Patent Description:
The present invention relates to a power management apparatus and a power management method, and, more particularly, to a power management apparatus and a power management method for managing demand response which requests multiple power adjustment resources electrically connectable to a power network to adjust supply and demand of electric power for the power network.

For the power management apparatus and power management method as mentioned above, <CIT> discloses a server device selecting, using information on the reliability of electric power customers, a customer to be requested for a demand response (referred to as "DR" below). As used herein, the information on the reliability of a customer refers to a rate of achievement to a DR request (a percentage of the amount of electric power achieved during a DR request period to a requested amount of electric power) or a stay rate to a DR request (a rate per unit time of a period of time in which the amount of electric power responded to a DR request falls within a predetermined range (for example, plus or minus <NUM>%) of a requested amount of electric power).

It is considered to actively use vehicles that have batteries mounted thereon, as power adjustment resources that can participate in DR. When a vehicle, participating in a DR, and a power management apparatus (server), managing the DR, exchange various information over wireless communications, the power management apparatus cannot appropriately obtain the information for use in DR from the vehicle if the communication condition is poor. As a result, appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power may not be performed in response to the DR request. If appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power is not performed in response to the DR request while the vehicle is participating in DR, a customer may suffer from drawbacks, such as being subjected to penalty.

Document <CIT> is also known and describes a DR controller of another type.

The present disclosure is made in view of the problem above, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a power management apparatus and a power management method that can reduce drawbacks for a customer caused by appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power not being performed in response to a DR request.

A power management apparatus according to the present invention is a power management apparatus according to claim <NUM> for managing a DR which requests a plurality of power adjustment resources, electrically connectable to a power network, to perform adjustment of supply and demand of electric power for the power network. The plurality of power adjustment resources include a vehicle on which a battery is mounted. The power management apparatus includes: a communication apparatus that wirelessly communicates with the vehicle; an acquisition unit; and a control unit. The acquisition unit obtains, from the vehicle through the communication apparatus, history information indicating that the demand and supply of electric power has been performed for the power network, and information on a state of charge of the battery. The control unit determines priorities of the plurality of power adjustment resources for a request for the DR. When the acquisition unit has not obtained the history information even though the state of charge, obtained by the acquisition unit, has changed, the control unit determines a priority of the vehicle so that the vehicle is less likely to be selected for the request for the DR.

A power management method according to the present invention is a power management method according to claim <NUM> for managing a DR which requests a plurality of power adjustment resources, electrically connectable to a power network, to perform adjustment of supply and demand of electric power for the power network. The plurality of power adjustment resources include a vehicle on which a battery is mounted. The power management method includes: wirelessly transmitting, from the vehicle to a server, history information indicating that the demand and supply of electric power has been performed for the power network; wirelessly transmitting, from the vehicle to the server, information on a state of charge of the battery; and determining priorities of the plurality of power adjustment resources for a request for the demand response. Determining the priorities includes determining a priority of the vehicle so that the vehicle is less likely to be selected for the request for the DR, when the server has not obtained the history information even though the state of charge of the battery, obtained by the server, has changed.

In the power management apparatus and power management method above, if the acquisition unit has not obtained the history information from the vehicle even though the state of charge of the battery has changed, the reliability of wireless communications between the power management apparatus and the vehicle is considered as being degraded, and the priority of the vehicle is determined so that the vehicle is less likely to be selected for a DR request. This can avoid a situation in which, despite the fact that the vehicle is participating in DR, no appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power is performed in response to a DR request due to the degradation of the communication reliability. Therefore, according to the power management apparatus and the power management method, a customer can be prevented from suffering from drawbacks (such as being subjected to penalty) caused by appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power not being performed in response to a DR request.

The history information may include information indicating at least one of start and end of changing of the battery from the power network.

The history information may include information indicating at least one of start and end of discharging of electric power from the battery to the power network.

The history information may include information indicating at least one of electrical connection and electrical disconnection between the power network and the vehicle.

If the history information as the above is not obtained from the vehicle, the communication reliability with the vehicle is considered as being degraded. Consequently, even though the state of charge of the battery of the vehicle has changed, the priority of the vehicle is determined so that the vehicle is less likely to be selected for the DR request. Accordingly, a customer can be prevented from suffering from drawbacks caused by appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power not being performed in response to a DR request due to the degradation of the communication reliability.

A change in the state of charge of the battery may be a change since deactivation of a travel system of the vehicle until activation of the travel system of the vehicle.

The acquisition unit further may obtain location information of the vehicle from the vehicle. A change in the state of charge of the battery may be a change when the location information of the vehicle is constant.

The acquisition unit may further obtain a travel distance of the vehicle from the vehicle. A change in the state of charge of the battery may be a change when the travel distance of the vehicle is constant.

Such a change in the state of charge of the battery as the above is a change in the state of charge while the vehicle is being parked, and can indicate that the demand and supply of electric power has been performed for the power network. However, if the acquisition unit has not obtained the history information on demand and supply of electric power, the communication reliability is considered as being degraded, and the priority of the vehicle is determined so that the vehicle is less likely to be selected for the DR request the vehicle. Accordingly, a customer can be prevented from suffering from drawbacks caused by appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power not being performed in response to a DR request due to the degradation of the communication reliability.

When an amount of change in the state of charge of the battery, obtained by the acquisition unit, exceeds a threshold and the acquisition unit has not obtained the history information, the control unit may determine the priority of the vehicle so that the vehicle is less likely to be selected for the request for the DR.

