GB2625115A

GB2625115A - A method for displaying a charging incentive information of an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle, computer program product,

Info

Publication number: GB2625115A
Application number: GB2218375.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Panainte Sorin
Original assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2022-12-07
Filing date: 2022-12-07
Publication date: 2024-06-12
Also published as: GB202218375D0; DE102023004785A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for determining and displaying charging incentive information 36 of an electric (EV) or hybrid motor vehicle 18 by a charging information system 10. The method comprises the steps of detecting a value of an electric energy provided by an energy storage device 16 of the vehicle to a public grid 20 by a detecting device 38 of the charging information system; aggregating values of provided energy for a predetermined plurality of electric or hybrid motor vehicles as the charging incentive information by an electronic computing device 26 of the charging information system; transmitting the charging incentive information to a display device 24 of the motor vehicle; and displaying the charging incentive information on the display device, possibly as a monetary value. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a computer program product, a computer-readable storage medium, as well as a charging information system. The energy storage device could be a bi-directional loadable device.

Description

A method for displaying a charging incentive information of an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle, computer program product, computer-readable storage medium, as well as a charging information system

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobiles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for determining and displaying a charging incentive information of an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle by a charging information system. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding charging information system.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] The adoption of the vehicle-to-grid technology in the market depends on multiple factors including the perception of the owner of the motor vehicle of the energy and money saved by connecting the motor vehicle's battery to the grid. The energy cost saving may be less obvious in the case of single users in comparison with businesses owning a fleet or a network of motor vehicles. Combining the users such as customers with a subscription and/or network may multiply the amount saved thus leading to more significant savings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding computer-readable storage medium, as well as a corresponding charging information system, by which a user of the motor vehicle is encouraged to provide electric energy to the grid.

[0004] This object is solved by a method, a corresponding computer program product, a corresponding computer-readable storage medium as well as a corresponding charging information system according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are presented in the dependent claims.

[0005] One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for determining and displaying a charging incentive information of an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle by a charging information system. A value of an electric energy provided by an energy storage device of the motor vehicle to a public grid may be detected by a detecting device of the charging information system. Values of provided energy of a predetermined plurality of at least partially electrically operated motor vehicles as the charging incentive information may be aggregated by an electronic computing device of the charging information system. The charging incentive information such as the aggregated provided energy may be transmitted to a display device of the motor vehicle and may be displayed on the display device. The charging incentive information may provide information such as energy donations to encourage single users to generate and transfer electrical energy.

[0006] Therefore, the implementation of the provided method may add to the current sustainability goals for a group of motor vehicles and may motivate the users of the motor vehicles to contribute electrical energy to an electrical grid by using energy donations to achieve a sustainable way of life. The present invention may support a network of users who may work towards a common goal, in particular for example humanitarian funds, and motivate the users to use the bidirectional charging features which are provided in the motor vehicles to add provided energy to an aggregated total for provided energy. The addition of this aggregation option to the existent portfolio of features, for example via cloud services, may increase the benefits for the users who may use bidirectional charging and support electrical grid stability. In particular, the method includes the option of a user of a motor vehicle with bi-directional charging capability to subscribe to a network of energy storage devices managed by a software aggregator that may be included in an electronic computing device that may be connected to a server and a preferred energy utility provider. For example, the software aggregator may be from a manufacturer as well as the server may also be provided by a manufacturer. Furthermore, it is possible that for example a group of users may manage the aggregator connected to the server, for example friends or another company.

[0007] The amount of energy returned back to the grid by a particular user may be recorded by an electronic computing device that may include an aggregator and may be in the server. For example, the aggregator may be connected to a monthly cloud service and the cloud service may mapped the user to the associated energy credits using an external service provider. The total credits per user may be added up to the accumulated figure for the network of users, and the total figure converted in currency, for example US dollars, and may communicated back to the user on the display device as an incentive. The charging incentive information may be aggregated on a monthly basis, quarterly basis, and/or yearly basis.

[0008] The total amount of money accumulated monthly or quarterly from the network, for example by users of the same group, may be distributed based on a voting service to charity, emergency relief funds, educational support, and/or other options provided by the energy credits collection service.

[0009] Based on the amount of credits generated by the network, each user may receive a token in a form of, for example, a bronze, silver, gold, or platinum status, via email or visual notification displayed on the vehicle's infotainment system display.

[0010] In addition to the displaying the user's token, the user interface or the display device may include communication between the user via the car telematics or phone application. The user may review the token and/or select the recipient of the energy donation.

[0011] Before the user may provide energy to the electrical grid to earn incentives, the proposed control solution ensures that the energy storage device is in good health and proper state of charge.

