JP2014113008A - Electric vehicle, and battery charging method for electric vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric vehicle capable of sending or receiving power between electric vehicles without using a special cable.SOLUTION: An electric vehicle comprises a connection device which includes a battery side first terminal, a motor side second terminal and a third terminal connected with a cable that is connected to an external device, and connects between the first and second terminals or connects between the first and third terminals, and a voltage conversion circuit which converts a voltage of a battery to output it from the first terminal to the second or third terminal to drive a motor if a drive instruction instructing drive of the motor is inputted, and charges the battery on the basis of a voltage applied from the second or third terminal to the first terminal if a regeneration instruction instructing power regeneration from the motor is inputted.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric vehicle and a battery charging method for the electric vehicle.

  The battery of the electric vehicle is charged by a commercial power supply for home use or a dedicated charging device provided in a parking space of the electric vehicle. However, at present, the number of dedicated charging devices is small, and the remaining amount of the battery may be almost zero (hereinafter referred to as electric shortage) when going out. In such a case, electric power is supplied from an electric vehicle having a sufficient remaining battery power to an electric vehicle that has run out (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4694399

  By the way, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to use a dedicated special cable including a DC-DC converter or the like between an electric vehicle having a sufficient remaining battery capacity and an electric vehicle lacking electricity. . In other words, the technique of Patent Document 1 is not convenient because it cannot exchange power between electric vehicles using a general cable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides an electric vehicle capable of exchanging electric power between electric vehicles without using a special cable.

  To achieve the above object, an electric vehicle according to one aspect of the present invention includes a battery-side first terminal, a motor-side second terminal, and a third terminal to which a cable connected to an external device is connected. And a connection device for connecting the first and second terminals or connecting the first and third terminals, and a drive instruction for instructing driving of the motor, When the battery voltage is converted to drive the motor and output from the first terminal to the second or third terminal, and a regeneration instruction for instructing regeneration of power from the motor is input, Or a voltage conversion circuit that charges the battery based on a voltage applied from the third terminal to the first terminal.

  An electric vehicle capable of exchanging electric power between electric vehicles without using a special cable can be provided.

It is a figure which shows the main structures of the electric vehicle 10 which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of PCU34. It is a figure for demonstrating the connection relationship between the electric vehicles 10a and 10b using PCU34. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the procedure of the charging method of the electric vehicle 10b. It is a figure which shows an example of a structure of PCU37. It is a figure for demonstrating the connection relationship between the electric vehicles 10a and 10b using PCU37.

  At least the following matters will become apparent from the description of this specification and the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a main configuration of an electric vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electric vehicle 10 includes a normal charging port 20, a quick charging port 21, a connection port 22, an operation unit 23, a control device 30, a charger 31, batteries 32 and 33, a power control unit (hereinafter referred to as “PCU”), A motor 35 and a transmission 36 are included.

  For example, a plug of commercial power of AC 200V is connected to the normal charging port 20, and a quick charging plug from a charging device provided in a charging stand or the like is connected to the quick charging port 21. A predetermined DC voltage is output from the quick charging plug, and the battery 32 is charged in a shorter time than when charging through the normal charging port 20.

  The connection port 22 is a port for exchanging electric power between the electric vehicle 10 and, for example, another electric vehicle (external device). A cable capable of transmitting power is connected to the connection port 22.

  The operation unit 23 is, for example, an operation panel or operation switch that can be operated by the user. In the present embodiment, the mode (state) of the electric vehicle 10 can be switched to the “normal mode” or the “emergency mode” by operating the operation unit 23. Here, the “normal mode” is a mode in which the electric vehicle 10 is in a normal state in which the electric vehicle 10 can travel, and the “emergency mode” is in a state in which the electric vehicle 10 cannot be traveled, In this mode, power can be exchanged with an electric vehicle.

  The control device 30 is a device that performs overall control of the electric vehicle 10. Specifically, the control device 30 outputs to the PCU 34 a mode instruction corresponding to the operation result of the operation unit 23, a drive instruction S1 and a regeneration instruction S2 corresponding to the accelerator operation result. The control device 30 controls the charger 31 based on various information such as the operation result of the operation unit 30 and the voltages of the batteries 32 and 33.

  The charger 31 charges the batteries 32 and 33 based on the commercial power supply from the normal charging port 20. The battery 32 is a driving battery that stores electric power for driving the motor 35, and the battery 33 (auxiliary battery) is an auxiliary battery for operating various instruments (not shown) of the electric vehicle 10. . The capacity of the battery 32 is larger than the capacity of the battery 33. The control device 30 is supplied with power from the battery 33. When the remaining amount of the battery 33 is reduced, the battery 32 is charged.

  The PCU 34 exchanges power between the battery 32 and the motor 35 in the “normal mode”, and an external device (for example, an electric vehicle) connected to the battery 32 and the connection port 22 in the “emergency mode”. Power to and from. Details of the PCU 34 will be described later.

  The motor 35 is an AC motor such as a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and rotates a tire via the transmission 36.

== Details of PCU 34 ==
As shown in FIG. 2, the PCU 34 includes a DC-DC converter 50, a switch 51, and a power conversion circuit 52. The DC-DC converter 50 and the power conversion circuit 52 are input with a drive instruction S1 for driving the motor 35 at a desired rotational speed or a regeneration instruction S2 for instructing regeneration of electric power from the motor 35.

  The DC-DC converter 50 is a bidirectional converter that switches between step-up and step-down according to an input instruction. When the drive instruction S <b> 1 is input, the DC-DC converter 50 boosts the voltage of the battery 32 and outputs it to the switch 51. On the other hand, when the regeneration instruction S <b> 2 is input, the DC-DC converter 50 steps down the voltage from the switch 51 and outputs it to the battery 32. Note that when the regeneration instruction S <b> 2 is input, the battery 32 is charged based on the voltage from the DC-DC converter 50.

  The switch 51 (connection device) is provided with six terminals t1H, t1L to t3H, t3L. Terminals t1H, t2H, and t3H are terminals to which a positive voltage is applied, and terminals t1L, t2L, and t3L are terminals to which a negative voltage is applied. In the “normal mode”, the switch 51 connects the terminal t1H and the terminal t2H to the terminal t1L and the terminal t2L. Further, in the “emergency mode”, the switch 51 connects the terminal t1H and the terminal t3H to the terminal t1L and the terminal t3L. For convenience, the “normal mode” is referred to as connecting the terminal t1 and the terminal t2, and the “emergency mode” is referred to as connecting the terminal t1 and the terminal t3. The terminals t1H and t1L correspond to the first terminal on the battery 32 side, the terminals t2H and t2L correspond to the second terminal on the motor 35 side, and the terminals t3H and t3L correspond to the third terminal on the connection port 22 side. It corresponds to.

  The power conversion circuit 52 operates as an inverter (DC-AC converter) or a rectifier (AC-DC converter) according to an input instruction. Specifically, when the drive instruction S1 is input, the power conversion circuit 52 converts the DC voltage at the terminals t2H and t2L into an AC voltage (three-phase AC voltage) corresponding to the drive instruction S1. Since the converted AC voltage is applied to the motor 35, the motor 35 is driven at a desired rotational speed. In addition, when the regeneration instruction S2 is input, the power conversion circuit 52 converts the AC voltage from the motor 35 into a DC voltage and outputs the DC voltage to the terminals t2H and t2L.

== About the charging method (DC power supply) of an electric vehicle lacking electricity ==
Here, with reference to FIG. 3, a method of charging an electric vehicle lacking electric power will be described. The electric vehicles 10a and 10b have the same configuration as the electric vehicle 10 of FIG. 1 described above, and the same reference numerals are assigned to the same blocks. However, the remaining amount of the battery 32a of the electric vehicle 10a (first electric vehicle) has a margin, and the electric vehicle 10b (second electric vehicle) is depleted. For convenience, in FIG. 3, the terminals t1H and t1L of the switch 51a shown in FIG. 2 are depicted as terminals t1a. Further, the other terminals are similarly simplified and drawn.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation performed by a user of the electric vehicles 10a and 10b. First, the user operates the operation unit of the electric vehicles 10a and 10b to set the state of the electric vehicles 10a and 10b to “emergency mode” (S100). As a result, the terminal t1a (first terminal) and the terminal t3a (third terminal) of the switch 51a are connected, and the terminal t1b (fourth terminal) and the terminal t3b (sixth terminal) of the switch 51b are connected.

  Then, the user connects the connection ports 22a and 22b with the DC cable 100 (S101). For this reason, one end of the DC cable 100 is connected to the terminal t3a through the connection port 22a, and the other end of the DC cable 100 is connected to the terminal t3b through the connection port 22b. Next, the user operates the operation unit, the accelerator, etc., sets the electric vehicle 10a having a sufficient remaining amount of the battery 32a (first battery) to the driving state, and regenerates the electric vehicle 10b lacking electricity. A state is set (S102). As a result, the boost voltage generated by the DC-DC converter 50a (first voltage conversion circuit) is stepped down via the connection port 22a, the DC cable 100, and the connection port 22b. Output to the converter circuit). Therefore, the battery 32b (second battery) is charged.

== About other embodiments of PCU and connection port ==
In the electric vehicle 10 of FIG. 1, a case where the PCU 37 and the connection port 25 are used instead of the PCU 34 and the connection port 22 will be described. The PCU 37 includes a DC-DC converter 50, a power conversion circuit 52, and a switch 55 as shown in FIG. 2 and 5, the same reference numerals are used for the same blocks. When the PCUs 34 and 37 are compared, a new switch 55 is provided between the power conversion circuit 52 and the motor 35 instead of the switch 51 provided between the DC-DC converter 50 and the power conversion circuit 52. . Therefore, details of the switch 55 will be described here. Note that the DC-DC converter 50 and the power conversion circuit 52 correspond to a voltage conversion circuit.

  The switch 55 (connection device) is provided with nine terminals t1r, t1s, t1t to t3r, t3s, t3t. Terminals t1r to t3r are terminals to which an R-phase voltage is applied among the three-phase AC voltages, terminals t1s to t3s are terminals to which an S-phase voltage is applied to the three-phase AC voltages, and a terminal t1t ˜t3t is a terminal to which a T-phase voltage is applied among three-phase AC voltages.

  In the “normal mode”, the switch 55 connects the terminal t1r and the terminal t2r, the terminal t1s and the terminal t2s, and the terminal t1t and the terminal t2t. In the “emergency mode”, the switch 55 connects the terminal t1r and the terminal t3r, the terminal t1s and the terminal t3s, and the terminal t1t and the terminal t3t. The terminals t3r, t3s, and t3t are connected to a connection port 25 to which a three-phase AC cable is connected. The terminals t1r, t1s, and t1t correspond to the first terminal, the terminals t2r, t2s, and t2t correspond to the second terminal, and the terminals t3r, t3s, and t3t correspond to the third terminal.

== About the charging method (AC power supply) of electric cars that lack electricity ==
Here, with reference to FIG. 6, a method of charging an electric vehicle lacking electricity will be described. 3 and 6, the PCU 37 and the connection port 25 are used instead of the PCU 34 and the connection port 22, and a three-phase alternating current is used as a cable for connecting the connection ports 25 a and 25 b. It is the same except that the cable 110 is used. Also here, for example, three terminals t1r, t1s, and t1t are depicted as a terminal t1a (first terminal).

  For this reason, when charging the electric vehicle 10b (second electric vehicle) lacking electricity using the electric vehicle 10a (first electric vehicle) having a sufficient remaining battery capacity, the procedure shown in FIG. A similar procedure is performed. Specifically, when the process S100 is performed, the terminal t1a (first terminal) and the terminal t3a (third terminal) of the switch 55a are connected, and the terminal t1b (fourth terminal) and the terminal t3b (first terminal) of the switch 55b. 6 terminals) are connected. When the process S101 is performed, one end of the AC cable 110 is connected to the terminal t3a through the connection port 25a, and the other end of the AC cable 110 is connected to the terminal t3b through the connection port 25b. When the process S102 is performed, the voltage boosted by the DC-DC converter 50a is converted into a three-phase AC voltage by the power conversion circuit 52a that operates as an inverter. The converted three-phase AC voltage is output to the power conversion circuit 52b via the connection port 25a, the AC cable 110, and the connection port 25b. Since the power conversion circuit 52b operates as a rectifier, it outputs a DC voltage to the DC-DC converter 52b. Further, since the DC-DC converter 52b performs a step-down operation, the battery 32b is charged with the stepped-down DC voltage. As a result, the battery 32b of the electric vehicle 10b lacking electricity is charged. In this case, the DC-DC converter 50a and the power conversion circuit 52a correspond to the first voltage conversion circuit, and the DC-DC converter 50b and the power conversion circuit 52b correspond to the second voltage conversion circuit.

  In the above, the electric vehicle 10 which is one embodiment of this invention was demonstrated. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, by using a general cable (DC cable 100 or AC cable 110) between the electric vehicles 10a and 10b, the lacking electric vehicle 10b can be charged. Thus, in this embodiment, since it is not necessary to connect between the electric vehicles 10a and 10b with a special cable, a user's convenience can be improved.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, in the electric vehicle 10 using the PCU 34, it is possible to supply power to the lacking electric vehicle with a DC voltage without passing through the power conversion circuit 52. For this reason, it is possible to charge a battery of an electric vehicle that lacks power with high efficiency.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the electric vehicle 10 using the PCU 37, it is possible to supply power to the lacking electric vehicle with an AC voltage. For this reason, even if it is a case where the long AC cable 110 is used, it can prevent that electric power feeding efficiency deteriorates.

  Further, the user can switch the state of the switch 51 from the “normal mode” to the “emergency mode” at a desired timing by operating the operation unit 23.

  The electric vehicle 10 is provided with an auxiliary battery 33. Then, if the remaining amount of the battery 32 for driving the electric vehicle 10 is exhausted, the control device 30 controls the PCU 34 based on the power supply from the auxiliary battery 33. For this reason, the electric vehicle 10 lacking electricity can be reliably set to the “emergency mode”.

  Further, in the present embodiment, for example, the state of the switch 51 is changed based on the operation result of the operation unit 23, but is not limited thereto. For example, a sensor (not shown) that detects whether or not a cable is connected to the connection port 22 may be installed. Then, based on the detection result from the sensor, the control device 30 may switch the state of the switch 51 to “emergency mode” or “normal mode”. Specifically, the control circuit 30 may set the state of the switch 51 to “emergency mode” when a cable is connected, and set the state of the switch 51 to “normal mode” when the cable is not connected. With such a configuration, the same effects as in the present embodiment can be obtained. In this case, in the process in FIG. 4, first, the process S101 is executed. Then, when the process S101 is executed, the control device 30 executes the process S100. For this reason, a user should just perform process S102, after connecting a cable.

  In addition, the said Example is for making an understanding of this invention easy, and is not for limiting and interpreting this invention. The present invention can be changed and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention includes equivalents thereof.

  For example, the PCU 34 is used in the electric vehicle 10, but may be used in a hybrid vehicle, for example.

  Further, when the voltage of the battery 32 is sufficiently high, the DCU-DC converter 52 may not be used in the PCU 37. That is, the battery 32 and the power conversion circuit 52 may be directly connected. In such a case, the power conversion circuit 52 corresponds to a voltage conversion circuit.

  Further, in the flowchart of FIG. 4, the order of the processing S101 and the processing S100 may be switched.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electric vehicle 20 Normal charge port 21 Quick charge port 22,25 Connection port 23 Operation part 30 Control apparatus 31 Charger 32,33 Battery 34,37 PCU
35 Motor 36 Transmission 50 DC-DC converter 51, 55 Switch 52 Power conversion circuit 100 DC cable 110 AC cable

To achieve the above object, an electric vehicle according to an aspect of the present invention, a battery and a motor, a first terminal of the battery side, and a second terminal of the motor side, it is connected to the other electric vehicle A connection terminal for connecting between the first and second terminals, or connecting between the first and third terminals , based on an operation result . When the drive instruction is input to instruct the driving of the motor, and converts the voltage of the battery to drive the motor output from the first terminal to the second pin, charging the other electric vehicle to case, converts the voltage of the battery output from the first terminal to the third terminal, the regenerative instruction to power regeneration from the motor is input, the from the second pin No. Based on the voltage applied to one terminal There was charging the battery, when charging the battery from the other electric vehicle, a voltage conversion circuit for charging the battery on the basis of the third terminal to the voltage applied to the first terminal, of the battery An auxiliary battery having a capacity smaller than the capacity, and the connection device connects between the first and third terminals based on a power source from the auxiliary battery when the remaining amount of the battery is exhausted. To work .

Claims (7)

Including a first terminal on the battery side, a second terminal on the motor side, and a third terminal to which a cable connected to an external device is connected, and connecting between the first and second terminals, A connection device for connecting the first and third terminals;
When a driving instruction for instructing driving of the motor is input, the voltage of the battery is converted to drive the motor and output from the first terminal to the second or third terminal. A voltage conversion circuit that charges the battery based on a voltage applied from the second or third terminal to the first terminal when a regeneration instruction that instructs regeneration is input.
An electric vehicle comprising: The electric vehicle according to claim 1,
When the driving instruction is input, the voltage of the second terminal is converted into alternating current and output to the motor. When the regeneration instruction is input, the alternating voltage from the motor is converted into direct current and the second terminal is converted. A power conversion circuit that outputs to two terminals;
The voltage conversion circuit includes:
When the driving instruction is input, the voltage of the battery is boosted and output from the first terminal to the second or third terminal, and when the regeneration instruction is input, the second or third terminal A DC-DC converter that steps down the voltage applied to the first terminal to charge the battery,
Electric car characterized by. The electric vehicle according to claim 1,
The voltage conversion circuit includes:
A DC-DC converter that boosts and outputs the voltage of the battery when the driving instruction is input, and charges the battery by reducing the input voltage when the regeneration instruction is input;
When the driving instruction is input, the boosted voltage of the battery is converted into an alternating current and output from the first terminal to the second or third terminal, and from the second or third terminal to the first. A power conversion circuit that converts an alternating voltage applied to a terminal into a direct current and outputs the direct current to the DC-DC converter;
An electric vehicle comprising: An electric vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The connecting device is
Based on the operation result, connecting between the first and second terminals, or connecting between the first and third terminals,
Electric car characterized by. The electric vehicle according to claim 4,
An auxiliary battery having a capacity smaller than that of the battery,
The connecting device operates based on a power source from the auxiliary battery;
Electric car characterized by. An electric vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When the cable is connected to the third terminal, the first and third terminals are connected, and when the cable is connected to the third terminal, the first and second terminals are connected. And further comprising a control device for controlling the connection device,
Electric car characterized by. An electric vehicle battery charging method for charging a second battery of a second electric vehicle from a first battery of the first electric vehicle,
The first electric vehicle is
Including a first terminal on the first battery side, a second terminal on the first motor side, and a third terminal to which one end of a cable is connected, and connecting between the first and second terminals, A first connection device for connecting between the first and third terminals;
When a first drive instruction for instructing driving of the first motor is input, the voltage of the first battery is converted to drive the first motor, and the first terminal is changed to the second or third terminal. When the first regeneration instruction that outputs and instructs the regeneration of the electric power from the first motor is input, the first battery is based on the voltage applied to the first terminal from the second or third terminal. A first voltage conversion circuit for charging
With
The second electric vehicle is
A fourth terminal on the second battery side; a fifth terminal on the second motor side; and a sixth terminal to which the other end of the cable is connected to connect the fourth and fifth terminals. Or a second connection device for connecting between the fourth and sixth terminals,
When a second drive instruction for instructing driving of the second motor is input, the voltage of the second battery is converted to drive the second motor, and the fourth terminal is changed to the fifth or sixth terminal. When the second regeneration instruction that outputs and instructs the regeneration of the electric power from the second motor is input, the second battery is based on the voltage applied from the fifth or sixth terminal to the fourth terminal. A second voltage conversion circuit for charging
With
Connecting the first and third terminals to the first connecting device and connecting the fourth and sixth terminals to the second connecting device;
Connecting one end of the cable to the third terminal and connecting the other end of the cable to the sixth terminal;
Causing the first voltage conversion circuit to input the first drive instruction and causing the second voltage conversion circuit to input the second regeneration instruction;
A battery charging method for an electric vehicle, comprising:

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