HYBRID VEHICLE RECHARGING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION

• US 20100023178A1
• Filed: 09/29/2009
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Consolidated Edison Company of New York Incorporated (Consolidated Edison Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Consolidated Edison Company of New York Incorporated (Consolidated Edison Incorporated)
• Inventors: Barna, Anthony F., Kressner, A. Arthur, Hoyes, Christopher C.
• Application Number:
  US12/569,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023178A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/296
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/24 including control of energy storage means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/26 for electrical energy, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/00 Control systems specially adapted for hybrid vehicles hybrid vehicle design, B60K6/00; electric vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/10 Controlling the power contribution of each of the prime movers to meet required power demand
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/15 Control strategies specially adapted for achieving a particular effect
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 : Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/903 : having energy storing means, e.g. battery, capacitor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/907 : Electricity storage, e.g. battery, capacitor

Abstract

A system and method for recharging a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The system includes a controller that schedules the recharging of the vehicles on local electrical distribution networks. The system arranges the schedule to minimize the demand loading on the local distribution network to more efficiently operate power plants providing electrical power to the distribution networks. A system for collecting charges associated with the recharging of plug-in hybrid vehicles is also disclosed providing for prepaid utility accounts.

Claims

1. A meter associated with a plug-in hybrid vehicle comprising:

an electrical measuring device;

a communications device;

a processor electrically coupled to said electrical measuring device and said communications device wherein said processor is responsive to executable computer instructions for receiving schedule instructions through said communications device and said processor includes means for connecting and disconnecting electrical power.

2. The meter associated with a plug-in hybrid vehicle of claim 1 wherein said processor is responsive to executable instructions for determining the level of charge in a hybrid vehicle battery;

3. The meter associated with a plug-in hybrid vehicle of claim 2 wherein said processor is responsive to executable instructions for transmitting a signal indicative of the level of charge in the hybrid vehicle battery.

4. An electrical meter for a vehicle comprising:

a receptacle coupled to said vehicle;

an measurement device operably coupled to said receptacle;

a sensor associated with a vehicle battery;

a communications device;

a processor operably coupled to said measurement device, said first sensor and said communications device, wherein said processor is responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on said processor for receiving a first signal from said communications device and allowing electrical power from said receptacle to said vehicle battery in response to said first signal.

5. The electrical meter of claim 4 wherein said first signal includes data on a time period for allowing electrical power to flow from said receptacle to said vehicle battery.

6. The electrical meter of claim 5 wherein said processor is further responsive to executable instructions for receiving a second signal from said sensor for determining a charge level of said vehicle battery.

7. The electrical meter of claim 6 wherein said processor is further responsive to executable instructions for transmitting a third signal through said communications device in response to said second signal.

8. The electrical mater of claim 7 wherein said third signal is data representing a level of charge in said vehicle battery.

9. The electrical meter of claim 8 wherein said processor is further responsive to executable computer instructions for transmitting a fourth signal through said communications device.

10. The electrical meter of claim 9 wherein said fourth signal is data representing account information associated with said vehicle.

11. The electrical meter of claim 4 wherein said processor is further responsive to executable computer instructions for transferring electrical power from said vehicle battery to said receptacle in response to receiving a fifth signal from said communications device.