Since demand and supply of electric power is not performed for the power network while the vehicle is travelling, no history information is obtained. On the other hand, the state of charge of the battery is changed by the vehicle travelling. Thus, a change in the state of charge while the vehicle is traveling may end up determining the priority of the vehicle so that the vehicle is less likely to be selected for the DR request. Thus, as described above, if a change in state of charge is greater than the threshold, the priority of the vehicle is determined so that the vehicle is less likely to be selected for the DR request, thereby preventing the priority of the vehicle from being unnecessary lowered. It should be noted that, since an average amount of change in state of charge when demand and supply of electric power is performed for the power network is considered as being greater than average amount of change in state of charge while the vehicle is traveling (because electric power is discharged and charged while the vehicle is traveling), the threshold is appropriately set to a value that allows average amounts of change in the SOCs in the above two cases to be distinguishable, for example.

The history information may include information indicating that the battery has been charged from the power network. When the acquisition unit has not obtained the history information even though the state of charge, obtained by the acquisition unit, has risen, the control unit may determine the priority of the vehicle so that the vehicle is less likely to be selected for the request for the DR.

This can avoid a situation in which, despite the fact that the vehicle is participating in DR, the vehicle does not perform appropriate charging (electric power demand) in response to a DR request due to the degradation of the communication reliability. Accordingly, a customer can be prevented from suffering from drawbacks caused by charging of the battery not being performed in response to a DR request.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same reference signs are used to refer to the same or like parts, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

<FIG> is a diagram showing a configuration of a power management system which includes a power management apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to <FIG>, a power management system <NUM> includes: a power grid PG; a server <NUM> corresponding to a power management apparatus; an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) <NUM>; a vehicle <NUM>; and a portable terminal <NUM>.

The vehicle <NUM> includes an inlet <NUM>, a charger-discharger <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, an electronic control unit (ECU) <NUM>, and a communication device <NUM>. The vehicle <NUM> is configured to transmit/receive electric power to/from the power grid PG through the inlet <NUM>. In other words, as the vehicle <NUM> is electrically connected to the EVSE <NUM> through the inlet <NUM>, the vehicle <NUM> can store electric power, which is supplied from the power grid PG, into the battery <NUM>, or supply the power grid PG with the electric power stored in the battery <NUM>. Note that, in the following, charging the battery <NUM> from the power grid PG by the EVSE <NUM> may be referred to as "external charging" and supplying the power grid PG with electric power stored in the battery <NUM> by the EVSE <NUM> may be referred to as "external electric power supply.

The inlet <NUM> is configured to be electrically connected to a connector <NUM> of an electric power cable <NUM> extending from the EVSE <NUM>. As the connector <NUM> is connected to the inlet <NUM>, the vehicle <NUM> can receive electric power from the power grid PG, or supply electric power to the power grid PG. While <FIG> shows only the inlet <NUM> (and the charger-discharger <NUM>) that supports the powering scheme of the EVSE <NUM>, it should be noted that the vehicle <NUM> may include multiple inlets to support multiple types of power supply schemes (for example, an AC (alternate current) power supply scheme and a DC (direct current) power supply scheme).

The charger-discharger <NUM> includes: a relay (not shown) which is provided on a power path between the inlet <NUM> and the battery <NUM> and switches electrical connection/disconnection of the power path; and a power converter circuit (not shown). During external charging, the charger-discharger <NUM> converts the electric power, input from the inlet <NUM>, into electric power that has the voltage level of the battery <NUM>, and outputs the electric power to the battery <NUM>. During external electric power supply, on the other hand, the charger-discharger <NUM> converts the electric power discharged from the battery <NUM> into electric power having a voltage level appropriate for the external electric power supply, and outputs the electric power to the inlet <NUM>. For example, the power converter circuit is configured of a bidirectional converter.

The battery <NUM> includes a secondary battery, such as a lithium-ion secondary battery or a nickel-metal hydride secondary battery. During external charging, the battery <NUM> is charged with the supply of electric power output from the charger-discharger <NUM>. During external electric power supply, the battery <NUM> outputs to the charger-discharger <NUM> the electric power stored in the battery <NUM>. In this way, the electric power supplied from the power grid PG (the EVSE <NUM>) is stored in the battery <NUM>, and the electric power stored in the battery <NUM> is supplied to the power grid PG (the EVSE <NUM>), thereby allowing the vehicle <NUM> to function as a power adjustment resource that can respond to a DR request. The battery <NUM> is also capable of storing regenerative power generated by a travel motor (not shown) at the time of breaking of the vehicle.

The ECU <NUM> includes a processor (such as a central processing unit (CPU)), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), etc. (none of which are shown). The processor deploys programs stored in the ROM into the RAM, etc., and executes the programs. Various control processes performed by the ECU <NUM> are written in the programs stored in the ROM.

The ECU <NUM> performs various controls on the vehicle <NUM>. For example, the ECU <NUM> performs a traveling control on the vehicle <NUM>. The ECU <NUM> also performs a charging control and a discharging control on the battery <NUM>. In particular, in accordance with a DR request received from the server <NUM> through the communication device <NUM>, the ECU <NUM> performs the charging control and/or the discharging control on the battery <NUM>. The ECU <NUM> also collects various data, such as the state of charge (SOC) of the battery <NUM>, the location information of the vehicle <NUM>, and the remaining EV travel distance based on the SOC, and transmits the collected various data to the server <NUM> through the communication device <NUM> at a predetermined timing (at a time of system startup/shutdown, at a time of start/end of charging and discharging, or periodically). The controls performed by the ECU <NUM> will be described in detail below.

The communication device <NUM> includes a communication interface (I/F) for wireless communications with the server <NUM>. The ECU <NUM> can wirelessly communicate with the server <NUM> through the communication device <NUM>. The communication device <NUM> may include a data communication module (DCM) or <NUM> enabled communication I/F.

The portable terminal <NUM> corresponds to a terminal carried by a user of the vehicle <NUM>. The portable terminal <NUM> is configured to wirelessly communicate with the server <NUM>. The user of the vehicle <NUM> can output instructions from the portable terminal <NUM> to the server <NUM> so that, for example, the server <NUM> can obtain the various information (such as the SOC and the remaining travel distance) of the vehicle <NUM>. In the present embodiment, smartphone which includes a touch panel display is employed as the portable terminal <NUM>. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any portable terminal can be employed as the portable terminal <NUM>.

The power grid PG is a power network that is provided by an electric utility (for example, a power company). The power grid PG is electrically connected to multiple EVSEs, including the EVSE <NUM>, and supplies AC power to the EVSEs. The EVSE <NUM> includes a power supply circuit <NUM>, which converts electric power, supplied from the power grid PG, into one that is appropriate for external charging of the vehicle <NUM>. The power supply circuit <NUM> may include a sensor for detecting the charging power.

As the relay included in the charger-discharger <NUM> is closed, the battery <NUM> mounted on the vehicle <NUM> is electrically connected to the EVSE <NUM>. During the external charging, electric power is supplied from the power grid PG to the battery <NUM> via the power supply circuit <NUM>, the electric power cable <NUM>, the inlet <NUM>, and the charger-discharger <NUM>. During the external electric power supply, electric power is output from the battery <NUM> to the power grid PG via the charger-discharger <NUM>, the inlet <NUM>, the electric power cable <NUM>, and the power supply circuit <NUM>.

The server <NUM> includes a communication apparatus <NUM>, an acquisition unit <NUM>, a control unit <NUM>, and a storage unit <NUM>. The communication apparatus <NUM> includes a communication I/F for wireless communications with the communication device <NUM> included in the vehicle <NUM>. The communication apparatus <NUM> also includes a communication I/F for wireless communications with the portable terminal <NUM>.

The acquisition unit <NUM> obtains various information of the vehicle <NUM> through the communication apparatus <NUM>. The acquisition unit <NUM> obtains information, for example, the SOC of the battery <NUM>, the location information of the vehicle <NUM>, and the remaining travel distance, etc., and stores in the storage unit <NUM> the information associated with identification information (ID) for each vehicle. The acquisition unit <NUM> also obtains, from the vehicle <NUM> through the communication apparatus <NUM>, history information indicating that the vehicle <NUM> has carried out the demand and supply of electric power to the power grid PG, that is, history information indicating that the vehicle <NUM> has performed external charging or external electric power supply. The history information, for example, indicates start/end of the external charging or the external electric power supply, or that the connector <NUM> of the electric power cable <NUM> has been connected/disconnected to/from the inlet <NUM>. The details of the information obtained by the acquisition unit <NUM> and when the acquisition unit <NUM> obtains such information will be described in detail below.

The control unit <NUM> includes a processor (such as a CPU), a memory (a ROM and a RAM), an I/O buffer, etc. (none of which are shown). The processor deploys programs stored in the ROM into the RAM, etc., and executes the programs. Various processes performed by the control unit <NUM> are written in the programs stored in the ROM. The processes performed by the control unit <NUM> will be described below.

The storage unit <NUM> is configured to store various information. The information obtained by the acquisition unit <NUM> from the vehicle <NUM> is stored in the storage unit <NUM>, associated with the information (ID) for each vehicle. The storage unit <NUM> is configured of a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD), for example.

<FIG> is a detailed block diagram of the vehicle <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Referring to <FIG>, besides the inlet <NUM>, the charger-discharger <NUM>, the battery <NUM>, the ECU <NUM>, and the communication device <NUM> described with reference to <FIG>, the vehicle <NUM> further includes monitoring modules <NUM>, <NUM>, a travel drive unit <NUM>, and a navigation system (referred to as a "NAVI" below) <NUM>.

The monitoring module <NUM> includes various sensors for detecting conditions of the charger-discharger <NUM>, and outputs results of the detections to the ECU <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the monitoring module <NUM> is configured to detect voltage and current input to the charger-discharger <NUM>, and voltage and current output from the charger-discharger <NUM>.

The monitoring module <NUM> includes various sensors for detecting conditions of the battery <NUM> (for example, voltage, current, temperature, etc.), and outputs results of the detections to the ECU <NUM>. The monitoring module <NUM> may be a battery management system (BMS) that further has an SOC estimation function, a state of health (SOH) estimation function, a cell voltage equalization function, a diagnosis function, etc. for the battery <NUM>, in addition to the sensor functions above. Based on the outputs of the monitoring module <NUM>, the ECU <NUM> can obtain the conditions of the battery <NUM>.

The travel drive unit <NUM> includes a power control unit (PCU) and a motor generator (MG) (none of which are shown), and generates a travel driving force for the vehicle <NUM>, using the electric power stored in the battery <NUM>. The PCU includes, for example, an inverter and a converter (none of which are shown), and is controlled by the ECU <NUM>. The MG is a three-phase alternating-current (AC) motor generator, for example. The MG is driven by the PCU, and configured to rotate driving wheels W. The PCU drives the MG, using the electric power supplied from the battery <NUM>. The MG also regenerates electric power upon breaking of the vehicle, and supplies the generated electric power to the battery <NUM>.

