Metered Electrical Charging Station With Integrated Expense Tracking And Invoice Capabilities

• US 20100225475A1
• Filed: 03/06/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Red White Blue And Green, LLC
• Original Assignee: Red White Blue And Green, LLC
• Inventors: McCormick, James, Karch, Christopher, McCormick, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• 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

A system for safely recharging and charging electrically powered vehicles, including hybrid powered vehicles, includes an electrical charging station for connecting the vehicles to a source of Ground Fault Protected electrical power, an authorization device for permitting an operator of the vehicle to utilize a secure electronic content distributor (SCED) such as a credit card, a debit card, a hotel/motel electronic key card, employee or student identification card, electronic membership card, retail credit card, a smart card, etc. to authorize payment for the amount of electrical power utilized to recharge or charge the vehicle. The system also includes a metering system for recording the amount of electrical power or electricity utilized to charge or recharge the vehicle. The metering system includes tracking and recording of the cost of the electrical power which is used to recharge or charge the vehicle. This system further is capable of producing a receipt which can be presented to an individual associated with the vehicle. This system is further capable of tracking these business transactions, recording them, accounting for them and transmitting the information to a Host Billing Center. This system is preferably located at parking facilities located at transportation centers, public and private municipal parking facilities, parking facilities located at hotels, motels, casinos, entertainment complexes, parking facilities at hospital, educational, and corporate campuses, and parking facilities located at shopping. The business transaction/costs for recharging or charging the vehicle may be completed as the service is completed or they may be transmitted to a centralized accounting system for incorporation in a master bill.

Claims

1. A system for charging electrically powered vehicles comprising;

an electrical charging station, said electrical charging station includes at least one stand, said at least one stand including a first electrical connection;

an electrical cable delivering electrical power to said at least one stand from a source of electrical power;

a card reader associated with said at least one stand;

said first electrical connection being connectable to an electrical cable of an electrically powered vehicle to deliver electrical power to the electrically powered vehicle; and

a control system at a location remote from said at least one stand, said control system includes a first device for permitting electrical power to be delivered to the electrically powered vehicle upon receipt of authorization from an authorization center via internal communications, said control system including a second device for recording the amount of electrical power delivered to the electrically powered vehicle, said control system including a third device for transmitting a business transaction to a host center for said electrical power.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said control system includes a fourth device for recording the amount of electrical power delivered from said at least one stand to the electrically powered vehicles.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said control system associates an amount of electrical power delivered from said at least one stand to an electrically powered vehicle with an operator.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein a secure electronic content distributor (SECD) is utilized to associate said amount of electrical power with said operator.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said secure electronic content distributor (SECD) is selected from the group consisting of an electronic hotel/motel room key cards, a credit card, a debit card, an electronic casino card, a smart card, casino membership cards, store credit cards, employee/student identification cards, membership cards, and electronic parking identification cards authorized for use in specific parking facilities.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said at least on stand includes a fifth device to releasably retain said electrical cable of an electrically powered vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said control system is electrically connected to said fifth device to activate and deactivate said fifth device based on predetermined conditions.

8. The system of claim 7 including an indicator connected to said control system, said indicator notifying an individual that said fifth device is activated and electrical power can be delivered to a vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 further including an operator actuated device, said operator actuated device terminates a flow of electrical power from said first electrical connection through said cable to an electrically powered vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1 further including a ground fault interrupted protection electrically connected to each electrical charging stand.

11. The system of claim 1 further including a short term un-interruptible power supply electrically connected to all stands allowing said stands to recover and continue charging in the event of temporary short term service disruption due to power source or systems failure.

12. The system of claim 1 including an indicator associated with each said stand whereby the status of each stand is at all times identifiable at said stand and at a central host facility.

13. A process for charging electrically powered vehicles comprising:

communicating a secure electronic content distributor (SCED) with a system for charging an electrically powered vehicle;

receiving authorization from a remote location to allow electrical power to be connected from a source of electrical power to an electrically powered vehicle;

connecting said electrically powered vehicle to a stand, said stand including a first electrical connection permitting connection of said source of electrical power with said electrically powered vehicle;

recording the amount of electrical power delivered to said electrically powered vehicle; and

transmitting a business transaction to a host business for their invoicing an operator associated with said electrically powered vehicle.

14. The process of claim 13 including detecting when said electrically powered vehicle is charged to a level associated with a full charge;

and

terminating the flow of electrical power to said electrically powered vehicle subsequent to a determination that said electrically powered vehicle is fully charged.

15. The process of claim 13 including detecting when said electrically powered vehicle is charged to a level predetermined by said operator;

and

terminating the flow of electrical power to said electrically powered vehicle subsequent to a determination that said electrically powered vehicle is charged to said level predetermined by said operator and prior to recording the amount of electrical power delivered to said electrically powered vehicle.

16. The process of claim 13 including disconnecting said electrically powered vehicle from said stand;

preventing an electrical connection to said first electrical connection; and

resetting said system for charging an electrically powered vehicle to permit a charging of another electrically powered vehicle.

17. The process of claim 13 including delivering a receipt to the individual for the volume of power used and the cost of that power delivered to the electrically powered vehicle through said first electrical connection.

18. The process of claim 13 including compiling and delivering to a host information related to activity of electrical charging pylons for a user defined period.

19. The process of claim 13 including preventing the disconnectinon of said electrically charging vehicle without de-energizing the power supply to the said first electrical connection.

20. The process of claim 13 including enabling each electrical charging station to be locked out individually at a field panel.

21. The process of claim 13 including providing ground fault interrupted protection to each electrical charging pylon.

22. The process of claim 13 including providing short term un-interruptible power supply is provided to all stands and allowing said stands to recover and continue charging in the event of temporary short term service disruption due to power source or systems failure.

23. The process of claim 13 including permitting a short term un-interruptible power supply to allow a normal termination of services and completion of transaction in the event of an anticipated permanent or long term service disruption due to power source or systems failure.

24. The process of claim 13 including providing the status of each stand at all times at said pylon and at a central host facility.