Systems and methods for charging an electric vehicle at a charging station
First Claim
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1. A method of charging an electric vehicle having roof-mounted charge-receiving electrodes at a charging station, comprising:
- transmitting data between the electric vehicle and the charging station as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station;
docking the electrical vehicle at the charging station based at least on a portion of the data, wherein the docking includes;
positioning the electric vehicle at the charging station such that charge-receiving electrodes of the vehicle are positioned below charging electrodes of the charging station; and
automatically connecting the charge-receiving electrodes of the vehicle with the charging electrodes of the charging station, wherein the connecting includes decreasing a gap between the charging electrodes and the charge-receiving electrodes to make contact between the charging electrodes and the charge-receiving electrodes; and
activating current flow from the charging station to the electric vehicle for charging.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for charging an electric bus having a charging interface on its roof may include determining that an approaching bus is supposed to be charged at the charging station, lowering the charging head of the charging station to land on the roof of the bus, and moving the bus with the charge head on its roof to engage the charging head with the charging interface.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of charging an electric vehicle having roof-mounted charge-receiving electrodes at a charging station, comprising:
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transmitting data between the electric vehicle and the charging station as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station; docking the electrical vehicle at the charging station based at least on a portion of the data, wherein the docking includes; positioning the electric vehicle at the charging station such that charge-receiving electrodes of the vehicle are positioned below charging electrodes of the charging station; and automatically connecting the charge-receiving electrodes of the vehicle with the charging electrodes of the charging station, wherein the connecting includes decreasing a gap between the charging electrodes and the charge-receiving electrodes to make contact between the charging electrodes and the charge-receiving electrodes; and activating current flow from the charging station to the electric vehicle for charging. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of charging an electric vehicle having roof-mounted charge-receiving electrodes at a charging station, comprising:
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exchanging data between the electric vehicle and the charging station as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station; positioning the electric vehicle at the charging station such that the charge-receiving electrodes of the vehicle are positioned below charging electrodes of the charging station; after the positioning, automatically decreasing a gap between the charging electrodes and the charge-receiving electrodes; connecting the charging electrodes with the charge-receiving electrodes; and activating current flow from the charging station to the electric vehicle for charging. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of charging an electric vehicle having roof-mounted charge-receiving electrodes at a charging station, comprising:
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exchanging data between the electric vehicle and the charging station as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station; using one or more sensors positioned on the charging station or the electric vehicle to assist in aligning the electric vehicle with the charging station as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station; positioning the electric vehicle such that the charge-receiving electrodes of the electric vehicle are positioned below a charge head of the charging station; decreasing a gap between the charge head and the charge-receiving electrodes; establishing electrical connection between the charge head and the charge-receiving electrodes; and charging the electric vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification