JP5569064B2 - Vehicle route guidance device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle route guidance apparatus that performs vehicle route guidance.

  Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for supplying power to a group composed of a plurality of power consumers from an electric power company. According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, surplus power of a certain power consumer can be distributed to other power consumers that lack power in the group.

JP 2002-010499 A JP 2005-168258 A

  The above-described allocation of surplus power can be applied to a power consumption area (hereinafter referred to as a power surplus area) where power is surplus and a power consumption area (hereinafter referred to as a power shortage area) where power is insufficient. Conceivable. That is, the power supply is adjusted to be balanced by supplying surplus power in the power surplus area from the power surplus area to the power shortage area.

  However, for example, when the power line network connecting the power consumption areas is disconnected due to a disaster or the like, it is difficult to adjust the power supply, and an imbalance of the supplied power occurs between the power consumption areas. In addition, even in times other than disasters, an imbalance in power supply between different power consumption areas may occur between different groups of electric utilities not connected by the power line network.

  Therefore, the inventors have found a novel technology that can reduce the excess or deficiency (ie, surplus or deficiency) of the power supplied in the power consumption area by using the in-vehicle battery instead of using the power line network.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle route guidance device that alleviates excess or deficiency of power supply in a power consumption area.

  A vehicle route guidance device according to the present invention includes route guidance means for guiding a vehicle, wherein the route guidance means discharges the in-vehicle battery of the vehicle in a power insufficient region, a route for charging the in-vehicle battery in the surplus region. The vehicle is guided by one of a route for charging the vehicle-mounted battery of the vehicle in a surplus power area and a path for discharging the vehicle battery of the vehicle in a power-deficient area.

  In this vehicle route guidance device, the vehicle guides the vehicle along the route by the route guidance means, so that the vehicle receives power from the surplus power area by charging the on-board battery, and the vehicle moves to the power shortage area by discharging from the on-board battery. Provide power. Therefore, it is possible to alleviate the excess or deficiency of the supplied power in the power consuming area by using the on-vehicle battery of the vehicle regardless of the situation of the power line network.

  In addition, the route guidance means may perform a route guidance that is more forceful than usual in a disaster. In this case, even when a significant power shortage occurs during a disaster, sufficient power can be secured in a power shortage area.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the vehicle route guidance apparatus which eases the excess and deficiency of the power supply of a power consumption area is provided.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle route guidance system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the vehicle route guidance apparatus of FIG. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the vehicle route guidance system of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a manner in which the request content is displayed on the display unit in the cooperation request step illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process performed in the vehicle route guidance apparatus in the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle route guidance system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the vehicle route guidance system of FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a process performed in the vehicle route guidance apparatus in the process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same or equivalent element, and the description is abbreviate | omitted when description overlaps.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle route guidance system 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. This system 1 includes a vehicle 10 such as an electric vehicle (EV) or a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV), an information center 20 that performs information communication with the vehicle 10, and a distribution management center 30A of a distribution company in each district. 30B.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the vehicle route guidance device 12 mounted on each vehicle 10. The vehicle route guidance device 12 includes an ECU (electronic control unit) 13, a navigation unit 14 that exchanges data and signals with the ECU 13, a center communication unit 15, a battery remaining amount detection unit 16, and a display unit 17. Yes.

  The ECU 13 controls the entire apparatus, and includes, for example, a computer including a CPU, ROM, RAM, and the like.

  The navigation unit 14 is a part that provides route guidance to a destination or detects position information of the host vehicle, and includes a map database and a GPS function.

  The center communication unit 15 is a part that actually transmits and receives various types of information to be described later with the information center 20 in the vehicle route guidance device 12.

  The remaining battery level detection unit 16 is a part that detects the remaining battery level based on the battery state (SOC).

  The display unit 17 is, for example, a liquid crystal monitor, and is a part that displays a route guidance map and the like sent from the navigation unit 14.

  Here, in the vehicle route guidance device 12, the ECU 13 calculates the “power margin” of the vehicle. This power margin is calculated from the remaining battery level detected by the remaining battery level detection unit 16 and the travel distance to the next scheduled charging site predicted by the navigation unit 14. The calculated power margin is transmitted to the information center 20 via the center communication unit 15.

