DE102017216478A1 - A method for automatically requesting a charging vehicle for battery electric locomotion means to minimize charge-related downtime - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, a device and a means of transport for the automatic request of a charging vehicle for battery electric locomotion means for minimizing charge-related downtime. The method comprises the steps of determining (100) a residual travel distance to a route destination of a battery electric vehicle, determining (200) a distance to the nearest stationary charging station for battery electric vehicles from the route destination, determining (300) a residual range of the means of transportation, automatically requesting (400) a loading vehicle in the event that the determined residual range is less than a composite of residual travel distance and distance to the charging station total distance. Determining (500) a meeting place suitable for the means of transport and the mobile home.

Description

The invention relates to a method, a device and a means of transport for the automatic request of a charging vehicle for battery electric locomotion means for minimizing charge-related downtime.

In addition to the further development of electrical drives and storage systems for electrical energy, the increasing use of battery-powered means of locomotion also requires, in particular, an expansion of the charging infrastructure so that battery-electric means of locomotion can be used in a similarly flexible and failsafe manner as conventional vehicles with internal combustion engines. For this reason, considerable effort has been expended in the prior art to provide electrical energy storage, e.g. Optimize batteries in terms of their charging capacity and charging speed. However, the achievable with the current state of the art average ranges battery electric means of transportation are still below the achievable average ranges of means of transport with internal combustion engines. At the same time, the availability of stationary charging stations is still significantly limited in comparison to the availability of filling stations for vehicles with internal combustion engines. The combination of lower average ranges and reduced charging station infrastructure increases the risk of battery-powered downtime in comparison to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. To make matters worse, that a lying down due to a discharged battery battery electric means of transport can not be easily put back into driving readiness even by a driver of the means of transport itself, when the means of locomotion has remained lying away from a stationary charging station. For this reason, the state of the art provides for the use of mobile vehicles which are able to move to the position of a battery-electric locomotion that has been left behind and to recharge it partly or completely via an entrained electrical energy store.

In particular, for providers of car sharing services whose vehicles can be parked anywhere in a fixed business area and their vehicle fleet may consist partially or completely of battery electric locomotion, standstill failures represent a major problem, since these depending on the availability of free mobile only after a long downtime can be reactivated.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by a method for automatic charging of a mobile home, whereby downtimes can be reduced and the likelihood of achieving a desired route destination is increased.

The aforementioned object is achieved according to the invention by a method for automatically requesting a charging vehicle for battery electric locomotion means for minimizing standstill-related downtime. This provides, in a first method step, for determining a residual travel distance to a route destination. Such a route destination may for example be entered by a driver of the means of locomotion in an on-board GPS-based navigation system. In this way, the information about the route destination can be provided in the form of data representing this information, for example on one of the bus systems of the vehicle. An evaluation unit, which is set up to carry out the method steps of the proposed method, can receive this data and store it in a memory unit belonging to it. The evaluation unit can be a component of an on-board computer system, which includes, for example, the navigation unit. In addition, the navigation unit of the evaluation unit preferably also provides information about the current location of the means of transportation and the residual travel distance until reaching the route destination in the form of data which can also be received and stored by the evaluation unit. Depending on the hardware and software architecture of the on-board computer system, it is also conceivable for the program logic of the evaluation unit and of the navigation system to be executed via the same processor and for the two components to communicate via a software bus and / or shared memory areas instead of via a physical bus system. The evaluation unit can also be accommodated outside the on-board computer system in a separate control device of the means of locomotion. In a next method step, the distance to the nearest stationary charging station for battery electric locomotion means is determined starting from the route destination. The evaluation unit is preferably again provided with this information by the navigation unit. This presupposes that the navigation unit can, in addition to up-to-date information which describes the road network, also access current information about the position of existing charging stations. In modern on-board computer systems such additional information is usually available within POI (point of interest) lists. This information, as well as the information over the road network are normally updated regularly in the prior art - for example, via a GSM mobile link between the means of transport and a server that provides the updated information in the form of data.

Further preferably, the navigation system provides a data interface, via which the evaluation unit can query the information about the distance of the route destination to the location of the nearest charging station. The data provided in this way can also be stored in the memory coupled to the evaluation unit.

In a next method step, the remaining range of the battery of the means of locomotion is determined by the evaluation unit. In the prior art, information about the remaining range is usually also available within the navigation system. This is i.d.R. displayed together with further information such as the distance covered, the current travel route and the route still to be traveled until reaching the route destination in a display coupled to the on-board computer in the form of driver information. Via a corresponding data interface, this information can also be queried by the evaluation unit in the navigation unit and stored in the memory of the evaluation unit.

In determining the residual range, influencing factors such as the outside temperature and the consumption of electrical energy in the means of transportation by all active control devices and other consumers are preferably taken into account. Only in this way can a reliable prediction of the remaining range be ensured.

The exchange of data between the evaluation unit and other control units or subunits of control devices such. The navigation unit is not limited to the access concepts described above. In other words, the data exchange does not necessarily have to be initiated by the evaluation unit. The relevant data can, for example, also be updated cyclically at the respective interface by the navigation unit, irrespective of whether the evaluation unit currently requires it. An event-driven updating of the data by the navigation unit is also an option. According to the invention, other access concepts with regard to the data to be exchanged are also conceivable and should not explicitly be restricted to the abovementioned ones.

In a next method step, an evaluation takes place by the evaluation unit as to whether the determined residual range is sufficient to first reach the route destination and then the determined, nearest charging station, starting from the current position of the means of transportation. If this is not the case, the evaluation unit causes an automatic transmission of a signal indicating a loading requirement of the means of locomotion to a service station for mobile homes. The signal can be effected, for example, by means of a mobile radio unit arranged in the means of locomotion and connected to the evaluation unit, which transmits the signal to the service station in the form of digital data packets via a GSM mobile radio infrastructure. In addition to the information about the charging requirement, the data packet preferably also contains information about the current position, the remaining range of the means of transportation and the route destination. On the basis of the data packets received in the service station, for example, a ticket can be automatically created in the ticket system by the IT infrastructure of the service station, which contains all transmitted data. The ticket data can be matched by means of the IT infrastructure with the positions and loading capacities of all available mobile homes to identify at least one mobile home, which is located in the vicinity of the means of transport and has a sufficient amount of residual charge to complete the battery of the means of transportation away from a stationary charging station or partially charged. The latter can e.g. be relevant if the residual charge amount of the next mobile home should no longer be sufficient for a full charge of the battery of the means of transport, a partial charge of the means of transport this but able to go to the nearest stationary charging station for a full charge of the battery by its own power.

In a next method step, a suitable meeting place for the means of transport and the mobile home is determined by the evaluation unit to charge the battery of the means of locomotion by the mobile home, since the means of transport is no longer able due to its low battery level, the nearest charging station from its own Power to drive. For this purpose, the method according to the invention provides for transmitting information about the location and the available residual charge quantity of the next free charging vehicle to the means of transportation by means of the mobile radio link in the form of digital data packets. The data is received in the means of locomotion by the mobile radio unit and made available via the interface of the evaluation unit described above. The evaluation unit may then, for example, bring a message to the driver of the means of locomotion in the display of the on-board computer system to inform him that a mobile home is available. At the same time, the current position or distance of the mobile unit with respect to the position of the means of transportation is preferably also displayed in the note. Also, an indication of the available amount of residual charge of the mobile home can be helpful for the driver as well as an indication of the costs incurred when using the mobile home. Similar to a taxi service, for example, costs for the arrival and departure can be calculated here. Further costs may arise due to the waiting time during the charging process and the amount of charge taken. More preferably, the displayed hint also includes a choice for the driver to set a meeting point for the implementation of the charging process. This can be implemented, for example, in the form of a user-operable by the driver selection menu in the display of the on-board computer. By default, for example, the route destination may be in the first place of the selection menu, since the route destination is usually the most suitable place for a driver to load. On the one hand, he has the opportunity to reach his destination in time and on the other hand is in most cases when reaching the route destination of a certain length of stay at the route destination to go out, which can then be used for the loading process by the mobile home. It would also be conceivable to offer the driver one or more alternative meeting points for the loading process within the selection menu. Depending on the driver's preference, the alternative meeting points could, for example, be aimed at generating the lowest possible costs for the driver by, for example, moving the means of locomotion, rather than the route destination, first by way of the shortest route in the direction of the loading vehicle. As a result, the approach costs can be reduced by the mobile home. It would also be conceivable to have a meeting point which lies on an optimal route for the mobile home, which is based on the position of the means of locomotion and at least one further present loading request of at least one further means of locomotion.

In a further preferred embodiment, the inventive method is extended by the fact that an automatic billing process takes place when the loading vehicle is used. The costs incurred for the mobile charging service can be composed, for example, of the journey costs and departure costs of the charging vehicle and the amount of charge received by the means of transportation. The automatic billing can e.g. via a previously created customer account at the loading station service station. In the course of the process step for selecting the meeting point of the mobile home and the means of locomotion as described above, several alternatives regarding the meeting point can be offered. These are preferably displayed in a selection menu in the display of the on-board computer, which also brings information about the costs incurred for each of the alternatives for display. By selecting a suitable for the driver meeting place, the mobile home can be requested by sending an order message via the mobile channel and the resulting costs are charged to the customer account. Alternatively, billing can also be carried out after a successful charging process, in that the charging vehicle automatically informs the service station about the completed charging process by means of a mobile radio link. Instead of billing via a previously created customer account, in the course of selecting the meeting point, payment via a mobile terminal coupled to the on-board computer by means of an online payment system may also be an advantageous embodiment.

In a further advantageous refinement, the route destination can be estimated, for example, from a driving history stored in the on-board computer and / or in the evaluation unit, in the event that the driver moves the means of transportation without active route guidance in the navigation system. By means of the above-mentioned proposed data interfaces between the navigation unit and the evaluation unit, it is possible to determine, for example, route destinations in the evaluation unit via the stored travel history, which are located in the current direction of travel and have already been approached several times in the past. Alternatively or additionally, information from a mobile terminal coupled to the on-board computer and / or the evaluation unit can also be used to estimate the route destination. The latter can e.g. be permanently coupled to the on-board computer via a Bluetooth connection while driving. Via an interface of the evaluation to the on-board computer can be queried in this way, for example, data from the personal calendar of the mobile device. If necessary, the appointment data stored in the calendar may also contain information about the route destination. By matching these data by the evaluation unit with the information about the current position of the means of locomotion, its direction of travel and the current time, the route destination can be determined without active route guidance in the ideal case. Alternatively or additionally, information from an existing navigation app of the mobile terminal can be used in the determination of the route destination, which is optionally used alternatively or in addition to the navigation system of the means of locomotion for route guidance.

For carsharing service providers, using this service is a great benefit, since downtime is minimized by short-range carsharing vehicles. In addition, a high service cost is reduced, which results from that a vehicle with too short a range must be towed to reach the next charging station. Accordingly, the automatic notification and use of a mobile home offers a high cost advantage for car sharing service providers.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the method step for determining the distance to the nearest stationary charging station starting from the route destination is extended to include information on the availability of the existing charging stations in the determination. That is, not only the existence of a charging station at a certain position in the vicinity of the route destination is taken into account in the determination, but also their availability at the time of the probable arrival of the means of transportation at the charging station. This can e.g. be relevant if the driver of the means of transport due to the determined range of the desired destination and then reach the nearest charging station, but this is not available on arrival, because it is already occupied by another means of transport at this time. Since the charging processes for battery electric locomotion i.d.R. are very time consuming, this can bring longer waiting times for the driver, especially if the number of charging stations is limited to a charging station and possibly already several means of transportation waiting for access to the charging station.

In order to avoid or shorten these waiting times, a determination of the availability of the charging stations can be included in the course of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the charging station can be equipped with a mobile radio interface, by means of which information about the availability can be transmitted. The recipient of this information can be, for example, a service provider for online updates of POI data, which in turn is connected by means of a mobile radio link to the navigation unit of the means of locomotion. In this way, the navigation unit can provide the information on the availability of the charging stations (which may also include the expected remaining duration of a charging station occupancy) of the evaluation available, so that this information can be taken into account in the determination of the next free charging station. In the event that in addition to a currently to be loaded means of transport already another means of transport or several other means of transport at the charging station waiting for access to the charging station, this information can also be detected at the charging station and forwarded to the service provider for POI data. This can be achieved, for example, by a camera monitoring the approach to the charging station, which in turn is coupled with an automatic image recognition function, to determine the number of already waiting vehicles. Detecting the waiting vehicles is also conceivable by means of an induction loop in the approach to the charging station, which is connected to a corresponding evaluation. In addition, digital information about the waiting state of other vehicles via a C2C or C2I network is possible, in which the waiting vehicles report their intention to charge to the charging station or to other vehicles.

On the basis of the determined waiting times at the charging stations that can be reached by the means of transportation, the driver can be offered different options for action by the evaluation unit. This can in turn be done by the presentation of an information message in the display of the on-board computer whose display is initiated by the evaluation. The advice message preferably contains a plurality of action options for the driver, from which he can select a preferred option by means of a selection menu also shown. In this way, the driver can decide whether he would like to control the next reachable charging station due to the low charge level of the battery of the means of transportation, even if this should possibly already be occupied by other means of transport for a longer period. Alternatively, he may opt for the request of a charging vehicle, which may be available faster than the access to the nearest charging station. Another preferred option allows the driver to reserve a reachable (eg but currently occupied) charging station to a suitable for him later date. So he can first control the route destination and after a certain waiting time the previously reserved charging station at the specified time. The reservation of the charging station can in turn be carried out via a data packet which is sent by the means of transport via the mobile radio link to a corresponding service station. The charging station can then be disabled for a certain reservation time window for other means of transportation. This state can be identified, for example, by a message in a display arranged on the charging station. During the reservation time window, the charging station can then be used, for example, only by entering a reservation code, which is transmitted in the course of the charging station reservation by mobile route to the means of locomotion and the driver is shown in the display. Alternatively, the reservation and notification can be made using reservation codes via the driver's mobile device. In another preferred embodiment, the charging vehicle may be another electrified vehicle. This assumes that the charging device of the vehicle is also capable of generating electrical energy to be able to deliver in the opposite way. In the prior art methods and devices are already known in this regard, for example, allow battery electric locomotion simultaneously used as energy storage and as an energy source, for example, temporarily store excess amounts of electricity from the power grid in a network of battery electric locomotion. The electrical energy stored in this way can then, if required, be fed back into the power grid from the batteries of the means of transportation at a later time. On the basis of this technology, for example, vehicles can be enabled to deliver even electrical energy to other vehicles, which may have remained lying down, or the next charging station can no longer start on their own. For this purpose, the above-described infrastructure for requesting a mobile home can be used and extended accordingly, so that equipped with such a technology vehicles that are located in the vicinity of a stagnant vehicle to be informed accordingly. About the automatic accounting system, the driver of a vehicle, which provides electrical energy to another vehicle, for example, receive a credit for the amount of energy delivered to his billing account. In this way, for example, by further credits for the time spent, etc. implement an incentive system for the driver of electrified vehicles to put as many broken down vehicles back on the road.

For car-sharing service providers, this feature offers the advantage that it does not require any or only a few additional vehicles that act purely as mobile mo- biles and are not part of the rentable carsharing fleet.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the mobile home can be an autonomously moving means of transportation, which automatically moves to the specified point of loading upon request.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is proposed for automatically requesting a charging mobile for battery electric locomotion means for minimizing or avoiding storage-related downtimes. The device comprises an evaluation unit, which is e.g. a processor which is set up to carry out the method steps according to the invention. Furthermore, the device comprises a data input which is set up to determine information about the remaining travel distance to a route destination of a means of locomotion, to determine a distance to the nearest stationary charging station for battery electric locomotion from the route destination, to determine a remaining range of the means of locomotion, a suitable meeting place for the Locate means of transport and the mobile home and to automatically request a mobile home in connection with the data output.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a means of transportation comprising a device according to the second aspect of the invention. The features, combinations of features as well as the advantages resulting therefrom correspond to those embodied in connection with the first and second aspects of the invention so apparent that reference is made to the above statements to avoid repetition.

• 1 ein Flussdiagramm veranschaulichend Schritte eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens;
• 2 eine schematische Übersicht über Komponenten einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung in einer Ausführungsform eines Fortbewegungsmittels; und
• 3 ein Beispielszenario zur Anforderung eines Lademobils.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the figures. Show it:

• 1 a flowchart illustrating steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention;
• 2 a schematic overview of components of a device according to the invention in an embodiment of a means of locomotion; and
• 3 an example scenario for requesting a loading vehicle.

1 shows steps of an embodiment of a method according to the invention. This is in step 100 based on the navigation data of an active navigation unit 21 an on-board computer 20 a means of transport 80 the remaining travel distance of the means of transport 80 to a route destination 93 determined. In step 200 is based on the current POI data of the navigation unit 21 the distance of the means of transport 80 to the nearest stationary charging station 94 starting from the route destination 93 determined. In step 300 is based on the navigation data of the navigation unit 21 the remaining range of the means of transport 80 determined. In step 400 automatically becomes a mobile home 92 via a service station 60 requested in the event that the determined residual range is less than a residual travel distance and distance to the stationary charging station 94 composite total distance. The request takes place via a mobile radio link (eg GSM mobile radio) 42 instead of. For this purpose, the means of transportation comprises 80 a cellular antenna 40 , a mobile unit 22 which within the on-board computer 20 is arranged, and an interface of the on-board computer 20 to the evaluation unit 10 via which the request process is initiated. In step 500 is based on the by the service station 60 by means of the mobile radio link 42 provided information about an available mobile home 92 one for the means of transportation 80 and the mobile home 92 suitable meeting place 96 determined.

2 shows a schematic overview of components of a means of transport according to the invention, which comprises a device according to the invention. The device comprises an evaluation unit 10 which have a data input 11 with an on-board computer 20 of the means of transport 80 connected is. Furthermore, the evaluation unit by means of a data output to the on-board computer 20 and a data store 50 connected. About the connections to the on-board computer 20 receives the evaluation unit 10 Access to the sub-units of the on-board computer 20 which in this embodiment consists of a navigation unit 21 and a mobile unit 22 put together. The means of transportation 80 also includes a display 30 , which is connected to the on-board computer 20 is coupled, for example, the route guidance of a navigation unit 21 display. Furthermore, the means of transportation comprises 80 a cellular antenna 40 and an associated mobile unit 22 , which to the on-board computer 20 connected. About the mobile radio unit 22 , which, for example, uses the GSM standard, can inter alia data connections 42 between the means of transportation 80 and external receivers such as a service station 60 for loading vehicles 92 getting produced. Furthermore, the means of transportation comprises 80 a Bluetooth unit 23 which is set up, a data connection 72 to a mobile device 70 manufacture.

3 shows an example scenario 90 for the automatic request of a mobile home 92 , The means of transportation 80 is on the way to a route destination 93 , The determined remaining range of the means of transport 80 is indeed sufficient to the route destination 93 but not to reach the charging station 94 to start for charging the battery. By the method according to the invention, the problematic state is detected and in response thereto via the mobile radio link 42 automatically a mobile home 92 at a service station 60 requested. Furthermore, there is a second means of transportation 98 near the means of transport 80 , which also has a low battery level. Because the second means of transportation 98 the charging station 94 can no longer reach due to its remaining range, is also the second means of transport 98 an automatic request for a mobile home 92 via mobile network 42 from. About the IT infrastructure of the service station 60 become the requirements of a mobile home 92 evaluated and a meeting place 96 determined for the mobile home and both means of transport 80 . 98 is the most appropriate in terms of travel costs and the expected time required. The determined meeting place 96 becomes the means of transportation 80 . 98 by means of the mobile radio link 42 communicated. In addition, further meeting point options will be provided to the means of transportation 80 . 98 sent from which the drivers of the means of transportation 80 . 98 via a selection menu in the on-board computer 20 make a choice that is preferred for you.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

evaluation

11

data input

12

data output

20

board computer

21

navigation unit

22

mobile unit

23

Bluetooth unit

30

display

40

cellular antenna

42

mobile route

50

data storage

60

service station

70

Mobile terminal

72

Bluetooth radio link

80

Means

90

Example scenario for requesting a loading vehicle

92

charging mobile

93

route target

94

Stationary charging station

96

meeting point

98

second means of transportation

100-500

steps

Claims (10)

A method of automatically requesting a charging vehicle (92) for a battery electric vehicle (80) to minimize charge downtime, comprising the steps of: determining (100) a remaining travel distance to a route destination (93) of a battery electric vehicle (80), (200) determining Distance to the nearest stationary charging station (94) for battery-powered means of locomotion (80) from the route destination (93), • determining (300) a residual range of the means of locomotion (80), • automatically requesting (400) a loading vehicle (92) in case the determined remaining range is less than a total distance composed of remaining travel distance and distance to the charging station (94), and • determining (500) a meeting point (96) suitable for the means of transportation (80) and the mobile home (92). Method according to Claim 1 wherein the route destination (93) is determined from a driving history and / or from user data of a mobile terminal (70). The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein a current location of the means of travel (80) to the meeting point (96) has a shorter distance than the route destination (93). Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising • Determine that the charging station (94) is expected to be available when the means of transport (80) arrives at her and / or • Make sure the charging station (94) is available for a period of time when the means of transport (80) is expected to arrive. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the means of transportation (80) is a vehicle of a car-sharing vehicle fleet. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the loading vehicle (92) is a vehicle of a car-sharing vehicle fleet. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the loader vehicle (92) is an autonomous propulsion means. Method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising automatically accounting for a battery charging operation by the means of travel (80) in dependence on a distance covered by the loading vehicle (92) and / or the amount of charge discharged during the charging process. Device (10) for automatically requesting a charging vehicle (92) for a battery electric locomotive means (80) for minimizing or avoiding charge-related downtimes A data input (11), • an evaluation unit (10), and A data output (12), wherein the evaluation unit (10) is set up, • in connection with the data input (11) o to determine a residual travel distance to a route destination (93) of the battery-electric transportation device (80), o to determine a distance to the nearest stationary charging station (94) for the battery-electric transportation device (80) starting from the route destination (93), o to determine a remaining range of the means of transport (80), o to determine a suitable meeting point (96) for the means of transportation (80) and the loading vehicle (92), • and in conjunction with the data output (12) to automatically request a loading vehicle (92). Means (80) comprising a device according to Claim 9 ,

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