The NAVI <NUM> includes a processor, a storage device, a touch panel display, and a global positioning system (GPS) module (none of which are shown). The storage device stores map information. For example, the touch panel display receives user input and displays a map and other information, etc. The GPS module is configured to receive a signal (referred to as a "GPS signal" below) from a GPS satellite. The NAVI <NUM> is capable of locating the position of the vehicle <NUM>, using the GPS signal. The NAVI <NUM> is configured to carry out a route search, based on the user input, to find a travel route (for example, a shortest route) from the current location of the vehicle <NUM> to a destination, and shows the travel route found through the route search on a map.

The ECU <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, a RAM <NUM>, and a storage device <NUM>. The RAM <NUM> functions as a working memory temporality storing data processed by the processor <NUM>. The storage device <NUM> is configured to save the stored information. The storage device <NUM> includes, for example, a ROM and a rewritable nonvolatile memory. Besides programs, the storage device <NUM> stores information (maps, mathematical formulas, various parameters, etc.) which are used in the programs. Various controls at the ECU <NUM> are performed by the processor <NUM> executing the programs stored in the storage device <NUM>.

Specifically, the ECU <NUM> controls the travel drive unit <NUM>, thereby performing the traveling control on the vehicle <NUM>. The ECU <NUM> also controls the charger-discharger <NUM>, thereby performing the charging control and the discharging control on the battery <NUM>. The ECU <NUM> can perform the charging control and/or the discharging control, according to a DR request received from the server <NUM> through the communication device <NUM>.

The ECU <NUM> also calculates the SOC of the battery <NUM> from the voltage and current of the battery <NUM> which are obtained by the monitoring module <NUM>, and outputs the SOC to the storage device <NUM>. The ECU <NUM> also calculates a remaining travel distance for the vehicle <NUM> based on the SOC, and outputs the remaining travel distance to the storage device <NUM>. The ECU <NUM> also obtains the location information of the vehicle <NUM> from the NAVI <NUM> and outputs the location information to the storage device <NUM>.

The ECU <NUM> then reads the various information above from the storage device <NUM> at a predetermined timing, and transmits the various information to the server <NUM> through the communication device <NUM>. For example, the predetermined timing is at the time of an event, such as at a time of activation/deactivation of the vehicle system (such as at on/off of a start switch, etc.), the start/end of external charging, the start/end of external electric power supply, connection/disconnection between the connector <NUM> of the electric power cable <NUM> and the inlet <NUM>, or at a periodical timing.

Note that the various controls at the ECU <NUM> are not limited to be performed by software, and can be performed by dedicated hardware (electronic circuit).

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating one example of information which is transmitted from the vehicle <NUM> to the server <NUM>. <FIG> shows one example of the information that is transmitted from the vehicle <NUM> to the server <NUM> at the activation/deactivation of the travel system. Referring to <FIG>, as a driver operates the start switch (not shown) and the travel system of the vehicle <NUM> is activated, the ECU <NUM> included in the vehicle <NUM> reads, from the storage device <NUM>, "travel start time" indicative of the time when the travel system of the vehicle <NUM> is activated, and information, such as "GPS location information," "total travel distance," and "SOC," and transmits the "travel start time" and the information to the server <NUM> through the communication device <NUM>. Note that the GPS location information is information on the current location of the vehicle <NUM> obtained by the NAVI <NUM>. The total travel distance is a total distance traveled by the vehicle <NUM> up to the present time. The SOC is the current SOC of the battery <NUM>.

As the start switch is operated by the driver and the travel system of the vehicle <NUM> is deactivated, the ECU <NUM> reads from the storage device <NUM> a "travel end time" indicative of the time when the travel system of the vehicle <NUM> is deactivated, and information, such as the "GPS location information," the "total travel distance," the "SOC," and transmits the "travel end time" and the information to the server <NUM> through the communication device <NUM>.

<FIG> shows one example of the information which is transmitted from the vehicle <NUM> to the server <NUM> at the time of an event irrelevant to the vehicle travel. Referring to <FIG>, "event type" indicates an event for which the information is transmitted to the server <NUM>, indicating that the event is external charging in this example. As the external charging starts, the ECU <NUM> reads from the storage device <NUM> the "event type," and information, such as "time of occurrence" of the event, "GPS location information," "SOC," "available time period for external electric power supply," a "remaining charging time," "remaining EV travel distance," and "charger-discharger state information," and transmits the "event type," and the information to the server <NUM> through the communication device <NUM>. Alternatively, the ECU <NUM> may collect the information above separately from the "event type.

Note that the available time period for external electric power supply is a time remained during external electric power supply until the battery <NUM> becomes empty, and calculated based on the SOC and the magnitude of electric power supplied by the vehicle <NUM>. The remaining charging time is a time remained during external charging until the battery <NUM> is fully charged, and calculated based on the SOC and the magnitude of the charging power. The remaining EV travel distance is a distance that the vehicle <NUM> can travel with the electric power stored in the battery <NUM>, and calculated based on the SOC and the power consumption efficiency of the vehicle <NUM> (for example, a historic average value, etc.). The charger-discharger state information indicates a state of the charger-discharger <NUM> (activated/deactivated).

Referring, again, to <FIG>, the server <NUM> carries out DR to the vehicle <NUM>. Schematically, for example, if a server (not shown) of the power company managing the power grid PG requests the server <NUM> to adjust supply and demand, the server <NUM> determines the power capacity that the vehicle <NUM> can offer. Based on the capacity, the server <NUM> generates an implementation schedule for the vehicle <NUM>, and transmits a DR request to the vehicle <NUM> through the communication apparatus <NUM>.

