Management system for exchange electric storage devices and management method for exchange electric storage devices

• US 8,525,475 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 09/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Toru, Ichikawa, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, MANUEL J
• Application Number:
  US12/975,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20110156662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 320/DIG.34, 104/34
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A PC executes a program including a step of selecting an exchange electric storage device with the shortest charging history when a charging request is present, inventory of exchange electric storage devices with completed charging is available, the number of inventory days is equal to or less than A days, and the sufficient number of storage locations is ensured, a step of selecting an exchange electric storage device with the longest charging history when the sufficient number of storage locations is not ensured, and a step of executing charging control when the selected exchange electric storage device is connected to a charger.

Claims

1. A management system for exchange electric storage devices for managing a sequence used for exchanging a plurality of exchange electric storage devices stored in storage locations with an electric storage device installed on a vehicle, comprising:

an estimation unit that estimates an inventory number of exchange electric storage devices that changes due to exchange of the exchange electric storage devices;

a first determination unit that determines whether or not the inventory number exceeds a threshold value having, as an upper limit, a number of the exchange electric storage devices that can be stored in the storage locations; and

a first selection unit that preferentially selects, as an exchange object for the electric storage device installed on the vehicle, an exchange electric storage device with a largest degree of deterioration from among the plurality of exchange electric storage devices when the inventory number is determined to exceed the threshold value by the first determination unit.

2. The management system for exchange electric storage devices according to claim 1, wherein the first selection unit preferentially selects, as the exchange object, an exchange electric storage device with a smallest degree of deterioration from among the plurality of exchange electric storage devices when the inventory number is determined not to exceed the threshold value by the first determination unit.

3. The management system for exchange electric storage devices according to claim 1, further comprising a calculation unit that calculates a deterioration degree of each of the exchange electric storage devices on the basis of a charging depth, a number of charging cycles, and a number of years in use of each of the exchange electric storage devices.

4. The management system for exchange electric storage devices according to claim 1, further comprising:

a first acquisition unit that acquires a storage period of each of the plurality of exchange electric storage devices;

a second determination unit that determines whether or not the storage period of at least any one of the plurality of exchange electric storage devices exceeds a preset storage period; and

a second selection unit that preferentially selects, as the exchange object, an exchange electric storage device with a longest storage period from among the plurality of exchange electric storage devices, regardless of the inventory number, when the storage period of at least any one of the plurality of exchange electric storage devices is determined to exceed the preset storage period by the second determination unit.

5. The management system for exchange electric storage devices according to claim 4, further comprising:

a second acquisition unit that acquires a state of charge of each of the plurality of exchange electric storage devices;

a third determination unit that determines whether or not the state of charge of at least any one of the plurality of exchange electric storage devices is a preset state with completed charging; and

a third selection unit that preferentially selects, as the exchange object, an exchange electric storage device for which the state of charge is closest to the preset state of charge from among the plurality of exchange electric storage devices, regardless of the inventory number and the storage period, when none of the plurality of exchange electric storage devices is determined to be in the preset state by the third determination unit.

6. A management system for exchange electric storage devices for managing a sequence used for exchanging a plurality of exchange electric storage devices stored in storage locations with an electric storage device installed on a vehicle, comprising:

an estimation unit that estimates an inventory number of exchange electric storage devices that changes due to exchange of the exchange electric storage devices;

a first determination unit that determines whether or not the inventory number exceeds a threshold value having, as an upper limit, a number of the exchange electric storage devices that can be stored in the storage locations; and

a first selection unit that preferentially selects, as a disposal object, an exchange electric storage device with a largest degree of deterioration from among the plurality of exchange electric storage devices when the inventory number is determined to exceed the threshold value by the first determination unit.

7. A management method for exchange electric storage devices for managing a sequence used for exchanging a plurality of exchange electric storage devices stored in storage locations with an electric storage device installed on a vehicle, comprising:

estimating an inventory number of exchange electric storage devices that changes due to exchange of the exchange electric storage devices;

determining whether or not the inventory number exceeds a threshold value having, as an upper limit, a number of the exchange electric storage devices that can be stored in the storage locations; and

preferentially selecting, as an exchange object for the electric storage device installed on the vehicle, an exchange electric storage device with a largest degree of deterioration from among the plurality of exchange electric storage devices when the inventory number is determined to exceed the threshold value.