Apparatus, method and article for collection, charging and distributing power storage devices, such as batteries

• US 10,459,471 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2015
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gorogo Incorporated
• Inventors: Luke, Hok-Sum Horace, Taylor, Matthew Whiting, Hung, Huang-Cheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Tat, Binh C
• Application Number:
  US14/817,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20150336465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 320106-115
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/00 Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/14 to electric lighting circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/12 Bikes
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/24 Personal mobility vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/12 Buck converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/14 Boost converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/14 Synchronous machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/16 DC brushless machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/14 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/26 Vehicle weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/427 Voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/429 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/525 : Temperature of converter or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 : by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 : Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/645 : Type of road
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• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 : Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 : by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 : by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/18 : by enquiring driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 : by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/22 : by presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/44 : by parameter estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 : drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 : of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/46 : Heat pumps, e.g. for cabin heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 : relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 : relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 : relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 : relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 : Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 : using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/51 : characterised by AC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 : using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/64 : Constructional details of batteries specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 : DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 : Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 : Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 : involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 : Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 : Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 : Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 : Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/10 : for monitoring or controlling batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/16 : responding to battery ageing, e.g. to the number of charging cycles or the state of health [SoH]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 : having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/26 : by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/06 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/14 : for vehicles propelled by ac motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/22 : Dynamic electric resistor braking, combined with dynamic electric regenerative braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/04 : operating on the propulsion system, e.g. engine or drive motor
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0001 : with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof for vehicles E05B81/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/04 : Electrical electrical circuits E05B81/54
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/56 : Control of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 : using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 : output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/05 : Programmable logic controllers, e.g. simulating logic interconnections of signals according to ladder diagrams or function charts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15048 : Microprocessor
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/15053 : Microcontroller
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 : Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0608 : Saving storage space on storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0638 : Organizing or formatting or addressing of data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0671 : In-line storage system
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 : Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0253 : During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0259 : based on store location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0261 : based on user location
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0267 : Wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0639 : Item locations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00769 : with data transmission performed by wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/00 : Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 : wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00309 : operated with bidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 : for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 : dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/006 : dispensed for the electrical charging of other devices than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0042 : for hiring of objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/12 : comprising lockable containers, e.g. for accepting clothes to be cleaned
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 : Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 : Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/4257 : Smart batteries, e.g. electronic circuits inside the housing of the cells or batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/441 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/482 : for several batteries or cells simultaneously or sequentially
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4271 : Battery management systems including electronic circuits, e.g. control of current or voltage to keep battery in healthy state, cell balancing
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2010/4278 : Systems for data transfer from batteries, e.g. transfer of battery parameters to a controller, data transferred between battery controller and main controller
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/30 : Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 11/00 : Circuit arrangements for providing service supply to auxiliaries of stations in which electric power is generated, distributed or converted
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 : Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 : Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 : Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 : Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 : Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/92 : Energy efficient charging or discharging systems for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 : the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/12 : Remote or cooperative charging
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 : Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 : Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

A collection, charging and distribution machine collects, charges and distributes portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, super- or ultracapacitors). To charge, the machine employs electrical current from an external source, such as the electrical grid or an electrical service of an installation location. The machine determines a first number of devices to be rapidly charged, employing charge from a second number of devices identified to sacrifice charge. Thus, some devices may be concurrently charged via current from the electrical service and current from other devices, to achieve rapid charging of some subset of devices. The devices that sacrifice charge may later be charged. Such may ensure availability of devices for end users.

Claims

1. A method of operating a distribution, collection and charging machine for portable electrical energy storage devices, the method comprising:

identifying by a control subsystem at least one first portable electrical energy storage device currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine to be charged at an accelerated rate relative to one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine;

charging by a charging subsystem the first portable electrical energy storage device via an electrical service, wherein the electrical service has an associated limiting rating; and

charging, at the accelerated rate, by the charging subsystem the first portable electrical energy storage device via energy supplied from one or more of the second portable electrical energy storage devices and via the electrical service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices are less than halfway to being fully charged.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices are below a first threshold of being fully charged and are above a second threshold of being fully depleted.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising charging the first portable electrical energy storage device at the accelerated rate in response to detecting that a rate required to charge the first energy storage device exceeds the limiting rating of the electrical service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portable electrical energy storage device is more fully charged than one or more of the second portable electrical energy storage devices.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices are less than halfway to being fully charged, and wherein the first portable electrical energy storage device is more than halfway to being fully charged.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, from the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices, at least one portable electrical energy storage device which is more than halfway to being fully charged.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

identifying, from the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices a portable electrical energy storage device which is more than 80-85 percent fully charged.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying one or more of the second portable electrical energy storage devices to sacrifice charge.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

removably receiving an at least partially discharged portable electrical energy storage device at a first position of the distribution, collection and charging machine at a first time, and

charging the first portable electrical energy storage device at the accelerated rate in response to the receiving of the at least partially discharged portable electrical energy storage device at the first position of the distribution, collection and charging machine at the first time.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising removably receiving a battery sized to power a personal vehicle.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an insertion of a portable electrical energy storage device at one of a plurality of positions of the distribution, collection and charging machine; and

determining a charge state of the inserted portable electrical energy storage device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repeatedly updating the identified first portable electrical energy storage device over time.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising repeatedly updating a list of the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a current charge condition of the portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine and a rate of charging for at least one of the portable electrical energy storage devices.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising repeatedly updating the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a presence or absence of one or more of the portable electrical energy storage devices at the distribution, collection and charging machine.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising repeatedly updating the identified first portable electrical energy storage devices based at least in part on a total number of the portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine and a respective charge state of each of the portable electrical energy storage devices.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising repeatedly updating the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a total cumulative charge available from a number of portable electrical energy storage devices identified as available to sacrifice charge for charging the first portable electrical energy storage device at the accelerated rate.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

conductively supplying electrical current to the first portable electrical energy storage device via mains of an electrical service panel supplied via a metered electrical service from an external electrical grid; and

conductively supplying electrical current from the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices.

19. A distribution, collection and charging machine for portable electrical energy storage devices, comprising:

a number of receivers each sized and dimensioned to removably receive one or more respective portable electrical energy storage devices;

a control subsystem including at least one controller that identifies at least one first portable electrical energy storage device currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine to be charged at an accelerated rate relative to one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine; and

a charging subsystem responsive to the at least one controller to charge the first portable electrical energy storage device at the accelerated rate via an electrical service and energy supplied from one or more of the second portable electrical energy storage devices concurrently.

20. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 wherein the at least one controller identifies the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices based on a respective charge state that is less than halfway to being fully charged.

21. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 wherein the at least one controller identifies the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices based on a respective charge state that is between a first threshold of being fully charged and a second threshold of being fully depleted.

22. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 wherein the first portable electrical energy storage device is more fully charged than at least one of the second portable electrical energy storage devices.

23. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 wherein the first portable electrical energy storage device has a first respective charge state being less than halfway to fully charged, and the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices have a second respective charge state being more than halfway to fully charged.

24. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 wherein the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices are more than halfway to being fully charged.

25. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 24 wherein the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices are more than 80-85 percent fully charged.

26. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 wherein the first portable electrical energy storage device is less fully charged than the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices.

27. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 wherein the at least one controller identifies the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices to sacrifice charge.

28. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 wherein the at least one controller identifies the first portable electrical energy storage device currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine in response to detection of receipt of an at least partially discharged portable electrical energy storage device at one of the receivers of the distribution, collection and charging machine.

29. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 28 wherein the at least partially discharged portable electrical energy storage device is a battery sized to power a personal vehicle.

30. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 further comprising:

one or more first sensors positioned and operable to detect a presence or absence of a portable electrical energy storage device at each of the receivers of the distribution, collection and charging machine; and

one or more second sensors positioned and operable to detect a charge state of the portable electrical energy storage device received in a respective one of the receivers of the distribution, collection and charging machine.

31. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 wherein the at least one controller repeatedly updates the identified first portable electrical energy storage devices.

32. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 31 wherein the at least one controller repeatedly updates the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a current charge condition of the first portable electrical energy storage device.

33. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 31 wherein the at least one controller repeatedly updates the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a presence or absence of the portable electrical energy storage devices in the receivers of the distribution, collection and charging machine.

34. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 31 wherein the at least one controller repeatedly updates the identified first portable electrical energy storage devices based at least in part on a total number of portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably received by the receivers and a respective charge state of each of the portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably received by the respective receivers.

35. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 31 wherein the at least one controller repeatedly updates the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a total cumulative charge available from a number of portable electrical energy storage devices identified as available to charge the first portable electrical energy storage device.

36. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 19 wherein the charging subsystem is electrically coupled to receive electrical power from the electrical service via mains of an electrical service panel supplied via a metered electrical service from an external electrical grid, and wherein the charging subsystem includes a power converter operable to convert at least one of a voltage, a phase or a current of electrical power received from the metered electrical service to a form suitable for charging a portable battery sized for use in a two wheeled personal transportation vehicle.

37. The distribution, collection and charging machine of claim 36, further comprising:

a number of electrical contacts positioned in respective ones of the receivers to electrically couple with each of the portable electrical energy storage devices removably received by the receiver;

a plurality of first switches operable in response to the controller to selectively electrically couple the electrical contacts to the power converter; and

a plurality of second switches operable in response to the controller to selectively electrically couple the electrical contacts to the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices to sacrifice charge.

38. A nontransitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions executable by a processor to operate a distribution, collection and charging machine for portable electrical energy storage devices, by:

identifying by the processor at least one first portable electrical energy storage device currently removably located at a distribution, collection and charging machine to be charged at an accelerated rate relative to one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine; and

causing the charging subsystem to charge the first portable electrical energy storage device at the accelerated rate via energy supplied from the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices and via the electrical service.

39. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein the instructions cause the processor to identify the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices by identifying a portable electrical energy storage device below a first threshold of being fully charged and above a second threshold of being fully depleted.

40. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein the first portable electrical energy storage device is more fully charged than at least one of the second portable electrical energy storage devices.

41. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 38 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to identify the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices to sacrifice charge.

42. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 38, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

repeatedly detect insertion of a portable electrical energy storage device at each of a plurality of receivers of the distribution, collection and charging machine;

determine a charge state of the inserted portable electrical energy storage device; and

repeatedly update the identified first portable electrical energy storage device for charging at the accelerated rate over time.

43. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 42 wherein the instructions cause the processor to repeatedly update the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a current charge condition of the portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine.

44. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 42 wherein the instructions cause the processor to repeatedly update the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a presence or absence of portable electrical energy storage devices at the distribution, collection and charging machine.

45. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 42 wherein the instructions cause the processor to repeatedly update the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a total number of portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine and a respective charge state of each of the portable electrical energy storage devices.

46. The nontransitory computer-readable medium of claim 42 wherein the instructions cause the processor to repeatedly update the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a total cumulative charge available from a number of portable electrical energy storage devices identified as available to charge the first portable electrical energy storage device at the accelerated rate.

47. A method of operating a distribution, collection and charging machine for portable electrical energy storage devices, the method comprising:

identifying by a control subsystem a first portable electrical energy storage device currently removably located at a distribution, collection and charging machine to be charged at an accelerated rate relative to one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine;

charging by a charging subsystem the first portable electrical energy storage devices via an electrical service; and

causing the charging subsystem to direct energy from the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices to the first portable electrical energy storage device concurrently with charging the first portable electrical energy storage device via the electrical service.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices are less than halfway to being fully charged.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices are below a first threshold of being fully charged and are above a second threshold of being fully depleted.

50. The method of claim 47 wherein the first portable electrical energy storage device is more fully charged than at least one of the second portable electrical energy storage devices.

51. The method of claim 47 wherein the first portable electrical energy storage device is less than halfway to being fully charged, and the one or more of the second portable electrical energy storage devices are more than halfway to being fully charged.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein the one or more of the second portable electrical energy storage devices are more than halfway to being fully charged.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the one or more of the second portable electrical energy storage devices are more than 80-85 percent fully charged.

54. The method of claim 47 wherein the first portable electrical energy storage device is less fully charged than the one or more of the second portable electrical energy storage devices.

55. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

identifying the one or more of the second portable electrical energy storage devices to sacrifice charge.

56. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

removably receiving an at least partially discharged portable electrical energy storage device at a first position of the first distribution, collection and charging machine at a first time, and charging the first portable electrical energy storage device at the accelerated rate in response to the receiving of the at least partially discharged portable electrical energy storage device at the first position of the distribution, collection and charging machine at the first time.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising removably receiving a battery sized to power a personal vehicle.

58. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

detecting an insertion of a portable electrical energy storage device at one of a plurality of positions of the distribution, collection and charging machine; and

determining a charge state of the inserted portable electrical energy storage device.

59. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

repeatedly updating the identified first portable electrical energy storage device over time.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising repeatedly updating the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a current charge condition of portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine and a rate of charging for at least one of the portable electrical energy storage devices.

61. The method of claim 59 further comprising repeatedly updating the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a presence or absence of portable electrical energy storage devices at the distribution, collection and charging machine.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising repeatedly updating the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a total number of portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the distribution, collection and charging machine and a respective charge state of each of the portable electrical energy storage devices.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising repeatedly updating the identified first portable electrical energy storage device based at least in part on a total cumulative charge available from a number of portable electrical energy storage devices identified as available to sacrifice charge for charging the first portable electrical energy storage device at the accelerated rate.

64. The method of claim 47, further comprising:

conductively supplying electrical current to the first portable electrical energy storage device via mains of an electrical service panel supplied via a metered electrical service from an external electrical grid; and

conductively supplying electrical current from the one or more second portable electrical energy storage devices.