As the vehicle <NUM> receives the DR request from the server <NUM> and is connected to the EVSE <NUM>, the vehicle <NUM> can charge the battery <NUM> (the external charging) with supply of electric power from the EVSE <NUM> (the power grid PG) or supply the EVSE <NUM> (the power grid PG) with the electric power stored in the battery <NUM> (the external electric power supply), according to the DR request. As the external charging or the external electric power supply is performed, the vehicle <NUM> transmits the information, shown in <FIG>, to the server <NUM> through the communication device <NUM> at the occurrence of a respective event (for example, at start/end of external charging).

At this time, if the wireless communication between the vehicle <NUM> and the server <NUM> is poor, the server <NUM> is unable to appropriately obtain from the vehicle <NUM> the information for use in the DR. As a result, appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power may not be performed in response to the DR request. If appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power is not performed in response to the DR request while the vehicle is participating in DR, the user of the vehicle <NUM> may suffer from drawbacks, such as being subjected to penalty.

Thus, in the present embodiment, if the wireless communication between the vehicle <NUM> participating in DR and the server <NUM> is determined to be poor, the priority of the vehicle <NUM> is lowered among power adjustment resources (referred to as "distributed energy resources (DERs)" below) participating in DR.

In other words, while DERs are requested for DR, the priority of each of DERs participating in DR is determined, considering response situations (a time when the DER is available, charging capability/electric power supply capability, etc.). In the present embodiment, despite the fact that the changes in SOC of the vehicle <NUM> are sensed, if the server <NUM> has not obtained the history information indicating that the vehicle <NUM> has performed external charging or external electric power supply from the vehicle <NUM>, the server <NUM> determines that the reliability of the communication with the vehicle <NUM> is degraded, and determines the priority of the vehicle <NUM> so that the vehicle <NUM> is less likely to be selected for a DR request.

This can avoid a situation in which, despite the fact that the vehicle <NUM> is participating in DR, no appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power is performed in response to a DR request due to the degradation of the communication reliability. Accordingly, a customer (the user of the vehicle <NUM>) can be prevented from suffering from drawbacks (such as being subjected to penalty) caused by appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power not being performed in response to a DR request.

In the present embodiment, for each vehicle participating in and registered in DR, the server <NUM> manages information (referred to as "DR information" below) for determining the priority of the vehicle for DR. Based on the DR information of each vehicle participating in DR, the server <NUM> determines the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for a DR request.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating one example of the DR information managed for each vehicle by the server <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, "UID" is identification information (ID) of the vehicle <NUM>, which is given to each vehicle when the vehicle is registered in participation in DR. "State of vehicle" indicates whether the vehicle <NUM> is available for a DR request by being connected to the EVSE <NUM>. The information is determined based on the activation/deactivation state of the travel system of the vehicle <NUM> and the location information, which are obtained from the vehicle <NUM>. The "state of vehicle" changes to available for DR when the travel system of the vehicle <NUM> is deactivated and the location information of the vehicle <NUM> indicates a location near the EVSE <NUM> (for example, home).

"SOC" is a most-recent SOC obtained from the vehicle <NUM>. The DR request includes an increase demand request (also referred to as a "posiwatt DR" below) requesting an increase in electric power demand from an electric power customer (the vehicle <NUM>), and a reduce demand request (also referred to as a "negawatt DR" below) requesting a reduction in electric power demand. Note that the negawatt DR is not limited to reduction in electric power demand, and also includes supply of electric power to the power grid PG. The lower the SOC of the vehicle <NUM> is, the highly available the vehicle <NUM> is for a posiwatt DR. The higher the SOC is, the highly available the vehicle <NUM> is for a negawatt DR. Thus, if a DR request is a posiwatt DR, the SOC being low raises the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request, and the SOC being high lowers the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request. In contrast, if a DR request is a negawatt DR, the SOC being low lowers the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request, and the SOC being high raises the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request.

"Communication reliability" indicates reliability of wireless communication between the vehicle <NUM> and the server <NUM>. As mentioned above, as the reliability of communication between the vehicle <NUM> and the server <NUM> is degraded, the vehicle <NUM> may not perform appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power in response to a DR request. Therefore, the degradation of the communication reliability lowers the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for a DR request. In the present embodiment, the reliability of the communication with the vehicle <NUM> is determined to be poor if, although the server <NUM> has sensed changes in SOC of the vehicle <NUM>, the server <NUM> has not obtained the history information indicating that the vehicle <NUM> has performed external charging or external electric power supply from the vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating one example of priority information for a DR request. Referring to <FIG>, the priority information is managed by the server <NUM>, and indicates a priority of each user participating in DR. "UID-***" indicates a user ID of a user (a customer) corresponding to the priority. The priority information is updated based on the DR information for each vehicle shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> are diagrams each illustrating one example method of determination of the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for a DR request. Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, X11 to X13 are indices respectively indicating degrees of "state of vehicle," "SOC," and "communication reliability" shown in <FIG>.

For example, the longer the time period for which the vehicle <NUM> is available for DR relative to a time period the DR request, a point farther away from the center X0 (outer side), the "state of vehicle" indicated by X11 is plotted to. This example shows that the vehicle <NUM> is available for DR for an entire period of time for which a DR request is made.

When the DR request is a posiwatt DR, the lower the SOC is, the outer side of the chart the "SOC" indicated by X12 is plotted to. When the DR request is a negawatt DR, the higher the SOC is, the outer side of the chart the "SOC" indicated by X12 is plotted to. The higher the reliability of the communication between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM> is determined to be, the outer side of the chart the "communication reliability" indicated by X13 is plotted to. Stated differently, the "communication reliability" indicated by X13 is plotted to the inner side of the chart if the reliability of communication between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM> is determined to be low.