[0012] In the situation that the state of charge is at a low limit, the charging operation may be started when a desired charge level is reached that will enable the energy transfer back to the grid of the selected amount of energy that may be confirmed by the user.

[0013] If the battery is not in good health due to aging or degradation in performance, the system may notify the user that the bidirectional transfer is not recommended.

[0014] According to an embodiment, the charging incentive information such as the values may be aggregated for a predetermined period of time.

[0015] In another embodiment, the charging incentive information such as the aggregated value may be displayed as a monetary value.

[0016] In yet another embodiment, before transmitting energy from the energy storage device of the grid, a state of charge and/or a state of health of the energy storage device may be determined.

[0017] According to another embodiment, the energy storage device may be configured as a bidirectional loadable energy storage device.

[0018] According to yet another embodiment, a time for providing electric energy to the grid may be predefined by the electronic computing device that may include an aggregator that may be coupled to a server.

[0019] In particular, the method is a computer-implemented method. Therefore, another aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program product with program code means for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. The computer program product may also be regarded as a computer program.

[0020] A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a computer-readable storage medium including at least the computer program product according to the preceding aspect.

[0021] A still further aspect of the present invention relates to a charging information system for displaying a charging incentive information of an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle, including at least one detecting device and one electronic computing device, wherein the charging information system may be configured for performing a method according to the preceding aspect. In particular, the method is performed by the charging information system.

[0022] The electronic computing device may include electronic means, for example processors, circuits, in particular integrated circuits, or further electronic means, for performing the method.

[0023] Advantageous forms of configuration of the method are to be regarded as advantageous forms of configuration of the computer program product, the computer-readable storage medium, as well as the charging information system. Therefore, the charging information system includes means for performing the method.

[0024] Further advantages, features, and details of the present invention derive from the following description of preferred embodiments as well as from the drawings. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figures and/or shown in the figures alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in any other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate exemplary embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the disclosed principles. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system and/or methods in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described below, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0026] The drawing shows in: [0027] Fig. 1 a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0028] Fig. 2 another schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the present invention; and [0029] Fig. 3 a schematic block diagram according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] In the figures the same elements or elements having the same function are indicated by the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] In the present document, the word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any embodiment or implementation of the present subject matter described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

[0032] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawing and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.

[0033] The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion so that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by "comprises" or "comprise' does not or do not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or method.

[0034] In the following detailed description of the embodiment of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawing that forms part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration a specific embodiment in which the disclosure may be practiced. This embodiment is described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 shows that in a first step Si the method starts. In a second step S2, a charging information system 10 (Fig. 3) may be configured. In a third step 63, the charging information system 10 may check if a vehicle-to-grid incentive option is activated. If the vehicle-to-grid incentive option is activated, a fourth step S4 may be provided. For the fourth step 64, a request list 12 (Fig. 3) from a server 14 (Fig. 3) may be requested by the charging information system 10. In a fifth step 55, a user may select a desired charity recipient of the vehicle-to-grid incentive credits. In a sixth step S6, a battery check, which is further shown in Fig. 2, may be performed. In a seventh step S7, the energy transfer from an electric storage device 16 (Fig. 3) from an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle 18 (Fig. 3) to a public grid 20 (Fig. 3), in particular via a loading station 22 (Fig. 3) may be provided. In particular, the energy transfer may be provided when the incentive for providing energy is advantageous. For example, the user may provide energy when the amount of per unit of energy is high.

[0036] In an eighth step S8, the charging information system 10 may check for a predetermined period of time, for example a month or quarter, has ended. If the predetermined period of time has not expired, the method goes back to the sixth step S6. If the predetermined period of time has expired, a ninth step 59 may be performed, wherein the actual balance based on the network dedications may be displayed by the charging information system 10, in particular on a display device 24 (Fig. 3) of the motor vehicle 18. The charging information system 10 may determine and display the charging incentive information 36 that may include the aggregated values of provided energy of a predetermined plurality such as a group of subscribers.

[0037] After the ninth step 59, a tenth step 510 may be performed, wherein the user that has subscribed to the network may receive a reward token, for example bronze, silver, gold, platinum, in particular based on the level of contributions via the energy transfer. In some embodiments, the charging incentive information 36 may include user contributions, tokens, and/or selections for the charging incentives. Coming from the third step S3, if in the vehicle-to-grid incentive option is not activated, the tenth step 510 may also be performed where the charging incentive information 36 such as the token may be displayed by the charging information system 10. After the tenth step S10, an eleventh step S11 is performed, wherein in this step the method ends.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows a schematic flow chart according to an embodiment of the present invention, in particular relating to the battery check of the sixth step 56. In a step S6.1, the method starts. In a step 56.2, the charging information system 10 may check if a state of charge of the energy storage device 16. If state of charge of the energy storage device is not acceptable, a step 56.3 may be performed, wherein the charging of the storage device 16 is performed to reach a charge level. After step S6.3, step S6.2 may be performed again. If the state of charge of the energy storage device is acceptable, a step

S

S6.4 may be performed, wherein a state of health of the electric storage device 16 may be checked by the charging information system 10. If the state of health is acceptable, a step S6.5 may be performed, wherein the energy transfer to the grid 20 may be enabled. If the state of health is not acceptable, a step S6.6 may be performed, wherein a user may be notified that a transfer to the grid 20 is not recommended.

[0039] The state of charge may be acceptable when the battery has sufficient energy to discharge energy and/or to operate the motor vehicle 18. In some embodiments, the user may determine a margin for a driving range that is available after discharging energy. The state of health of the battery may refer to the level of battery degradation. For example, the battery degradation may be determined based on the battery life that may be impacted by driving, charging, and discharging operations.

[0040] Fig. 3 shows a block diagram relating to an embodiment of the charging information system 10. In particular Fig. 3 shows that an electronic computing device 26 may be provided, which may also include a software aggregator. In some embodiments, the software aggregator may be included in a server 14 of a manufacturer or charging provider. In another embodiment, the motor vehicle may also include an electronic computing unit that may provide energy transfer management and may determine the scheduling and functionality of the motor vehicle during charging and/or discharging operations.

[0041] Furthermore, a utility 28 is shown, wherein the utility 28 may be configured for flight-right pricing, time-of-use tiers, consumption blocks, hourly day-ahead pricing, real-time pricing, and combinations of the above. The electronic computing device 26 may be connected to the loading station 22, wherein the electronic computing device 26 may be also configured for controlling a cost-optimized bidirectional charging process. The electronic computing device 26 may be also connected to the server 14, and may transmit a yearly, quarterly, and/or monthly saving information to the server 14.

[0042] The detecting device 38 may be connected to charging information system 10 and may detect the value of an electric energy provided by an energy storage device 16 of the motor vehicle 18 to the grid 20. In some embodiments, the detecting device 38 may also detect information from the motor vehicle 10 or external of the motor vehicle 10. For example, the detecting device 38 may be coupled to an electrical panel such as a panel at a residence and may include functionality for determining information for the electronic computing device 26 to process. The detecting device 38 may include artificial intelligence as a functionality to locally determine information.

[0043] The server 14 may be connected to the motor vehicle 18, wherein for example a user of the motor vehicle 18 may have a smartphone 30 wherein an opt-in incentive service, a selection or proposed recipient for an incentive, and/or a receive status or receive reward badge may be displayed by the smartphone 30. Furthermore, the smartphone 30 may also be configured as the display device 24.

[0044] Furthermore, a socket 32 and a plug 34 is shown in the Fig. 3, in particular at the motor vehicle 18.

Reference Signs charging information system 12 request list 14 server 16 energy storage device 18 motor vehicle grid 22 loading station 24 displaying device 26 electronic computing device 28 utility smartphone 32 socket 34 plug 36 charging incentive information 38 detecting device Si -S11 steps

Claims

CLAIMS1. A method for determining and displaying a charging incentive information (36) of an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle (18) by a charging information system (10), comprising the steps of: - detecting a value of an electric energy provided by an energy storage device (16) of the motor vehicle (18) to a public grid (20) by a detecting device (38) of the charging information system (10); - aggregating values of provided energy of a predetermined plurality of at least partially electrically operated motor vehicles (18) as the charging incentive information (36) by an electronic computing device (26) of the charging information system (10); - transmitting the charging incentive information (36) to a display device (24) of the motor vehicle (18); and - displaying the charging incentive information (36) on the display device (24).
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the values are aggregated for a predetermined period of time.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the charging incentive information (36) is additionally displayed as a monetary value.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that before transmitting energy from the energy storage device (16) to the grid (20), a state of charge and/or a state of health of the energy storage device (16) is determined.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the energy storage device (16) is configured as a bidirectional loadable energy storage device (16).
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a time for providing electric energy to the grid (20) is predefined by the electronic computing device (26).
7. A computer program product with program code means for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
8. A computer-readable storage medium comprising at least the computer program product according to claim 7.
9. A charging information system (10) for determining and displaying a charging incentive information (36) of an at least partially electrically operated motor vehicle (18), comprising at least one detecting device (38) and one electronic computing device (26), wherein the charging information system (10) is configured for performing a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.