Compact power substation for use with electric vehicle charging stations
First Claim
1. A power substation for use in charging electric vehicles, the substation comprising:
- a transformer receiving power from a utility power source, the transformer being for converting power from said power source from a higher voltage to a lower voltage, said lower voltage being useful for charging said electric vehicles;
a distribution component receiving said power at said lower voltage and distributing said power to a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations;
a plurality of switch components coupled between said distribution component and said plurality of charging stations, each one of said switch components being coupled between said distribution component and one of said charging stations, each of said switch components providing an electrical route for power to travel from said distribution component to one of said charging stations;
a controller for controlling a flow of power from said distribution component to each one of said charging stations, said controller being coupled to control each one of said plurality of switch components;
whereinsaid controller is in communication with at least one user terminal for use by a user, said controller controlling said flow of power from said distribution component to said each one of said charging stations based on controlling input from said at least one user terminal.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods relating to a compact electric substation for use with charging stations for electric vehicles. A compact substation is equipped with a suitable transformer that steps down the voltage from a mains line from a power utility company to a voltage usable for electric vehicle (EV) charging. The substation is equipped with a distribution component that distributes the lower voltage power to a number of charging stations by way of contactors controlled by a controller. The controller activates/deactivates the relevant contactor to feed power to the relevant charging station based on a user'"'"'s input at a user terminal. Suitable software in the user terminal ensures that suitable signals are sent to the controller only after the user has set a time frame for how long to charge an EV. The user terminal may be a point of sale terminal that also accepts user payment for the EV recharge.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A power substation for use in charging electric vehicles, the substation comprising:
-
a transformer receiving power from a utility power source, the transformer being for converting power from said power source from a higher voltage to a lower voltage, said lower voltage being useful for charging said electric vehicles; a distribution component receiving said power at said lower voltage and distributing said power to a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations; a plurality of switch components coupled between said distribution component and said plurality of charging stations, each one of said switch components being coupled between said distribution component and one of said charging stations, each of said switch components providing an electrical route for power to travel from said distribution component to one of said charging stations; a controller for controlling a flow of power from said distribution component to each one of said charging stations, said controller being coupled to control each one of said plurality of switch components; wherein said controller is in communication with at least one user terminal for use by a user, said controller controlling said flow of power from said distribution component to said each one of said charging stations based on controlling input from said at least one user terminal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for controlling a power substation used for charging electric vehicles, the method comprising:
-
a) receiving input from a user indicating a selected one of said charging stations, said selected one of said charging stations comprising a user request; b) receiving input from said user indicating an amount of charging time for said charging station, said amount of charging time further comprising said user request; c) validating said user request and parameters of said user request; d) after said user request has been validated, transmitting a connect signal to a controller in said power substation, said connect signal causing said controller to connect said selected one of said charging stations with a distributor component in said power substation; e) timing said delivery of said power to said selected one of said charging stations; f) transmitting a disconnect signal to said controller when said amount of charging time paid for by said user has been reached, said disconnect signal causing said controller to disconnect said selected one of said charging stations from said distributor component. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification