SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PAY AS YOU GO CHARGING FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• US 20100156349A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Littrell, Nathan Bowman
• Application Number:
  US12/341,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20100156349A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• 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: 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 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: Y04S 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A vehicle charging station for use in transmitting electrical charging power to a vehicle for use in charging the vehicle is provided. The vehicle charging station includes a controller configured to receive a request for authorization from the vehicle, and transmit a response to the vehicle, wherein the response indicates either an approval or a denial of the request. The vehicle charging station also includes an electricity power meter configured to receive a quantity of electrical charging power and measurement information from the controller, measure the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the vehicle, and transmit the measurement of the quantity of received electrical charging power to the controller.

Claims

1. A vehicle charging station for use in transmitting electrical charging power to a vehicle for use in charging the vehicle, said vehicle charging station comprising:

a controller configured to receive a request for authorization from the vehicle, and transmit a response to the vehicle, wherein the response indicates either an approval or a denial of the request; and

an electricity power meter configured to;

receive a quantity of electrical charging power and measurement information from said controller;

measure the quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the vehicle; and

transmit the measurement of the quantity of received electrical charging power to the controller.

2. A vehicle charging station in accordance with claim 1, wherein said station further comprises a payment acceptance device configured to receive at least one payment from a user.

3. A vehicle charging station in accordance with claim 2, wherein said station is further configured to deny access to electrical charging power until at least one payment is received from a user.

4. A vehicle charging station in accordance with claim 3, wherein said payment acceptance device is further configured to transmit a monetary value of the payment to said electricity power meter, said electricity power meter is further configured to deliver a quantity of electrical charging power to the vehicle based on the monetary value of the payment received.

5. A vehicle charging station in accordance with claim 2, wherein said payment acceptance device is further configured to:

receive at least one payment based on the quantity of electrical charging power to be delivered;

deduct the monetary value of the quantity of electrical charging power from the monetary value of the payment; and

provide for a refund of any remaining balance of the monetary value of the payment based on the deduction.

6. A vehicle charging station in accordance with claim 5, wherein said payment acceptance device is further configured to display at least one of a quantity of electrical charging power delivered, a monetary value of the quantity of electrical charging power delivered, a quantity of electrical charging power remaining to be delivered, and a remaining balance of the monetary value of the payment.

7. A vehicle charging station in accordance with claim 1, wherein said request for authorization further includes a request for a pre-determined quantity of electrical charging power.

8. A vehicle charging system for use with charging an electric vehicle, said system comprising:

an electricity charging controller configured to;

receive a request for authorization for an electric charging transaction from the electric vehicle; and

send a response to the electric vehicle indicating an approval or denial of the request;

a conduit configured to couple the electric vehicle to an energy source to receive electrical charging power from the energy source; and

an electricity power meter configured to;

receive a quantity of electrical charging power and measurement information from the controller; and

deliver the requested quantity of electrical charging power received by the controller, to the electric vehicle based on the information received by the controller.

9. A vehicle charging system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a payment acceptance device configured to receive at least one payment from a user.

10. A vehicle charging system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said charging controller is further configured to deny access to electrical charging power until at least one payment is received.

11. A vehicle charging system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said payment acceptance device is further configured to transmit a monetary value of the payment to said electricity power meter, said electricity power meter is further configured to deliver a quantity of electrical charging power based on the monetary value of the payment.

12. A vehicle charging system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said payment acceptance device is further configured to:

deduct a monetary value of the quantity of electrical charging power from the monetary value of the at least one payment received; and

provide a refund of any remaining balance of the monetary value of the payment based on the deduction.

13. A vehicle charging system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said payment acceptance device is further configured to display at least one of a quantity of electrical charging power delivered, a monetary value of the quantity of electrical charging power delivered, a quantity of electrical charging power remaining to be delivered, and a remaining balance of the monetary value of the at least one payment.

14. A vehicle charging system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the request for authorization includes a request for a pre-determined quantity of electrical charging power.

15. A method for charging an electric vehicle, said method comprising:

receiving a request for authorization for an electric charging transaction from the electric vehicle;

transmitting a response to the electric vehicle, wherein the response is indicative of one of an approval and a denial of the request;

receiving, from an electricity power meter, a quantity of electrical charging power, wherein the electricity power meter is configured to;

receive measurement information from an electricity charging controller;

measure a quantity of electrical charging power delivered to the electric vehicle; and

transmit the requested quantity of electric charging power to the vehicle.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising receiving a pre-determined quantity of electrical charging power.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15, further comprising receiving at least one payment from a user, wherein the payment is received by a payment acceptance device.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising denying access to electrical charging power until at least one payment is received.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, further comprising transmitting a monetary value of the payment to the electricity power meter, wherein the electricity power meter is further configured to deliver only a quantity of electrical charging power associated with the monetary value of the payment.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:

receiving at least one payment, wherein the monetary value of the at least one payment is associated with a requested quantity of electrical charging power;

deducting the monetary value of the quantity of electrical charging power from the monetary value of the payment; and

providing a refund of any remaining balance of the monetary value of the payment based on the deduction.