System and method for enabling the real time buying and selling of electricity generated by fuel cell powered vehicles

• US 20020132144A1
• Filed: 03/15/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Hydrogenics Corporation (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: McArthur, Grant, Hardwick, Aaron
• Granted Patent: US 6,673,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/13
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2045 for optimising the use of energy
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• 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 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/008 Rewarding for providing delivery of electricity to the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 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: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• 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 10/50 : Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• 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 50/16 : Energy services, e.g. dispersed generation or demand or load or energy savings aggregation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a network communication system and method to enable the real time buying and selling of electricity generated by fuel cell powered vehicles between a fuel cell powered vehicle and a consumer. The method comprises: providing connections to the vehicle for the supply of a fuel and for transfer of electricity; determining the current cost of fuel and price paid for generating electricity; based at least on the cost of fuel and price paid for generating electricity, determining whether to make the fuel cell powered vehicle available for generation of electricity; when fuel is consumed by the vehicle and electricity generated by the vehicle, collecting data on the quantity of fuel consumed and amount of electricity generated, calculating the cost of the fuel and the value of the electricity generated, providing a debit charge for the cost of fuel consumed and a credit charge for the value of electricity generated. A method to enable the real time buying and selling of electricity generated by fuel cell powered vehicles between an energy service provider and a consumer of electricity is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for enabling the real time buying and selling of electrical power between a fuel cell powered vehicle and a consumer of electricity, the method comprising:

(i) providing connections to the vehicle for the supply of a fuel and for transfer of electricity;

(ii) determining the current cost of fuel and price paid for generating electricity;

(iii) based at least on the cost of fuel and price paid for generating electricity, determining whether to make the fuel cell powered vehicle available for generation of electricity; and

(iv) when fuel is consumed by the vehicle and electricity generated by the vehicle, collecting data on the quantity of fuel consumed and amount of electricity generated, calculating the cost of the fuel and the value of the electricity generated, providing a debit charge for the cost of fuel consumed and a credit charge for the value of electricity generated.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes in step (iii) additionally including operating and maintenance costs, in determining whether to make the fuel cell powered vehicle available for generation of electricity.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, which includes in step (iii) additionally including the fuel cell efficiency rating of the vehicle, in determining whether to make the fuel cell powered vehicle available for generation of electricity.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, which additionally includes generating electricity in a plurality of vehicles and setting the load level for each vehicle, to generate electricity at the lowest possible cost.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3, which includes providing a computing device and data storage means on the vehicle, storing data in the data storage means relating to the cost of fuel gas and price paid for generating electricity, and using the computing device to calculate continuously whether the vehicle should be made available for generation of electricity.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, which includes providing an input to the data storage means of an acceptable spread between the price paid for electricity and the cost of gas, for making the determination in step (iii).

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, which includes;

the operator of the vehicle making the vehicle available for electricity generation and setting parameters based on fuel and electricity costs for determining the availability of the vehicle for electricity generation, and passing control of the vehicle to an energy service provider.

8. A method as claimed in claim 3, which includes at least one of,

(a) determining the cost of fuel gas, by real time pricing between the vehicle and a fuel gas supplier;

and

(b) determining the price paid for electricity by real time pricing between the vehicle and an energy service provider.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, which includes one of a vehicle owner and vehicle operator negotiating a contract with at least one of:

a fuel gas broker, for supply of fuel gas; and

an energy service provider, for purchase of electricity.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the fuel gas broker and the energy service provider are a single entity and wherein the method includes negotiating a single contract providing for payment of a net credit to an account associated with the vehicle.

