CHARGING FACILITY GUIDANCE DEVICE, CHARGING FACILITY GUIDANCE METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM

A charging facility guidance device includes: a communication unit 110 that makes communication with a vehicle-installed communication device and with a charging facility C; and a calculation unit 130 that calculates a route for charging in which the charging facility C where an electric vehicle 200 is to be charged is incorporated between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination, on the basis of vehicle notification information stored in a storage unit 160, received by the communication unit 110, and including identification information about the electric vehicle 200, positional information about the electric vehicle 200, information indicating a charging state of the electric vehicle 200, and round trip route information about a round trip between the predetermined start point and the predetermined destination, the round trip being made by the electric vehicle 200 equipped with the vehicle-installed communication device.

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application 2020-045973, filed on 17 Mar. 2020, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a charging facility guidance device, a charging facility guidance method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program.

Related Art

There have recently been known electric vehicles caused to travel by electric motors driven by electric power supplied from secondary cells (batteries). Such electric vehicles include battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), and plug-in fuel cell vehicles (PFCVs).

A technique of determining an intended charging quantity on the basis a history of use of an electric vehicle or a battery residual charge quantity in the electric vehicle is known (see patent document 1, for example).Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 2015-230719

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When a residual charge quantity in an electric vehicle is reduced, the electric vehicle is required to travel to a charging facility for charging using the residual charge quantity. In particular, if the electric vehicle repeats a round trip regularly for a purpose such as commuting or lessons for a child, for example, it is convenient if the electric vehicle is given guidance to a charging facility existing along a route of the round trip or near the route when a residual charge quantity is at an appropriate value.

An object of the present invention is to provide a charging facility guidance device, a charging facility guidance method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program allowing an electric vehicle to be given guidance to a charging facility existing along a route of a round trip made repeatedly and regularly by the electric vehicle or near the route when a residual charge quantity is at an appropriate value.

To attain the foregoing object, an aspect of the present invention provides a charging facility guidance device100including: a communication unit (communication unit110described later, for example) that makes communication with a vehicle-installed communication device (vehicle-installed communication device282described later, for example) and with a charging facility (charging facility C described later, for example); a calculation unit (calculation unit130described later, for example) that calculates a route for charging in which the charging facility where an electric vehicle (electric vehicle200described later, for example) is to be charged is incorporated between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination, on the basis of vehicle notification information stored in a storage unit (storage unit160described later, for example), received by the communication unit, and including identification information about the electric vehicle, positional information about the electric vehicle, information indicating a charging state of the electric vehicle, and round trip route information about a round trip between the predetermined start point and the predetermined destination, the round trip being made by the electric vehicle equipped with the vehicle-installed communication device; and a management unit (management unit140described later, for example) that outputs information about the route for charging calculated by the calculation unit.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a charging facility guidance method implemented by a charging facility guidance device including a communication unit that makes communication with a vehicle-installed communication device and with a charging facility. The method includes: calculating a route for charging in which the charging facility where an electric vehicle is to be charged is incorporated between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination, on the basis of vehicle notification information stored in a storage unit, received by the communication unit, and including identification information about the electric vehicle, positional information about the electric vehicle, information indicating a charging state of the electric vehicle, and round trip route information about a round trip between the predetermined start point and the predetermined destination, the round trip being made by the electric vehicle equipped with the vehicle-installed communication device; and outputting information about the route for charging.

Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a charging facility guidance device to perform a process. The charging facility guidance device includes a communication unit that makes communication with a vehicle-installed communication device and with a charging facility.

The process includes: calculating a route for charging in which the charging facility where an electric vehicle is to be charged is incorporated between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination, on the basis of vehicle notification information stored in a storage unit, received by the communication unit, and including identification information about the electric vehicle, positional information about the electric vehicle, information indicating a charging state of the electric vehicle, and round trip route information about a round trip between the predetermined start point and the predetermined destination, the round trip being made by the electric vehicle equipped with the vehicle-installed communication device; and outputting information about the route for charging.

Thus, if there arises a need to charge the electric vehicle on the way to work, for example, and if a residual charge quantity is such a quantity allowing the electric vehicle to arrive at the nearest charging facility in a self-propelled manner, the electric vehicle can be given guidance to the charging facility. In particular, a degree of traveling causing the need for charging can be calculated easily, particularly along a round trip route of a round trip made regularly by the electric vehicle, thereby providing appropriate timing for guiding the charging facility.

In this case, it is preferable that the calculation unit avoids incorporating a busy charging facility, and preferentially incorporates a charging facility having more room than the busy charging facility in the route for charging. This makes it possible to prevent the electric vehicles intended to be charged from concentrating on the predetermined charging facility.

In this case, the vehicle notification information preferably includes information about a state of use of the electric vehicle, and the calculation unit preferably calculates the charging facility to be incorporated in the route for charging on the basis of the vehicle notification information. Thus, a traveling distance permitted by a residual charge quantity in the electric vehicle can be calculated more correctly. As a result, it becomes possible to calculate a candidate for the charging facility to become reliably reachable by traveling in a self-propelled manner using electricity corresponding to the residual charge quantity.

In this case, it is preferable that a facility reservation unit (facility reservation unit170described later, for example) is further provided. The facility reservation unit communicates with the charging facility through the communication unit to make a reservation for charging at the charging facility along the route for charging calculated by the calculation unit. This makes it possible to avoid trouble occurring if all chargers are busy at the time of arrival at the charging facility, so that the electric vehicle can be charged reliably without delay at the charging facility.

