Patent Description:
Conventionally, efforts have been continuously made to achieve effective power utilization and energy saving by using EVs. For example, Patent Document <NUM> discloses a technique in which an EV used for an employee to commute to work at a factory is used for peak-cut in system cooperation. Document <NUM> discloses a technique in which the EV management controller switches over between the charging mode and the discharging mode, based on a result of comparing demand quantities of electricity for the loads against the amount of electricity generated by the photovoltaic power generator, and a drive scheme of the electric vehicles. Document <NUM> discloses a technique in which a user can steadily use a vehicle in his daily life and the vehicle does not occupy the space of a parking lot for a long time. Document <NUM> discloses a technique which makes it possible to appropriately control a power generation unit in expectation of the future.

An object of the present invention is to further promote effective use of a battery included in a vehicle used at an office.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle management system. The vehicle management system manages a plurality of vehicles used at an office. Each of the plurality of vehicles includes a battery. The vehicle management system includes a first prediction control unit configured to cause a prediction for an amount of surplus power generated at the office on a non-work day of the office. The vehicle management system includes a second prediction control unit configured to cause a prediction for a power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day. The vehicle management system includes a selection control unit configured to cause a to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office on the non-work day from among the plurality of vehicles to be selected on the basis of the amount of surplus power generated at the office on the non-work day and the power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day.

The vehicle management system includes a charge/discharge control unit configured to cause an amount of charging/discharging the to-be-retained vehicle on a work day of the office to be adjusted such that a remaining capacity of a battery included in the to-be-retained vehicle becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value before the non-work day.

When a remaining capacity of the battery included in the to-be-retained vehicle on the work day of the office becomes higher than a predetermined value, the selection control unit is configured to cause another vehicle, which includes a battery having a remaining capacity lower than the predetermined value, to be selected from among the plurality of vehicles as a new to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office on the non-work day.

The vehicle management system may include a charge/discharge control unit configured to cause, when a remaining capacity of the battery included in the to-be-retained vehicle on the work day of the office becomes higher than a predetermined value, another vehicle, which includes a battery having a remaining capacity lower than the predetermined value, among the plurality of vehicles to be supplied with power from the to-be-retained vehicle.

The vehicle management system may further include a notification control unit configured to cause a user of the to-be-retained vehicle to be notified to connect the to-be-retained vehicle to a power supply system of the office before the non-work day.

The plurality of vehicles may be vehicles used for employees of the office to commute. The selection control unit may cause another vehicle, which is used for a user of the to-be-retained vehicle to commute by ride-sharing on days before and after the non-work day, from among users of the plurality of vehicles to be selected on the basis of commuting routes of the users of the plurality of vehicles and remaining capacities of the batteries included in the plurality of vehicles.

The selection control unit may be configured to cause acquisition of information indicating a combination of users, who desire ride-sharing, among the users of the plurality of vehicles, and to cause another user, who is capable of performing ride-sharing with the user of the to-be-retained vehicle on the days before and after the non-work day, to be selected on the basis of the combination of the users who desire ride-sharing.

A second aspect of the present invention provides a vehicle management method. The vehicle management method manages a plurality of vehicles used at an office. Each of the plurality of vehicles includes a battery. The vehicle management method includes causing a prediction for an amount of surplus power generated at the office on a non-work day of the office. The vehicle management method includes cause a prediction for a power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day. The vehicle management method includes causing a to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office on the non-work day from among the plurality of vehicles to be selected on the basis of the amount of surplus power generated at the office on the non-work day and the power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a program. The program is a program for a vehicle management system that manages a plurality of vehicles used at an office. Each of the plurality of vehicles includes a battery. The program causes a computer to predict an amount of surplus power generated at the office on a non-work day of the office. The program causes a computer to predict a power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day. The program causes a computer to select a to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office on the non-work day from among the plurality of vehicles on the basis of the amount of surplus power generated at the office on the non-work day and the power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day.

In a fourth aspect of the present invention, an energy management system is an energy management system for a battery included in each of a plurality of vehicles used at an office. The energy management system includes a first prediction control unit configured to cause a prediction for an amount of surplus power generated at the office on a non-work day of the office. The energy management system includes a second prediction control unit configured to cause a prediction for a power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day. The energy management system includes a selection control unit configured to cause as many vehicles as a number corresponding to the amount of surplus power generated at the office on the non-work day to be selected from among the plurality of vehicles on the basis of the amount of surplus power generated at the office on the non-work day and the power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides an energy management method. The energy management method is an energy management method for a battery included in each of a plurality of vehicles used at an office. The energy management method includes causing a prediction for an amount of surplus power generated at the office on a non-work day of the office. The energy management method includes causing a prediction for a power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day. The energy management method includes causing as many vehicles as a number corresponding to the amount of surplus power generated at the office on the non-work day to be selected from among the plurality of vehicles on the basis of the amount of surplus power generated at the office on the non-work day and the power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day.

A sixth aspect of the present invention provides a program. The program is a program for an energy management system for a battery included in each of a plurality of vehicles used at an office. The program causes a computer to predict an amount of surplus power generated at the office on a non-work day of the office. The program causes a computer to predict a power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day. The program causes a computer to select as many vehicles as a number corresponding to the amount of surplus power generated at the office on the non-work day from among the plurality of vehicles on the basis of the amount of surplus power generated at the office on the non-work day and the power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way examples and embodiments of the invention. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the solution of the invention.

<FIG> conceptually illustrates a utilization form of a system <NUM> in an example. The system <NUM> includes a power generation apparatus <NUM>, a power control apparatus <NUM>, an integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and a vehicle management apparatus <NUM>. The system <NUM> is a vehicle management system that manages a vehicle 70a, a vehicle 70b, and a vehicle 70c.

