SMART CHARGING VALUE AND GUARANTEE APPLICATION

• US 20110015799A1
• Filed: 07/19/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gridpoint (Twenty First Century Utilities LLC)
• Original Assignee: Gridpoint (Twenty First Century Utilities LLC)
• Inventors: POLLACK, Seth B., Bridges, Seth W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,401 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/30 AC to DC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• 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 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0208 Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0071 with a programmable schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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 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 50/14 : Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

A system and methods that enables smart charging for electric resources. A smart charging method may include smart charging customer guarantees. The charging behavior guarantee may comprise a guaranteed charging schedule that matches a regular charging schedule of an electric resource and provides power flow flexibility. In addition, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis. A smart charging benefit may include an impact resulting from the energy management system which is beneficial to an electric resource. A smart charging method may manage the charging behavior of the electric resources on a grid based on the smart charging benefit. Further, a smart charging method may manage electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis and smart charging customer guarantees.

Claims

1. A method for managing electric resources with smart charging customer guarantees, comprising the steps:

determining a charging behavior guarantee for at least one of a plurality of electric resources, wherein the charging behavior guarantee comprises a guaranteed charging schedule that matches a regular charging schedule of the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule provides for power flow flexibility;

transmitting the charging behavior guarantee from a server to the at least one of a plurality of electric resources; and

,

managing charging behavior of the plurality of electric resources based partially on the guaranteed charging schedule, wherein the step of managing the charging behavior is performed on at least one particular machine, said at least one particular machine comprising at least one physical computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of managing the charging behavior of the plurality of electric resources comprises:

determining a plurality of charging behavior guarantees for the plurality of electric resources;

determining a charging plan based on each one of the plurality of charging behavior guarantees; and

,

utilizing the charging plan to manage the plurality of electric resources.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of managing the charging behavior of the plurality of electric resources comprises:

moderating power flow to the at least one of the plurality of electric resources based on the guaranteed charging schedule.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining consent for the charging behavior guarantee from the at least one of the plurality of electric resources.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric resources are electric vehicles.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule comprises a predetermined power level that the at least one of the plurality of electric resources charges within a time period, wherein the at least one of the plurality of electric resources is connected to an electrical outlet during the time period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule comprises a schedule to charge the at least one of the plurality of electric resources to a maximum power level within a predetermined time period, wherein the at least one of the plurality of electric resources is connected to a power grid during the predetermined time period.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule comprises a schedule to charge the at least one of the plurality of electric resources to a predetermined power level by a predetermined time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined time is set by the electric resource.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined time is determined based on predictions from past charging behavior.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the past charging behavior is based on an individual charging behavior of the at least one of the plurality of electric resources.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the past charging behavior is based on an aggregate charging behavior of the at least one of the plurality of electric resources.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule prohibits a total non-charging time amount that exceeds a predetermined time amount, wherein the total non-charging time amount is a total of time that the at least one of the plurality of electric resources is not charging.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule comprises a schedule to charge the at least one of the plurality of electric resources to a predetermined power level before the total non-charging time amount exceeds the predetermined time amount.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the predetermined power level is set for a single charging session.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule comprises a schedule to charge the at least one of the plurality of electric resources to a predetermined power level before exceeding a total non-charging time during a predetermined time period, wherein the total non-charging time amount is a total of time that the at least one of the plurality of electric resources is not charging.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the predetermined time period comprises multiple charging sessions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the multiple charging sessions are set for a one-day time period.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule prohibits more than a total non-charging time amount during a predetermined time period, wherein the total non-charging time amount is a total of time that the at least one of the plurality of electric resources is not charging.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the predetermined time period comprises multiple charging sessions.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule prohibits more than a predetermined count of non-charging events during a predetermined time period, wherein the non-charging events comprise individual events that cause the at least one of the plurality of electric resources to temporarily cease charging.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined count of non-charging events is set for multiple charging sessions.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the multiple charging sessions are set for a one-year time period.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule comprises a schedule to charge the at least one of the plurality of electric resources for a predetermined percentage of charging time out of a predetermined time period, wherein the charging time is a total of time that the at least one of the plurality of electric resources is charging during the predetermined time period.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined percentage of charging time is uniform among a plurality of predetermined time periods.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined percentage of charging time is different among a plurality of predetermined time periods.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the predetermined percentage of charging time during a subsequent predetermined time period is a greater percent than the predetermined percentage of charging time during a prior predetermined time period.

28. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of utilizing the charging plan to manage the plurality of electric resources comprises aggregating power flow of the plurality of electric resources based partially on the charging plan.

29. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of aggregating the power flow of the plurality of electric resources comprises performing a service selected from a group consisting of the following:

load shifting, demand response, load leveling, renewable resource smoothing or firming, spinning reserves, system regulation, or ancillary services.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

compensating the at least one of the plurality of electric resources for the charging behavior guarantee.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of compensating comprises providing free charging for a time period.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of compensating comprises providing financial consideration.

33. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing remediation to the at least one of the plurality of electric resources for failure to perform terms of the charging behavior guarantee.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a delayable time amount for the at least one of the plurality of electric resources.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the delayable time amount is based on a charging time amount and an available time amount, wherein the available time amount is an amount of time that the at least one of the plurality of electric resources is connected to an electrical outlet, wherein the charging time amount is a minimal amount of time to charge the at least one of the plurality of electric resources to a predetermined power level.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the available time amount is a time amount between a connection time and a deadline time, wherein the deadline time is a predetermined completion time for charging the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the connection time is when the at least one of the plurality of electric resources is initially connected to an electrical outlet during a charging session.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the delayable time amount is calculated by the following formula:

Max(((target_SOC−

current_SOC)/100)*energy_capacity/charging_rate,

     0),

wherein the target SOC is the target state of charge of the least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the current SOC is the current state of charge of the least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the energy_capacity is the energy capacity of the least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the charging_rate is charging rate of the least one of the plurality of electric resources, and wherein the Max is a function for determining the maximum amount.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of determining a charging behavior guarantee is based partially on the delayable time amount.

39. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining delayable time amounts for each of the plurality of electric resources; and

,

selecting at least one of the plurality of electric resources for a charge delay based on the delayable time amounts.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the step of selecting the at least one of the plurality of electric resources for the charge delay comprises determining a delay cost for the plurality of electric resources based on the delayable time amounts.

41. A method for managing electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis, comprising the steps:

determining a smart charging benefit, wherein the smart charging benefit is a benefit provided by an energy management system, wherein the energy management system manages a plurality of electric resources, wherein the smart charging benefit is a beneficial impact resulting from the energy management system, wherein the beneficial impact is beneficial to at least one of the plurality of electric resources;

transmitting a benefit representation from a server to the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the benefit representation represents the smart charging benefit; and

,

managing charging behavior of the plurality of electric resources based partially on the smart charging benefit, wherein the step of managing the charging behavior is performed on at least one particular machine, said at least one particular machine comprising at least one physical computing device.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the electric resources are electric vehicles.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the benefit representation is user-readable.

44. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

predicting a future managed energy flow value for the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the future managed energy flow value is based on past energy flow information for the at least one of the plurality of electric resources.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the step of determining the smart charging benefit comprises:

determining a baseline energy flow value, wherein the baseline energy flow value is a regular energy flow to the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the regular energy flow is energy flow without the smart charging benefit, wherein the regular energy flow is based on energy flow information provided by the at least one of the plurality of electric resources;

determining a plurality of managed energy flow values for the at least one of the plurality of electric resources;

comparing each of the plurality of managed energy flow values with the baseline energy flow value;

determining a potential beneficial impact for each of the plurality of managed energy flow values, wherein the potential beneficial impact is a beneficial impact potentially resulting from the energy management system that is potentially beneficial to the at least one of the plurality of electric resources based on at least one of the plurality of managed energy flow values;

wherein the beneficial impact is selected from a group consisting of the following;

a load curve modification, a peak power demand reduction, or a controllable load regulation amount; and

,

selecting one of the potential beneficial impacts, wherein the smart charging benefit is the selected potential beneficial impact.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the selected one of the potential beneficial impacts has a greatest value among each of the potential beneficial impacts for the plurality of managed energy flow values.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein the step of managing the charging behavior of the plurality of electric resources comprises:

reducing an load impact on an electric grid managed by the energy management system.

48. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

graphically representing benefits of the energy management system.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the step of graphically representing the benefits comprises displaying the benefit representation of the at least one of the plurality of electric resources.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the graphically represented benefits comprises a past smart charging benefit and a future smart charging benefit.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the graphically represented benefits comprises an aggregate power representation for the plurality of electric resources over time.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein the aggregate power representation comprises past smart charging benefits and future smart charging benefits for the plurality of electric resources.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein the graphically represented benefits comprises aggregate power representations of the plurality of electric resources for different charging plans.

54. The method of claim 45, wherein the baseline energy flow value is based on information selected from a group consisting of the following:

a connection time that the at least one of the plurality of electric resources is connected to an electrical outlet, a state of charge at the connection time for the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, or a time amount when the at least one of the plurality of electric resources is connected to the electrical outlet.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the information is past data.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the information is predicted data.

57. The method of claim 54, wherein the step of comparing each of the plurality of managed energy flow values with the baseline energy flow value comprises determining a net power curve.

58. A system for managing electric resources via a smart charging benefit analysis, comprising:

an energy management system that manages a plurality of electric resources, wherein the energy management system determines a smart charging benefit, wherein the smart charging benefit is a beneficial impact resulting from the energy management system, wherein the beneficial impact is beneficial to at least one of the plurality of electric resources; and

,

a server that transmits a benefit representation to the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the benefit representation represents the smart charging benefit, wherein the server is controlled by the energy management system,

wherein the energy management system comprises at least one particular machine, the at least one particular machine comprising at least one physical computing device, wherein the at least one particular machine manages charging behavior of the plurality of electric resources based partially on the smart charging benefit.

59. The system of claim 58, wherein the electric resources are electric vehicles.

60. The system of claim 58, further comprising:

a predicted future managed energy flow value for the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the predicted future managed energy flow value is based on past energy flow information for the at least one of the plurality of electric resources.

61. The system of claim 58, wherein the determination of the smart charging benefit comprises the steps:

determining a baseline energy flow value, wherein the baseline energy flow value is a regular energy flow to the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the regular energy flow is energy flow without the smart charging benefit, wherein the regular energy flow is based on energy flow information provided by the at least one of the plurality of electric resources;

determining a plurality of managed energy flow values for the at least one of the plurality of electric resources;

comparing each of the plurality of managed energy flow values with the baseline energy flow value;

determining a potential beneficial impact for each of the plurality of managed energy flow values, wherein the potential beneficial impact is a beneficial impact potentially resulting from the energy management system that is potentially beneficial to the at least one of the plurality of electric resources based on at least one of the plurality of managed energy flow values;

wherein the beneficial impact is selected from a group consisting of the following;

a load curve modification, a peak power demand reduction, or a controllable load regulation amount; and

,

selecting one of the potential beneficial impacts, wherein the smart charging benefit is the selected potential beneficial impact.

62. The system of claim 58, wherein the energy management system provides graphical representations of benefits of the energy management system.

63. A system for managing electric resources with smart charging customer guarantees, comprising:

an energy management system that manages a plurality of electric resources, wherein the energy management system determines a charging behavior guarantee for at least one of a plurality of electric resources, wherein the charging behavior guarantee comprises a guaranteed charging schedule that matches a regular charging schedule of the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the guaranteed charging schedule provides for power flow flexibility; and

,

a server that transmits the charging behavior guarantee to the at least one of a plurality of electric resources, wherein the server is controlled by the energy management system,

wherein the energy management system comprises at least one particular machine, the at least one particular machine comprising at least one physical computing device, wherein the at least one particular machine manages charging behavior of the plurality of electric resources based partially on the guaranteed charging schedule.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein the management of the charging behavior of the plurality of electric resources comprises the steps:

determining a plurality of charging behavior guarantees for the plurality of electric resources;

determining a charging plan based on each one of the plurality of charging behavior guarantees; and

,

utilizing the charging plan to manage the plurality of electric resources.

65. The system of claim 63, wherein the electric resources are electric vehicles.

66. The system of claim 63, wherein the energy management system determines a smart charging benefit, wherein the smart charging benefit is a beneficial impact resulting from the energy management system, wherein the beneficial impact is beneficial to at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the server transmits a benefit representation to the at least one of the plurality of electric resources, wherein the benefit representation represents the smart charging benefit, wherein the at least one particular machine manages charging behavior of the plurality of electric resources based partially on the smart charging benefit.