  In addition to the information communication with the travel route guidance device 12 of the vehicle 10 described above, the information center 20 also performs information communication with the power distribution management centers 30A and 30B in the A district and the B district.

  Specifically, information about the distribution status of each region is received from each distribution management center 30A, 30B. The information regarding the power distribution status includes information indicating that there is a shortage of power to be supplied to the management area and that the power is surplus.

  Next, the procedure of vehicle route guidance in the vehicle route guidance system 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  The information center 20 receives information on the power distribution status from the power distribution management centers 30A and 30B in the A district and the B district at all times or in a timely manner. It is determined whether or not it is possible to transfer power through the power line network between the generated A area (power shortage area) and B area (power surplus area) where power is excessive (step S11). For this determination, it is possible to use a request for cooperation from a distribution company.

  In a situation where power transmission / reception through the power line network is not possible, that is, in a situation where power transmission / reception by the vehicle 10 can be utilized, as Step S12, there is an electric power margin from the vehicle 10 scheduled to pass through the surrounding area of the A area and the surrounding area of the B area. Receive the degree. More specifically, an instruction is sent from the information center 20 to each vehicle 10 to transmit the power margin, and the ECU 13 of the vehicle route guidance device 12 automatically receives the instruction in each vehicle 10 that has received the instruction. The power margin of the vehicle is calculated, and the power margin is transmitted to the information center 20 via the center communication unit 15. The information center 20 that has received the power margin from each vehicle 10 determines a vehicle 10 suitable for power transfer based on the power margin. Among the vehicles scheduled to pass through the power shortage region, the vehicle with the high power margin is selected, and conversely, the vehicles scheduled to pass through the power surplus region are selected as vehicles with a low power margin (that is, A vehicle capable of charging more electric power) is selected.

  Subsequently, in step S13, the information center 20 sends a cooperation request to the vehicle 10 determined as the power transfer target vehicle, and requests cooperation from the user (driver, etc.) of the vehicle. In such a cooperation request, as shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 17 of the vehicle route guidance apparatus 12 can be used, or speaker sound can be used. The contents of the cooperation request include, for example, information specifying a region and a request for charging, such as “discharge of the in-vehicle battery in area A where power is insufficient” and “charging the in-vehicle battery in area B where power is surplus” Or information indicating whether a discharge is requested.

  In order to allow the user to respond to the cooperation request, some incentive may be given. For example, in the case of a charge request to a user, the user is charged (purchased power) at a lower price than usual, whereas in the case of a discharge request, the user is discharged (power sold) at a higher price than usual. Conceivable. Even if the electric power company bears the cost for such incentives, it is advantageous because it is cheaper than the capital investment for mitigating the excess and deficiency of the power supply.

  Then, in step S14, if the user's agreement is not obtained, the process is terminated as it is, and if the user's agreement is obtained, the process proceeds to step S15.

  In step S <b> 15, the information center 20 sends information including route guidance along the content agreed to by the vehicle user to the vehicle 10. In other words, the information center 20 sends a route for arriving at the original destination after passing through the A area for vehicles that have been agreed to “discharge of the vehicle-mounted battery in the A area, which is a power-deficient area”. The vehicle 10 is instructed to be guided. Alternatively, the information center 20 arrives at the original destination after passing through the B area for a vehicle that has been agreed to "charging the vehicle battery in the B area, which is a surplus power area". Instruct the vehicle 10 to be guided on the route. The information center 20 acquires traffic jam information in advance, and performs route guidance for each vehicle 10 in consideration of this traffic jam information.

  When the center communication unit 15 receives the route guidance information from the information center 20 in the center communication unit 15, the vehicle route guidance device 12 of the vehicle 10 uses the navigation unit 14 to follow the route guidance information and moves the vehicle 10 to the route. I will guide you. That is, the vehicle 10 is guided by a route that arrives at the destination after passing through the power shortage region (A district) or a route that arrives at the destination after passing through the surplus power region (B district).