The power generation apparatus <NUM>, the power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> are provided corresponding to an office <NUM>. The office <NUM> is, for example, a factory. The office <NUM> may be any office such as an administration office, a commercial facility, or a station in addition to a factory.

In the present embodiment, the vehicle 70a, the vehicle 70b, and the vehicle 70c may be collectively referred to as "vehicle(s) <NUM>". The vehicle <NUM> includes a battery. For example, the vehicle <NUM> is a vehicle including a traveling battery that accumulates driving power for traveling. The vehicle <NUM> is, for example, an electric car.

The vehicle <NUM> is a vehicle used in the office <NUM>. For example, the vehicle <NUM> is a vehicle used by a user 80a, a user 80b, and a user 80c who work at the office <NUM>. Specifically, the vehicle <NUM> can be used by the user 80a to commute between a home <NUM> of the user 80a and the office <NUM>, can be used by the user 80b to commute between a home <NUM> of the user 80b and the office <NUM>, and can be used by the user 80c to commute between a home <NUM> of the user 80c and the office <NUM>. In the present example, the user 80a, the user 80b, and the user 80c may be collectively referred to as "user(s) <NUM>".

The power generation apparatus <NUM> is, for example, a power generation apparatus using renewable energy such as a solar power generation apparatus. The power control apparatus <NUM> adjusts the amount of power received from a power system according to the power demand in the office <NUM> and the amount of power generated by the power generation apparatus <NUM> so as to satisfy the power demand in the office <NUM>. When a surplus of power occurs at the office <NUM>, the power control apparatus <NUM> charges the battery included in the vehicle <NUM> with the surplus power.

The vehicle management apparatus <NUM> manages the operation of the vehicle <NUM> in the office <NUM>. The vehicle management apparatus <NUM> manages which vehicle <NUM> is used for each of the users <NUM> to commute. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> performs arbitration between the control of the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> and the control of the power control apparatus <NUM>. For example, the integrated management apparatus <NUM> controls the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> to acquire the operation information of the vehicle <NUM> executed in the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, and provides information for deciding how the power control apparatus <NUM> uses the battery included in the vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a scene where the user <NUM> uses the vehicle <NUM> to return home on Friday. In the present example, it is assumed that the work days of the office <NUM> are Monday to Friday, and the non-work days of the office <NUM> are Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday and Sunday, since they are the non-work days of the office <NUM>, the power demand in the office <NUM> is small. Accordingly, on Saturday and Sunday, surplus power is generated at the office <NUM> by the power generation apparatus <NUM> generating power.

After the end of work on Friday, in cooperation with the integrated management apparatus <NUM> and the power control apparatus <NUM>, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> decides not to use the vehicle 70c when the user <NUM> returns home, and to retain the vehicle at the office <NUM> on Saturday and Sunday. For example, in cooperation with the integrated management apparatus <NUM> and the power control apparatus <NUM>, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> makes an operation plan such that the user 80a uses the vehicle 70a to return home and the user 80b and the user 80c use one vehicle 70b to return home on Friday. In addition, in cooperation with the integrated management apparatus <NUM> and the power control apparatus <NUM>, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> makes an operation plan such that the user 80a uses the vehicle 70a to go to the office <NUM>, and the user 80b and the user 80c use one vehicle 70b to go to the office <NUM> at the time of going to work on Monday of the next week. In addition, in cooperation with the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> and the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, the power control apparatus <NUM> performs control to use the surplus power generated by power generation by the power generation apparatus <NUM> to charge the battery of the vehicle 70c on Saturday and Sunday.

According to the system <NUM>, it is possible to efficiently operate the battery included in the vehicle <NUM> used in the office <NUM> and to effectively use the surplus power generated on the non-work day of the office <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a system configuration for implementing control functions of the power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> constituting the system <NUM>.

The power control apparatus <NUM> includes a processing unit <NUM> and a storage unit <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> includes a prediction unit <NUM> and a charge/discharge control unit <NUM>. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> includes a processing unit <NUM> and a storage unit <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> includes a first prediction control unit <NUM>, a second prediction control unit <NUM>, a notification control unit <NUM>, a selection control unit <NUM>, and a charge/discharge control unit <NUM>. The vehicle management apparatus <NUM> includes a processing unit <NUM> and a storage unit <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> includes a selection unit <NUM> and a notification unit <NUM>.

The processing unit <NUM>, the processing unit <NUM>, and the processing unit <NUM> are each realized by an arithmetic processing apparatus including a processor. Each of the storage unit <NUM>, the storage unit <NUM>, and the storage unit <NUM> is realized by including a nonvolatile storage medium. The processing unit <NUM> performs processing by using the information stored in the storage unit <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> performs processing by using the information stored in the storage unit <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> performs processing by using the information stored in the storage unit <NUM>. The power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may be realized by a computer.

In the present example, the power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> are each realized by separate computers. However, in another embodiment, the power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may be realized by one computer. In addition, at least some of the functions of the power control apparatus <NUM>, the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, and the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may be realized by a server such as a cloud server.

In the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, the first prediction control unit <NUM> causes a prediction for the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> on the non-work day of the office <NUM>. The second prediction control unit <NUM> causes a prediction for a power capacity that can be accumulated by each of a plurality of vehicles <NUM> at the office <NUM> on the non-work day. For example, the first prediction control unit <NUM> causes the power control apparatus <NUM> to predict the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> on the non-work day of the office <NUM>. In addition, the second prediction control unit <NUM> causes the power control apparatus <NUM> to predict the power capacity that can be accumulated by each of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> at the office <NUM> on the non-work day. Note that the amount of surplus power generated at the office may be predicted on the basis of weather information and the power consumption amount of the office <NUM> in the past. The power capacity that can be accumulated by each of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> may be predicted on the basis of the amount of power consumed from the battery included in the vehicle <NUM> at the time of commuting.

In the power control apparatus <NUM>, the prediction unit <NUM> predicts the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> on the non-work day of the office <NUM> on the basis of the instruction of the first prediction control unit <NUM>. In addition, on the basis of the instruction of the second prediction control unit <NUM>, the prediction unit <NUM> predicts the power capacity that can be accumulated by each of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> at the office <NUM> on the non-work day.

The selection control unit <NUM> of the integrated management apparatus <NUM> causes a to-be-retained vehicle, which is to be retained at the office <NUM> on the non-work day, to be selected from among the plurality of vehicles <NUM> on the basis of the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> on the non-work day and the power capacity that can be accumulated by each of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> at the office <NUM> on the non-work day. For example, the selection control unit <NUM> causes the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> to select a to-be-retained vehicle, which is to be retained at the office <NUM> on the non-work day, from among the plurality of vehicles <NUM>. In the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, the selection unit <NUM> selects the to-be-retained vehicle which is to be retained at the office <NUM> on the non-work day.

The selection control unit <NUM> may cause as many vehicles as the number corresponding to the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> on the non-work day to be selected from among the plurality of vehicles <NUM> on the basis of the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> on the non-work day and the power capacity that can be accumulated by each of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> at the office <NUM> on the non-work day. For example, the selection control unit <NUM> may cause the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> to select as many vehicles as the number corresponding to the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> on the non-work day from among the plurality of vehicles <NUM>. In the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, the selection unit <NUM> may select as many vehicles as the number corresponding to the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> on the non-work day.

The charge/discharge control unit <NUM> causes an adjustment for an amount of charging/discharging the to-be-retained vehicle <NUM> on the work day of the office <NUM> such that the free capacity of the battery included in the to-be-retained vehicle becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value before the non-work day. For example, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> causes the power control apparatus <NUM> to adjust the amount of charging/discharging the to-be-retained vehicle <NUM> on the work day of the office <NUM>. According to an instruction from the charge/discharge control unit <NUM>, in the power control apparatus <NUM>, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> adjusts the amount of charging/discharging the to-be-retained vehicle <NUM> on the work day of the office <NUM> such that the free capacity of the battery included in the to-be-retained vehicle becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value before the non-work day.

When the remaining capacity of the battery included in the to-be-retained vehicle on the work day of the office <NUM> becomes higher than the predetermined value, the selection control unit <NUM> of the integrated management apparatus <NUM> causes another vehicle <NUM>, which includes a battery having a remaining capacity lower than the predetermined value, to be selected from among the plurality of vehicles <NUM> as a new to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office <NUM> on the non-work day. The selection control unit <NUM> causes the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> to select the another vehicle <NUM> as the new to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office <NUM> on the non-work day. According to an instruction from the selection control unit <NUM>, the selection unit <NUM> selects, as the new to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office <NUM> on the non-work day, another vehicle <NUM>, which includes a battery having a remaining capacity lower than the predetermined value, from among the plurality of vehicles <NUM>.

When the remaining capacity of the battery of the to-be-retained vehicle on the work day of the office <NUM> becomes higher than the predetermined value, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> causes another vehicle <NUM>, which includes a battery having a remaining capacity lower than the predetermined value, among the plurality of vehicles <NUM> to be supplied with power from the to-be-retained vehicle. For example, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> causes the power control apparatus <NUM> to supply power from the to-be-retained vehicle to another vehicle <NUM>, which includes a battery having a remaining capacity lower than the predetermined value, among the plurality of vehicles <NUM>. When the remaining capacity of the battery of the to-be-retained vehicle on the work day of the office <NUM> becomes higher than the predetermined value, according to an instruction from the charge/discharge control unit <NUM>, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> performs control to supply power from the to-be-retained vehicle to another vehicle <NUM>, which includes a battery having a remaining capacity lower than the predetermined value, among the plurality of vehicles <NUM>.

The notification control unit <NUM> causes the user <NUM> of the to-be-retained vehicle to be notified to connect the to-be-retained vehicle <NUM> to the power supply system of the office <NUM> before the non-work day. The notification control unit <NUM> causes the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> to be notified to connect the to-be-retained vehicle <NUM> to the power supply system of the office <NUM> before the non-work day. According to an instruction from the notification control unit <NUM>, the notification unit <NUM> makes a notification to connect the to-be-retained vehicle <NUM> to the power supply system of the office <NUM> before the non-work day. The notification unit <NUM> may notify the mobile terminal of the user <NUM> to connect the to-be-retained vehicle <NUM> to the power supply system of the office <NUM>.

The selection control unit <NUM> causes another vehicle <NUM>, which is used for the user of the to-be-retained vehicle to commute by ride-sharing on the days before and after the non-work day, from among the users of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> to be selected on the basis of the commuting routes of the users <NUM> of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> and the remaining capacities of the batteries included in the plurality of vehicles <NUM>. For example, the selection control unit <NUM> causes the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> to select, from among the users of the plurality of vehicles <NUM>, another vehicle <NUM> which is used for the user of the to-be-retained vehicle to commute by ride-sharing on the days before and after the non-work day. According to an instruction from the selection control unit <NUM>, the selection unit <NUM> selects, from among the users of the plurality of vehicles <NUM>, another vehicle <NUM>, which is used for the user of the to-be-retained vehicle to commute by ride-sharing on the days before and after the non-work day, on the basis of the commuting routes of the users <NUM> of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> and the remaining capacities of the batteries included in the plurality of vehicles <NUM>. The information indicating the commuting route of the user <NUM> may be stored in the storage unit <NUM> in advance.

