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DE-102024003674-A1 - Method for route planning of charging stops for an electrically powered vehicle

DE102024003674A1DE 102024003674 A1DE102024003674 A1DE 102024003674A1DE-102024003674-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for route planning of charging stops for an electrically powered vehicle with a navigation system, wherein specific vehicle characteristics, in particular vehicle height, are transmitted to the navigation system, especially including any additional vehicle height due to roof-mounted structures. The specific vehicle characteristics, location information of charging stations, and route information are used to select a suitable charging station.

Inventors

  • Jochen Brömmer

Assignees

  • Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241108

Claims (7)

  1. Method for route planning of charging stops for an electrically powered vehicle with a navigation system, whereby the navigation system is provided with specific vehicle characteristics, in particular a vehicle height, including in particular an additional vehicle height due to roof structures of the vehicle, whereby the specific vehicle characteristics as well as location information of charging stations and route information are used to select a suitable charging station.
  2. Procedure according to Claim 1 , where a vehicle navigation system or an external route planner is used as the navigation system.
  3. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , whereby a vehicle height and/or a type of roof structure of the vehicle, including its dimensions, are transmitted to the navigation system via a user interface of the vehicle.
  4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein dimensions of roof structures of the vehicle are determined by means of a mobile device, in particular a mobile phone, and transmitted to the navigation system.
  5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an additional vehicle height due to roof structures of the vehicle is automatically determined by means of sensors and/or cameras and transmitted to the navigation system.
  6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein location information of charging stations, in particular regarding possible vehicle heights, is queried via the Internet and/or location information already available in the navigation system is used.
  7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein route information, in particular regarding clearance height restrictions, is queried via the Internet and/or route information already available in the navigation system is used.

Description

The invention relates to a method for route planning of charging stops for an electrically powered vehicle. Modern navigation systems for electric vehicles or external electric vehicle route planners also assist drivers on longer journeys by helping them plan charging stops. These systems typically allow users to display, set, or take into account information such as vehicle model, battery charge level at the start and end points, charging station output, and the number of available/occupied charging points at the charging stop. It is technically possible to transmit further location data such as possible vehicle height, possible vehicle length, possible vehicle width of a parking facility with charging station to the vehicle. The DE 10 2017 006 092 A1 This describes a method in which at least one data set characterizing parking information for a vehicle is provided. This data set indicates whether the parking facility has at least one charging parking space with an associated charging station for supplying electrical energy to a traction battery. Compared to conventional parking facilities, which only provide information such as the number of available parking spaces, this method also allows for the provision of information on whether parking spaces are sufficiently large for at least one external dimension of the vehicle. This can significantly speed up the parking process. The at least one external dimension can correspond to the vehicle's length, width, or height. However, conventional external route planners/vehicle-integrated navigation systems only consider the base vehicle and its dimensions when selecting charging stations. Other specific vehicle characteristics that can also be crucial for route planning of charging stops, such as vehicle height or any type of roof-mounted equipment (roof box, bike rack, roof tent, etc.), are not queried by the vehicle via an electronic interface or user interface and are therefore unknown to the vehicle and the route planner. This lack of specific vehicle features can lead to disadvantageous situations for customers planning charging stops for electric vehicles. For example, charging stations might be located in parking garages with height restrictions, preventing entry with a roof box, or requiring access to a charging station via a height restriction (bridge, parking space, etc.). In some cases, the customer may still be able to use the suggested charging point, albeit with additional effort, such as removing bicycles from the roof. However, situations may arise where a different charging point must be used, for instance, because removing the roof box to enter the parking garage with the charging point is not possible. Depending on the remaining energy in the vehicle, this may not always be feasible, potentially resulting in a breakdown with an empty battery. One object of the invention is to provide an improved method for route planning of charging stops for an electrically powered vehicle. The aforementioned problem is solved using the features of an independent claim. Favorable embodiments and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the further claims, the description and the drawing. According to one aspect of the invention, a method for route planning of charging stops for an electrically powered vehicle with a navigation system is proposed, wherein specific vehicle characteristics, in particular a vehicle height, are transmitted to the navigation system, especially including any additional vehicle height due to roof structures of the vehicle. The specific vehicle characteristics, as well as location information of charging stations and route information, are used to select a suitable charging station. The proposed method allows the driver to enter information about roof-mounted structures via a user interface on the vehicle or an external electric vehicle route planner. The dimensions and type of structure can be entered, for example, by manually entering the dimensions or by taking optical measurements using a mobile phone with the necessary software. The entered specific additional vehicle height is then used by the vehicle navigation system or external electric vehicle route planner to select the best possible route for the driver, taking into account this feature and the available location information for charging stations, such as the maximum vehicle height and any height restrictions. This route includes charging stops/charging points. According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, a vehicle navigation system or an external route planner can be used as the navigation system. Information about any additional vehicle height, for example due to roof-mounted equipment, can also be conveniently transmitted to external navigation systems and thus used to plan the best possible route for the driver, including potential charging stops/charging points. According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, the vehicle height and/or the