Recharge electrical apparatus and method for electric vehicles

• US 20100065627A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liberty Plugins, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Liberty Plugins, Inc.
• Inventors: Outwater, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,984,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• 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: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• 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 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing a public or private electric charging station or device. In the case of a public station, a user can approach an outlet station in an electric car, plug the car into the station similar to using a gasoline pump, present a credit card to the system, and be provided with either standard line voltage of sufficient wattage to charge the battery of an electric or hybrid vehicle. After the vehicle is charged, the credit card debited for the correct amount for the power dispensed, or other arrangements to pay can be accommodated such as debiting a prepaid account. Optionally, the user can also inject reverse-flow power back into the grid for credit and receive credit for the power injected. The present invention can take advantage of dynamic power rates and cause an optional delay in charging until a favorable power rate. Several users can share the same private or semi-private station, and can identify themselves to the station by key access, card swipe, biometrically, or by a card containing an RFID chip that contains their identity. Service provided could then be billed to a prepaid or subscriber account. A central computer can manage several remote power dispensing stations over a network.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle charging device comprising:

a power source

a power metering device in electrical communication with said power source;

a power switch in series with said power source;

a processor in communication with said power metering device and said power switch;

a credit card swipe device;

wherein said power switch allows power dispensing to a user from said power source in order to charge an electric vehicle when said user has swiped a valid credit card, and wherein said processor charges said credit card for electric power dispensed.

2. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 1 further comprising a communication module connected to said processor wherein said communication module communicates over a network with a remote computer.

3. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 1 further comprising a user identification device;

4. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 1 further comprising a keypad.

5. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 3 wherein said user identification device contains an RFID reader.

6. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 3 wherein said user identification device is biometric.

7. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 1 further comprising a monitor connected to said processor.

8. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 1 wherein said user is charged according to dynamic electric power rates.

9. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 1 wherein said user can inject reverse flow electrical energy into said device and receive credit for said reverse flow electricity.

10. An electric vehicle charging device comprising:

a power source

a power metering device in electrical communication with said power source;

a power switch in series with said power source;

a processor in communication with said power metering device and said power switch;

a user identification device connected to said processor;

a communication module connected to said processor wherein said communication module allows said processor to communicate with a remote computer;

wherein upon command from said processor, said power switch allows power dispensing to a user from said power source in order to charge an electric vehicle when said user has presented proper identification to said user identification device, wherein said processor charges said user for electric power dispensed and wherein said processor can delay charging for either a fixed period of time or until a particular dynamic electrical rate is reached.

11. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 10 further comprising a credit card swipe connected to said processor.

12. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 10 further comprising a keypad.

13. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 10 wherein said user identification device contains an RFID reader.

14. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 10 wherein said user identification device is biometric.

15. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 10 further comprising a monitor connected to said processor.

16. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 10 wherein said user can inject reverse flow power back into said charging device and receive credit for this reverse flow power.

17. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 10 wherein said remote computer communicates over a network with other electric vehicle charging devices.

18. An electric vehicle charging device comprising:

a power source

a power metering device in electrical communication with said power source;

a power switch in series with said power source;

a processor in communication with said power metering device and said power switch;

a credit card swipe connected to said processor;

a communication module connected to said processor wherein said communication module allows said processor to communicate with a remote computer; and

wherein upon command from said processor, said power switch allows power dispensing to a user from said power source in order to charge an electric vehicle when said user has presented a valid credit card, and wherein said processor charges said credit card for electric power dispensed; and

wherein said remote computer communicates over a network with other electric vehicle charging devices

19. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 18 wherein said user identification device contains an RFID reader.

20. The electric vehicle charging device of claim 18 further comprising a monitor connected to said processor.