The selection control unit <NUM> causes acquisition of information indicating a combination of users, who desire ride-sharing, among the users of the plurality of vehicles <NUM>, and causes another user, who can perform the ride-sharing with the user of the to-be-retained vehicle <NUM> on the days before and after the non-work day, to be selected on the basis of the combination of the users who desire ride-sharing. The selection control unit <NUM> causes the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> to acquire the information indicating a combination of users, who desire ride-sharing, among the users of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> and to select another user, who can perform the ride-sharing with the user of the to-be-retained vehicle <NUM> on the days before and after the non-work day, on the basis of the combination of the users who desire ride-sharing. According to the instruction from the selection control unit <NUM>, the selection unit <NUM> causes the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> to acquire the information indicating a combination of users, who desire ride-sharing, among the users of the plurality of vehicles <NUM> and to select another user, who can perform the ride-sharing with the user of the to-be-retained vehicle <NUM> on the days before and after the non-work day, on the basis of the combination of the users who desire ride-sharing.

<FIG> illustrates an operation schedule of the vehicle <NUM> in a tabular form. In particular, the operation schedule of <FIG> shows a case where the vehicle 70c is selected as the to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office <NUM> on Saturday and Sunday.

Specifically, the vehicle 80a is selected as a vehicle to be used for the user 70a to commute at the time of both going to work and leaving work time from Monday to Friday. On the other hand, the vehicle 70b is selected as a vehicle which is used for the user 80b and the user 80c to commute by ride-sharing at the time of going to work on Monday and leaving work on Friday, and is selected as a vehicle which is used for the user 80b to commute at the time of leaving work on Monday, at the time of going to work and leaving work from Tuesday to Thursday, and at the time of going to work on Friday. In addition, the vehicle 70c is selected as a vehicle which is used for the user 80c to commute at the time of leaving work on Monday, at the time of going to work and leaving work from Tuesday to Thursday, and at the time of going to work on Friday, and is selected as a to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office <NUM> from the time of leaving work on Friday to the time of leaving work on Monday of the next week.

<FIG> schematically illustrates a temporal change of the surplus power generated at the office <NUM> for each day of the week and a temporal change of the remaining capacity of the battery included in the vehicle <NUM> for each day of the week.

A graph <NUM> shows a temporal change of the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> for each day of the week. The power consumption of the office <NUM> on Saturday and Sunday which are the non-work days of the office <NUM> is small as compared to the power consumption area of the office <NUM> in the period from Monday to Friday which are the work days of the office <NUM>. Therefore, a difference between the amount of power generated by the power generation apparatus <NUM> and the amount of power consumed by the office <NUM> increases on the non-work day of the office <NUM> as compared to the work day of the office <NUM>. Accordingly, in general, as shown in the graph <NUM>, the surplus power generated at the office <NUM> is large on the non-work day of the office <NUM> as compared to the work day of the office <NUM>.

A graph <NUM> shows a temporal change of the remaining capacity of the battery included in the vehicle 70a for each day of the week. A graph <NUM> shows a temporal change of the remaining capacity of the battery included in the vehicle 70b for each day of the week. A graph <NUM> shows a temporal change of the remaining capacity of the battery included in the vehicle 70c for each day of the week. The horizontal axes of the graph <NUM>, the graph <NUM>, the graph <NUM>, and the graph <NUM> represent days of a week. The vertical axis of the graph <NUM> represents the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM>. The vertical axes of the graph <NUM>, the graph <NUM>, and the graph <NUM> represent the amounts of the remaining capacities of the batteries included in the vehicle 70a, the vehicle 70b, and the vehicle 70c, respectively.

The graph <NUM>, the graph <NUM>, and the graph <NUM> show changes in the remaining capacity when the vehicle <NUM> is operated according to the operation schedule illustrated in <FIG>. As shown in the graph <NUM>, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> causes the power control apparatus <NUM> to make a plan to charge the battery of the vehicle 70a with the surplus power of the office <NUM> from Monday to Friday. As a result, the user 80a can use the vehicle for commuting from Monday to Friday.

Similarly, as shown in the graph <NUM>, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> causes the power control apparatus <NUM> to make a plan to charge the battery of the vehicle 70b with the surplus power generated at the office <NUM> from Monday to Friday. As a result, the user 80b can use the vehicle for commuting from Monday to Friday. In particular, on Monday, the remaining capacity decreases due to the ride-sharing commuting of the user 80b and the user 80c, and thus the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> causes the power control apparatus <NUM> to preferentially charge the vehicle 70b on Monday.

As shown in the graph <NUM>, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> causes the power control apparatus <NUM> to make a plan so that the free capacity of the battery of the vehicle 70c becomes equal to or larger than a predetermined free capacity value by the time of leaving work on Friday. For example, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> causes the power control apparatus <NUM> to make a plan so that the remaining capacity of the battery of the vehicle 70c becomes equal to or less than the predetermined remaining capacity value by the time of leaving work on Friday. For example, as shown in the graph <NUM>, charging of the vehicle 70c is planned so that the remaining capacity of the battery of the vehicle 70c gradually decreases in a period from the time of leaving work on Monday to the time of going to work on Friday. As a result, on Saturday and Sunday, the battery of the vehicle 70c can be charged with the surplus power generated at the office <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a flow of processing for deciding the to-be-retained vehicle.

In S662, the selection unit <NUM> acquires information indicating a combination of users who desire to commute by ride-sharing. For example, the selection unit <NUM> transmits, to the mobile terminal used by the user <NUM>, recruitment information indicating the recruitment of the user <NUM> for commuting by ride-sharing. When receiving the recruitment information with the mobile terminal, the user <NUM> uses the mobile terminal of the user <NUM> to set information indicating another user <NUM> with whom the user desires to commute by ride-sharing. The mobile terminal of the user <NUM> transmits, to the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, applicant information including the set information indicating another user <NUM>. As a result, the selection unit <NUM> acquires information indicating a combination of users who desire to commute by ride-sharing.