  Another route may be a route that passes through both the power surplus area and the power shortage area. In this case, it is preferable that the information center 20 selects the vehicle 10 that straddles the boundary between the power surplus area and the power shortage area as the target vehicle.

  When the vehicle 10 arrives at a power shortage area as a transit point, the user stops at a predetermined facility (such as a charge / discharge station) in the area in accordance with the cooperation request, discharges the vehicle-mounted battery, and takes a break. On the other hand, when the vehicle 10 arrives at a surplus power area that is a transit point, the user charges the in-vehicle battery in accordance with the cooperation request. In addition, when the vehicle 10 passes through both the power surplus area and the power shortage area, either in a mode in which the vehicle 10 is charged in the power surplus area and then discharged in the power shortage area, or in a mode in which the vehicle 10 is charged in the power shortage area and then discharged in the power surplus area. Good.

  The vehicle route guidance device 12 can confirm whether or not charging or discharging has been performed by the battery remaining amount detection unit 16. In step S16, it is determined whether or not charging or discharging by the user is completed. If not completed, step S15 is repeated.

When the charging and discharging by the user is completed, what kind of contribution has been made to the electric power company is fed back to the vehicle route guidance device 12 of the user vehicle (step S17), and all the processes are ended. For example, since the peak power can be secured, the vehicle route guidance device 12 indicates to the user as feedback that it has contributed to CO ₂ reduction.

  In the vehicle route guidance in the vehicle route guidance system 1, the vehicle route guidance device 12 of the vehicle 10 executes the processing flow shown in FIG.

  In step S13 described above, when there is a cooperation request from the information center 20 to the vehicle 10, the vehicle route guidance device 12 displays the content of the request on the display unit 17 in step S21. A request for charging or discharging is shown to the user (see FIG. 4).

  Next, the vehicle route guidance apparatus 12 determines whether charging (or discharging) was performed by the user using the battery remaining amount detection part 16 grade | etc., As step S22.

  When the charging is completed, the vehicle route guidance device 12 displays the feedback on the display unit 17 and ends the process as step S23.

  As described in detail above, the vehicle route guidance device 12 includes the ECU 13, the navigation unit 14, and the display unit 17 that function as route guidance means for guiding the vehicle 10, and the route guidance means includes a power surplus area (A In the district) where the vehicle battery of the vehicle 10 is charged, in the power shortage region (B district), the vehicle 10 discharges the vehicle battery, and in the power surplus region The vehicle 10 is guided along one of the routes for discharging the on-vehicle battery of the vehicle.

  In this vehicle route guidance device 12, the vehicle 10 receives power from the A area, which is a surplus power region, by charging the in-vehicle battery by guiding the vehicle 10 through the above-mentioned route by the route guidance means. The electric power is supplied to the B area where the vehicle 10 is a power shortage area by the discharge. Therefore, the excess or deficiency of the supplied power in the power consumption area can be alleviated by using the in-vehicle battery of the vehicle 10 regardless of the state of the power line network.

  Moreover, this invention can supply electric power effectively with respect to an electric power shortage area | region also at the time of a disaster as another embodiment. In other words, the on-board battery of a vehicle (volunteer vehicle) that passes around the power-deficient area is used as an emergency power source in the event of a disaster.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a vehicle route guidance system 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the vehicle route guidance system 1 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the system 1A includes a vehicle 10, an information center 20, and a distribution management center 30C of a distribution company in the C area. In C area in 2nd Embodiment, the power shortage has arisen by disasters, such as an earthquake, and the power distribution management center 30C is reporting the power shortage of C area with respect to the information center 20. FIG.

  Hereinafter, the procedure of the vehicle route guidance in the vehicle route guidance system 1A of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S31, the information center 20 receives information on the power distribution status from the power distribution management center 30C and determines that the power supply is insufficient or stopped in the C area. In the subsequent step S32, the information center 20 The information center 20 that receives the power margin from the vehicle 10 scheduled to pass through the area and receives the power margin from each vehicle 10 determines a vehicle 10 suitable for power supply based on the power margin. That is, a vehicle with a high power margin is selected from vehicles scheduled to pass through the C district. Since it is at the time of a disaster, it is preferable to select from a parked vehicle as well as a traveling vehicle over a wider range.