11. A method as claimed in claim 7, which includes:

(i) providing a plurality of docking stations for vehicles, each docking station including connections for the supply of fuel gas to and transfer of electricity from a vehicle;

(ii) providing a communication connection between the docking stations and an energy service provider;

(iii) permitting each vehicle operator to transmit to the energy service provider a notification of the availability of the operator'"'"'s vehicle for electricity generation and any limitations on the vehicle availability determined from fuel and electricity costs; and

(iv) sending control signals from the energy service provider to individual vehicles to actuate individual fuel cell powered vehicles as requested and to set load levels for individual vehicles, thereby to meet current electrical demand.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, which includes providing communication between the energy service provider and the individual vehicles, and providing each vehicle with a unique identification, whereby each vehicle can be uniquely identified, irrespective of the location of the vehicle.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, which includes utilizing the Internet as the network.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, which includes providing both hardwired and wireless communication.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, which includes the energy service provider acting as an aggregator, and aggregating electricity generated by a plurality of vehicles into a single electricity source for resale and distribution.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, which includes purchasing fuel gas in bulk and disaggregating the fuel by charging each vehicle for a portion of the bulk fuel gas used by the vehicle.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, which includes the energy service provider acting as a disaggregator for fuel gas, the energy service provider purchasing fuel gas in bulk at one rate and charging each vehicle for a portion of the bulk fuel gas used by the vehicle at a second higher rate.

18. A method as claimed in claim 15, which includes setting a rate for purchase of electricity from each vehicle at an interruptible rate, aggregating electricity generated by the plurality of vehicles into a substantially uninterruptible electricity supply, and reselling the aggregated electricity supply at a higher, uninterruptible rate.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, which includes:

determining, for any given time period, the number of vehicles that will be available for generating electricity;

calculating a maximum electrical power that could be generated from said vehicles;

calculating the likelihood that a certain percentage of said vehicles may not be available for generating electrical power determined from factors selected from location, time of day, day of the week and seasonal factors;

calculating a marginal power level that would be generated from said certain percentage of vehicles; and

subtracting said marginal power level from the maximum electrical power, to give a net power level, whereby a reliability factor can be determined for said net power level, and offering for sale electricity at said net power level, at a price that takes into account said reliability factor.

20. A method as claimed in claim 15, which includes utilizing at least a portion of the electricity of said single electricity source locally, to leave a balance amount of generated electricity for resale and distribution.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, which includes providing vehicles with inverters for inverting generated DC power into AC power and providing the vehicles with AC drive motors for receiving the AC power, and further providing the AC inverters with at least a frequency that is compatible with a conventional electricity transmission grid.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20, which includes providing the docking stations at a single location, connecting the docking stations to a common aggregation unit, connecting the aggregation unit to local, electricity consuming devices for local consumption of electricity, and connecting the aggregation unit through a net metering device to an electricity supply and transmission grid, whereby, for any given time period, the net amount of electricity taken from the grid or supplied to the grid is measured.

23. A method as claimed in claim 15, which includes providing communications between the energy service provider and one or more of a dock provider that manages the docking stations, a fuel supplier, a fuel transmission and distribution company, an electricity utility for managing supply of electricity to an electricity consumer, at least one electricity consumer, and an electricity transmission grid provider.

24. A method as claimed in claim 12, which includes the following steps:

(a) in step (iii), transmitting said notification of the availability of each vehicle to a docking station, and having each docking station transmit the notification to the energy service provider;

(b) when required, the energy service provider instructing each vehicle to enter a run mode;

(c) in the run mode, each vehicle sending status updates to the energy service provider;

(d) the energy service provider requesting permission for an electricity grid operated to place generated electricity onto the grid at a specified location associated with the docking station; and

(e) after receiving permission from the grid, the energy service provider instructing individual vehicles to commence electrical power generation, and the energy service provider continually monitoring power generation from each vehicle and adjusting load levels of each vehicle to generate a required amount of electricity.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, wherein:

(1) the step of transmitting a notification from each vehicle to the energy service provider comprises transmitting an encrypted notification to a respective docking station, and having the docking station contact the energy service provider to verify the authenticity of the encrypted notification;

(2) after authentication of the notification, having the docking station pass a secured token to a fuel transmission and distribution manager and a second secured token to an electricity grid transmission and distribution manager;

(3) having the docking station enable supply of fuel gas to the vehicle and electricity supplied from the vehicle to the docking station;

having the docking station log all data to a database and transmit data to the energy service provider; and

(4) at the end of each generation session, transmitting an electronic bill for services to the energy service provider.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, which includes determining the cost of fuel gas, by real time pricing between the energy service provider and at least one fuel gas supplier.