In S664, the selection unit <NUM> decides a combination of users who can commute by ride-sharing on the basis of the applicant information. For example, when the user 80b desires to commute with the user 80c by ride-sharing and the user 80c desires to commute with the user 80b by ride-sharing, the selection unit <NUM> decides the combination of the user 80c and the user 80b as the combination of users who can commute by ride-sharing. User pair information indicating the combination of the users decided by the selection unit <NUM> is stored in the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, and is used to manage the operation of the vehicle <NUM> and for the notification unit <NUM> to send a notification regarding ride-sharing to the user <NUM>.

In S666, the selection unit <NUM> selects the to-be-retained vehicle from among the vehicles <NUM> used by the users <NUM> who can commute by ride-sharing. In addition, the selection unit <NUM> selects the vehicle <NUM> in which the user <NUM> of the to-be-retained vehicle rides together. Shared vehicle information indicating the vehicle <NUM> in which the user <NUM> of the retention vehicle selected by the selection unit <NUM> rides together is stored in the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, and is used to manage the operation of the vehicle <NUM> and for the notification unit <NUM> to send the notification regarding ride-sharing to the user <NUM>.

In S668, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, retention vehicle information indicating the identification information of the to-be-retained vehicle selected in S666.

In S632, when receiving the retention vehicle information, the selection control unit <NUM> calculates a total value of the battery capacities of the retention vehicles.

In S602, the prediction unit <NUM> predicts the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> on the non-work day of the office <NUM> on the basis of the instruction of the first prediction control unit <NUM>. The prediction unit <NUM> predicts the amount of surplus power generated at the office <NUM> on the non-work day on the basis of the past actual power consumption data in the office <NUM>, the weather prediction in the region where the office <NUM> exists, and the current date and time.

In S604, the prediction unit <NUM> calculates the battery capacity required in the office <NUM>. For example, the prediction unit <NUM> calculates the battery capacity required to store the surplus power amount.

In S606, the prediction unit <NUM> transmits, to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, request information indicating the battery capacity calculated in S604.

When the integrated management apparatus <NUM> receives the request information from the power control apparatus <NUM>, in S634, the selection control unit <NUM> compares the battery capacity requested by the request information with the total battery capacity of the to-be-retained vehicles. For example, the selection control unit <NUM> can calculate the total battery capacity of the to-be-retained vehicles on the basis of the identification information of the to-be-retained vehicles and the predetermined stored battery capacity of the vehicle <NUM>.

In S636, the selection control unit <NUM> determines whether or not the total battery capacity of the to-be-retained vehicle behind is insufficient with respect to the battery capacity requested by the request information. For example, when the total battery capacity of the to-be-retained vehicles is equal to or more than the battery capacity requested by the request information, the selection control unit <NUM> determines that the total battery capacity of the to-be-retained vehicles is not insufficient with respect to the battery capacity requested by the request information. When the selection control unit <NUM> determines that the total battery capacity of the to-be-retained vehicle is not insufficient with respect to the battery capacity requested by the request information, the selection control unit confirms the to-be-retained vehicle in S638, and transmits, to the power control apparatus <NUM>, the identification information of the to-be-retained vehicles and response information indicating the total battery capacity of the to-be-retained vehicle in S640.

When receiving the response information from the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, in S608, the prediction unit <NUM> verifies the response information, and confirms the identification information of the to-be-retained vehicles and the total battery capacity of the to-be-retained vehicles. The prediction unit <NUM> stores, as a retention vehicle database that can be used on the non-work day, information including the total battery capacity of the to-be-retained vehicles and the identification information of the to-be-retained vehicles. The stored battery information is used for the control of the charge/discharge control unit <NUM>.

When determining that the total battery capacity of the to-be-retained vehicles is insufficient with respect to the battery capacity requested by the request information in S636, the selection control unit <NUM> transmits, to the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, request information for adding the retention vehicle in S642.

When the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> receives the request information from the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, information indicating a combination of new users who desire to commute by ride-sharing is acquired in S672. For example, similarly to S662, the selection unit <NUM> transmits, to the mobile terminal of the user <NUM>, additional recruitment information indicating that the user <NUM> who commutes by ride-sharing is additionally recruited, and receives additional applicant information from the mobile terminal of the user <NUM>.

In S674, the selection unit <NUM> decides a new combination of users who can commute by ride-sharing on the basis of the additional applicant information. In addition, the selection unit <NUM> selects a to-be-retained vehicle from among the vehicles <NUM> used by the users <NUM> who can commute by ride-sharing, and selects a vehicle <NUM> in which the user <NUM> of the retention vehicle rides together. User pair information indicating the combination of the users decided by the selection unit <NUM> and the shared vehicle information indicating the vehicle <NUM> in which the user <NUM> of the retention vehicle selected by the selection unit <NUM> rides together are stored in the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, and are used to manage the operation of the vehicle <NUM> and to send the notification regarding ride-sharing to the user <NUM>.

In S678, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, the retention vehicle information indicating the identification information of the retention vehicle selected in S674. When receiving the retention vehicle information from the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, in S638, the integrated management apparatus <NUM> performs processing similar to S634 and S636 to confirm the to-be-retained vehicle.

<FIG> illustrates a flow of the processing on the work day of the office <NUM>.

In S762, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> performs processing of the user <NUM> returning the vehicle <NUM> to the office <NUM> when the user <NUM> goes to work. For example, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> authenticates the user <NUM> by referring to the database of employees working in the office <NUM> (S764), and determines that the user <NUM> returns the vehicle <NUM> when the user <NUM> is authenticated.