The present invention allows provision of a charging facility guidance device, a charging facility guidance method, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program allowing an electric vehicle to be given guidance to a charging facility existing along a route of a round trip made repeatedly and regularly by the electric vehicle or near the route when a residual charge quantity is at an appropriate value.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below by referring to the drawings.FIG. 1is a view of a vehicle system1including a charging facility guidance device100. In the embodiment described below, a route for commuting will be explained as a route for a round trip by an electric vehicle.

The vehicle system1of the embodiment includes the charging facility guidance device100, electric vehicles200-1to200-n(n is an integer of greater than 1), and a charging facility C. The charging facility guidance device100, each of the electric vehicles200-1to200-n, and each of charging facilities C-1to C-n are communicable with each other through a network NW. The network NW includes the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a public line, a provider device, a dedicated line, a wireless base station, etc. In the embodiment, each of the electric vehicles200-1to200-nstop at parking lots used by respective owners of the electric vehicles200-1to200-n.

The charging facility C is a charging stand available for charging of an electric vehicle. As a specific example, the charging stand makes a reservation for charging for an electric vehicle with a reduced residual charge quantity capable of arriving at the charging stand in a self-propelled manner using electricity corresponding to the residual charge quantity, and charges the electric vehicle200guided by the charging facility guidance device100. On the basis of the position of each of the electric vehicles200-1to200-nand information indicating the charging state of each of the electric vehicles200-1to200-n, the charging facility guidance device100gives the electric vehicle200guidance to the charging facility C reachable by the electric vehicle200using electricity corresponding to the residual charge quantity in the electric vehicle200.

Each of the electric vehicles200-1to200-ngenerates vehicle notification information including vehicle identification information, vehicle positional information, information indicating the charging state of a vehicle, round trip route information about a round trip between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination made by the electric vehicle200, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200, and transmits the generated vehicle notification information to the charging facility guidance device100. The charging facility guidance device100receives the vehicle notification information transmitted from each of the electric vehicles200-1to200-n. The charging facility guidance device100acquires the vehicle identification information, the vehicle positional information, the information indicating the charging state of a vehicle, the round trip route information, and the information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200included in each of one or more of the acquired pieces of vehicle notification information. The charging facility guidance device100stores the acquired one or more pieces of vehicle identification information, vehicle positional information, information indicating the charging state of a vehicle, round trip route information, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200in association with each other.

Each of the electric vehicles200-1to200-nmay or may not be a self-driving vehicle. Using a self-driving vehicle as an electric vehicle to be given guidance allows the electric vehicle to be guided to the charging facility C while a residual charge quantity is at an appropriate value.

If a residual charge quantity in the transmitted vehicle notification information about each of the electric vehicles200-1to200-nis small and thus this electric vehicle200is required to be charged, this electric vehicle200transmits a guidance instruction to the charging facility guidance device100for instructing guidance of the electric vehicle200to the charging facility C at an appropriate position from the electric vehicle200.

The charging facility guidance device100derives an arrival time indicating a time when the electric vehicle to be guided can arrive at the position of the predetermined charging facility C on the basis of the position of the electric vehicle to be guided and the position of the predetermined charging facility C. The charging facility guidance device100generates a vehicle response directed to the electric vehicles200-1to200-nincluding information indicating that the guidance has been instructed and information indicating the arrival time, and transmits the generated vehicle response to the electric vehicles200-1to200-n.

The following describes the details of the electric vehicles200-1to200-n, the charging facility guidance device100, and the charging facilities C-1to C-n included in the vehicle system1. An optional electric vehicle belonging to the electric vehicles200-1to200-nwill be called an electric vehicle200. Likewise, an optional charging facility belonging to the charging facilities C-1to C-n will be called a charging facility C.

The electric vehicle200included in the vehicle system1is a four-wheel mobile unit, for example. The electric vehicle200is a battery electric vehicle including at least a secondary cell and traveling by driving a motor using electric power stored in the secondary cell, or a hybrid vehicle configured to be driven by a motor and to receive power feeding from outside.

FIG. 2shows a first example of the configuration of the electric vehicle according to the embodiment. The electric vehicle200shown inFIG. 2is a vehicle which is not a self-driving vehicle. As shown inFIG. 2, the electric vehicle200includes a motor212, a drive wheel214, a brake device216, a vehicle sensor220, a power controller (PCU)230, a battery240, a battery sensor242that may be a voltage sensor, a current sensor, or a temperature sensor, for example, a vehicle-installed communication device250, a navigation device260, a charging port270, and a connection circuit272, for example.

The motor212is a three-phase AC motor, for example. The motor212has a rotor coupled to the drive wheel214. The motor212outputs drive power to the drive wheel214using electric power supplied to the motor212. The motor212generates power using the kinetic energy of the electric vehicle during deceleration of the electric vehicle.

The brake device216includes a brake caliper, a cylinder that transmits hydraulic pressure to the brake caliper, and an electric motor that generates the hydraulic pressure at the cylinder, for example. The brake device216may include a mechanism as a backup to transmit hydraulic pressure generated by operation on a brake pedal to the cylinder through a master cylinder. The brake device216is not limited to the configuration described above but may be an electronically-controlled hydraulic brake device that transmits hydraulic pressure at the master cylinder to the cylinder.