  Subsequently, in step S33, the information center 20 sends a cooperation request to the vehicle 10 determined as the power supply target vehicle, and requests the user of the vehicle to cooperate. The contents of the request for cooperation include, for example, information such as “discharge of on-vehicle battery in area C where power was stopped due to a disaster”.

  Then, in step S34, if the user's agreement is not obtained, the process is terminated as it is. If the user's agreement is obtained, the process proceeds to step S35.

  In step S <b> 35, the information center 20 sends information including route guidance along the content agreed to by the vehicle user to the vehicle 10. In other words, the information center 20 passes a route that arrives at the original destination after passing through the C district for a vehicle that has been agreed to “discharge of the on-vehicle battery in the C district where power was stopped due to a disaster”. The vehicle 10 is instructed to be guided. The information center 20 acquires traffic jam information in advance, and performs route guidance for each vehicle 10 in consideration of this traffic jam information.

  When the vehicle 10 arrives at a power shortage area that is a transit point, the user stops at a predetermined facility in the area in accordance with the request for cooperation and discharges the in-vehicle battery. Because it is a disaster, non-drivers are asked to get out of the car and change to public transport. It is determined in step S36 whether or not the discharge by the user has been completed. If it has not been completed, step S35 is repeated.

  When the discharge by the user is completed, what kind of contribution has been made to the disaster countermeasures is fed back to the vehicle route guidance device 12 of the user vehicle (step S37), and all the processes are terminated.

  In the vehicle route guidance in the vehicle route guidance system 1A, the vehicle route guidance device 12 of the vehicle 10 executes the processing flow shown in FIG.

  In step S33 described above, when there is a cooperation request from the information center 20 to the vehicle 10, the vehicle route guidance device 12 displays the content of the request on the display unit 17 in step S41, for example, a guidance route proposal, Show the user a request to charge or discharge. Since it is a disaster, the user's mobile phone or personal computer is also contacted as a more compelling request.

  Next, the vehicle route guidance apparatus 12 determines whether discharge was implemented by the user using the battery remaining amount detection part 16 grade | etc., As step S42.

  When the discharge is completed, the vehicle route guidance apparatus 12 displays the feedback on the display unit 17 and ends the process as step S43.

  Also in the second embodiment described above, the vehicle route guidance device 12 guides the vehicle 10 by the route guidance means along the route, so that the vehicle 10 is discharged to the C district where the power is insufficient due to the discharge from the in-vehicle battery. Provide power. Therefore, it is possible to alleviate the shortage of supply power in the power consumption area by using the on-board battery of the vehicle 10 regardless of the power line network situation, and the area where the power is effectively stopped (C Can supply power to the district.

  In particular, the route guidance means contact the user's mobile phone or personal computer as more compelling route guidance than usual, so even if there is a significant power shortage in the event of a disaster, there will be a power shortage area Can secure sufficient power.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Vehicle, 13 ... ECU, 14 ... Navigation part, 17 ... Display part, 20 ... Information center.

Claims (2)

Route guidance means for guiding the vehicle ;
A center communication unit that receives information including route guidance of the vehicle from an information center that determines whether the area is a power shortage area or a power surplus area , and
The route guidance means
A navigation unit that provides a guidance route according to the route guidance of the information received by the center communication unit;
A display unit for displaying a guide route provided by the navigation unit;
Have
When the information is received from the information center, the navigation unit charges the in-vehicle battery of the vehicle in a surplus power area, or charges the in-vehicle battery of the vehicle in the surplus power area and in a power shortage area. A vehicle route guidance device that displays the route on the display unit so as to guide the vehicle along a route that discharges the in-vehicle battery of the vehicle. In the case where the information received by the center communication unit from the information center indicates that the disaster is occurring, the route guidance means displays a route on the display unit, in addition to charging or discharging. The vehicle route guidance apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the request is presented to a user.

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