JP2020112425A - Information provision system and information providing method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an "information provision system and information providing method" capable of providing useful information about a travelable distance obtained by considering a characteristic which changes fuel consumption largely when a route is different regardless of traveling on any route from now on under a situation in which a guide route is not set.SOLUTION: An information provision device 2 sets a plurality of temporary destinations in directions distributed with the present position of an electric automobile as an original point, respectively retrieves respective routes to the plurality of temporary destinations, calculates respective travelable distances with a battery residual amount at the present time in the case of respectively traveling on the retrieved routes, and does not provide information showing a travelable distance about a specific single route but provides information obtained by taking in account the plurality of travelable distances calculated about the plurality of distributed routes under a situation in which a guide route to a destination is not set by providing information based on the calculated distances.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an information providing device and an information providing method, and is particularly suitable for being used in an information providing system and an information providing method for providing information regarding a travelable distance of an electric vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an in-vehicle device mounted on an electric vehicle that sets a guidance route to a destination and then provides a travelable distance when the electric vehicle travels the guidance route as information. By recognizing the provided information, the user can know how much more the electric vehicle can travel without being charged when the electric vehicle travels on the guide route, and the electric vehicle can be powered at an appropriate timing. You can

Further, the following techniques are known for providing information on the travelable distance of an electric vehicle. That is, in Patent Document 1, in the initial stage of traveling, the travelable distance when the electric component is used in the standard state is calculated, and the predetermined electric component is used in a state where the power consumption is larger than that in the standard state. There is described a technique for calculating a travelable distance in the case of being provided and providing both of the calculated travelable distances as information. According to the technique of Patent Document 1, the user can drive the electric vehicle more when not only when the electric component is used in the standard mode but also when the electric component is used in the mode with high power consumption. You can figure out what.

Further, Patent Document 2 describes a technique of estimating a travelable distance by the following method and providing it as information in a situation where a guide route is not set. That is, the main road closest to the current position of the electric vehicle is specified, and a provisional route that follows the main road from the current position is set. Then, the travelable distance is estimated by assuming that the electric vehicle travels on this temporary route, and information indicating the estimated travelable distance is provided.

JP2012-205470A JP2012-242329A

Here, regarding the fuel consumption of an electric vehicle (which may be expressed as electricity consumption), the fuel consumption has a characteristic that the fuel consumption greatly changes when the route along which the vehicle travels is different. If the route is different, road conditions that affect fuel efficiency (slope condition, road shape complexity (many curves, curvature of curves, etc.), signal volume, road width, number of lanes Etc.) are different. In particular, for an electric vehicle capable of regenerating electric power, the fuel economy significantly changes depending on the route along which the vehicle travels. For this reason, in a situation where the guide route to the destination is not set, it is difficult to calculate the travelable distance with high accuracy because it is difficult to know what route the electric vehicle travels, and There has been a problem that it is difficult to provide information with high accuracy.

The technique of Patent Document 1 provides information about the travelable distance under the condition that the guide route to the destination is not set, but in calculating the travelable distance, the power consumption by the electrical components is considered. On the other hand, there is a problem in that point that "the characteristic that the fuel consumption changes greatly when the route on which the vehicle travels is different" is not taken into consideration.

The technique of Patent Document 2 also provides information on the travelable distance under the condition that the guide route to the destination is not set. Specifically, in the technique of Patent Document 2, a provisional route that passes along the main road closest to the current position of the electric vehicle is set, and a travelable distance when the vehicle travels on the provisional route is calculated and used as information. provide. Therefore, according to the technique of Patent Document 2, when the electric vehicle actually travels on the main road in which the temporary route is set, it is possible to provide the highly accurate travelable distance as information. However, the electric vehicle does not always travel on the main road, and when the electric vehicle does not travel on the main road, the fuel efficiency changes significantly if the route on which the vehicle travels is different, and thus the travelable distance with low accuracy is low. Will be provided. That is, the technique of Patent Document 2 has a problem in that it is possible to provide useful information only to a specific user who is planning to drive an electric vehicle on a main road, and not to provide useful information to other users.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and regardless of what route an electric vehicle will travel in the future, in a situation where a guide route to a destination is not set. It is an object of the present invention to provide useful information regarding the travelable distance in consideration of the characteristic that the fuel consumption greatly changes when the route traveled by the vehicle is different.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in the present invention, a plurality of temporary destinations are set in a dispersed direction with respect to the current position of the electric vehicle, and according to a common search condition regarding battery consumption accompanying traveling of the electric vehicle. , Each of the routes to each of the multiple temporary destinations is searched, and when each of the searched routes is traveled, each of the distances that can be traveled with the current battery level is calculated, and information based on the calculated distances is calculated. I am trying to provide it.

According to the present invention configured as described above, in a situation in which the route along which the electric vehicle travels is not known, information indicating the travelable distance for a specific single route is not provided, but the electric vehicle It is possible to provide information in consideration of a plurality of travelable distances calculated for a plurality of routes distributed from the current position as a base point. The information provided in this way is based on a plurality of routes distributed based on the current position of the electric vehicle, that is, a travelable distance of a plurality of routes that the electric vehicle can travel in the future, It can be said that this is useful information regarding the travelable distance in consideration of the characteristic that the fuel consumption greatly changes when the route on which the electric vehicle travels differs. That is, according to the present invention, in the situation where the guide route to the destination is not set, regardless of the route that the electric vehicle will travel in the future, the fuel efficiency will be improved if the route on which the electric vehicle travels is different. It is possible to provide useful information about the travelable distance in consideration of the characteristic that it changes greatly.

It is a block diagram showing an example of functional composition of an information service device concerning this embodiment. It is a figure which shows a temporary destination, a good fuel consumption route, and a poor fuel consumption route on the map centering on the own vehicle position. It is a figure which shows an example of a normal map screen. It is a figure which shows an example of an arrival position display screen. It is a flow chart which shows the example of operation of the information service device concerning this embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows the example of operation of the information service device concerning this embodiment.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration example of the information providing device 2 of the information providing system 1 according to the present embodiment. The information providing device 2 according to the present embodiment is a so-called navigation device mounted on a vehicle and has a function of searching for and guiding a route to a destination set by a user. The information providing device 2 does not need to be a dedicated machine fixedly mounted in the vehicle, and may be, for example, a mobile terminal owned by a passenger of the vehicle and brought into the vehicle (for example, a smartphone or a tablet PC. , Notebook PC). In the following description, the vehicle equipped with the information providing device 2 is referred to as “own vehicle”.

The information providing device 2 according to the present embodiment is installed in an electric vehicle (EV, PHV, etc.) capable of regenerating electric power. In an electric vehicle, electric power is regenerated during deceleration or when traveling on a downhill. Therefore, the condition of the road on which the vehicle travels (slope condition, complexity of road shape (many curves, curvature of curve, etc.) The size of the vehicle), the amount of traffic lights, the width of the road, the number of lanes, etc.) significantly change the fuel consumption and the mileage. In the following description, when expressed as “fuel consumption”, it means fuel consumption that also takes into consideration the possibility of regenerating electric power.

As shown in FIG. 1, a touch panel 3 (corresponding to “display section” in the claims) is connected to the information providing device 2. The touch panel 3 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL panel, and a touch sensor that is disposed so as to overlap the display panel and that detects a touch operation by a user. The touch panel 3 is provided at a position where the driver can visually recognize the display area of the touch panel 3, such as the central portion of the dashboard of the vehicle.

As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing device 2 has, as functional configurations, a vehicle state detection unit 10, a battery remaining amount detection unit 11, a temporary destination setting unit 12, a temporary route search unit 13, and a travelable distance calculation unit 14. The information providing unit 15 and the reaching position calculating unit 16 are provided. Each of the functional blocks 10 to 16 can be configured by any of hardware, DSP (Digital Signal Processor), and software. For example, when configured by software, each of the functional blocks 10 to 16 is actually configured by including a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc. of a computer, and a program stored in a recording medium such as RAM, ROM, hard disk or semiconductor memory. Is realized by operating.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the information providing device 2 includes a storage unit 20 as a storage unit. The storage unit 20 includes a non-volatile storage device such as a hard disk and an EEPROM, and stores various data. Map data 21 is stored in the storage unit 20. The map data 21 includes data used for drawing a map.

The map data 21 also includes road data used to search for a route from the vehicle position to the destination. The road data has node data for each node defined for a node in the road network, and also has link data for each link defined for a road section between the nodes. The node data is information about a node such as a position on a map, information about a link connected to the node, information about a lane provided at the intersection when the node is an intersection, information about a node attribute, and the like. In addition, it has information for calculating battery consumption on the node side. The node side battery consumption amount calculation information is information for calculating the battery consumption amount when the host vehicle passes through the node, and when the node is an intersection, the action to take at the intersection (right turn, left turn, etc.) It contains the information needed to calculate the battery consumption according to.

The link data includes information indicating the road attribute of the road section, information indicating the road type, information indicating the road length, information indicating the road width, information indicating the direction of the road, and a normal link cost (reflecting only limited fuel consumption. In addition to information about links (such as link cost not performed), link side battery consumption calculation information, good fuel efficiency link cost, and poor fuel efficiency link cost.

The link side battery consumption amount calculation information is information necessary for calculating the battery consumption amount when traveling from one end to the other end of the corresponding road section. Information for link-side battery consumption calculation is set appropriately in consideration of various factors that affect fuel efficiency (slope condition of road section, smoothness when traveling on road section, possibility of power regeneration, etc.) Has been done.

The good fuel efficiency link cost is a link cost in which the cost value is set so as to contribute to the reduction of the cost value so that the vehicle can travel on the road section with good fuel efficiency in consideration of various factors that affect fuel efficiency. Therefore, if there are two road sections that have exactly the same other conditions in relation to the destination, one road section is an uphill with low power regeneration efficiency and the other road section has power regeneration efficiency. If it is a high downhill road, the cost value of the good fuel economy link cost for the other road section (the road section for the downhill) is better for the one road section (the road section for the uphill). It is smaller than the cost value of the link cost.

Contrary to the good fuel efficiency link cost, the worse fuel efficiency link cost is a link cost in which the cost value is set so that the road section with poor fuel efficiency contributes to the cost value reduction in consideration of various factors that affect fuel efficiency. Is. The basic idea of the method of setting the cost value of the deteriorated fuel efficiency link cost is that the larger the condition that contributes to the reduction of the cost value of the good fuel efficiency link cost is, the more the cost value increases, and the cost of the good fuel efficiency link cost increases. The cost value is set so that the cost value decreases as the degree of satisfaction of the condition contributing to the value increase increases.

For example, the good fuel economy link cost has a smaller cost value on the downhill than the case where the corresponding road section is uphill, but the worse fuel economy link cost is the uphill on the corresponding road section. Compared to the case, the cost value is higher on the downhill. Also, when the corresponding road section is an uphill, the cost value of the good fuel efficiency link cost increases as the slope becomes steeper, but the worse fuel efficiency link cost becomes higher as the slope becomes steeper. The value becomes smaller. In addition, the better fuel efficiency link cost becomes smaller as the need to slow down when passing an oncoming vehicle on the corresponding road section is smaller, and the frequency of passing is smaller, the worse the fuel efficiency link cost is. The cost value decreases as the property increases and the frequency increases.

The vehicle state detection unit 10 inputs the detection results of various sensors (all not shown) such as a GPS unit, an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, and a vehicle speed sensor, and these detection results and map data stored in the storage unit 20. Based on 21, the vehicle position and the traveling direction of the vehicle are detected. The detection of the vehicle position and the traveling direction of the vehicle is appropriately performed based on the existing technology.

The remaining battery level detector 11 detects the remaining battery level of the host vehicle. The battery remaining amount is represented as, for example, SOC (State of Charge: ratio of the remaining amount to the maximum capacity of the battery). The battery remaining amount detection unit 11 communicates with, for example, an ECU that manages the battery remaining amount, and detects the battery remaining amount.

The temporary destination setting unit 12 executes the following processing when the operation mode is the “travelable distance related information providing mode”. The travelable distance-related information providing mode is useful information regarding the travelable distance under a situation where the user (in the following description, a driver) has not set a destination for the information providing device 2. Is an operation mode automatically provided. The travelable distance means a travelable distance without charging the battery, and is sometimes called a cruising distance.

In the following description, it is assumed that no destination is set for the information providing device 2 in the travelable distance related information providing mode. In addition, in the travelable distance related information providing mode, it is assumed that the normal map screen 23 (FIG. 3) is basically displayed in the display area of the touch panel 3 by the information providing unit 15 except for an exception described later. .. The normal map screen 23 is a screen on which a map of a predetermined scale in which the current position of the vehicle is located in the lower center is displayed. The information providing unit 15 displays the normal map screen 23 on the touch panel 3 by the existing technique based on the map data 21 stored in the storage unit 20 and the detection result of the vehicle state detection unit 10.

When the operation mode is the travelable distance related information providing mode, the temporary destination setting unit 12 is based on the map data 21 stored in the storage unit 20 and the vehicle position detected by the vehicle state detection unit 10. Then, it monitors whether or not the vehicle has passed the intersection. When it is detected that the host vehicle has passed the intersection, the temporary destination setting unit 12 executes the following temporary destination setting process. That is, the temporary destination setting unit 12 executes the temporary destination setting process every time the vehicle passes through the intersection. It should be noted that the intersection to be monitored whether or not it has passed may be an intersection of a specific mode such as an intersection of three or more crossroads.

In the temporary destination setting process, the temporary destination setting unit 12 recognizes the vehicle position and the traveling direction detected by the vehicle state detection unit 10. Further, the temporary destination setting unit 12 recognizes the battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detecting unit 11. The remaining battery level recognized by the temporary destination setting unit 12 is the actual remaining battery level of the vehicle at this point. Next, the temporary destination setting unit 12 determines the temporary destination distance based on the recognized battery remaining amount. The value of the temporary destination distance will be described later.