The vehicle sensor220includes an accelerator position sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, and a brake depression amount sensor. The accelerator position sensor is an example of an operator that accepts an instruction for acceleration from a driver. The accelerator position sensor is attached to an accelerator pedal, detects the amount of operation on the accelerator pedal, and outputs the detected amount of operation on the accelerator pedal as an accelerator position to a control unit236. The vehicle speed sensor includes wheel speed sensors attached to respective wheels and a speed calculator, for example. The vehicle speed sensor integrates wheel speeds detected by the wheel speed sensors to calculate the speed of the electric vehicle (vehicle speed), and outputs the calculated speed to the control unit236. The brake depression amount sensor is attached to a brake pedal, detects the amount of operation on the brake pedal, and outputs the detected amount of operation on the brake pedal as a brake depression amount to the control unit236.

The PCU230includes a converter232, a voltage controller (VCU)234, and the control unit236, for example. The configuration of providing these constituting elements in a unified manner as the PCU230is merely shown as an example. These constituting elements may be arranged separately.

The converter232is an AC-DC converter, for example. The converter232has a DC-side terminal connected to a DC link DL. The battery240is connected to the DC link DL through the VCU234. The converter232converts an alternating current generated by the motor212to a direct current, and outputs the resultant direct current to the DC link DL.

The VCU234is a DC-DC converter, for example. The VCU234boosts electric power supplied from the battery240, and outputs the boosted electric power to the DC link DL.

The control unit236includes a motor control unit, a brake control unit, and a battery/VCU control unit, for example. The motor control unit, the brake control unit, and the battery/VCU control unit may be replaced with respective separated controllers that may be controllers such as a motor ECU, a brake ECU, and a battery ECU, for example.

The motor control unit controls the motor212on the basis of output from the vehicle sensor220. The brake control unit controls the brake device216on the basis of output from the vehicle sensor220. The battery/VCU control unit calculates the state of charge (SOC) of the battery240on the basis of output from the battery sensor242attached to the battery240, and outputs a calculation result about the SOC to the VCU234and to the vehicle-installed communication device250. The SOC is an example of information indicating the charging state of the battery240. The VCU234increases a voltage at the DC link DL in response to an instruction from the battery/VCU control unit.

The battery240is a secondary cell such as a lithium-ion cell, for example. The battery240stores electric power introduced from a charger274outside the electric vehicle200, and discharges energy for causing the electric vehicle200to travel.

The navigation device260includes a GNSS receiver262, a navigation controller264, and a display device266, for example. The GNSS receiver262measures the position of a machine (the position of the electric vehicle200) on the basis of a radio wave coming from a GNSS satellite (a GPS satellite, for example). The navigation controller264includes a CPU and various types of storage devices, for example, and controls the navigation device260entirely. The storage device stores map information (navigation map). The navigation map is a map including roads expressed by nodes and links. On the basis of the position of the electric vehicle200measured by the GNSS receiver262, the navigation controller264decides a route to a destination by referring to the navigation map. The destination mentioned herein may be designated using positional information about the electric vehicle200included in a guidance instruction. The navigation controller264may transmit the position of the electric vehicle200and a destination to a navigation server (not shown) using the vehicle-installed communication device250, and acquire a route transmitted as a reply from the navigation server. The navigation controller264outputs information about the route decided by any of the foregoing methods to the display device266. The display device266displays the information corresponding to the control by the navigation controller264. The display device266displays a navigation screen in response to the information output from the navigation controller264. The GNSS receiver262outputs positional information corresponding to a measurement result about the position of the electric vehicle200to the vehicle-installed communication device250.

The battery sensor242includes a sensor such as a current sensor, a voltage sensor, or a temperature sensor, for example. The battery sensor242detects the current value, voltage value, and temperature of the battery240, for example. The battery sensor242outputs the detected current value and voltage value, and information about the detected temperature to the control unit236and to the vehicle-installed communication device250. The battery sensor242may include a plurality of sensors, such as a current sensor, a voltage sensor, or a temperature sensor, respectively. In the presence of a plurality of such sensors as the battery sensor242, a battery sensor identifier may be given to each of a current value, a voltage value, and information indicating a temperature to be output to the control unit236. The battery sensor identifier is an identifier allowing a plurality of the sensors provided in the electric vehicle200to be discriminated from each other. The battery sensor identifier may be expressed by alphanumeric characters determined in advance, for example.

The vehicle-installed communication device250includes a wireless module used for making a connection to the Internet, a WAN, a LAN, a public line, a provider device, a dedicated line, or a wireless base station, for example. The vehicle-installed communication device250acquires a current value, a voltage value, and information indicating a temperature output from the battery sensor242. The vehicle-installed communication device250acquires a calculation result about an SOC output from the control unit236. The vehicle-installed communication device250acquires positional information about the electric vehicle200output from the GNSS receiver262. The vehicle-installed communication device250generates vehicle notification information directed to the charging facility guidance device100including the acquired current value, voltage value, and information indicating a temperature, the acquired information indicating the charging state of the electric vehicle200such as the SOC, and the acquired positional information about the electric vehicle200. The vehicle-installed communication device250transmits the generated vehicle notification information to the charging facility guidance device100through the network NW shown inFIG. 1.

The charging port270is provided to be pointed toward the outside of the vehicle body of the electric vehicle200. The charging port270is connected to the charger274through a charging cable276. The charging cable276includes a first plug275and a second plug277. The first plug275is connected to the charger274, and the second plug277is connected to the charging port270. Electricity from the charger274is supplied to the charging port270through the charging cable276. The charger274is an example of the charging facility C. The charging cable276includes a signal cable attached to a power cable. The signal cable mediates communication between the electric vehicle200and the charger274. To achieve this, the first plug275and the second plug277respectively are provided with a power connector and a signal connector.

