when the battery is charged according to the scheduled charging period is calculated, and the calculated predicted charge capacity is notified to the user. The charging system for plug-in vehicles as described. 4. The plug-in vehicle charging system according to claim 1, wherein the scheduled charging period is reset at a predetermined review time when charging the battery. 5.

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