Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha

Tsutomu Matsuki

Takayoshi Matsuno

Toshihiro Katsuda

A charging control apparatus mounted on a vehicle connected to an external charging device through a charging connector, for performing control related to charging, includes a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage applied to the charging connector, and a control device for estimating, based on variation in voltage detected by the voltage sensor during a predetermined period of time after the charging connector is connected to the vehicle, variation in voltage applied to the charging connector after a lapse of the predetermined period of time, and determining that a failure has occurred in the external charging device if a degree of separation between the variation in voltage detected by the voltage sensor after the lapse of the predetermined period of time and the estimated variation in voltage is larger than a predetermined value.

Charging control apparatus

Frequency of judgment of welding of relays is increased to increase likelihood of early detection of welding. It is determined that a battery is not being recharged or discharged when a vehicle speed V of an electric vehicle is approximately 0 and a brake pedal is pressed, and a switching element of an inverter is controlled to be switched to discharge electric charges which are stored in a capacitor After discharging, relays are turned off, and voltages RV RV between the terminals of the relays are detected by voltmeters to judge whether either of the voltages RV RV has a threshold value RVref (approximate value 0) or less. When it is so determined, it is judged that the relays are welded, and an LED is illuminated.

Relay welding detector and detecting method

The present invention relates to a battery heating device for an electric vehicle, which includes: a combustion heater for heating an interior of the electric vehicle; batteries which are a driving source of the electric vehicle, the batteries being disposed about the combustion heater; and a transfer device for transferring exhaust heat from the combustion heater, which is in operation, to the batteries. When the combustion heater is actuated, the battery temperature is raised by the exhaust heat from the combustion heater.

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Miyoshi, Japan

Tsutomu Matsuki