The connection circuit272is provided between the charging port270and the battery240. The connection circuit272transmits a current such as a DC current, for example, introduced into the connection circuit272from the charger274through the charging port270. The connection circuit272transmits the DC current to the battery240.

As shown inFIG. 3, the electric vehicle200which is a self-driving vehicle includes an external monitoring unit280, a vehicle-installed communication device282, a navigation device284, a recommended lane decision device286, a self-driving control unit290, a driving force output device292, a brake device216, a steering device294, a battery240, and a battery sensor242, for example.FIG. 3shows the configuration of the electric vehicle200that is a self-driving vehicle to be guided by the charging facility guidance device100.

The external monitoring unit280forms a situation acquisition device, and includes a camera, a radar, a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) unit, and an object recognition device that performs sensor fusion process on the basis of outputs from these units, for example. The external monitoring unit280estimates the type of an object existing around the electric vehicle200(in particular, an electric vehicle, a pedestrian, or a bicycle, for example) to generate estimated information (situation information), and outputs the estimated information together with information about the position or speed of the object to the self-driving control unit290.

The vehicle-installed communication device282is a wireless communication module for making a connection to the network NW or making direct communication with a different electric vehicle or a terminal device of a pedestrian, for example. The vehicle-installed communication device282makes wireless communication based on Wi-Fi, dedicated short range communications (DSRC), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or other types of communication standards. Two or more types of devices may be prepared as the vehicle-installed communication device282. The vehicle-installed communication device282acquires a current value, a voltage value, and information indicating a temperature output from the self-driving control unit290. The vehicle-installed communication device282acquires a calculation result about an SoC output from the self-driving control unit290. The vehicle-installed communication device282acquires positional information about the electric vehicle200output from a GNSS receiver284B. The vehicle-installed communication device282generates vehicle notification information directed to the charging facility guidance device100including the acquired current value, voltage value, and information indicating a temperature, the acquired information indicating the charging state of the electric vehicle200such as the SOC, the acquired positional information about the electric vehicle200, and the estimated information generated by the external monitoring unit280. The vehicle-installed communication device282transmits the generated vehicle notification information to the charging facility guidance device100through the network NW shown inFIG. 1.

The navigation device284includes a human machine interface (HMI)284A, the GNSS receiver284B, and a navigation controller284C, for example. The HMI284A includes a touch-panel display device, a speaker, a microphone, etc., for example. The GNSS receiver284B measures the position of a machine (the position of the electric vehicle200) on the basis of a radio wave coming from a GNSS satellite (a GPS satellite, for example). The navigation controller284C includes a CPU and various types of storage devices, for example, and controls the navigation device284entirely. The storage device stores map information (navigation map). The navigation map is a map including roads expressed by nodes and links. On the basis of the position of the electric vehicle200measured by the GNSS receiver284B, the navigation controller284C decides a route to a destination by referring to the navigation map. The destination mentioned herein may be designated using the HMI284A or may be designated using positional information about the electric vehicle200included in a guidance instruction. The navigation controller284C may transmit the position of the electric vehicle200and a company (place of employment) as a destination to a navigation server (not shown) using the vehicle-installed communication device282, and acquire a route transmitted as a reply from the navigation server. The route may include information about a stopping point for getting on or getting off by an owner of the electric vehicle200, and an intended arrival time. The navigation controller284C outputs information about the route decided by any of the foregoing methods to the recommended lane decision device286.

The recommended lane decision device286includes a map positioning unit (MPU) and various types of storage devices, for example. The storage device includes highly accurate map information covering further details than the navigation map. The highly accurate map information includes information such as a road width, a grade, a curvature, and positions of signals about each lane, for example. The recommended lane decision device286decides a recommended lane preferable for traveling along a route input from the navigation device284, and outputs the decided recommended lane to the self-driving control unit290.

The self-driving control unit290includes one or more processors such as a CPU or an MPU, and various types of storage devices. On the principle of traveling along the recommended lane decided by the recommended lane decision device286, the self-driving control unit290causes the electric vehicle200to travel automatically in such a manner as to avoid contact with an object at a position or speed input from the external monitoring unit280. The self-driving control unit290performs various types of events sequentially, for example. The events include a constant-speed traveling event of traveling along one traveling lane at a constant speed, a tracking traveling event of traveling while tracking a vehicle traveling ahead, a lane changing event, a merging event, a branching event, an emergency stopping event, a tollgate event for passing through a tollgate, and a handover event for finishing self-driving and making a switch to manual driving, for example. During implementations of these events, action for the avoidance may be planned on the basis of a situation around the electric vehicle200(the presence of a neighboring vehicle or pedestrian, lane narrowing resulting from a roadwork, for example).

The self-driving control unit290generates an intended orbit in which the electric vehicle200is to travel in the future. The intended orbit includes a speed element, for example. For example, the intended orbit is expressed by a line of sequentially arranged points (orbital points) to be reached by the electric vehicle200. The orbital points are points to be reached by the electric vehicle200and are defined at a predetermined traveling distance. Separately from the orbital points, an intended speed and an intended acceleration defined for each predetermined sampling period (a few tenths of a second, for example) are generated as part of the intended orbit. The orbital points may be positions to be reached by the electric vehicle200at the time of sampling in each predetermined period of the sampling. In this case, information such as an intended speed and an intended acceleration is expressed using an interval between the orbital points. The self-driving control unit290calculates the SOC of the battery240on the basis of output from the battery sensor242attached to the battery240, and outputs a calculation result about the SOC to the vehicle-installed communication device282. The self-driving control unit290outputs a current value, a voltage value, and information indicating a temperature output from the battery sensor242to the vehicle-installed communication device282.

