Fleet electrification management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11987145-B2
Application number	US-202217932631-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2022
Priority date	Aug 5, 2021
Publication date	May 21, 2024
Grant date	May 21, 2024

Abstract

Techniques are described herein for fleet electrification management. A method includes determining a composition of electric vehicles (EVs) to replace at least a portion of non-electric vehicles in a vehicle fleet while satisfying travel requirements of the vehicle fleet. The method includes estimating an energy demand of the composition of EVs. The method includes determining an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) charging infrastructure to meet the estimated energy demand. The method includes providing one or more recommendations including at least one of: a fleet electrification recommendation for transitioning the vehicle fleet into the composition of EVs, or a charging infrastructure recommendation for implementing the EVSE charging infrastructure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
determining, by a computerized system that comprises one or more processors, a composition of electric vehicles (EVs) to replace at least a portion of non-electric vehicles in a vehicle fleet while satisfying travel requirements of the vehicle fleet;
estimating, by the computerized system, an average power demand of the composition of EVs based at least in part on a duration of a practical charging window, wherein the practical charging window corresponds to remaining time between consecutive shifts in which EVs are available to be charged;
determining, by the computerized system, an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) charging infrastructure to meet the estimated average power demand; and
providing, by the computerized system, one or more recommendations including at least one of: a fleet electrification recommendation for transitioning the vehicle fleet into the composition of EVs, or a charging infrastructure recommendation for implementing the EVSE charging infrastructure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the composition of EVs is based on at least one of:
a current composition of the vehicle fleet;
minimizing a total cost of ownership for the vehicle fleet;
minimizing a total cost of charging for the vehicle fleet; or
an electrification planning time horizon.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the travel requirements of the vehicle fleet are based on at least one of:
an average distance traveled for a defined period;
a maximum distance travel for a defined period;
vehicle operation times;
vehicle shift information; or
vehicle dwell times.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein estimating the energy average power demand of the composition of EVs is further based on a peak period of energy demand, which is estimated based on a quantity of EVs in the composition of EVs and their charging demand during the practical charging window.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the EVSE charging infrastructure is for multiple locations, and wherein the one or more recommendations are based on at least one of: vehicle routes, power availability, and fleet strategies.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more recommendations are based on at least one of:
energy storage systems (ESSs);
renewable energy resources (RERs);
energy price changes; or
energy load balancing.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charging infrastructure recommendation includes a plurality of alternative charging configurations to meet the estimated average power demand.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the charging infrastructure recommendation includes a number and configuration of EVSE to be installed over a time horizon.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more recommendations further include a recommended schedule for charging the vehicle fleet.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more recommendations further include social or economic cost savings and benefits.

11. A system comprising:
one or more processors;
one or more storage devices operatively coupled to the processor;

instructions, stored on the one or more storage devices, which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause:
determining a composition of electric vehicles (EVs) to replace at least a portion of non-electric vehicles in a vehicle fleet while satisfying travel requirements of the vehicle fleet;
estimating an average power demand of the composition of EVs based at least in part on a duration of a practical charging window, wherein the practical charging window corresponds to remaining time between consecutive shifts in which EVs are available to be charged;
determining an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) charging infrastructure to meet the estimated average power demand; and
providing one or more recommendations including at least one of: a fleet electrification
recommendation for transitioning the vehicle fleet into the composition of EVs, or
a charging infrastructure recommendation for implementing the EVSE charging infrastructure.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein determining the composition of EVs is based on at least one of:
a current composition of the vehicle fleet;
minimizing a total cost of ownership for the vehicle fleet;
minimizing a total cost of charging for the vehicle fleet; or
an electrification planning time horizon.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the travel requirements of the vehicle fleet are based on at least one of:
an average distance traveled for a defined period;
a maximum distance travel for a defined period;
vehicle operation times;
vehicle shift information; or
vehicle dwell times.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein estimating the average power demand of the composition of EVs is further based on a peak period of energy demand, which is estimated based on a quantity of EVs in the composition of EVs and their charging demand during the practical charging window.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the EVSE charging infrastructure is for multiple locations, and wherein the one or more recommendations are based on at least one of: vehicle routes, power availability, and fleet strategies.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more recommendations are based on at least one of:
energy storage systems (ESSs);
renewable energy resources (RERs);
energy price changes; or
energy load balancing.

17. The system of claim 11 , wherein the charging infrastructure recommendation includes a plurality of alternative charging configurations to meet the estimated average power demand.

18. The system of claim 11 , wherein the charging infrastructure recommendation includes a number and configuration of EVSE to be installed over a time horizon.

19. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more recommendations further include a recommended schedule for charging the vehicle fleet.

20. The system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more recommendations further include social or economic cost savings and benefits.

Assignees

• Volta Charging Llc

Inventors

• Balali Mohammad
• Klein David J
• Bailey Anna
• Bowen Brian
• Toms Silas M
• Mandal Praveen

Classifications

• B60L53/63 Primary

  in response to network capacity · CPC title

• B60L53/305

  Communication interfaces · CPC title

• B60L53/64

  Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates · CPC title

• B60L53/67

  Controlling two or more charging stations · CPC title

• G06Q10/0631 Primary

  Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations · CPC title