Then, in this example, based on the area of the hatched region defined by the plots of X11 to X13, the priority of the vehicle <NUM> is determined. In other words, as compared to other vehicles, the greater the area of the hatched region, the higher the priority the vehicle <NUM> has, while the smaller the area of the hatched region, the lower the priority the vehicle <NUM> has.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the reliability of the communication between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM> is degraded. Referring to <FIG>, in this example, since the reliability of the communication between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM> is degraded, "communication reliability" indicated by X13 is plotted to the inner side of the chart, as compared to the example of <FIG>. Therefore, the area of the hatched region defined by the plots of X11 to X13 is smaller than the example of <FIG>. In other words, the chart illustrated in <FIG> indicates that the vehicle <NUM> has a lower priority than the example shown in <FIG>.

The respective indices of X11 to X13 may be weighed. For example, the indices may be weighed so that the degradation of the communication reliability has a greater contribution to lowering the priority than the condition of the SOC has. The parameters determining the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for a DR request are not limited to X11 to X13, and other parameters may be included.

<FIG> and <FIG> are flowcharts each illustrating one example procedure of a process of updating the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for a DR request. The flowchart of <FIG> shows a procedure when a posiwatt DR is requested. The flowchart of <FIG> shows a procedure when a negawatt DR is requested. The series of process steps illustrated in these flowcharts are performed by the server <NUM>, and is started once the server <NUM> obtains the various information (<FIG>) on the vehicle <NUM> from the vehicle <NUM> upon the deactivation of the travel system of the vehicle <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, as the travel system of the vehicle <NUM> is deactivated, the server <NUM> obtains the information on the SOC (will be referred to as S <NUM>) of the battery <NUM> from the information (<FIG>) transmitted from the vehicle <NUM> (step S10).

Subsequently, the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received external charging start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> (step S20). Specifically, the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received the information (<FIG>) indicating that the event type is start and end of external charging from the vehicle <NUM>, after the travel system is deactivated. Upon receiving the external charging start event and end event (YES in step S20), the server <NUM> passes the process to END, without performing the subsequent process steps.

While the server <NUM> has not received at least one of the external charging start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> (NO in step S20), the server <NUM> determines whether the travel system of the vehicle <NUM> is activated (step S30). Specifically, the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received the various information (<FIG>) of the vehicle <NUM> from the vehicle <NUM> upon deactivation of the travel system. If the server <NUM> has not yet received the information and the travel system is being deactivated (NO in step S30), the process returns to step S20.

If the travel system of the vehicle <NUM> is determined to be activated in step S30 (YES in step S30), the server <NUM> obtains the information on the SOC (will be referred to as S2) of the battery <NUM> from the information (<FIG>) transmitted from the vehicle <NUM> (step S40).

Subsequently, the server <NUM> calculates a difference ΔSOC (= S2 - S1) between the SOC (S2) obtained in step S40 and the SOC (S2) obtained in step S10, and determines whether ΔSOC is greater than a threshold Sth1 (step S50). It should be noted that, since an average amount of increase in SOC during external charging is considered as being sufficiently greater than an amount of increase in SOC while the vehicle is traveling (in general, the SOC decreases while the vehicle is traveling), the threshold Sth1 is appropriately set to a value that allows the SOCs in the above two cases to be distinguishable.

Then, if ΔSOC is determined to be greater than the threshold Sth in step S50 (YES in step S50), the server <NUM> updates, by lowering, the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request (posiwatt DR) (step S60). Specifically, if the server <NUM> has not received at least one of the external charging start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> (NO in step S20) although ΔSOC is greater than the threshold Sth1 (YES in step S50), such a situation is determined as the reliability of communication being degraded between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM>. Then, the server <NUM> updates, by lowering, the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request (posiwatt DR), based on the area of the hatched region defined by the plots of X11 to X13, as described with respect to <FIG>.

While, in the above description, the case where the server <NUM> has not received at least one of the external charging start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> is the condition under which the priority of the vehicle <NUM> is lowered, it should be noted that the condition may be that the server <NUM> has not received both the external charging start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM>.

The weight on the communication reliability in determination of the priority may be changed, depending on whether the server <NUM> has not received both the external charging start event and end event or one of both events.

Referring to <FIG>, a procedure when a negawatt DR is requested is now described. The process steps S210, S230, S240, and S260 in the flowchart illustrated in <FIG> are the same as the process steps S10, S30, S40, and S60, respectively, illustrated in <FIG>.

In the flowchart, if obtained the information on the SOC (S1) of the battery <NUM> in step S210, the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received external electric power supply start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> (step S220). Specifically, after the travel system is deactivated, the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received from the vehicle <NUM> the information (<FIG>) indicating that the event type is start and end of the external electric power supply. Then, if the server <NUM> receives the external electric power supply start event and end event (YES in step S220), the server <NUM> passes the process to END, without performing the subsequent process steps.

As long as the server <NUM> has not received at least one of the external electric power supply start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> (NO in step S220), the server <NUM> passes the process to step S230.

If obtained the information on the SOC (S2) of the battery <NUM> in step S240, the server <NUM> calculates a difference ΔSOC (= S1 - S2) between the SOC (S1) obtained in step S210 and the SOC (S2) obtained in step S240, and determines whether ΔSOC is greater than a threshold Sth2 (step S250).

Then, if ΔSOC is determined to be greater than the threshold Sth2 in step S250 (YES in step S250), the process is passed to step S260 in which the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request (negawatt DR) is updated by being lowered. Specifically, if the server <NUM> has not received at least one of the external electric power supply start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> (NO in step S220) although ΔSOC is greater than the threshold Sth2 (YES in step S250), such a situation is determined as the reliability of communication being degraded between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM>. Then, the server <NUM> updates, by lowering, the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request (negawatt DR), based on the area of the hatched region defined by the plots of X11 to X13, as described with respect to <FIG>.