The battery240is a secondary cell such as a lithium-ion cell, for example. The battery240stores electric power introduced from a charger outside the electric vehicle200, and discharges energy for causing the electric vehicle200to travel.

The battery sensor242includes a sensor such as a current sensor, a voltage sensor, or a temperature sensor, for example. The battery sensor242detects the current value, voltage value, and temperature of the battery240, for example. The battery sensor242outputs the detected current value and voltage value, and information about the detected temperature to the self-driving control unit290. The battery sensor242may include a plurality of sensors, such as a current sensor, a voltage sensor, or a temperature sensor, respectively. In the presence of a plurality of such sensors as the battery sensor242, a battery sensor identifier may be given to each of a current value, a voltage value, and information indicating a temperature to be output to the self-driving control unit290. The battery sensor identifier is an identifier allowing a plurality of the sensors provided in the electric vehicle200to be discriminated from each other. The battery sensor identifier may be expressed by alphanumeric characters determined in advance, for example.

An example of a self-driving operation process by the electric vehicle200will be described. First, the navigation device284decides a route. This route is a rough route without distinction of lanes, for example. Next, the recommended lane decision device286decides a recommended lane that facilitates traveling along the route. Then, the self-driving control unit290generates orbital points for traveling along the recommended lane as correctly as possible while avoiding an obstacle, for example, and controls some or all of the driving force output device292, the brake device216, and the steering device294in order to achieve traveling along the orbital points (and along an accompanying speed profile). Such role sharing is merely shown as an example. The self-driving control unit290may perform the process in a centralized manner, for example.

The driving force output device292outputs traveling driving force (torque) to drive wheels for causing the electric vehicle to travel. The driving force output device292includes a combination of an internal combustion engine, a motor, and a transmission, etc., and a power ECU for controlling these units, for example. The power ECU controls the configuration described above in response to information input from the self-driving control unit290or information input from a driving operator not shown.

The brake device216includes a brake caliper, a cylinder that transmits hydraulic pressure to the brake caliper, an electric motor that generates the hydraulic pressure at the cylinder, and a brake ECU, for example. The brake ECU controls the electric motor in response to information input from the self-driving control unit290or information input from a driving operator, and causes a brake torque responsive to a braking operation to be output to each wheel. The brake device216may include a mechanism as a backup to transmit hydraulic pressure generated by operation on a brake pedal included in the driving operator to the cylinder through a master cylinder. The brake device216is not limited to the configuration described above but may be an electronically-controlled hydraulic brake device that controls an actuator in response to information input from the self-driving control unit290and transmits hydraulic pressure at the master cylinder to the cylinder.

The steering device294includes a steering ECU and an electric motor, for example. The electric motor causes force to act on a rack-and-pinion mechanism to change the direction of a turning wheel, for example. The steering ECU drives the electric motor in response to information input from the self-driving control unit290or information input from a driving operator, and changes the direction of the turning wheel.

The charging facility guidance device100is realized using a device such as a personal computer, a server, or an industrial computer, for example. The charging facility guidance device100includes a communication unit110, an acceptance unit120, a calculation unit130, a management unit140, a derivation unit150, a storage unit160, and a facility reservation unit170, for example.

The communication unit110is realized using a communication module. More specifically, the communication unit110is configured using a device to make wire communication. The communication unit110may be configured using a wireless device to make wireless communication by a wireless communication technique such as LTE or a wireless LAN, for example. The communication unit110communicates through the network NW with the charging facility C, with the vehicle-installed communication device250in the electric vehicle200which is not a self-driving vehicle, and with the vehicle-installed communication device282in the electric vehicle200which is a self-driving vehicle. More specifically, the communication unit110receives vehicle notification information transmitted from the vehicle-installed communication device250in the electric vehicle200which is not a self-driving vehicle and vehicle notification information transmitted from the vehicle-installed communication device282in the electric vehicle200which is a self-driving vehicle, and outputs the received vehicle notification information to the acceptance unit120. The communication unit110acquires a guidance instruction output from the management unit140, and transmits the acquired guidance instruction to the electric vehicle200to be guided. The communication unit110acquires a vehicle response output from the management unit140, and transmits the acquired vehicle response to the electric vehicle200.

The storage unit160is realized using a hard disk drive (HDD), a flash memory, a random access memory (RAM), or a read only memory (ROM), for example. The storage unit160stores vehicle information161, charging facility information162, and vehicle notification information164. The vehicle information161, the charging facility information162, and the vehicle notification information164may be stored on the cloud.

FIG. 4shows an example of vehicle information. The vehicle information161is information in a table format including vehicle identification information about the electric vehicle200and an address of a vehicle-installed communication device installed on the electric vehicle200stored in association with each other. An example of an address of the vehicle-installed communication device is an IP address. In the example shown inFIG. 4, the vehicle information161includes vehicle identification information “AAAA” about the electric vehicle200and an address “XXX” of a vehicle-installed communication device stored in association with each other, vehicle identification information “BBBB” about the electric vehicle200and an address “YYY” of a vehicle-installed communication device stored in association with each other, and vehicle identification information “CCCC” about the electric vehicle200and an address “ZZZ” of a vehicle-installed communication device stored in association with each other. These pieces of information are registered at the time of introduction of the electric vehicle200into the vehicle system1.

FIG. 5shows an example of charging facility information. The charging facility information162is information in a table format including a facility ID and contact details for the charging facility C corresponding to the charging facility ID stored in association with each other. An example of contact details for the charging facility C is a postal address and an e-mail address. In the example shown inFIG. 5, the charging facility information162includes a charging facility ID “0001” and contact details “XXX” stored in association with each other, a charging facility ID “0002” and contact details “YYY” stored in association with each other, and a charging facility ID “0003” and contact details “ZZZ” stored in association with each other. These pieces of information are registered when the charging facility C is installed on the vehicle system1.

FIG. 6shows an example of vehicle notification information. The vehicle notification information164is information in a table format including vehicle identification information about the electric vehicle200, information indicating the charging state of the electric vehicle200, and vehicle positional information about the electric vehicle200stored in association with each other. An example of vehicle positional information about the electric vehicle200is expressed as (longitude, latitude). In the example shown inFIG. 6, the vehicle notification information164includes vehicle identification information “AAAA” about the electric vehicle200, information “XX” indicating the charging state of the electric vehicle200, and vehicle positional information “(***, ***)” about the electric vehicle200stored in association with each other, and vehicle identification information “BBBB” about the electric vehicle200, information “YY” indicating the charging state of the electric vehicle200, and vehicle positional information “(+++, +++)” about the electric vehicle200stored in association with each other. The information “XX” indicating the charging state of the electric vehicle200is the state of charge of a secondary cell (battery240) in the electric vehicle200, for example. These pieces of information are updated on the basis of vehicle notification information transmitted from the electric vehicle200.

The acceptance unit120, the calculation unit130, the management unit140, and the derivation unit150are realized by causing a hardware processor such as a central processing unit (CPU) to execute a program (software) stored in the storage unit160, for example. Some or all of these functional units may be realized using hardware (circuit section including circuitry) such as a large scale integration (LSI), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a graphics processing unit (GPU), for example, or may be realized by causing software and hardware working cooperatively. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device with a non-transitory storage medium) such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a flash memory. Alternatively, the program may be stored in an attachable/detachable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or a CD-ROM, and may be installed by attaching the storage medium to a drive.

The following describes the details of the acceptance unit120, the calculation unit130, the management unit140, and the derivation unit150. The vehicle-installed communication device250of the electric vehicle200acquires vehicle identification information, information indicating a charging state, positional information about the electric vehicle200, round trip route information about a round trip between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination having been made so far regularly by the electric vehicle200, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200indicating a way in which the electric vehicle200has been used so far, namely, indicating how the electric vehicle200has been accelerated and decelerated during traveling of the electric vehicle200. Then, the vehicle-installed communication device250generates vehicle notification information directed to the charging facility guidance device100including the acquired vehicle identification information, information indicating a charging state, positional information about the electric vehicle200, round trip route information, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200. The vehicle-installed communication device250transmits the generated vehicle notification information to the charging facility guidance device100. The communication unit110of the charging facility guidance device100receives the vehicle notification information transmitted from the vehicle-installed communication device250, and outputs the received vehicle notification information to the acceptance unit120.

The vehicle-installed communication device282of the electric vehicle200acquires vehicle identification information, information indicating a charging state, positional information about the electric vehicle200, round trip route information, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200, and generates vehicle notification information directed to the charging facility guidance device100including the acquired vehicle identification information, information indicating a charging state, positional information about the electric vehicle200, round trip route information, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200. The vehicle-installed communication device282transmits the generated vehicle notification information to the charging facility guidance device100. The communication unit110of the charging facility guidance device100receives the vehicle notification information transmitted from the vehicle-installed communication device232, and outputs the received vehicle notification information to the acceptance unit120.

The acceptance unit120acquires the vehicle notification information output from the communication unit110, and acquires the vehicle identification information, the information indicating a charging state, the positional information about the electric vehicle200, the round trip route information, and the information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200included in the acquired vehicle notification information. The acceptance unit120stores the acquired vehicle identification information, information indicating a charging state, positional information about the electric vehicle200, round trip route information, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200in association with each other into the vehicle notification information164in the storage unit160.

The storage unit160stores information about the charging facility C. The information about the charging facility C is the facility ID and contact details with the charging facility C. The information about the charging facility C is received by the communication unit110of the charging facility guidance device100. The communication unit110outputs the received information about the charging facility C to the acceptance unit120. The acceptance unit120acquires the information about the charging facility C output from the communication unit110, and stores the acquired information into the charging facility information162in the storage unit160.

On the basis of the vehicle notification information164and the charging facility information162, the calculation unit130calculates a route for charging in which the charging facility C where the electric vehicle200is to be charged is incorporated between a home which is a predetermined start point and a company (place of employment) which is a predetermined destination.

More specifically, on the basis of vehicle positional information associated with vehicle identification information, and information indicating a charging state, round trip route information, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200associated with vehicle identification information other than the former vehicle identification information, and using the vehicle notification information164in the storage unit160, the calculation unit130calculates a route for charging in which the charging facility C where the electric vehicle200is to be charged is incorporated in a round trip route between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination having regularly been used so far for making a round trip by this electric vehicle200.

More specifically, the calculation unit130calculates a residual charge quantity from a current charging state using the vehicle notification information164, and selects a plurality of candidates for the charging facility C reachable by the electric vehicle200in a self-propelled manner on the basis of the state of use of the electric vehicle200and the residual charge quantity. Next, the calculation unit130determines on the basis of the charging facility information162whether the predetermined charging facility C belonging to these candidates for the charging facility C has more room than the other charging facilities C, namely, determines whether the number of the chargers274not being used at the predetermined charging facility C is larger than the numbers of the chargers274not being used at the other charging facilities C, and selects the charging facility C having the most room.

The calculation unit130of the charging facility guidance device100calculates a route for charging in which the selected charging facility C is incorporated in the foregoing round trip route. The calculation unit130outputs the calculated route for charging to the management unit140and the facility reservation unit170. The management unit140outputs a vehicle response including the generated route for charging to the communication unit110. The communication unit110acquires the vehicle response output from the calculation unit130, and transmits the acquired vehicle response to the electric vehicle200.

(Operation of Vehicle System, Charging Facility Guidance Method, and Program for Causing a Charging Facility Guidance Device to Operate for Executing Charging Facility Guidance Method)

FIG. 7is a flowchart showing control relating to the charging facility guidance device100.

In the electric vehicle200-1, the vehicle-installed communication device250acquires positional information about the electric vehicle200-1output from the GNSS receiver262, an SOC output from the control unit236, and a current value, a voltage value, and information indicating a temperature output from the battery sensor242. The vehicle-installed communication device250generates vehicle notification information directed to the charging facility guidance device100including the acquired positional information, current value, voltage value, information indicating a temperature, information indicating a charging state such as the SOC about the electric vehicle200-1, round trip route information about a round trip between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination having been made so far regularly by the electric vehicle200-1, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200-1indicating a way in which the electric vehicle200-1has been used so far, namely, indicating how the electric vehicle200-1has been accelerated and decelerated during traveling of the electric vehicle200-1(step S101).

In the electric vehicle200-1, the vehicle-installed communication device250transmits the generated vehicle notification information to the charging facility guidance device100(step3102).

In the charging facility guidance device100, the communication unit110receives the vehicle notification information transmitted from the vehicle-installed communication device250(step S103).

In the charging facility guidance device100, the communication unit110outputs the received vehicle notification information to the acceptance unit120. The acceptance unit120acquires the vehicle notification information output from the communication unit110, and acquires vehicle identification information, the vehicle positional information, the information indicating a charging state, the round trip route information, and the information about the state of use of the electric vehicle included in the acquired vehicle notification information. The acceptance unit120stores the acquired vehicle identification information, vehicle positional information, and information indicating a charging state in association with each other into the vehicle notification information164in the storage unit160(step S104). In each of the electric vehicles from200-2to200-n-1, processes similar to those in steps S101to S104are also performed. In the following description of similar steps, the similar steps will be given the same step numbers starting from “S”.

In the electric vehicle200-n, the vehicle-installed communication device282acquires positional information about the electric vehicle200-noutput from the GNSS receiver234B, an SOC output from the self-driving control unit290, a current value, a voltage value, and information indicating a temperature. The vehicle-installed communication device282generates vehicle notification information directed to the charging facility guidance device100including the acquired positional information about the electric vehicle200-n, current value, voltage value, information indicating a temperature, information indicating a charging state such as the SOC about the electric vehicle200-n, round trip route information about a round trip between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination having been made so far regularly by the electric vehicle200-n, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200-nindicating a way in which the electric vehicle200-nhas been used so far, namely, indicating how the electric vehicle200-nhas been accelerated and decelerated during traveling of the electric vehicle200-n(step S101).

In the electric vehicle200-n, the vehicle-installed communication device282transmits the generated vehicle notification information to the charging facility guidance device100(step S102).

In the charging facility guidance device100, the communication unit110receives the vehicle notification information transmitted from the vehicle-installed communication device232(step S103).

In the charging facility guidance device100, the communication unit110outputs the received vehicle notification information to the acceptance unit120. The acceptance unit120acquires the vehicle notification information output from the communication unit110, and acquires vehicle identification information, the vehicle positional information, the information indicating a charging state, the round trip route information, and the information about the state of use of the electric vehicle included in the acquired vehicle notification information. The acceptance unit120stores the acquired vehicle identification information, vehicle positional information, and information indicating a charging state in association with each other into the vehicle notification information164in the storage unit160(step S104).

The charging facility C transmits information about the usage of the charger274indicating whether the charger274at the charging facility C is being used for charging the electric vehicle200, namely, information about the number of the chargers274not being used for charging the electric vehicle200to the charging facility guidance device100(step S105).

In the charging facility guidance device100, the communication unit110outputs the received information about the usage of the charger274to the acceptance unit120. The acceptance unit120acquires the information about the usage of the charger274output from the communication unit110, and acquires charging facility information and charging facility positional information included in the acquired information about the usage of the charger274. The acceptance unit120stores the charging facility information and the charging facility positional information included in the acquired information about the usage of the charger274in association with each other into the charging facility information162in the storage unit160(step S106).

In the charging facility guidance device100, the calculation unit130acquires vehicle identification information associated with vehicle notification information stored in the vehicle notification information164in the storage unit160. On the basis of vehicle positional information associated with the acquired vehicle identification information, and information indicating a charging state, round trip route information, and information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200associated with vehicle identification information other than the former vehicle identification information, and using the vehicle notification information164in the storage unit160, the calculation unit130calculates a route for charging in which the charging facility C where the electric vehicle200is to be charged is incorporated in a round trip route between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination having regularly been used so far for making a round trip by this electric vehicle200.

More specifically, the calculation unit130first calculates a residual charge quantity from a current charging state and using the vehicle notification information164, and selects a plurality of candidates for the charging facility C reachable by the electric vehicle200in a self-propelled manner on the basis of the state of use of the electric vehicle200and the residual charge quantity (step S107). Next, the calculation unit130determines on the basis of the charging facility information162whether the predetermined charging facility C belonging to these candidates for the charging facility C has more room than the other charging facilities C, namely, determines whether the number of the chargers274not being used at the predetermined charging facility C is larger than the numbers of the chargers274not being used at the other charging facilities C, and selects the charging facility C having the most room (step S108).

Then, the calculation unit130of the charging facility guidance device100calculates a route for charging in which the selected charging facility C is incorporated in the foregoing round trip route (step3109). The calculation unit130outputs the calculated route for charging to the management unit140and the facility reservation unit170(step S110). The management unit140outputs a vehicle response including the generated route for charging to the communication unit110(step S111). The communication unit110acquires the vehicle response output from the calculation unit130, and transmits the acquired vehicle response to the electric vehicle200(step S112).

In the charging facility guidance device100, the management unit140outputs positional information about the selected charging facility C to the derivation unit150. The derivation unit150acquires the positional information about the selected charging facility C output from the management unit140, and derives a time of arrival to the charging facility C on the basis of the acquired positional information about the selected charging facility C and vehicle positional information about the electric vehicle to be guided (step S113).

In the charging facility guidance device100, the derivation unit150outputs information indicating the derived arrival time to the management unit140. The management unit140acquires the information indicating the arrival time output from the derivation unit150. The management unit140generates a vehicle response directed to the electric vehicles200including information indicating that guidance has been instructed and the information indicating the arrival time (step S114).

In the charging facility guidance device100, the management unit140outputs the generated vehicle response to the communication unit110. The communication unit110acquires the vehicle response output from the management unit140, and transmits the acquired vehicle response to the electric vehicle200(step S115). As a result of the foregoing, the electric vehicle200is given guidance to a route in which the charging facility C is incorporated between a home which is a predetermined start point and a company (place of employment) which is a predetermined destination and along which this electric vehicle200has repeated a round trip within a predetermined period, and expected time of arrival of the electric vehicle200at this charging facility C is displayed at the electric vehicle200.

The facility reservation unit170of the charging facility guidance device100transmits a reservation request to the communication unit110for allowing the electric vehicle200to be charged at the selected charging facility C on the expected time of arrival of the electric vehicle200at the charging facility C. The communication unit110transmits the reservation request to the charging facility C (step S116).

The charging facility C receives the reservation request, and makes a reservation for the charger274for allowing the electric vehicle200to be charged on the expected time of arrival of the electric vehicle200(step S117).

The embodiment achieves the following effect. According to the embodiment, the calculation unit130is provided. The calculation unit130calculates a route for charging in which the charging facility C where the electric vehicle200is to be charged is incorporated between a predetermined start point and a predetermined destination, on the basis of vehicle notification information that is the vehicle notification information164stored in the storage unit160, received by the communication unit110, and including identification information about the electric vehicle200, positional information about the electric vehicle200, information indicating the charging state of the electric vehicle200, and round trip route information about a round trip between the predetermined start point and the predetermined destination, the round trip being made by the electric vehicle200equipped with a vehicle-installed communication device.

Thus, if there arises a need to charge the electric vehicle on the way to work, for example, and if a residual charge quantity is such a quantity allowing the electric vehicle to arrive at the nearest charging facility C in a self-propelled manner, the electric vehicle can be given guidance to the charging facility C. In particular, a degree of traveling causing the need for charging can be calculated easily, particularly along a round trip route of a round trip made regularly by the electric vehicle200, thereby providing appropriate timing for guiding the charging facility C.

The calculation unit130avoids a busy charging facility C and incorporates a charging facility C having more room than the busy charging facility C preferentially in the route for charging. This makes it possible to prevent the electric vehicles200intended to be charged from concentrating on the predetermined charging facility C.

The vehicle notification information164includes information about the state of use of the electric vehicle200, and the calculation unit130calculates the charging facility C to be incorporated in the route for charging on the basis of the vehicle notification information164. Thus, a traveling distance permitted by a residual charge quantity in the electric vehicle200can be calculated more correctly. As a result, it becomes possible to calculate a candidate for the charging facility C to become reliably reachable by traveling in a self-propelled manner using electricity corresponding to the residual charge quantity.

The facility reservation unit170is provided. The facility reservation unit170communicates with the charging facility C through the communication unit110to make a reservation for charging at the charging facility C along the route for charging calculated by the calculation unit130. This makes it possible to avoid trouble occurring if all the chargers274are busy at the time of arrival at the charging facility C, so that the electric vehicle200can be charged reliably without delay at the charging facility C.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above but the present invention also includes modifications, improvements, etc. within a range in which the purpose of the present invention is attainable. For example, the configurations of units including a communication unit, an acceptance unit, a calculation unit, and a management unit are not limited to the configurations of the units of the embodiment including the communication unit110, the acceptance unit120, the calculation unit130, and the management unit140.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS