The update control device is an update control device that controls update of software for one of electronic devices in a vehicle driven by a replaceable battery, and includes: an update method setting unit for selectively setting an update method of the software to either a first update method by replacement of the battery or a second update method by wireless communication, by using at least one of information indicating a remaining amount of the battery, information indicating a size of data to be used for the update, information indicating an urgency of the update, or information indicating a search result of one or more charging stations in a search target area including a position of the vehicle; and a reservation process executing unit for executing, when the update method is set to the first update method, a reservation process of making a reservation for a replacement battery to a reservation target charging station among the charging stations included in the search result and a storage request process of requesting the reservation target charging station to store the data in the replacement battery.

Methods and systems are provided for controlling a high power output direct current to alternating current converter for a vehicle. In one example, a method may include at a vehicle-on event, automatically operating the converter in a first power output mode, and transitioning to a different mode of operation in response to a transition request being received at a controller of the vehicle. In this way, the different mode of operation may be subject to confirmation via an operator of the vehicle, which may improve operational performance of the direct current to alternating current converter.

An electric charge management device for a vehicle includes a display screen and circuitry. The circuitry sets a first threshold value for a first discharge level of a battery of the vehicle. The first discharge level is greater than a zero state of charge (SOC) of the battery. The circuitry sets a second threshold value for a second discharge level of the battery based on first information associated with the vehicle and/or a user of the vehicle. The circuitry determines a first energy cost for an energy amount between the second discharge level and a current SOC of the battery. The circuitry controls the vehicle to transfer the energy amount to an external electric power system, which is different from the electric charge management device, based on the determined first energy cost.

A method of prompting an operator of an electric vehicle for pre-conditioning the electric vehicle comprises monitoring a location of the electric vehicle, monitoring the temperature of an electric propulsion system within the electric vehicle, accessing historical data of driving patterns for the electric vehicle, monitoring the location of the operator of the electric vehicle, identifying a condition that indicates imminent usage of the electric vehicle based on the location of the vehicle, the location of the operator of the electric vehicle, and the historical data of driving patterns for the electric vehicle, comparing the temperature of the electric propulsion system of the electric vehicle to a pre-determined preferred operating temperature, and sending a prompt to the operator of the electric vehicle suggesting that pre-conditioning of the electric vehicle may be appropriate.

A battery management system for batteries, such as, but not limited to, electric vehicle battery packs and cells, lithium iron phosphate batteries, lead acid batteries, gel batteries, and absorbed gel mat batteries, in engine start applications is disclosed. The battery management system is configured to control the charge and charging of each cell individually. The battery management system may be configured to control the charge of a battery which may consist of a plurality of cells, such as, but not limited to, lithium iron phosphate cells, and in at least one embodiment, the battery may consist of, but is not limited to being formed from, four lithium iron phosphate cells connected in series and a battery management system to ensure proper charge and safe operation.

A method is provided, which includes receiving, at a server, a request from a device to find one or more charge units for charging an electric vehicle at a geographic location. The method includes accessing, by the server, a first database to identify charge units that are associated with the geographic location. The method includes accessing, by the server, a second database to identify discounts available at the charge units identified to be associated with the geographic location. One of the identified discounts on one of the charge units is provided by a first merchant having a business location proximate to the one of the charge units. The method includes sending, by the server, data to the device that identifies one or more of the charge units that are associated with the geographic location, the data further including information regarding one or more discounts identified to be available at one or more of the identified charge units.

A server that manages a plurality of power adjustment resources electrically connectable to a power network includes a determination unit and a first permission unit. The determination unit determines, before a vehicle including a power storage starts charging of the power storage by using the power network, whether or not electric power corresponding to charging power can be supplied to the power network by having at least one of the power adjustment resources respond to the charging of the power storage. When the determination unit determines that electric power can be supplied, the first permission unit permits supply of electric power from the power network to the vehicle.

Disclosed is a vehicle performing autonomous driving. The vehicle includes: a display, a driver to drive the vehicle, an inputter configured to receive destination information related to a destination of the vehicle, a power supply including a battery for supplying electric power to the vehicle, a first sensor module to detect a capacity of the battery, and a controller to determine an expected driving route of the vehicle based on the destination information. The controller calculates an expected power consumption of the vehicle based on the expected driving route, and changes an autonomous driving state of the vehicle in the expected driving route based on the expected power consumption and the detected capacity of the battery.

A charging control device includes an acquirer, a first deriver, a second deriver, and an executer. The acquirer is configured to acquire battery information regarding a battery. The first deriver is configured to derive an estimated charging time estimated as time to be taken to charge the battery in external charging of the battery. The estimated charging time is derived based on the battery information. The second deriver is configured to derive a difference time between the estimated charging time and a set charging time set as time for which the external charging of the battery is to be performed. The executer is configured to perform the external charging of the battery such that the battery is to be cooled throughout the difference time and the battery is to be charged throughout the estimated charging time.

A driving assistance method for assisting a power-intensive driving maneuver of a subject vehicle includes predicting the power-intensive driving maneuver of the subject vehicle, and determining whether driving maneuver criteria, which comprise at least one energy criterion and at least one traffic criterion, are satisfied for the predicted power-intensive driving maneuver. Determining if the at least one energy criterion is satisfied includes determining a peak power profile required for a full execution of the predicted power-intensive driving maneuver, determining an available drive power of the subject vehicle, and evaluating whether the available drive power is sufficient for the peak power profile, wherein the at least one energy criterion is satisfied if the available drive power is sufficient for the peak power profile. Determining if the at least one traffic criterion is satisfied includes detecting a traffic situation, which comprises at least one traffic condition and/or a route topology, in the surroundings of the subject vehicle, and evaluating whether the predicted power-intensive driving maneuver can be fully executed in the detected traffic situation, wherein the traffic criterion is satisfied if the predicted driving maneuver can be fully executed in detected traffic situation. The method further includes displaying a result of determining whether the driving maneuver criteria are satisfied for the predicted power-intensive driving maneuver.