It should be noted that, since an average amount of decrease in SOC during external electric power supply is considered as being greater than an amount of decrease in SOC while the vehicle is traveling (because electric power is discharged and charged while the vehicle is traveling), the threshold Sth2 is appropriately set to a value that allows average amounts of change in the SOCs in the above two cases to be distinguishable, for example.

While, in the example of <FIG>, the case where the server <NUM> has not received at least one of the external electric power supply start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> is the condition under which the priority of the vehicle <NUM> is lowered, it should be noted that the condition may be that the server <NUM> has not received both the external electric power supply start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM>.

The weight that is applied to the communication reliability when determining the priority may be changed, depending on whether the server <NUM> has not received both the external electric power supply start event and end event or one of both events.

As described above, in the present embodiment, if the server <NUM> has not obtained, even though the SOC of the battery <NUM> of the vehicle <NUM> has changed, the history information indicating that the vehicle <NUM> has performed external charging or external electric power supply, the reliability of wireless communications between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM> is considered as being degraded, and the priority of the vehicle <NUM> is determined so that the vehicle <NUM> is less likely to be selected for a DR request. This can avoid a situation in which, despite the fact that the vehicle <NUM> is participating in DR, no appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power is performed in response to a DR request due to the degradation of the communication reliability. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, a customer (the user of the vehicle <NUM>) can be prevented from suffering from drawbacks (such as being subjected to penalty) caused by appropriate adjustment of supply and demand of electric power not being performed in response to a DR request.

The embodiment above has been described with reference to using the information indicating the start/end of external charging or external electric power supply as the history information indicating that the vehicle <NUM> has performed demand and supply of electric power for the power grid PG, that is, the history information indicating that the vehicle <NUM> has performed the external charging or the external electric power supply. Information indicating connection/disconnection between the connector <NUM> of the electric power cable <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> may instead be used as the history information above.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating one example procedure of a process of updating the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for a DR request, according to Variation <NUM>. The flowchart corresponds to the flowcharts illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the process steps S310, S330, S340, and S360 illustrated in the flowchart are the same as the process steps S10, S30, S40, S60, respectively, illustrated in <FIG>.

In the flowchart, if obtained the information on the SOC (S1) of the battery <NUM> in step S310, the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received from the vehicle <NUM> a connect event and a disconnect event between the connector <NUM> of the electric power cable <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> (step S320). Specifically, after the travel system is deactivated, the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received from the vehicle <NUM> the information (<FIG>) indicating that the event type is connection and disconnection between the connector <NUM> and the inlet <NUM>. Then, upon receiving a connect event and a disconnect event between the connector <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> (YES in step S320), the server <NUM> passes the process to END, without performing the subsequent process steps.

If the server <NUM> has not received at least one of a connect event and a disconnect event between the connector <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> from the vehicle <NUM> (NO in step S320), the server <NUM> passes the process to step S330.

If obtained the information on the SOC (S2) of the battery <NUM> in step S340, the server <NUM> calculates a difference |ΔSOC| between the SOC (S1) obtained in step <NUM> and the SOC (S2) obtained in step S340, and determines whether |ΔSOC| is greater than a threshold Sth (step S350).

Then, if |ΔSOC| is determined to be greater than the threshold Sth in step S350 (YES in step S350), the process is passed to step S360 in which the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request is updated by being lowered. Specifically, if the server <NUM> has not received at least one of a connect event and a disconnect event between the connector <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> from the vehicle <NUM> (NO in step S320) although |ΔSOC| is greater than the threshold Sth (YES in step S350), such a situation is determined as the reliability of communication being degraded between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM>. Then, the server <NUM> updates, by lowering, the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request, based on the area of the hatched region defined by the plots of X11 to X13, as described with respect to <FIG>.

As described above, Variation <NUM> yields the same advantages effects as the embodiment above.

While the embodiment above and Variation <NUM> have been described with reference to using a change in SOC (ΔSOC) since the travel system is deactivated until the travel system is next activated in order to determine the reliability of communication between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM>, a change in SOC when the location of the vehicle <NUM> remains unchanged may instead be used.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating one example procedure of a process of updating the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request, according to Variation <NUM>. The flowchart illustrates a procedure when a posiwatt DR is requested. The series of process steps illustrated in the flowchart is repeated at prescribed cycles.

Referring to <FIG>, the server <NUM> obtains the information on the vehicle <NUM> (the location information, the SOC of the battery <NUM>, etc.) from the information (<FIG>) that is periodically transmitted from the vehicle <NUM> (step S410). The server <NUM> then determines whether the location information on the vehicle <NUM>, obtained in step S410, has changed from the previous values (step S420). If the location of the vehicle has changed (YES in step S420), the process is passed to RETURN, without the subsequent series of process steps being performed.

If the location of the vehicle remains unchanged (NO in step S420), the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received external charging start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> (step S430). If the server <NUM> has received the external charging start event and end event (YES in step S430), the server <NUM> passes the process to RETURN, without performing the subsequent process steps.

If the server <NUM> has not received at least one of the external charging start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> (NO in step S430), the server <NUM> calculates a difference ΔSOC (= S2 - S1) between the current value (will be referred to as S2), obtained in step S410, and the previous value (will be referred to as S <NUM>) of the SOC, and determines whether ΔSOC is greater than a threshold Sth1 (step S440).