In S766, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> authenticates the vehicle <NUM> returned by the user <NUM> by referring to the vehicle database for managing the identification information of the vehicle <NUM>.

When the authentication of the vehicle <NUM> is completed, the operation plan database of the vehicle <NUM> in the office <NUM> is updated in S767. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the power control apparatus <NUM>, vehicle information including the identification information of the returned vehicle <NUM>, the state of charge (SoC) of the battery included in the vehicle <NUM>, and information of charge request until the next use of the vehicle <NUM> (S768).

When receiving the vehicle information from the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, in S702, the power control apparatus <NUM> acquires a charge/discharge history of the returned vehicle <NUM> by referring to a charge/discharge history database. The charge/discharge history database is a database that stores the charge/discharge history of each of the vehicles <NUM>. The data of the charge/discharge history database is stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

In S704, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> verifies whether the returned vehicle <NUM> corresponds to the to-be-retained vehicle by referring to the retention vehicle database. In addition, when the returned vehicle <NUM> corresponds to the to-be-retained vehicle, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> checks that the SoC of the battery of the vehicle <NUM> does not exceed a predetermined value. Herein, it is assumed that the SoC of the battery of the returned vehicle <NUM> does not exceed the predetermined value.

In S706, by referring to the current charging plan, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> updates the plan for charging the vehicle <NUM> on the work day of the office <NUM> at least on and after the current day on the basis of the current charging plan and the verification result. In S708, the battery of the vehicle <NUM> is charged on the basis of the updated charging plan. After performing the charge control on the day, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> updates the charge/discharge history database on the basis of the history of charge executed for the vehicle <NUM> on the day in S708 (S710). In addition, in S712, charge state information indicating the SoC of the battery of the vehicle <NUM> is transmitted to the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>. Note that the charging plan indicates, for example, the amount of charge to be performed on the battery included in each of the vehicles <NUM> on each day of the week. The charging plan is planned by the charge/discharge control unit <NUM>. The charging plan is updated by the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> each time the vehicle <NUM> moves. The data of the charging plan is stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

When receiving the charge state information from the power control apparatus <NUM>, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> updates the SoC of the vehicle <NUM> (S769).

Subsequently, when the user <NUM> leaves work, processing for the vehicle <NUM> used for leaving work is performed at the time of leaving work. For example, when acquiring the identification information of the user <NUM> who leaves work (S772), the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> authenticates the user <NUM> who leaves work by referring to the database of employees working in the office <NUM> (S774), and when the user <NUM> is authenticated, the vehicle management apparatus determines that the user <NUM> leaves work by using the vehicle <NUM>. Note that the employee database is a database that stores employee identification information. The data of the employee database is stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

In S776, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> authenticates the vehicle <NUM> used by the user <NUM> for leaving work by referring to the vehicle database for managing the identification information of the vehicle <NUM>. The vehicle database is a database that stores the identification information of the vehicle <NUM>, the capacity of the battery included in the vehicle <NUM>, and the remaining capacity of the battery included in the vehicle <NUM> in association with each other. The data of the vehicle database is stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

In S778, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> performs verification with the operation plan by referring to the operation plan database and updates the operation plan database. In addition, in S780, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> updates the vehicle database. For example, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> updates the state of the vehicle <NUM> used for leaving work during use. Subsequently, in S782, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> completes the authentication processing for using the vehicle <NUM> for leaving work.

<FIG> illustrates a flow of the processing on the work day of the office <NUM>. Specifically, <FIG> describes the processing in a case where the vehicle <NUM> returned to the office <NUM> at the time of going to work is a to-be-retained vehicle, and the SoC of the battery of the returned vehicle <NUM> exceeds the predetermined value. In particular, <FIG> illustrates the flow of the processing in a case where the battery of another vehicle <NUM> is charged by using the battery of the to-be-retained vehicle. Note that, in the processing illustrated in <FIG>, the same processing as the processing illustrated in <FIG> are denoted by the same reference numerals as those given in <FIG>, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the verification processing of S704, when it is determined that the vehicle <NUM> returned to the office <NUM> is a to-be-retained vehicle and the SoC of the battery of the returned vehicle <NUM> exceeds the predetermined value, the power control apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, notification information indicating that the SoC of the vehicle <NUM> as the to-be-retained vehicle exceeds the predetermined value (S805).

In S832, the integrated management apparatus <NUM> determines whether or not the to-be-retained vehicle can be changed to another vehicle <NUM>. Specifically, in S834, the integrated management apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>, inquiry information as to whether or not the to-be-retained vehicle can be changed to another vehicle <NUM>. In S880, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> determines and processes whether or not to change the to-be-retained vehicle. Herein, it is assumed that the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> decides that the to-be-retained vehicle cannot be changed, and transmits, to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, response information indicating that the to-be-retained vehicle cannot be changed to another vehicle <NUM> (S882). Note that the determination as to whether or not the to-be-retained vehicle can be changed to another vehicle <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG> and the like.

When the response information indicating that the to-be-retained vehicle cannot be changed to another vehicle <NUM> is received from the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> in S882, the integrated management apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the power control apparatus <NUM>, the response information indicating that the battery of the vehicle <NUM> as the to-be-retained vehicle is discharged to charge the battery of another vehicle <NUM> (S836).

