Battery charging time optimization system

• US 7,911,184 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Tesla Motors Incorporated (Tesla Inc.)
• Inventors: Kohn, Scott Ira
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAMADAN, RAMY O
• Application Number:
  US12/590,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 320/150, 320/152
• US Class Current: 320/150
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007194 of the battery
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 40/00 Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 320/11 Prioritized supply of power or power supply compensation

Abstract

A system for optimizing battery pack charging is provided. In this system, during charging the coupling of auxiliary systems (e.g., battery cooling systems) to the external power source are delayed so that the battery pack charge rate may be optimized, limited only by the available power. Once surplus power is available, for example as the requirements of the charging system decrease, the auxiliary system or systems may be coupled to the external power source without degrading the performance of the charging system.

Claims

1. A method for optimizing the charging cycle of a battery pack of an electric vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

electrically connecting a power control subsystem of said electric vehicle to an external power source, wherein said power control subsystem may draw up to a maximum power from said external power source;

monitoring a parameter corresponding to an electric vehicle auxiliary system;

comparing said parameter to a first preset value when said power control subsystem is electrically connected to said external power source, said first preset value corresponding to a threshold requirement of said electric vehicle auxiliary system, wherein said method comprises the following steps when said parameter is less than said first preset value;

determining an optimal charge rate for said battery pack, wherein said optimal charge rate determining step is performed by a charging controller, and wherein said optimal charge rate is limited by said maximum power;

charging said battery pack at said optimal charge rate;

determining whether surplus power is available from said external power source based on said optimal charge rate;

disabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system from drawing power from said external power source when said battery pack is charging at said optimal charge rate and when no surplus power is available; and

enabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system to draw power from said external power source via said power control subsystem when said battery pack is charging at said optimal charge rate and when surplus power is available; and

wherein said method comprises the following steps when said parameter is greater than said first preset value;

enabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system to draw power from said external power source via said power control subsystem; and

charging said battery pack at a suboptimal charge rate, wherein said suboptimal charge rate is limited by said maximum power reduced by a power drain corresponding to said electric vehicle auxiliary system electrically connected to said power control subsystem.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of enabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system to draw power from said external power source via said power control subsystem when said parameter is greater than said first preset value further comprises the steps of:

comparing said parameter to a second preset value, wherein said second preset value is less than said first preset value;

disabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system from drawing power from said external power source when said parameter is less than said second preset value; and

adjusting a current charge rate for said battery pack from said suboptimal charge rate to said optimal charge rate when said parameter is less than said second preset value.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

comparing said parameter to a second preset value, wherein said second preset value is less than said first preset value; and

enabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system to draw power from said external power source via said power control subsystem when said parameter is greater than said second preset value and surplus power is available.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of disabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system from drawing power from said external power source when said parameter is less than said second preset value.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a battery pack characteristic;

comparing said battery pack characteristic with a target value for said battery pack characteristic; and

terminating battery pack charging when said parameter is less than said second preset value and when said battery pack characteristic matches said target value for said battery pack characteristic.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a battery pack state-of-charge (SOC);

comparing said battery pack SOC with a target SOC; and

terminating battery pack charging when said parameter is less than said second preset value and when said battery pack SOC is greater than said target SOC.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a battery pack characteristic;

comparing said battery pack characteristic with a target value for said battery pack characteristic; and

terminating battery pack charging when said battery pack characteristic matches said target value for said battery pack characteristic.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

comparing said parameter to a second preset value, wherein said second preset value is less than said first preset value; and

disabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system from drawing power from said external power source when said parameter is less than said second preset value and when said battery pack characteristic matches said target value for said battery pack characteristic.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a battery pack SOC;

comparing said battery pack SOC with a target SOC; and

terminating battery pack charging when said battery pack SOC is greater than said target SOC.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

comparing said parameter to a second preset value, wherein said second preset value is less than said first preset value; and

disabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system from drawing power from said external power source when said parameter is less than said second preset value and when said battery pack SOC is greater than said target SOC.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a battery pack characteristic;

periodically comparing said battery pack characteristic with a target value for said battery pack characteristic;

terminating battery pack charging when said battery pack characteristic matches said target value for said battery pack characteristic and charging said battery pack at said optimal charge rate when said battery pack characteristic is less than said target value for said battery pack characteristic;

periodically comparing said parameter to a second preset value, wherein said second preset value is less than said first preset value;

enabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system to draw power from said external power source via said power control subsystem when said parameter is greater than said second preset value and surplus power is available; and

disabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system from drawing power from said external power source when said parameter is less than said second preset value.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring a battery pack SOC;

periodically comparing said battery pack SOC with a target SOC;

terminating battery pack charging when said battery pack SOC is greater than said target SOC and charging said battery pack at said optimal charge rate when said battery pack SOC is less than said target SOC;

periodically comparing said parameter to a second preset value, wherein said second preset value is less than said first preset value;

enabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system to draw power from said external power source via said power control subsystem when said parameter is greater than said second preset value and surplus power is available; and

disabling said electric vehicle auxiliary system from drawing power from said external power source when said parameter is less than said second preset value.