Next, the temporary destination setting unit 12 sets the temporary destinations at the positions linearly separated by the temporary destination distance in the eight dispersed directions with the vehicle position as the base point. That is, the own vehicle position and the temporary destination are separated from each other by a straight line distance by the temporary destination distance. The eight directions are (1) traveling direction, (2) traveling direction and reverse direction (hereinafter referred to as "reverse direction"), (3) traveling direction to right direction (hereinafter referred to as "right direction"), (4) Leftward (hereinafter referred to as "leftward") toward the traveling direction, (5) intermediate direction between traveling direction and rightward direction (hereinafter referred to as "rightward traveling direction"), (6) intermediate between traveling direction and leftward direction Direction (hereinafter referred to as "left traveling direction"), (7) intermediate direction between reverse direction and right direction (hereinafter referred to as "right reverse direction"), (8) intermediate direction between reverse direction and left direction (hereinafter referred to as "direction") It is referred to as "reverse direction to the left").

FIG. 2 is a diagram used for explaining the temporary destination, and shows a state in which eight temporary destinations M1 to M8 are set in an area on the map having a point O indicating the vehicle position as a base point. It should be noted that FIG. 2 is also used for description of a good fuel consumption path, a deteriorated fuel consumption path, a good fuel consumption distance, and a deteriorated fuel consumption distance, which will be described later. In the example of FIG. 2, the temporary destination M1 is set at a position linearly separated from the own vehicle position O in the traveling direction by the temporary destination distance D on the map. Similarly, the temporary destination distance D is linearly separated from the vehicle position O in the rightward traveling direction, and the temporary destination M2 is linearly separated from the own vehicle position O in the rightward direction by the temporary destination distance D. The tentative destination M3 is located at the separated position, the tentative destination distance D is located in the opposite direction to the right from the own vehicle position O, and the tentative destination M4 is located at a position linearly separated from the own vehicle position O in the opposite direction. The temporary destination M5 is located at a position linearly separated by the distance D, and the temporary destination M6 is located at a position linearly separated from the own vehicle position O by the temporary destination distance D in the opposite left direction. From the vehicle position O, the temporary destination M7 is linearly separated from the vehicle position O by the temporary destination distance D in the leftward direction, and the temporary destination M7 is linearly separated from the vehicle position O in the leftward traveling direction by the temporary destination distance D. M8 is set. The temporary destination is near a position separated from the own vehicle position by the temporary destination distance, and is a point where the own vehicle can reach by normal traveling (for example, a point along the road where the own vehicle can pass). Set appropriately.

Here, the temporary destination distance will be described. As described later, a good fuel consumption route from the vehicle position to the temporary destination is searched for each set temporary destination. Then, regarding the provisional destination distance, when the provisional destination is set at a position linearly separated by the provisional destination distance, it is assumed that the good fuel consumption route to the provisional destination is the route of what mode. In addition, the total travel distance of the good fuel economy route (the travel distance from the vehicle position through the good fuel economy route to the temporary destination) is the travelable distance when the vehicle travels on the good fuel economy route (vehicle position). When the vehicle travels through the good fuel consumption route toward the temporary destination, it is set to a value that is larger than the maximum distance that the vehicle can travel without being charged halfway. Therefore, when the host vehicle travels on the good fuel consumption route without charging the battery, the battery of the host vehicle becomes insufficient before reaching the temporary destination.

For example, the provisional destination distance should be a margin of "distance that can be driven with the current battery level when going straight on a flat road with divided upper and lower lines while passing signals at an average frequency." It is regarded as the added value. In this case, for example, the temporary destination distance is calculated by adding a margin to the value calculated by the calculation formula in which the remaining battery capacity is one of the variables. Calculation formulas are derived based on prior tests and simulations. Regardless of what kind of route the good fuel consumption route is, the fuel consumption is slightly worse than that of the "route that goes straight on a flat road with divided vertical lines while passing a signal at an average pitch". Since it is assumed that the margin is further considered, the value of the temporary destination distance satisfies the requirement for the above-mentioned temporary destination distance by setting the value of the temporary destination distance by such a method. It can be a value. Furthermore, by setting the value of the temporary destination distance by such a method, the value of the temporary destination distance can be prevented from becoming an unnecessarily large value. By making sure that the value of the temporary destination distance does not become unnecessarily large (=the temporary destination is not set unnecessarily away from the own vehicle position), The deteriorated fuel consumption route can be prevented from becoming unnecessarily long, and the processing load required for searching for the good fuel consumption route and the deteriorated fuel consumption route can be reduced.

The temporary route search unit 13 executes the following processing when the temporary destination is set by the temporary destination setting unit 12 (=when the vehicle has passed the intersection). That is, the temporary route search unit 13 heads to each of the plurality of temporary destinations according to the common first search condition that improves the fuel efficiency when the vehicle (electric vehicle) travels on the route. Each of the “first route” of the range) is searched. Further, the provisional route search unit 13 may cause the deteriorated fuel consumption route toward each of the plurality of provisional destinations according to the common second search condition that deteriorates the fuel consumption when the host vehicle travels on the route (see “2. (Corresponding to "route"). Hereinafter, the process of the temporary route search unit 13 will be described in detail.

The temporary route search unit 13 searches for eight good fuel consumption routes for each of the eight temporary destinations based on the good fuel consumption link costs of the map data 21. That is, the provisional route search unit 13 searches for a provisional destination out of the eight provisional destinations, using the good fuel consumption link cost, for a good fuel consumption route from the vehicle position to the provisional destination. .. The temporary route search unit 13 similarly searches for good fuel consumption routes for the other seven temporary destinations. As described above, in consideration of various factors that affect fuel economy, the good fuel economy link cost is set such that the more costly the vehicle can travel on the corresponding road section, the better the fuel economy will be. It is the link cost. Therefore, the good fuel efficiency route for one provisional destination is the route (ideally the most optimal route) in which the road segment with good fuel economy is preferentially selected from among the various routes from the current position to the provisional destination. It is a fuel-efficient route). It should be noted that each of the eight good fuel efficiency routes related to the temporary destinations is a route searched by using the good fuel efficiency link cost in common, and is a common route for improving the fuel efficiency when the host vehicle travels along the route. It corresponds to the route searched according to the first search condition.

Further, the provisional route search unit 13 searches for eight deteriorated fuel consumption routes for each of the eight provisional destinations based on the deteriorated fuel consumption link cost of the map data 21. That is, the provisional route search unit 13 searches for a provisional destination out of eight provisional destinations, using the deteriorated fuel consumption link cost, for a provisional fuel consumption route from the vehicle position to the provisional destination. .. The temporary route search unit 13 also searches for the deteriorated fuel consumption route for the other seven temporary destinations in the same manner. As described above, the deteriorated fuel consumption link cost is a link cost in which the cost value is set so that the road section having lower fuel consumption contributes to the reduction of the cost value in consideration of various factors that affect the fuel consumption. Therefore, the deteriorated fuel consumption route for one temporary destination is a route in which a road section having poor fuel consumption is preferentially selected from among various routes from the current position to the one temporary destination. It should be noted that each of the eight deteriorated fuel efficiency routes related to the temporary destinations is a route that is searched by commonly using the deteriorated fuel efficiency link cost, and is a common route that deteriorates the fuel efficiency when the host vehicle travels along the route. 2 Corresponds to the route searched according to the search condition.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral GR1 indicates a good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination M1, and reference numeral BR1 indicates a deteriorated fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination M1. As shown by the good fuel consumption route GR1 and the deteriorated fuel consumption route BR1 in FIG. 2, when there are sufficient candidates for the route from the vehicle position O to the temporary destination M1, the good fuel consumption route GR1 and the poor fuel consumption route BR1 are mutually It is assumed that the route will be different. In FIG. 2, reference numerals GR2 and BR2 respectively indicate a good fuel consumption route and a deteriorated fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination M2, and reference symbols GR3 and BR3 respectively indicate a good fuel consumption route and a deteriorated fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination M3. The reference numerals GR4 and BR4 indicate the good fuel consumption route and the deteriorated fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination M4, and the reference symbols GR5 and BR5 indicate the good fuel consumption route and the deteriorated fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination M5, respectively. The reference numerals GR6 and BR6 indicate a good fuel consumption route and a deteriorated fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination M6, and the reference symbols GR7 and BR7 indicate a good fuel consumption route and a deteriorated fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination M7, respectively. The routes are indicated by reference numerals GR8 and BR8, which indicate a good fuel consumption route and a deteriorated fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination M8, respectively.

