ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM RECHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• US 20110037429A1
• Filed: 07/28/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Cowans, John Quentin, Watford, Russell T., Fisher, Henry, DeBoer, John
• Granted Patent: US 9,434,268 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• 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 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• 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 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

An electric vehicle recharging station that can be readily incorporated into existing building electrical distribution systems during retrofit or new construction. The system has at least one enclosure and a vehicle charging connector. A circuit interrupter has line terminals for connection to respective first and second phases of the distribution system. A contactor relay has first and second phases coupled to the respective circuit interrupter and electric vehicle charging connector phases and separable contacts for each phase, for selective connection of electric power to the charging connector. A recharger controller is coupled to the contactor, for causing selective separation and closing of the separable contacts, so that electrical power is transferred to the electric vehicle. The recharging station system may also incorporate electric rate metering functions as well as communication capability from the controller to a remote controller. A human machine interface may be coupled to the controller.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle recharger, comprising:

at least one electrical distribution system enclosure located external to electric vehicles;

an electric vehicle charging connector, having at least first and second power phases, for electrical connection with a charging outlet of an electric vehicle, the connector coupled to one of the at least one enclosures;

a circuit interrupter in one of the at least one enclosures, having line terminals for connection to respective at least first and second phases of an electrical distribution system;

a contactor relay in one of the at least one enclosures, having respective at least first and second phases coupled to the respective circuit interrupter and electric vehicle charging connector phases and separable contacts for each phase, for selective connection and disconnection of electric power from the electrical distribution system to the charging connector; and

a recharger controller coupled to the contactor relay, for causing selective separation and closing of the separable contacts, so that electrical power is transferred to the electric vehicle.

2. The recharger of claim 1, further comprising an electric meter coupled to the at least first and second phases feeding the charging connector and in remote communication with a remote controller, for providing power consumption information thereto.

3. The recharger of claim 2, wherein the meter is in communication with the recharger controller.

4. The recharger of claim 1, wherein the recharger controller is in remote communication with a remote controller selected from the group consisting of an electric power provider controller, a remote monitor controller, or an electric vehicle coupled to the connector, that causes the recharger controller to cause electrical power to be selectively transferred to the electric vehicle.

5. The recharger of claim 1, comprising a single enclosure.

6. The recharger of claim 5, wherein the circuit interrupter and motor contactor are oriented side-by-side in the enclosure.

7. The recharger of claim 1, further comprising a manual on-off switch for causing selective separation and closing of the contactor separable contacts.

8. The recharger of claim 1, wherein the at least one enclosure is directly coupled to a power distribution load center.

9. The recharger of claim 1, further comprising two enclosures, wherein one of the enclosures is a power distribution load center having the circuit interrupter therein and the other enclosure has the contactor, recharger controller and charging connector therein.

10. The recharger of claim 9, further comprising an electric meter coupled to the at least first and second phases feeding the charging connector and in remote communication with an electric power provider controller, for providing power consumption information to the power provider.

11. The recharger of claim 1, wherein the circuit interrupter is selected from the group consisting of a ground fault circuit interrupter or a charging circuit interrupting device.

12. The recharger of claim 1, wherein the charging connector is a Society of Automotive Engineers type J1772 connector.

13. The recharger of claim 1, further comprising a human machine interface coupled to the recharger controller, including system status indicators.

14. An electric vehicle recharger, comprising:

an electrical distribution system enclosure located external to electric vehicles;

an electric vehicle charging connector, having first and second power phases, for electrical connection with a charging outlet of an electric vehicle, the connector coupled to the enclosure;

a circuit interrupter in the enclosure, having line lugs for connection to respective first and second phases of an electrical distribution system;

a contactor relay in the enclosure, having respective first and second phases coupled to the respective circuit interrupter and electric vehicle charging connector phases and separable contacts for each phase, for selective connection and disconnection of electric power from the electrical distribution system to the charging connector; and

a recharger controller coupled to the contactor, for causing selective separation and closing of the separable contacts, so that electrical power is transferred to the electric vehicle.

15. The recharger of claim 14, further comprising an electric meter coupled to the first and second phases feeding the charging connector and in remote communication with a remote controller, for providing power consumption.

16. The recharger of claim 15, wherein the meter is in communication with the recharger controller.

17. The recharger of claim 14 wherein the recharger controller is in remote communication with a remote controller selected from the group consisting of an electric power provider controller, a remote monitor controller, or an electric vehicle coupled to the connector that causes the recharger controller to cause electrical power to be selectively transferred to the electric vehicle.

18. The recharger of claim 14, wherein the circuit interrupter and motor contactor are oriented side-by-side in the enclosure.

19. The recharger of claim 14, further comprising a manual on-off switch for causing selective separation and closing of the contactor separable contacts.

20. The recharger of claim 14, wherein the enclosure is directly coupled to a power distribution load center.

21. The recharger of claim 14, further comprising an electric meter coupled to the first and second phases feeding the charging connector and in remote communication with an electric power provider controller, for providing power consumption information to the power provider.

22. The recharger of claim 14, wherein the circuit interrupter is selected from the group consisting of a ground fault circuit interrupter and a charging circuit interrupting device.

23. The recharger of claim 14, wherein the charging connector is a Society of Automotive Engineers type J1772 connector.

24. The recharger of claim 14, further comprising a human machine interface coupled to the recharger controller, including system status indicators.

25. A method for charging an electrical vehicle having a charging outlet, comprising:

providing an electric vehicle recharger, having;

an electrical distribution system enclosure located external to electric vehicles;

an electric vehicle charging connector,

coupled to the enclosure, having at least first and second power phases;

a circuit interrupter in the enclosure, having line lugs for connection to respective at least first and second phases of an electrical distribution system;

a contactor relay in the enclosure, having respective at least first and second phases coupled to the respective circuit interrupter and electric vehicle charging connector phases and separable contacts for each phase; and

a recharger controller coupled to the contactor relay, for causing selective separation and closing of the separable contacts;

causing the recharger controller to separate the contactor separable contacts;

connecting the charging connector to the vehicle charging outlet; and

causing the recharger controller to close the contactor separable contacts, so that electrical power is transferred to the electric vehicle.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the recharger controller causes the contactor to transfer electrical power to the electric vehicle is selected from a group of events comprising date, time of day, electric power cost, charging characteristics of the electric vehicle, electric vehicle request, remote operator action, and human operator action.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising providing an electric meter coupled to the at least first and second phases feeding the charging connector and in remote communication with a remote controller, for providing power consumption information thereto.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the meter is in communication with the recharger controller.

29. A method for charging an electrical vehicle having a charging outlet, comprising:

providing an electric vehicle recharger, having;

an electrical distribution system enclosure located external to electric vehicles;

an electric vehicle charging connector, coupled to the enclosure, having at least first and second power phases;

a contactor relay in the enclosure, having respective at least first and second phases coupled to the electric vehicle charging connector phases and separable contacts for each phase; and

a recharger controller coupled to the contactor relay, for causing selective separation and closing of the separable contacts;

causing the recharger controller to separate the contactor separable contacts;

connecting the charging connector to the vehicle charging outlet; and

causing the recharger controller to close the contactor separable contacts, so that electrical power is transferred to the electric vehicle.