Then, if the ΔSOC is determined to be greater than the threshold Sth1 in step S440 (YES in step S440), the server <NUM> updates, by lowering, the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request (posiwatt DR) (step S450). Specifically, if the server <NUM> has not received at least one of the external charging start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM> (NO in step S430) although the SOC has changed (ΔSOC > Sth1) (YES in step S440) while the vehicle <NUM> is being parked (the location information remains unchanged), such a situation is determined as the reliability of communication being degraded between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM>. Then, the server <NUM> updates, by lowering, the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request (posiwatt DR), based on the area of the hatched region defined by the plots of X11 to X13, as described with respect to <FIG>.

Note that, although not shown particularly, for a procedure when a negawatt DR is requested, the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request (negawatt DR) is updated by determining whether the server <NUM> has received external electric power supply start/end events in step S430, and determining whether ΔSOC = S1 (previous value) - S2 (current value) is greater than the threshold Sth1 in step S440.

As described above, Variation <NUM> also yields the same advantages effects as the embodiment above.

Similarly to Variation <NUM> of the present embodiment, in Variation <NUM>, information indicating connection/disconnection between the connector <NUM> of the electric power cable <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> may be used as the history information indicating that the vehicle has performed external charging or external electric power supply.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating one example procedure of a process of updating the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for a DR request, according to Variation <NUM>. The flowchart corresponds to the flowchart illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the process steps S510, S520, and S550 illustrated in the flowchart are the same as the process steps S410, S420, and S450, respectively, illustrated in <FIG>.

In the flowchart, if the location of the vehicle remains unchanged (NO in step S520), the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received from the vehicle <NUM> a connect event and a disconnect event between the connector <NUM> of the electric power cable <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> (step S530). Specifically, the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received from the vehicle <NUM> the information (<FIG>) indicating that the event type is connection and disconnection between the connector <NUM> and the inlet <NUM>. Then, upon receiving a connect event and a disconnect event between the connector <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> (YES in step S530), the server <NUM> passes the process to RETURN, without performing the subsequent process steps.

If the server <NUM> has not received at least one of a connect event and a disconnect event between the connector <NUM> and the inlet <NUM> from the vehicle <NUM> (NO in step S530), the server <NUM> calculates a difference |ΔSOC| between the current value of the SOC obtained in step S510 and the previous value, and determines whether |ΔSOC| is greater than a threshold Sth (step S540).

Then, if |ΔSOC| is determined to be greater than the threshold Sth in step S540 (YES in step S540), the process is passed to step S550, and the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request is updated by being lowered.

While Variations <NUM> and <NUM> have been described, with reference to using changes in SOC (ΔSOC) when the location of the vehicle remains unchanged in order to determine the reliability of communication between the server <NUM> and the vehicle <NUM>, a change in travel distance of the vehicle <NUM> may instead be used.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating one example procedure of a process of updating the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for a DR request, according to Variation <NUM>. The flowchart illustrates a procedure when a posiwatt DR is requested. The flowchart corresponds to the flowchart illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the process steps S610, S630 to S650 illustrated in the flowchart are the same as the process steps S410, S430 to S450, respectively, illustrated in <FIG>.

In the flowchart, as the server <NUM>, in step S610, obtains the information on the vehicle <NUM> (including the location information, the SOC, the travel distance, etc.) from the information (<FIG>) that is periodically transmitted from the vehicle <NUM>, the server <NUM> determines whether the travel distance of the vehicle <NUM> has changed from the previous value (step S620). If the travel distance has changed (YES in step S620), the process is passed to RETURN, without the subsequent series of process steps being performed.

If the travel distance remains unchanged (NO in step S620), the server <NUM> passes the process to step S630 in which the server <NUM> determines whether the server <NUM> has received external charging start event and end event from the vehicle <NUM>. The subsequent process steps are the same as those illustrated in <FIG>.

Note that, although not shown particularly, for a procedure when a negawatt DR is requested, the priority of the vehicle <NUM> for the DR request (negawatt DR) is updated by determining whether the server <NUM> has received external electric power supply start/end events in step S630, and determining whether ΔSOC = S1 (previous value) - S2 (current value) is greater than the threshold Sth1 in step S640. In step S630, the server <NUM> may determine whether the server <NUM> has received connect/disconnect events between the connector <NUM> of the electric power cable <NUM> and the inlet <NUM>, instead of determining whether the server <NUM> has received the external charging start/end events.

Claim 1:
A power management apparatus (<NUM>) for managing a demand response which is configured to request a plurality of power adjustment resources, electrically connectable to a power network (PG), to perform adjustment of supply and demand of electric power for the power network (PG), the plurality of power adjustment resources including a vehicle (<NUM>) on which a battery (<NUM>) is mounted, the power management apparatus (<NUM>), comprising:
a communication apparatus (<NUM>) that is configured to wirelessly communicate with the vehicle (<NUM>);
an acquisition unit (<NUM>) that is configured to obtain, from the vehicle (<NUM>) through the communication apparatus (<NUM>), information on a state of charge of the battery (<NUM>); and
characterized in that the acquisition unit (<NUM>) is also configured to obtain, from the vehicle (<NUM>) through the communication apparatus (<NUM>), history information indicating that the demand and supply of electric power has been performed for the power network (PG),
in that the power management apparatus (<NUM>) further includes a control unit (<NUM>) that is configured to determine priorities of the plurality of power adjustment resources for a request for the demand response, and
in that, when the acquisition unit (<NUM>) has not obtained the history information even though the state of charge, obtained by the acquisition unit (<NUM>), has changed, the control unit (<NUM>) is configured to update, by lowering, a priority of the vehicle (<NUM>)for the request for the demand response.