The travelable distance calculating unit 14 executes the following processing when the temporary route searching unit 13 searches for the good fuel efficiency route and the poor fuel efficiency route. That is, the travelable distance calculation unit 14 calculates each of the good fuel consumption distances (corresponding to the “first distance” in the claims) for each of the good fuel consumption routes searched by the temporary route search unit 13. Further, the travelable distance calculation unit 14 calculates each of the deteriorated fuel consumption distances (corresponding to the “second distance” in the claims) for each of the deteriorated fuel consumption routes searched by the temporary route search unit 13. Hereinafter, the processing of the travelable distance calculation unit 14 will be described in detail.

The travelable distance calculating unit 14 recognizes the battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detecting unit 11. Next, the travelable distance calculation unit 14 calculates the good fuel consumption distance for each of the good fuel consumption routes. The good fuel consumption distance is a travelable distance when the host vehicle travels on the good fuel consumption route (a travelable distance without charging with the current battery level). The good fuel consumption distance calculated here is not the distance expressed as the straight line distance between the position finally reachable when traveling on the good fuel consumption route and the own vehicle position, but on the good fuel consumption route. It is a distance represented as a traveling distance when This also applies to the deteriorated fuel consumption distance described later.

When calculating the good fuel consumption distance for one good fuel consumption route, the travelable distance calculation unit 14 executes the following processing. That is, the one good fuel efficiency route is a route defined as a combination of a link (road section) and a node. Based on this, the travelable distance calculation unit 14 refers to the map data 21 stored in the storage unit 20, and refers to the link side battery consumption amount calculation information of the links forming one favorable fuel consumption route and the node side battery of the node. The consumption amount calculation information is acquired, and the good fuel consumption distance is calculated based on the acquired information and the information indicating the current battery remaining amount.

Note that the exemplified method of calculating the good fuel consumption distance is simplified for convenience of description, and the good fuel consumption distance may be calculated by another method. For example, the runnable distance calculation unit 14 provides information about environmental factors that affect fuel economy, such as the degree of congestion in each road section included in the good fuel economy route, the status of road closures due to road construction, weather, etc. The server may be used to recognize the fuel consumption distance by using the server, the road traffic information communication system, or the like, and the good fuel consumption distance may be calculated by reflecting them. In addition, the travelable distance calculation unit 14 calculates the good fuel consumption distance by reflecting the power consumption of the members that consume the power of the battery (the information providing device 2, the air conditioner, the audio device, the various lighting devices, etc.). It may be configured. That is, the calculation of the good fuel consumption distance can be executed by using various existing technologies. The above also applies to the method of calculating the deteriorated fuel consumption distance.

Further, the possible traveling distance calculation unit 14 calculates the deteriorated fuel consumption distance for each of the deteriorated fuel consumption routes. The deteriorated fuel consumption distance is a travelable distance when the host vehicle travels on the deteriorated fuel consumption route (a travelable distance without charging with the current remaining battery charge). The travelable distance calculation unit 14 calculates the deteriorated fuel consumption distance by the same method as that used to calculate the good fuel consumption distance. Since the deteriorated fuel consumption route is a route in which the fuel consumption is worse than the good fuel consumption route, the deteriorated fuel consumption distance is assumed to be shorter than the good fuel consumption distance.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral GR1p indicates a position where the vehicle travels along the good fuel consumption route GR1 from the vehicle position by the good fuel consumption distance calculated by the travelable distance calculation unit 14 for the good fuel consumption route GR1. The position GR1p corresponds to the good fuel consumption route arrival position calculated by the arrival position calculation unit 16 described later. In FIG. 2, reference numeral BR1p indicates the position where the vehicle travels along the deteriorated fuel consumption route BR1 from the own vehicle position by the deteriorated fuel consumption distance calculated by the travelable distance calculation unit 14 for the deteriorated fuel consumption route BR1. The position BR1p corresponds to the deteriorated fuel consumption route arrival position calculated by the arrival position calculation unit 16 described later.

Similarly, in FIG. 2, reference numerals GR2p, GR3p, GR4p, GR5p, GR6p, GR7p, GR8p respectively indicate good fuel economy from the vehicle position on the good fuel economy routes GR2, GR3, GR4, GR5, GR6, GR7, GR8. The position where the own vehicle travels by the distance is shown. In addition, in FIG. 2, reference numerals BR2p, BR3p, BR4p, BR5p, BR6p, BR7p, BR8p respectively indicate deteriorated fuel consumption distances from the vehicle position on the deteriorated fuel consumption routes BR2, BR3, BR4, BR5, BR6, BR7, BR8. Only the position where the own vehicle travels is shown.

The information providing unit 15 executes the following processing based on the calculation result of the travelable distance calculation unit 14. That is, the information providing unit 15 identifies the shortest (smallest value) distance among the eight good fuel consumption distances calculated for each of the eight temporary destinations. For example, in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the good fuel consumption distance related to the temporary destination M1 is the shortest distance among the good fuel consumption distances related to the temporary destinations M1 to M8. In this case, the information providing unit 15 identifies the good fuel consumption distance related to the temporary destination M1 as the shortest distance among the eight good fuel consumption distances. Hereinafter, the good fuel consumption distance specified here, that is, the good fuel consumption distance having the smallest value among the calculated plurality of good fuel consumption distances is referred to as “minimum good fuel consumption distance”.

Next, the information providing unit 15 identifies the shortest (smallest value) distance among the eight deteriorated fuel consumption distances calculated for each of the eight temporary destinations. For example, in FIG. 2, it is assumed that the deteriorated fuel consumption distance related to the temporary destination M2 is the shortest among the deteriorated fuel consumption distance related to the temporary destinations M1 to M8. In this case, the information providing unit 15 identifies the deteriorated fuel consumption distance related to the temporary destination M2 as the shortest distance among the eight deteriorated fuel consumption distances. Hereinafter, the deteriorated fuel consumption distance specified here, that is, the deteriorated fuel consumption distance having the smallest value among the calculated plurality of deteriorated fuel consumption distances is referred to as a “minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance”.

Next, the information providing unit 15 displays the information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and the information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance on the normal map screen 23 displayed in the display area of the touch panel 3 to inform the user of these information. provide. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a state in which information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance are displayed on the normal map screen 23. In the example of FIG. 3, a map screen is displayed over the entire display area of the touch panel 3, and information J1 including information indicating the minimum good fuel consumption distance is displayed in a pop-up on the lower left part when the screen is viewed from the front, and Information J2 including information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance is displayed.

In the example of FIG. 3, the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance is “80 km”, and the information J1 is the phrase “There is a possibility that the vehicle can travel only 80 km even when traveling on a route with good fuel consumption”. Further, the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance is “60 km”, and the information J2 is a phrase that “when traveling on a route with poor fuel consumption, there is a possibility that only 60 km can be traveled”. The user (driver in the present embodiment) can recognize the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance by visually recognizing the information J1 and the information J2.

The significance of providing the user with information indicating the minimum good fuel consumption distance and the maximum good fuel consumption distance will be described below. At present, charging stations that can charge the batteries of electric vehicles are not as popular as gas station. Therefore, when the electric vehicle runs out of battery or when the battery is about to run out, there is no charging station near the vehicle that can charge the battery of the electric vehicle. It is assumed that this can happen easily. In addition, when the battery becomes insufficient, it is assumed that the labor required to charge the battery is often greater than that of a gasoline vehicle. Therefore, there is a need for a user who drives an electric vehicle to recognize the travelable distance in the most effective manner so that the battery does not run out when the electric vehicle is running. However, as described above, when the operation mode is the travelable distance related information providing mode, the guidance route to the destination is not set, and the information providing device 2 determines which route the vehicle will travel in the future. I don't know if I will drive. Therefore, it is difficult for the information providing device 2 to calculate the travelable distance on the route on which the vehicle actually travels in the future with high accuracy and provide it as information.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the temporary destination is set at each of the positions dispersed from the own vehicle position in eight directions. Since the temporary destinations are evenly distributed in eight directions from the own vehicle position as a base point, the own vehicle may travel on a route close to a route to any of the eight temporary destinations after passing through the intersection. Can be said to be high. Then, the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the one temporary destination is a route having a good fuel consumption (ideally, the route having the highest fuel consumption) among the routes from the vehicle position to the one temporary destination. Further, the good fuel consumption distance calculated for the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the one provisional destination is the travel distance without charging the battery when the travel route is as fuel efficient as possible toward the one provisional destination. It is a possible distance. Therefore, it is unclear what route the vehicle will travel in the future, but the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance is considered to be the minimum distance at which battery shortage can occur even if the vehicle travels on a fuel-efficient route. be able to.

Further, the deteriorated fuel consumption route corresponding to the one temporary destination is a route having poor fuel consumption among the routes from the vehicle position to the one temporary destination. In addition, the deteriorated fuel consumption distance calculated for the deteriorated fuel consumption route corresponding to the one temporary destination can be traveled without charging the battery when traveling on the route with poor fuel consumption toward the one temporary destination. It is a great distance. Therefore, it is unclear what route the vehicle will travel in the future, but it can be said that the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance is the minimum distance at which battery shortage can occur if the vehicle continues traveling on a fuel-efficient route. ..

Based on the above, by recognizing the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance, the user can recognize that even if the user continues to travel on a route with good fuel consumption, only the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance can be traveled in the future. Further, by recognizing the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance, the user can recognize that if the vehicle continues to travel on a route with poor fuel consumption, only the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance may be traveled. The user can consider charging the battery at an appropriate time based on these recognitions.

In the present embodiment, when the operation mode is the travelable distance related information providing mode, information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance are displayed on the touch panel 3 every time the vehicle passes through the intersection. Will be provided to the user. Here, the value of each information displayed according to the passage of one intersection becomes older as the time passes after the passage of the one intersection, and the error increases. Based on this, the information providing unit 15 may display each information for a certain period. In this case, every time the vehicle passes through the intersection, the latest information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance are displayed on the touch panel 3 for a certain period.

Further, the information providing unit 15 displays, on the normal map screen, the route image 24 showing the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction among the eight good fuel consumption routes searched by the provisional route search unit 13. To do. For example, in the case of the example of FIG. 2, the information providing unit 15 displays the route image 24 showing the good fuel consumption route GR1 corresponding to the temporary destination M1 located in the traveling direction on the normal map screen. In FIG. 3, the route image 24 showing the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction is displayed on the normal map screen. In the example of FIG. 3, the route image 24 showing the good fuel consumption route is a linear image drawn on the road, and the user refers to the route image 24 showing the good fuel consumption route to check the traveling direction. It is possible to recognize a good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located.

Hereinafter, the significance of displaying the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction as the route image 24 will be described. As described above, the temporary destinations are arranged at positions dispersed in eight directions with respect to the own vehicle position, but from the present time point to the present time, the own vehicle continuously travels in the traveling direction. It can be said that the possibility is higher than the possibility of traveling in the other seven directions. Therefore, the good fuel economy route shown as the route image 24 can be regarded as a route drawn toward the direction in which the own vehicle is most likely to travel, out of the good fuel economy routes corresponding to the eight temporary destinations. .. Based on the above, by displaying the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction as the route image 24, the user continuously drives the vehicle in the traveling direction (as described above, It can be said that this possibility is high.) By referring to the route image 24 showing the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction, it is possible to drive the host vehicle while selecting the road with good fuel consumption. it can.

Further, in the present embodiment, in providing the information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance, since the search for the favorable fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction is always performed, the calculation processing result is effectively utilized. The route image 24 can be displayed without unnecessarily increasing the processing load.

Further, the information providing unit 15 displays predetermined information on the touch panel 3 based on the processing result of the arrival position calculation unit 16 in a predetermined case described later. This process will be described later.

The arrival position calculation unit 16 executes the following processing. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the operation mode is the travelable distance related information providing mode, the reaching position display instruction button 25 is displayed in the display area of the touch panel 3. When it is detected that the user touch-operates the arrival position display instruction button 25, the arrival position calculation unit 16 finds the eight good fuel consumption routes and the eight deteriorated fuel consumption routes most recently searched by the provisional route search unit 13, and the latest. The eight good fuel consumption distances and the eight deteriorated fuel consumption distances calculated by the travelable distance calculation unit 14 are recognized.

Next, the arrival position calculation unit 16 calculates the good fuel consumption route arrival position for each of the eight good fuel consumption routes based on the map data 21 stored in the storage unit 20, and the deteriorated fuel consumption for each of the eight deteriorated fuel consumption routes. Calculate the route arrival position. The good fuel consumption route arrival position is a position where the own vehicle travels from the own vehicle position along the good fuel consumption route for a good fuel consumption distance. The deteriorated fuel consumption route arrival position is a position where the vehicle travels from the own vehicle position along the deteriorated fuel consumption route for the deteriorated fuel consumption distance. As described above, in FIG. 2, reference numerals GR1p to GR8p indicate good fuel consumption route arrival positions, and reference symbols BR1p to BR8p indicate deteriorated fuel consumption route arrival positions.

The information providing unit 15 executes the following process when the reaching position calculating unit 16 calculates the reaching position of the good fuel consumption route and the reaching position of the deteriorated fuel consumption route by using the touch operation on the reaching position display instruction button 25 as a trigger. That is, the information providing unit 15 switches the screen of the touch panel 3 from the normal map screen 23 to the arrival position display screen 26 (FIG. 4). FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the arrival position display screen 26. In particular, arrival when the good fuel consumption route arrival position and the deteriorated fuel consumption route arrival position are arranged in the area on the map in the manner illustrated in FIG. The position display screen 26 is shown. In FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the same good fuel consumption route arrival position and common fuel consumption route arrival position are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the reaching position display screen 26, a wide-area map is displayed to the extent that each of the good fuel consumption route arrival positions GR1p to GR8p and the deteriorated fuel consumption route arrival positions BR1p to BR8p can be displayed. The information providing unit 15 displays a map based on the map data 21. Further, on the arrival position display screen 26, good points Q1 to Q8 serving as marks of the respective positions are displayed at each of the eight good fuel consumption route arrival positions GR1p to GR8p, and adjacent good points are thin linear images. Are connected in the manner shown in FIG. Hereinafter, a combination of the good points Q1 to Q8 and a linear image connecting the good points is referred to as a good fuel consumption range image. Further, on the arrival position display screen 26, the deterioration points R1 to R8 serving as the marks of the respective positions are displayed at each of the eight deteriorated fuel efficiency route arrival positions BR1p to BR8p, and the adjacent deterioration points are thin linear images. Are connected in the manner shown in FIG. Hereinafter, a combination of the deterioration points R1 to R8 and a linear image connecting the deterioration points is referred to as a deterioration fuel efficiency range image.

The good fuel consumption range image shows the polygonal area on the map that is formed by connecting the good fuel consumption route arrival positions, and it can be reached without charging when the vehicle travels by selecting the route with good fuel consumption. It can be said that it represents a planar area on a simple map. Therefore, by referring to the good fuel consumption range image, the user can roughly reach the range on the map without charging the battery when traveling on a route with good fuel consumption (in other words, how much is it? It can be intuitively and sensuously recognized. In addition, the deteriorated fuel consumption range image represents a polygonal area on the map formed by connecting the arrival positions of the deteriorated fuel consumption route, and the vehicle does not need to be charged when the vehicle travels by selecting a route with poor fuel consumption. It can be said that it represents a two-dimensional area on a map that can be reached. Therefore, by referring to the deteriorated fuel consumption range image, the user can roughly reach the range on the map without charging the vehicle when traveling on a route with poor fuel consumption (in other words, how much is it? It can be intuitively and sensuously recognized.

As shown in FIG. 4, a switching button 27 is displayed on the reaching position display screen 26. When the information providing unit 15 detects that the switching button 27 has been touched, the information providing unit 15 switches the screen from the arrival position display screen 26 to the normal map screen 23.

Next, the operation of the information providing device 2 will be described using a flowchart. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information providing device 2 when providing information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance. At the start of the flowchart of FIG. 5, it is assumed that the operation mode is the travelable distance related provision mode and the touch panel 3 displays the normal map screen 23.

As shown in FIG. 5, the temporary destination setting unit 12 of the information providing device 2 monitors whether or not the host vehicle has passed the intersection (step SA1). When it is detected that the vehicle has passed the intersection (step SA1: YES), the temporary destination setting unit 12 recognizes the vehicle position and the traveling direction detected by the vehicle state detection unit 10 (step SA2). .. Further, the temporary destination setting unit 12 recognizes the battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detecting unit 11 (step SA3). Next, the temporary destination setting unit 12 determines the temporary destination distance based on the battery remaining amount recognized in step SA3 (step SA4). Next, the temporary destination setting unit 12 sets the temporary destinations in eight dispersed directions with the vehicle position as the base point (step SA5).

In response to the setting of the temporary destination by the temporary destination setting unit 12, the temporary route searching unit 13 searches for eight good fuel efficiency routes corresponding to the eight temporary destinations (step SA6). Furthermore, the temporary route search unit 13 searches for eight deteriorated fuel consumption routes corresponding to the eight temporary destinations (step SA7).

In accordance with the search for the good fuel consumption route and the deteriorated fuel consumption route by the temporary route search unit 13, the travelable distance calculation unit 14 calculates each of the good fuel consumption distances for each of the good fuel consumption routes (step SA8). Further, the travelable distance calculation unit 14 calculates each of the deteriorated fuel consumption distances for each of the deteriorated fuel consumption routes searched by the provisional route search unit 13 (step SA9).

According to the calculation of the good fuel consumption distance and the bad fuel consumption distance by the travelable distance calculation unit 14, the information providing unit 15 sets the shortest (smallest value) distance among the eight good fuel consumption distances as the minimum good fuel consumption distance. It is specified (step SA10). Further, the information providing unit 15 identifies the shortest (smallest value) distance among the eight deteriorated fuel consumption distances as the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance (step SA11). Next, the information providing unit 15 displays the information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and the information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance on the normal map screen 23 displayed in the display area of the touch panel 3 (step SA12). Further, the information providing unit 15 displays, on the normal map screen, the route image 24 showing the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction among the eight good fuel consumption routes searched by the provisional route search unit 13. (Step SA13). The display of the information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and the information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance, and the display of the route image 24 are performed in the mode illustrated in FIG. 3, for example. After the processing of step SA13, the processing procedure returns to step SA1, and the information providing device 2 starts executing the processing of step SA1.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the information providing device 2 when displaying the arrival position display screen 26. At the start of the flowchart of FIG. 6, it is assumed that the operation mode is the travelable distance related provision mode and the touch panel 3 displays the normal map screen 23.

As shown in FIG. 6, the reached position calculation unit 16 monitors whether the reached position display instruction button 25 is touch-operated by the user (step SB1). When it is detected that the arrival position display instruction button 25 has been touched, the arrival position calculation unit 16 travels in the latest and the eight good fuel consumption routes and the eight deteriorated fuel consumption routes searched by the temporary route search unit 13. The eight good fuel consumption distances and the eight deteriorated fuel consumption distances calculated by the possible distance calculation unit 14 are recognized (step SB2). Next, the arrival position calculation unit 16 calculates the good fuel consumption route arrival position for each of the eight good fuel consumption routes (step SB3). Further, the arrival position calculation unit 16 calculates the deterioration fuel consumption route arrival position for each of the eight deteriorated fuel consumption routes (step SB4).

The information providing unit 15 switches the screen of the touch panel 3 from the normal map screen 23 to the arrival position display screen 26 according to the calculation of the arrival position of the good fuel consumption route and the arrival position of the deteriorated fuel consumption route by the arrival position calculation unit 16 (step SB5). ). As described above, the good fuel efficiency range image (the good point and the line connecting them) and the poor fuel efficiency range image (the bad point and the line connecting these) are displayed on the reaching position display screen 26.

The information providing unit 15 monitors whether the switching button 27 has been touched (step SB6). When detecting that the switching button 27 has been touched (step SB6: YES), the information providing unit 15 switches the screen from the arrival position display screen 26 to the normal map screen 23 (step SB7).

In the present embodiment, the arrival position display screen 26 (FIG. 4) is displayed when the arrival position display instruction button 25 on the normal map screen 23 (FIG. 3) is touch-operated. However, this is just an example. For example, the arrival position display screen 26 may be displayed by performing a process of collecting information necessary for displaying the arrival position display screen 26 in response to the activation of the engine of the host vehicle. According to this configuration, the user (driver) can recognize the extent to which the host vehicle is currently traveling before starting the traveling of the host vehicle, and can make a plan for charging the battery. It is possible to stand. In addition, the arrival position display screen 26 may be displayed at any time after the host vehicle has traveled, using a predetermined event as a trigger.

As described in detail above, the information providing device 2 according to the present embodiment sets a plurality of temporary destinations in the dispersed directions with the current position of the own vehicle, which is an electric vehicle, as a base point, and accompanies traveling of the own vehicle. Searches each of the routes to each of the multiple temporary destinations according to a common search condition related to battery consumption, and calculates each of the distances that can be traveled with the current battery level when traveling on each of the searched routes However, the information based on the calculated distance is provided. In the present embodiment, the provided information is information including information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and information including information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance, and these information are related to a specific single route. This is information that takes into consideration the travelable distances of a plurality of routes distributed based on the current position of the electric vehicle, that is, the plurality of routes that the electric vehicle can travel in the future, instead of the travelable distances of.

According to this configuration, in a situation where the route on which the own vehicle, which is an electric vehicle, travels is not known, the current position of the own vehicle is not provided, instead of providing information indicating the travelable distance of a specific single route. Information that comprehensively takes into account the travelable distances calculated for a plurality of routes distributed with the base point as the base point (in the present embodiment, information including information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance) Can be provided. The information provided in this manner is based on the travelable distances of a plurality of routes distributed from the current position of the vehicle, that is, a plurality of routes that the vehicle can travel in the future. It can be said that this is useful information regarding the travelable distance in consideration of the characteristic that the fuel consumption greatly changes when the route traveled by is different. That is, according to the eighth embodiment, when the guidance route to the destination is not set, the route on which the electric vehicle travels is different regardless of what route the vehicle will travel in the future. It is possible to provide useful information regarding the travelable distance in consideration of the characteristic that the fuel consumption greatly changes.

<First Modification>
Next, a first modified example of the above embodiment will be described. In the above embodiment, the temporary route search unit 13 searches for eight good fuel consumption routes and eight deteriorated fuel consumption routes corresponding to the eight-direction temporary destinations. The travelable distance calculation unit 14 also calculated eight good fuel consumption distances corresponding to eight good fuel consumption routes and eight deteriorated fuel consumption distances corresponding to eight deteriorated fuel consumption routes. Further, the information providing unit 15 provided both the information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and the information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance. On the other hand, in the first modified example, the temporary route search unit 13 searches for eight good fuel consumption routes, but does not search for deteriorated fuel consumption routes. In response to this, the travelable distance calculation unit 14 calculates the good fuel consumption distance, does not calculate the deteriorated fuel consumption distance, and the information providing unit 15 provides information indicating the minimum good fuel consumption distance, while Does not provide information indicating the deteriorated fuel consumption distance. The information providing unit 15 displays the route image 24 showing the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction. In this case, for example, on the normal map screen 23 illustrated in FIG. 3, a screen in which the information J2 is not displayed is displayed on the touch panel 3.

Further, when the reaching position display instruction button 25 is touch-operated, the reaching position calculation unit 16 and the information providing unit 15 cooperate to display the good fuel consumption range image, while not displaying the deteriorated fuel consumption range image. The display screen 26 is displayed. In this case, for example, on the normal map screen 23 illustrated in FIG. 4, a screen in which the deteriorated fuel consumption range image is not displayed is displayed on the touch panel 3.

According to this modification, the user recognizes the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance by referring to the information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance, and even if the user drives the vehicle on a fuel-efficient route, only the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance is recognized. It is possible to recognize that there is a possibility that the vehicle can only travel, and it is possible to consider the timing for charging the battery based on this recognition. Further, according to this modification, by referring to the good fuel consumption range image, when the user travels on a route with good fuel consumption, to what extent on the map can the user reach without charging? (In other words, to what extent the vehicle can travel) can be intuitively and sensuously recognized. Further, according to the present modification, since the processing related to the calculation of the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance is not executed, the processing load is correspondingly small.

<Second Modification>
Next, a second modified example of the above embodiment will be described. The temporary route searching unit 13 according to the present modification searches for eight deteriorated fuel efficiency routes, but does not search for a good fuel efficiency route. In response to this, the travelable distance calculation unit 14 calculates the deteriorated fuel consumption distance, but does not calculate the favorable fuel consumption distance, and the information providing unit 15 provides information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance, while Does not provide information indicating good fuel consumption distance. The information providing unit 15 according to the present modification does not display the route image 24 showing the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction. This is because no good fuel consumption route is searched. In this case, for example, on the normal map screen 23 illustrated in FIG. 3, a screen in which the information J1 and the route image 24 are not displayed is displayed on the touch panel 3.

Further, when the reaching position display instruction button 25 is touch-operated, the reaching position calculating unit 16 and the information providing unit 15 cooperate to display the deteriorated fuel efficiency range image, while not displaying the favorable fuel efficiency range image. The display screen 26 is displayed. In this case, for example, on the normal map screen 23 illustrated in FIG. 4, a screen in which the good fuel consumption range image is not displayed is displayed on the touch panel 3.

According to this modification, the user recognizes the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance by referring to the information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance, and when the vehicle travels on a route with poor fuel consumption, only the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance is displayed. It is possible to recognize that the vehicle may not be able to travel, and it is possible to consider the timing of charging the battery based on this recognition. Further, according to this modification, by referring to the deteriorated fuel consumption range image, when the user travels on a route with poor fuel consumption, to what extent on the map can the user reach without charging? (In other words, to what extent the vehicle can travel) can be intuitively and sensuously recognized. Further, according to the present modification, since the processing related to the calculation of the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance is not executed, the processing load is correspondingly small.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention has been described along with its modified examples. However, the above-described embodiment is merely an example of the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is thereby achieved. It should not be construed as limiting. That is, the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist or the main features thereof.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the information providing unit 15 provides, as the information, the minimum good fuel consumption distance among the eight good fuel consumption distances calculated by the travelable distance calculation unit 14. With respect to this point, the information indicating the minimum good fuel consumption distance may be provided (displayed) in addition to the information indicating the other good fuel consumption distance. In this case, displaying the information indicating the maximum good fuel consumption distance (hereinafter referred to as "maximum good fuel consumption distance") has the following effects. That is, the user can recognize that if the vehicle continues to travel on a fuel-efficient route, the vehicle may be able to travel a maximum of the maximum fuel-efficient distance, and useful information for considering the timing of charging the battery. Available as Further, the information providing unit 15 may be configured to provide information indicating a distance calculated by using a statistical method (for example, an average) for a plurality of good fuel consumption distances together with the information indicating the minimum good fuel consumption distance. Further, the information providing unit 15 may be configured to provide information indicating another good fuel consumption distance instead of the information indicating the minimum good fuel consumption distance. In this case, the above-described effect is obtained by providing the information indicating the maximum favorable fuel consumption distance.

Further, the information providing unit 15 may display other information about the deteriorated fuel consumption distance together with the information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance or in place of the information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the directions in which the temporary destinations are set are eight directions. In this respect, the directions in which the temporary destination is set are not limited to the eight directions illustrated. However, from the viewpoint of evenly distributing the directions in which the temporary destinations are set, it is desirable that the directions in which the temporary destinations are set are directions in which four or more are distributed at equal intervals. In particular, it is desirable to include four directions: a traveling direction, a reverse direction, a right direction, and a left direction. In addition, at least for some time, the own vehicle is likely to travel in the traveling direction, and the display result of the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction when displaying the route image 24 is used. Therefore, it is desirable to include the traveling direction in the direction of setting the temporary destination.

Further, in the above embodiment, the setting of the temporary destination and the updating of the information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and the information indicating the maximum favorable fuel consumption distance based on the setting of the temporary destination are performed at the timing of passing the intersection. .. In this regard, for example, the configuration may be such that the above processing is performed at another timing. As an example, a configuration may be used in which the above processing is performed periodically at a predetermined cycle. However, considering that the traveling direction may change at the timing of passing the intersection, it is appropriate to execute the above process at the timing of passing the intersection.

Further, the route image 24 of the good fuel consumption route corresponding to the temporary destination located in the traveling direction may not be displayed. In this case, the user may select whether or not to display the route image 24.

Further, a configuration may be adopted in which at least a part of the processing executed by the information providing device 2 is executed by an external device other than the information providing device 2. As an example, a configuration may be adopted in which a part or all of the processing executed by the temporary destination setting unit 12 (of course, another functional block) may be executed by a cloud server connected to the information providing device 2 via a network. ..

Further, the map data 21 may be stored in an external device other than the information providing device 2, and the information providing device 2 may access it at any time to obtain necessary information. Alternatively, the information indicating the minimum favorable fuel consumption distance and the information indicating the minimum deteriorated fuel consumption distance may be provided by voice.

1 Information Providing System 2 Information Providing Device 10 Vehicle Status Detecting Unit 11 Battery Remaining Amount Detecting Unit 12 Temporary Destination Setting Unit 13 Temporary Route Searching Unit 14 Travelable Distance Calculating Unit 15 Information Providing Unit 16 Reaching Position Calculating Unit

Claims (13)

A vehicle state detection unit that detects the current position of the electric vehicle;
A battery level detector that detects the battery level of the electric vehicle;
A temporary destination setting unit that sets a plurality of temporary destinations in a dispersed direction with the current position of the electric vehicle detected by the own vehicle state detection unit as a base point,
A temporary route search unit that searches each of the routes toward each of the plurality of temporary destinations set by the temporary destination setting unit according to a common search condition regarding battery consumption accompanying the traveling of the electric vehicle,
A travelable distance calculation unit that calculates each of the travelable distances with the battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detection unit when traveling on each of the routes searched by the temporary route search unit,
An information providing unit that provides information based on the distance calculated by the travelable distance calculating unit,
An information providing system comprising: The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the information providing unit provides at least information indicating the shortest distance among the distances calculated by the travelable distance calculating unit. The temporary route search unit searches for each of the routes toward each of the plurality of temporary destinations according to a common search condition that improves fuel efficiency when the electric vehicle travels on the route. The information providing system according to 1 or 2. The own vehicle state detection unit further detects the traveling direction of the electric vehicle,
The temporary destination setting unit sets a plurality of the temporary destinations in a plurality of directions including the traveling direction with the current position of the electric vehicle as a base point,
The information providing unit,
While providing information based on the distance calculated by the travelable distance calculation unit, while displaying a map of the region including the current position of the electric vehicle on the display unit, among the routes searched by the temporary route search unit The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein a route toward the temporary destination located in the traveling direction with the current position of the electric vehicle as a base point is displayed on a map. Further comprising an arrival position calculation unit that calculates each position that can be reached by the battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detection unit when traveling on each of the routes searched by the temporary route search unit,
The information providing unit,
While providing information based on the distance calculated by the travelable distance calculation unit, a wide-area map including the current position of the electric vehicle and capable of displaying each of the positions calculated by the reached position calculation unit is displayed. The information providing system according to claim 3, wherein each of the positions calculated by the reaching position calculation unit is displayed on a map while being displayed on a display unit. The temporary route search unit searches each of the routes toward each of the plurality of temporary destinations according to a common search condition that deteriorates fuel efficiency when the electric vehicle travels on the route. Or the information providing system described in 2. Further comprising an arrival position calculation unit that calculates each position that can be reached by the battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detection unit when traveling on each of the routes searched by the temporary route search unit,
The information providing unit,
While providing information based on the distance calculated by the travelable distance calculation unit, a wide-area map including the current position of the electric vehicle and capable of displaying each of the positions calculated by the reached position calculation unit is displayed. The information providing system according to claim 6, wherein each of the positions calculated by the reaching position calculation unit is displayed on a map while being displayed on a display unit. The temporary route search unit searches each of the first routes toward each of the plurality of temporary destinations according to a common first search condition that improves fuel efficiency when the electric vehicle travels on the route, and Each of the second routes to each of the plurality of temporary destinations is searched according to a common second search condition that deteriorates fuel efficiency when the electric vehicle travels on the route,
Each of the travelable distance calculation units is a first distance that can be traveled with the remaining battery level detected by the remaining battery level detection unit when traveling on each of the first routes searched by the temporary route search unit. And calculates each of the second distances that can be traveled with the battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detecting unit when traveling on each of the second routes searched by the temporary route searching unit. ,
The information providing unit provides information based on the first distance calculated by the travelable distance calculating unit, and at the same time provides information based on the second distance. Information system. The own vehicle state detection unit further detects the traveling direction of the electric vehicle,
The temporary destination setting unit sets a plurality of the temporary destinations in a plurality of directions including the traveling direction with the current position of the electric vehicle as a base point,
The information providing unit,
While providing information based on the first distance calculated by the travelable distance calculating unit, while providing information based on the second distance,
A map of a region including the current position of the electric vehicle is displayed on the display unit, and the vehicle is positioned in the traveling direction from the current position of the electric vehicle among the first routes searched by the temporary route search unit. The information providing system according to claim 8, wherein the route to the temporary destination is displayed on a map. Arrival position for calculating each of the positions reachable by the battery remaining amount detected by the battery remaining amount detecting unit when traveling on each of the first route and the second route searched by the temporary route searching unit Further comprising a calculation unit,
The information providing unit,
While providing information based on the first distance calculated by the travelable distance calculating unit, while providing information based on the second distance,
Each of the positions calculated by the reaching position calculation unit is displayed on the display unit including a wide area map including the current position of the electric vehicle and each of the positions calculated by the reaching position calculation unit. Is displayed on a map. The information providing system according to claim 8. The temporary destination setting unit may detect passage of a predetermined intersection by the electric vehicle, and execute processing of setting the plurality of temporary destinations each time the passage of the predetermined intersection is detected. The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 10. 12. The temporary destination setting unit sets a plurality of temporary destinations in a direction in which four or more are distributed at equal intervals with the electric vehicle as a base point, according to any one of claims 1 to 11. Information provision system described. The temporary destination setting unit of the information providing system, a step of setting a plurality of temporary destinations in a dispersed direction from the current position of the electric vehicle as a base point,
The provisional route search unit of the information providing system, each of the routes to each of the plurality of provisional destinations set by the provisional destination setting unit according to a common search condition regarding battery consumption accompanying the traveling of the electric vehicle To search for
A travelable distance calculation unit of the information providing system, a step of calculating each of the travelable distance with the current battery level when traveling each of the routes searched by the temporary route search unit,
An information providing unit of the information providing system provides information based on the distance calculated by the travelable distance calculating unit;
A method for providing information, comprising: