CHARGING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Abstract

A charging system for electric vehicles that includes a plurality of charging stations each adapted to exchange electrical power with at least one electric vehicle. At least one charging profile determination module adapted to: obtain a charging station identifier associated with a first charging station of the plurality of charging stations and a user identifier associated with a user of an electric vehicle to be charged at the first charging station during a charging process. Determining based on the obtained user identifier and the obtained charging station identifier, at least one historical charging process data set relating to the user identifier and the charging station identifier. Estimating at least one charging parameter for the charging process based on the at least one historical charging process data set, and determining the charging curve profile for the charging process based on at least the at least one estimated charging parameter.

Claims

1) Charging system for electric vehicles, comprising: a plurality of charging stations each configured to exchange electrical power with at least one electric vehicle, at least one charging profile determination module configured to: obtain a charging station identifier associated with a first charging station of the plurality of charging stations and a user identifier associated with a user of an electric vehicle to be charged at the first charging station during a charging process, determining, based on the obtained user identifier and the obtained charging station identifier, at least one historical charging process data set relating to the user identifier and the charging station identifier, estimating at least one charging parameter for the charging process based on the at least one historical charging process data set, and determining the charging curve profile for the charging process based on at least the at least one estimated charging parameter.

2. Charging system of claim 1, wherein the charging profile determination module is configured to estimate the maximum allowable charging power for the charging process, the amount of energy for the charging process and/or the charging process time duration.

3. Charging system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one estimated charging parameter is assigned a probability of occurrence, and the charging profile determination module is configured to determine the charging curve profile for the charging process at least based on the at least one estimated charging parameter and the associated probability of occurrence.

4. Charging system according to claim 1, wherein the charging profile determination module is configured to determine the at least one historical charging process data set based on a charging start time point of the charging process.

5. Charging system according to claim 1, wherein the charging profile determination module is configured to estimate the at least one charging parameter based on the state of charge of the battery of the electric vehicle to be charged.

6. Charging system according claim 1, wherein the charging profile determination module is configured to estimate the distance to be traveled by the electric vehicle after charging process based on at least one user data set associated with the user identifier, wherein the user data set is a position information, in particular, a residence address and/or workplace address.

7. Charging system according to claim 1, wherein the charging system comprises at least one memory module, wherein in the memory module a plurality of charging station identifiers is stored, wherein at least one charging station identifier is associated at least one functional attribute of the parking area associated with the charging station, and the charging profile determination module is configured to estimate the at least one charging parameter based on the at least one feature attribute.

8. Charging system according to claim 1, wherein the charging profile determination module is configured to determine the further charging station used by the user in at least one previous charging process, the charging profile determination module is configured to determine a distance between the further charging station used in the previous charging process and the first charging station, and the charging profile determination module is configured to estimate the at least one charging parameter based on the determined distance.

9. Charging system according to claim 1, wherein a determined charging curve profile comprises a plurality of charging curve intervals, and the charging system comprises at least one charging curve profile adjustment module configured to adjust at least one of the charging curve intervals during the performing of the charging process based on at least one real-time information.

10. Method of operating a charging system, in particular, a charging system according to claim 1, comprising: obtaining a charging station identifier associated with a first charging station and a user identifier associated with a user of an electric vehicle to be charged at the first charging station during a charging process, determining, based on the obtained user identifier and the obtained charging station identifier, at least one historical charging process data set relating to the user identifier and the charging station identifier, estimating at least one charging parameter for the charging process based on the at least one historical charging process data set, and determining the charging curve profile for the charging process based on at least the at least one estimated charging parameter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0074] There is now a plurality of possibilities for designing and further developing the charging system according to the application and the method according to the application. In this connection, reference is made on the one hand to the patent claims subordinate to the independent patent claims, and on the other hand to the description of embodiments in connection with the drawing. The drawing shows:

[0075] FIG. 1 a diagram showing exemplary charging curve profiles according to the prior art,

[0076] FIG. 2 a schematic view of an embodiment of a charging system according to the present application,

[0077] FIG. 3 a diagram showing exemplary charging curve profiles according to the present application, and

[0078] FIG. 4 a diagram of an embodiment of a method according to the present application.

[0079] In the following, similar reference signs are used for similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0080] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a charging system 200 according to the present application. The charging system 200 comprises a plurality of charging stations 216, 218 and at least one charging profile determination module 234, for example, in the form of a control module, such as a neural network or a control model based on a machine learning algorithm.

[0081] In the present example, in particular, two charging stations 216 each having one charging point 220 are grouped into a charging (station) arrangement 212. The charging arrangement 212 and the charging stations 216 of the charging arrangement 212, respectively, are connected to a first supply power grid 228, for example, a first local power grid 228, and are located at a first location.

[0082] Further, by way of example, a further charging station 218 having three charging points 220 is arranged. In the present embodiment, the charging station 218 is connected to a further supply power grid 230, for example, a further local power grid 230, and is positioned at a further location.

[0083] A charging point 220 may be formed, for example, in the form of a fixedly attached charging cable. Further, a charging station 216, 218 may include a charging controller and (not shown) charging technology, respectively. In a charging arrangement 212, a common charging control system may also be provided.

[0084] Each charging station 216, 218 is configured to exchange electrical power with a connected electric vehicle 224, 226 in the course of a charging process. In particular, a charging station 216, 218 can supply electrical power to an electric vehicle 224, 226 for charging a vehicle battery. Each charging station 216, 218 obtains the deliverable electrical energy and power, respectively, from the respective power grid 228, 230. A (not shown) charging control system, in particular, comprising a rectifier, may also be arranged within an electric vehicle 224, 226.

[0085] In the present embodiment, the charging profile determination module 234 is arranged and implemented, respectively, in a backend system 244. It shall be understood that in other variants of the application, at least this module may also be (at least partially) arranged and implemented, respectively, in a charging station.

[0086] As can be seen, the charging stations 216, 218 are connected to the backend system 244 (e.g., one or more servers) via a (wireless and/or wired) communication network 232. For communication, the respective elements 216, 218, 234 may comprise suitable communication modules 222, 240.

[0087] Optionally, the charging system 200 may comprise at least one memory module 236, an authentication module 238, and a charging curve profile adjustment module 242. In the present embodiment, these optional modules 236, 238, and 242 are also implemented in the backend system 244. Again, it shall be understood that in other variants of the application, at least a portion of these modules may also be (at least partially) disposed and/or implemented in a charging station (or another computing device).

[0088] Furthermore, it can be seen that parking areas 246 for electric vehicles 224, 226 to be charged are provided at the charging station arrangement 212 and the charging stations 216, respectively. The further charging station 218 also has parking areas 248. For example, the charging station 218 may be located in a supermarket parking lot 248 and the charging station arrangement 212 may be located in a company parking lot 246.

[0089] Each charging station 216, 218 may be assigned a charging identifier that is unique, in particular, system-wide. In addition, users may be registered in the charging system and have, for example, a user account in which user data, such as a user identifier uniquely identifying the user, payment data, address data, etc., may be stored. The charging identifiers and the registered user identifiers may be stored, for example, in the memory module 236.

[0090] Functional attributes may be associated to the charging station identifiers. For example, the charging station identifiers of the charging stations 216 may be assigned (respectively) the functional attribute “company parking lot” or long-term parking lot, and the charging station 218 may be assigned “supermarket” or short-term parking lot. It shall be understood that other designations may be selected.

[0091] In addition, in the memory module 236 a plurality of historical user identifier dependent and charging station identifier dependent charging process data set may be stored. For example, by means of a recording module (not shown), the actual charging parameters, such as the charging power (maximum or average) of a performed charging process, the transferred amount of energy of the performed charging process, and/or the charging process time duration of the performed charging process, may be recorded and stored, for example, in a searchable database of the memory module 236. In particular, the database may be searchable by user identifier and charging station identifier.

[0092] The functionality and the operation, respectively, of the charging system 200 is described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a diagram of an embodiment of a method according to the present application.

[0093] In a first step 401, a charging station identifier associated with a first charging station 216 and a user identifier associated with a user of an electric vehicle 224, 226 to be charged at the first charging station 216 during a charging process may be obtained, by the charging profile determination module 234.

[0094] For example, this may be done as part of an authorization process prior to the start of a charging process. During the authorization process and authorization procedure, respectively, in particular, the charging station 216 may communicate with the backend system 244 and, in particular, provide to the authentication module 238 and preferably to the charging profile determination module 234 at least the user identifier of the user of the electric vehicle 224 to be charged and the charging station identifier of the charging station 216 at which the electric vehicle 224 will be charged. It shall be understood that the user identifier and the charging station identifier may also be provided to the charging profile determination module 234 in other ways.

[0095] In a next step 402, which may be part of a control algorithm, at least one historical charging process data set relating to the user identifier and the charging station identifier may be determined by the charging profile determination module 234 based on the obtained user identifier and the obtained charging station identifier. Preferably, a plurality of charging process data sets may be determined.

[0096] In particular, the charging profile determination module 234 may access the charging process data sets stored in the database and determine the historical charging process data sets associated with the obtained user identifier and charging station identifier, in particular, the historical charging parameters contained therein.

[0097] Preferably, the charging start time point of the (requested) charging process can be determined and taken into account when determining the historical charging process data sets.

[0098] In step 403, which may also be part of the control algorithm, at least one charging parameter for the charging process to be performed may be estimated based on the at least one historical charging process data set, in particular, the plurality of historical charging parameters. For example, the charging parameters may be estimated according to Table 1. In particular, each historical charging parameter may have an associated probability of occurrence that may be considered in the estimation.

[0099] Further, optionally at step 403, the charging profile determination module 234 may be configured to estimate the at least one charging parameter based on the state of charge of the battery of the electric vehicle 224 to be charged and/or the at least one functional attribute of the charging station 216.

[0100] For example, the charging station 216 may request the state of charge of the battery to be charged of the electric vehicle 224 from the electric vehicle 224 and forward the received state of charge to the backend system 244. This may also optionally be taken into account in the estimation at step 403.

[0101] Also, a previous distance traveled between a charging station previously used and the charging station 216 where charging is to be performed and/or a distance to be traveled after charging, for example, from the company parking lot to the residence of the user, may be taken into account in step 403.

[0102] Then, in step 404, the charging curve profile for the charging process to be performed can be determined, in particular, generated, at least based on the at least one estimated charging parameter. In particular, a plurality of charging parameters, such as a maximum charging power, a charging process duration and/or amount of energy to be transferred can be estimated and taken into account in step 404 for determining the charging curve profile.

[0103] After the charging curve profile has been determined, in particular, generated, the charging process can be carried out, at least if the authentication result is positive.

[0104] Exemplary charging curve profiles according to the present application at a charging station are shown in FIG. 3. For a first charging process, based on an estimated charging process duration of at least t.sub.0 to t.sub.5, a charging curve profile 302 with a (lower compared to FIG. 1) maximum charging power can be reserved. However, due to the longer reserved charging duration, the same amount of energy may be reserved for the charging process (compared to FIG. 1). This allows a charging curve profile 304 with a higher (compared to FIG. 1) maximum charging power to be reserved for a second charging process with an estimated shorter charging process duration from t.sub.1 to t.sub.3. Furthermore, for a third charging process with an estimated charging process duration from t.sub.2 to t.sub.4, a charging curve profile 306 with a further maximum charging power can be reserved.

[0105] Advantageously, as has been described above, in the present application, the position information of the charging station with respect to the user's historical data may be taken into account in determining the charging curve profile. For example, the user may charge his electric vehicle at a company parking lot of his employer. Such a charging process is, with regard to the time available for the charging process, a different charging process, which is carried out, for example, during a shopping trip in the parking lot of a supermarket.

[0106] The historical data of the user to be used for determining the charging curve profile can be available in particular filtered by position information. That is, only the user's historical data at a particular location or charging station is used to determine the charging curve profile. In a further embodiment, the user-specific data may include prioritization information of the user. Advantageously, this makes it possible for a charging curve profile to be determined taking prioritization into account. For example, users who always charge for a short period of time at a charging station can be prioritized higher than users who usually charge their electric vehicle for a long period of time at a charging station.

[0107] All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

[0108] The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

[0109] Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.