28. A method as claimed in claim 27, which includes setting the price paid for purchasing electricity by real time pricing between the energy service provider and an owner or operator of each vehicle.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28, which includes one of a vehicle owner and vehicle operator negotiating a contract with at least one of:

a fuel gas broker, for supply of fuel gas; and

an energy service provider, for purchase of electricity.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the fuel gas broker and the energy service provider are a single entity and wherein the method includes negotiating a single contract providing for payment of a net credit to an account associated with the vehicle.

31. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the price paid to a vehicle owner for generating electricity is based on a flat fee for a defined period of time.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein the defined period of time is chosen from one of the following:

day, week, month, or year.

33. A method as claimed in claim 26, which includes:

(i) providing a plurality of docking stations for vehicles, each docking station including connections for the supply of fuel gas to and transfer of electricity from a vehicle;

(ii) providing a communication connection between the docking stations and the energy service provider;

(iii) permitting each vehicle operator to transmit to the energy service provider a notification of the availability of the operator'"'"'s vehicle for electricity generation and any limitations on the vehicle availability determined from fuel and electricity costs; and

(iv) sending control signals from the energy service provider to individual vehicles to actuate individual fuel cell powered vehicles as requested and to set load levels for individual vehicles, thereby to meet current electrical demand.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, which includes providing communication between the energy service provider and the individual vehicles, and providing each vehicle with a unique address whereby each vehicle can be uniquely identified, irrespective of the location of the vehicle.

35. A method as claimed in claim 34, which includes the energy service provider acting as an aggregator and aggregating electricity generated by a plurality of vehicles into a single electricity source for resale and distribution.

36. A method as claimed in claim 33, 34 or 35, which includes at least one of:

(a) metering fuel gas at the vehicle, or associated docking station and at fuel gas supplier and reconciling the different metered amounts; and

(b) metering electricity at the vehicle, or associated docking station and an electricity purchaser, and reconciling the different metered amounts.

37. A method as claimed in claim 36, which includes immediately terminating flow of fuel gas and generation of electricity if any reconciliation shows an error outside an acceptable tolerance.

39. A method as claimed in claim 38, which includes:

purchasing fuel in bulk at first rate; and

reselling the fuel in smaller, discrete amounts to individual vehicles at a second, higher rate.

40. A method as claimed in claim 38 or 39, which includes providing a plurality of docking stations, connecting the docking stations to an aggregation unit for aggregation of electrical power generated from the vehicles, and transmitting aggregated power from the aggregation unit to an electricity transmission and distribution grid.

41. A method as claimed in claim 40, which includes utilizing at least all or some of the electricity generated locally, and reselling and transmitting only a balance of the electricity generated to the electricity and transmission grid.

26. A method for enabling the real time buying and selling of electrical power between a vehicle having a fuel cell power unit and an energy service provider , the method comprising:

(i) providing connections to at least one vehicle for the supply of a fuel and for transfer of electricity;

(ii) handing over control of the fuel cell power unit of each vehicle to an energy service provider,

(iii) the energy service provider determining when to operate the fuel cell power unit of each vehicle and setting the load level for each fuel cell power unit; and

(iv) when fuel is consumed by each vehicle and electricity generated by each vehicle, collecting data on the quantity of fuel consumed and amounts of electricity generated, and calculating the cost of the fuel and the value of the electricity generated.

38. A method of generating electrical power utilizing fuel cell power units of vehicles, the method comprising;

(1) providing connections to a plurality of fuel cell powered vehicle for the supply of a fuel and for transfer of electricity from the vehicle;

(2) supplying fuel to each vehicle and charging for fuel used by each vehicle;

(3) receiving electricity generated by each vehicle and paying for the electricity at a first, interruptible rate; and

(4) aggregating the electricity generated by the plurality of vehicles, and reselling the aggregated electricity as an uninterruptible electrical supply at a higher, uninterruptible rate.

42. A method of generating electricity from the fuel cell power unit of a fuel cell powered vehicle. The method comprising;

(1) supplying fuel to the vehicle;

(2) generating electricity in the fuel cell power unit and transferring the electricity from the vehicle;

(3) dividing the generated electricity into first and second portions, and consuming the first portion of generated electricity locally;

(4) transmitting and selling the second portion of generated electricity to an electricity transmission and distribution grid; and

(5) metering the net amount of electricity transmitted to the transmission and distribution grid, or taken from the transmission and distribution grid, in a set time period.

43. A method as claimed in claim 42, when carried out in an individual dwelling.

44. A method as claimed in claim 42, which includes providing a plurality of docking stations for vehicles, each docking station providing for supply of fuel and transmission of electricity, connecting the docking stations to an aggregation unit for aggregation of generated power, and transmitting aggregated power from the aggregation unit to a transmission and distribution grid, wherein the net metering step (5) is effected between the aggregation unit and the transmission and distribution grid.

46. A method as claimed in claim 45, wherein the contract comprises one of a rental agreement, a purchase agreement, and a lease agreement.

47. A method as claimed in claim 46, wherein the contract provides for regular payments payable at an interval selected from one of weekly, monthly and quarterly.

48. A method as claimed in claim 45, which includes providing in the contract for the operator to commit to having the vehicle parked at said selected docking stations for a minimum amount of time within a prescribed time period.

49. A method as claimed in claim 48, which includes providing for making payments to the operator of the vehicle, when the amount of electricity generated by the vehicle is greater than a set amount within a set period.

45. A method of generating electrical power from a vehicle including a fuel cell power unit and financing the cost of the vehicle, the method comprising:

(a) providing a fuel cell powered vehicle to a vehicle operator;

(b) having the vehicle operator enter into a contract providing for at least one of an initial lump sum payment and regular payments to cover at least part of the cost of the vehicle;

(c) providing in the contract for the operator to commit to parking the vehicle at selected docking stations for generation of electricity;

(d) when the vehicle is parked at one of said selected docking stations, supplying fuel to a vehicle, generating electricity from the fuel cell power unit of the vehicle and selling the electricity;

and

(e) utilizing income generated from sale of electricity to cover part of the cost of the vehicle.

50. A system for enabling fuel cell powered vehicles to generate electricity and provide electricity for utilization off the vehicles, the system comprising:

a plurality of docking stations, each docking station providing for supply of fuel to the vehicle and transmission of electricity from the vehicle;

connection means for providing a connection between the docking stations and an electricity consumer; and

a communication network for providing communication between each vehicle and at least one energy service provider.

51. A system as claimed in claim 50, which includes providing a plurality of docking stations in a common location associated with a building, and wherein the connection means provides a connection between the docking stations and a local electrical distribution grid within the building.

52. A system as claimed in claim 50, wherein the connection means provides for connection to an electricity and transmission grid.

53. A system as claimed in claim 52, wherein the network provides connections between said at least one energy service provider and at least one of a fuel supplier, a fuel transmission and distribution provider, an electrical utility, and an electricity transmission and distribution provider.

54. A system as claimed in claim 50, which includes providing each vehicle with substantially identical docking connections and each docking station with substantially identical, complementary docking connections, whereby any one vehicle can be docked at any docking station.

55. A system as claimed in claim 51, 52, 53 and 54, which includes providing the vehicles with inverters for inverting DC power into AC power and with AC drive motors, and providing each vehicle with an input for synchronizing the inverter on each vehicle with an electricity and transmission grid.