When receiving the response information from the integrated management apparatus <NUM> (S836), in S806, the power control apparatus <NUM> acquires the current charging plan, and updates the plan for charging the vehicle <NUM> on the work day of the office <NUM> at least on and after the current day on the basis of the current charging plan and the response information received in S836. The charging plan includes charge/discharge processing of discharging the battery of the vehicle <NUM> as the to-be-retained vehicle and charging the battery of another vehicle <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a flow of the processing on the work day of the office <NUM>. Specifically, <FIG> describes the processing in a case where the vehicle <NUM> returned to the office <NUM> at the time of going to work is a to-be-retained vehicle, and the SoC of the battery of the returned vehicle <NUM> exceeds the predetermined value. In particular, <FIG> illustrates the flow of the processing in a case where the to-be-retained vehicle is changed to another vehicle <NUM>. Note that, in the processing illustrated in <FIG>, the same processing as the processing illustrated in <FIG> are denoted by the same reference numerals as those given in <FIG>, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the verification processing of S704, when it is determined that the vehicle <NUM> returned to the office <NUM> is a to-be-retained vehicle and the SoC of the battery of the returned vehicle <NUM> exceeds the predetermined value, the power control apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, notification information indicating that the SoC of the vehicle <NUM> as the to-be-retained vehicle exceeds the predetermined value (S905).

In S930, the integrated management apparatus <NUM> causes the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> to determine whether or not the to-be-retained vehicle can be changed to another vehicle <NUM>. Specifically, in S934, the integrated management apparatus <NUM> transmits inquiry information as to whether or not the to-be-retained vehicle can be changed to another vehicle <NUM>.

When receiving the inquiry information, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> determines whether or not the to-be-retained vehicle can be changed by referring to the operation plan database (S980). When there is the vehicle <NUM> having a SoC lower than the predetermined value, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> determines that the to-be-retained vehicle can be changed. Specifically, when there is the vehicle <NUM> having a SoC lower than the predetermined value, the selection unit <NUM> selects, as a new to-be-retained vehicle, the vehicle <NUM> having a SoC lower than the predetermined value, and updates the operation plan database with the selected vehicle <NUM> as the to-be-retained vehicle. Note that the operation plan database is a database of plans indicating how to use the vehicle <NUM> for commuting. The data of the operation plan database is stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

In S982, the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, response information with respect to the inquiry information. The response information includes the identification information of the vehicle <NUM> newly selected as the to-be-retained vehicle. The integrated management apparatus <NUM> transmits, to the power control apparatus <NUM>, the response information including the identification information of the vehicle <NUM> selected as the new to-be-retained vehicle (S936).

When the power control apparatus <NUM> receives the response information from the integrated management apparatus <NUM>, the charge/discharge control unit <NUM> updates the retention vehicle database in S920. In addition, the current charging plan is acquired, and the plan for charging the vehicle <NUM> on the work day of the office <NUM> at least on and after the current day is updated on the basis of the current charging plan and the to-be-retained vehicle information newly registered in S920 (S922). Note that the retention vehicle database is a database that stores identification information of the vehicle <NUM> selected as the to-be-retained vehicle. The data of the retention vehicle database is stored in the storage unit <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a computer <NUM> in which a plurality of examples of the present invention may be entirely or partially included A program installed in the computer <NUM> can cause the computer <NUM> to function as a system or each unit of the system, an apparatus such as various control apparatuses, or each unit of the apparatus according to the embodiment to execute an operation associated with the system or each unit of the system, the apparatus, or each unit of the apparatus and/or execute a process or a step of the process according to the example. Such a program may be executed by a CPU <NUM> in order to cause the computer <NUM> to execute a specific operation associated with some or all of the blocks in the processing procedure and the block diagram described in the specification.

The computer <NUM> according to the present example includes the CPU <NUM> and RAM <NUM>, which are connected mutually by a host controller <NUM>. The computer <NUM> also includes a ROM <NUM>, a flash memory <NUM>, a communication interface <NUM>, and an input/output chip <NUM>. The ROM <NUM>, the flash memory <NUM>, the communication interface <NUM> and the input/output chip <NUM> are connected to the host controller <NUM> via an input/output controller <NUM>.

The CPU <NUM> operates according to the program stored in the ROM <NUM> and the RAM <NUM>, thereby controlling each unit.

The communication interface <NUM> communicates with other electronic devices via a network. The flash memory <NUM> stores the program and data used by the CPU <NUM> in the computer <NUM>. The ROM <NUM> stores a boot program or the like executed by the computer <NUM> during activation, and/or a program depending on hardware of the computer <NUM>. The input/output chip <NUM> may also connect, to the input/output controller <NUM>, a variety of input/output unit such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a monitor, via input/output ports such as a serial port, a parallel port, a keyboard port, a mouse port, a monitor port, a USB port, and HDMI (registered trademark) port.

A program is provided via a network or computer-readable storage media such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, or a memory card. The RAM <NUM>, the ROM <NUM>, or the flash memory <NUM> is an example of the computer-readable storage medium. The program is installed in the flash memory <NUM>, the RAM <NUM> or the ROM <NUM> and executed by the CPU <NUM>. Information processing described in the program is read by the computer <NUM>, thereby resulting in cooperation between the program and above-described various types of hardware resources. An apparatus or method may be constituted by implementing the operations or processing on information according to the use of the computer <NUM>.

For example, when communications are performed between the computer <NUM> and external devices, the CPU <NUM> may execute a communication program loaded in the RAM <NUM>, and instruct the communication interface <NUM> to execute communication processing on based on the processing written in the communication program. The communication interface <NUM>, under the control of the CPU <NUM>, reads out transmission data stored in a transmission buffer processing area provided in a recording medium such as the RAM <NUM> and the flash memory <NUM>, transmits the read transmission data to the network, and writes a reception data received from the network into a reception buffer processing area or the like provided on the recording medium.

Also, the CPU <NUM> may cause all or required portions of a file or a database stored in the recording medium such as the flash memory <NUM> to be read by the RAM <NUM>, and perform various kinds of processing on the data on the RAM <NUM>. The CPU <NUM>, then, writes back the processed data into the recording medium.

Various types of programs and various types of information such as data, tables, and databases may be stored in the recording medium, and they may be performed information processing. The CPU <NUM> may perform, on the data read from the RAM <NUM>, various kinds of processing including various kinds of operations, information processing, conditional judgments, conditional branching, unconditional branching, information searching/replacing and the like described in the specification and specified by an instruction sequence of the program, and writes back the result into the RAM <NUM>. Also, the CPU <NUM> may search for information in a file, a database, etc., in the recording medium. For example, when a plurality of entries each having an attribute value of a first attribute respectively associated with an attribute value of a second attribute is stored in the recording medium, the CPU <NUM> may search for, from among the plurality of entries, an entry in which the attribute value of the first attribute is specified and that match with a condition, read the attribute value of the second attribute stored in the entry, and thereby obtain the attribute value of the second attribute associated with the first attribute meeting a predetermined condition.

The programs or software modules described above may be stored in the computer-readable storage medium on the computer <NUM> or in the vicinity of the computer <NUM>. A recording medium such as a hard disk or a RAM provided in a server system connected to a dedicated communication network or the Internet can be used as the computer-readable storage media. A program stored in the computer-readable storage medium may be provided to the computer <NUM> via a network.

The program installed in the computer <NUM> to cause the computer <NUM> to function as the power control apparatus <NUM> may work on the CPU <NUM> or the like to cause the computer <NUM> to function as each unit of the power control apparatus <NUM>. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer <NUM> to function as each unit of the power control apparatus <NUM> which is a specific means in which software and the above-described various hardware resources cooperate. Then, when calculation or processing of information according to the use purpose of the computer <NUM> in the present embodiment is realized by these specific means, the unique power control apparatus <NUM> according to the use purpose is constructed.

The program installed in the computer <NUM> to cause the computer <NUM> to function as the integrated management apparatus <NUM> may work on the CPU <NUM> or the like to cause the computer <NUM> to function as each unit of the integrated management apparatus <NUM>. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer <NUM> to function as each unit of the integrated management apparatus <NUM> which is a specific means in which software and the above-described various hardware resources cooperate. Then, when calculation or processing of information according to the use purpose of the computer <NUM> in the present embodiment is realized by these specific means, the unique integrated management apparatus <NUM> according to the use purpose is constructed.

The program installed in the computer <NUM> to cause the computer <NUM> to function as the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> may work on the CPU <NUM> or the like to cause the computer <NUM> to function as each unit of the vehicle management apparatus <NUM>. The information processing described in these programs is read by the computer <NUM> to function as each unit of the vehicle management apparatus <NUM> which is a specific means in which software and the above-described various hardware resources cooperate. Then, when calculation or processing of information according to the use purpose of the computer <NUM> in the present embodiment is realized by these specific means, the unique vehicle management apparatus <NUM> according to the use purpose is constructed.

A variety of embodiments have been described with reference to the block diagram and the like. In the block diagram, each block may represent (<NUM>) a step of a process in which an operation is performed, or (<NUM>) each unit of the apparatus having a role of performing the operation. Certain steps and sections may be implemented by dedicated circuitry, programmable circuitry supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on computer-readable storage media, and/or processors supplied with computer-readable instructions stored on computer-readable storage media. The dedicated circuit may include a digital and/or analog hardware circuit, or may include an integrated circuit (IC) and/or a discrete circuit. The programmable circuit may include a reconfigurable hardware circuit including: logical AND, logical OR, exclusive OR (XOR), negative AND (NAND), negative OR (NOR), and other logical operation; and a memory element such as a flip-flop, a register, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic array (PLA); and so on.

Computer-readable storage media may include any tangible device that can store instructions for execution by a suitable device, such that the computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein forms at least a portion of an article of manufacture including instructions which can be executed to create means for performing processing operations or operations specified in the block diagrams. Examples of the computer-readable storage medium may include an electronic storage medium, a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, an electromagnetic storage medium, a semiconductor storage medium, and the like. More specific examples of the computer-readable storage medium may include a floppy (registered trademark) disk, a diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk, a memory stick, an integrated circuit card, or the like.

The computer-readable instruction may include either of source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages including: an assembler instruction, an instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instruction, a machine instruction, a machine dependent instruction, a microcode, a firmware instruction, state-setting data; or an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk (registered trademark), JAVA (registered trademark), C++, or the like; and a conventional procedural programming language such as a "C" programming language or a similar programming language.

Claim 1:
A vehicle management system configured to manage a plurality of vehicles used at an office comprising a power generation apparatus (<NUM>), wherein
each of the plurality of vehicles includes a battery,
the vehicle management system includes:
a first prediction control unit (<NUM>) configured to cause a prediction for an amount of surplus power defined as a difference between the power generated at the office by the power generation apparatus (<NUM>) and the amount of power consumed by the office on a non-work day of the office; and
a second prediction control unit (<NUM>) configured to cause a prediction for a power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day; characterized in that the vehicle management system includes
a selection control unit (<NUM>) configured to cause a to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office and connected to the power generation apparatus (<NUM>) of the office on the non-work day to be selected from among the plurality of vehicles on a basis of the amount of surplus power generated at the office on the non-work day and the power capacity that can be accumulated by the each of the plurality of vehicles at the office on the non-work day, and
a charge/discharge control unit (<NUM>) configured to cause an amount of charging/discharging of the to-be-retained vehicle on a work day of the office to be adjusted such that a remaining capacity of a battery included in the to-be-retained vehicle becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value before the non-work day,
wherein when the remaining capacity of the battery included in the to-be-retained vehicle on the work day of the office becomes higher than the predetermined value, the selection control unit (<NUM>) is configured to cause another vehicle, which includes a battery having a remaining capacity lower than the predetermined value, to be selected from among the plurality of vehicles as a new to-be-retained vehicle to be retained at the office on the non-work day.