ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING AND ACCOUNTING

• US 20110153474A1
• Filed: 12/17/2009
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chargepoint, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Chargepoint, Inc.
• Inventors: Solomon, James, Lowenthal, Richard, Tormey, Milton T.
• Application Number:
  US12/641,284
• Publication Number:
  US 20110153474A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/31
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/12 by confirmation, e.g. of the input
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/20 by driver identification
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• 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: G06Q 20/14 specially adapted for billing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/145 Payments according to the detected use or quantity
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/32 using wireless devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3278 RFID or NFC payments by means of M-devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/34 using cards, e.g. integrated circuit [IC] cards or magnetic cards
• 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: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/123 : Tax preparation or submission
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 : Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 : Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 : for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 : dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/12 : in which metering is on a time basis
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 : Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 : for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• 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 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/12 : Billing, invoicing, buying or selling transactions or other related activities, e.g. cost or usage evaluation

Abstract

Electric vehicle charging stations include a time of use meter that can be programmed with different time periods so that different tariffs can be applied to energy readings of those different time periods. The time periods may be specific to electric vehicle operators. The tariffs may also be specific to electric vehicle operators and apply to charging stations that are supplied with electricity from different electric utilities.

Claims

1. A method for charging electric vehicles on an electric vehicle charging station having a time of use meter, the method comprising:

establishing a charging session between an electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the electric vehicle is allowed to be charged during the established charging session; and

calculating energy readings for a plurality of time periods programmed into the time of use meter while the charging session is active, wherein the time of use meter measures energy in those time periods so that different tariffs can be applied to those time periods.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the calculated energy readings for the charging session to an electric vehicle charging station network server for accounting.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein establishing the charging session includes the following:

transmitting a message to the electric vehicle charging station network server requesting a charging session on behalf of an operator of the electric vehicle, wherein the message includes an identifier associated with the operator of the electric vehicle;

receiving a reply from the electric vehicle charging station network server indicating that the charging session is authorized; and

responsive to receiving the reply, allowing current to flow between the electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a time of use definition from the electric vehicle charging station network server based on the identifier associated with the operator of the electric vehicle, wherein the time of use definition indicates the time periods for the time of use meter; and

responsive to receiving the time of use definition, programming the time periods into the time of use meter.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a plurality of tariffs corresponding to the plurality of time periods, wherein the plurality of tariffs are specific to the operator of the electric vehicle, wherein the electric vehicle charging station supplies electricity from a power grid operated by an electric utility, and wherein the plurality of tariffs are applicable for the operator on different electric vehicle charging stations that are supplied electricity from different electric utilities; and

terminating the charging session when a limit is reached, wherein the limit is based on the energy readings for each of the time periods and the tariffs of those time periods, and wherein the limit is one of a monetary amount and a credit amount in a credit based system.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of tariffs are received from one of the electric vehicle charging station network server and the operator of the electric vehicle.

7. A method for charging electric vehicles on an electric vehicle charging station, wherein the electric vehicle charging station is supplied electricity from an electric utility, comprising:

establishing a charging session between an electric vehicle and the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the electric vehicle is allowed to be charged during the established charging session;

calculating one or more energy readings for the charging session that represent an amount of electricity consumed by the electric vehicle during the charging session;

transmitting the one or more energy readings to an electric vehicle charging station network server for accounting that is based on one or more tariffs specific to an operator of the electric vehicle, wherein the one or more tariffs specific to the operator of the electric vehicle are applicable to different electric vehicle charging stations that are supplied electricity from different electric utilities.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein establishing the charging session further includes:

receiving a request for the charging session from an operator of the electric vehicle;

transmitting the request to the electric vehicle charging station network server for authorization;

receiving a reply from the electric vehicle charging station network server indicating that the charging session is authorized; and

responsive to receiving the reply, allowing current to flow between the electric vehicle charging station and the electric vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving the one or more tariffs specific to the operator of the electric vehicle from one of the electric vehicle charging station network server and the operator of the electric vehicle; and

terminating the charging session when a limit is reached, wherein the limit is based on the one or more energy readings and the one or more tariffs, and wherein the limit is one of a monetary amount and a credit amount in a credit based system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein there is at least two tariffs specific to the operator of the electric vehicle, and wherein there are at least two energy readings for the charging session based on measurements from at least two time periods in a time of use meter on the electric vehicle charging station.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least two time periods are received from the electric vehicle charging station network server.

12. An electric vehicle charging station for charging electric vehicles, comprising:

a charging point connection to couple electric vehicles to a power line coupled with a power grid that is operated by an electric utility;

a programmable time of use meter to provide metering for a plurality of different time periods,

a transceiver to communicate with an electric vehicle charging station network server; and

one or more control modules coupled with the programmable time of use meter and the transceiver, the one or more control modules to perform the following;

program the programmable time of use meter with a plurality of time periods;

cause the charging point connection to be energized to allow current to flow through the charging point connection; and

calculate energy readings for the time periods.

13. The electric vehicle charging station of claim 12, wherein the one or more control modules also cause the energy readings to be transmitted to the electric vehicle charging station network server for accounting.

14. The electric vehicle charging station of claim 13, wherein the plurality of time periods are specific to individual operators of electric vehicles, and wherein the plurality of time periods are to be received from the electric vehicle charging station network server.

15. The electric vehicle charging station of claim 13, wherein a plurality of tariffs for the plurality of time periods are to be received from the electric vehicle charging station network server, and wherein at least some of the plurality of tariffs are specific to individual operators of electric vehicles and are applicable to different electric vehicle charging stations that are supplied with electricity by different electric utilities, and wherein the one or more control modules are also cause the charging point connection to be de-energized based on a limit of the charging sessions being reached based on appropriate ones of the energy readings and tariffs of those time periods.

16. An electric vehicle charging system, comprising:

a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations that charge electric vehicles, wherein different ones of the plurality of electric vehicle charging stations are supplied electricity from different electric utilities, wherein each electric vehicle charging station performs the following;

calculates energy readings for charging sessions, and

transmits the calculated energy readings to an electric vehicle charging station network server; and

the electric vehicle charging station network server coupled with each of the plurality of electric vehicle charging stations, wherein the electric vehicle charging station network server performs accounting including applying appropriate electric vehicle operator specific tariffs to received energy readings; and

wherein each electric vehicle operator specific tariff is specific to a vehicle operator and applies to each of the plurality of electric vehicle charging stations regardless of which of the electric utilities supplies the electricity to that electric vehicle charging station.

17. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 16, wherein at least some of the plurality of electric vehicle charging stations further include a time of use meter to provide metering for a plurality of different time periods, wherein the electric vehicle charging station network server provides the different time periods to those electric vehicle charging stations.

18. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 17, wherein the different time periods are specific to individual electric vehicle operators.

19. The electric vehicle charging system of claim 17, wherein the electric vehicle charging station network server is also to provide appropriate electric vehicle operator specific rates to the electric vehicle charging stations, wherein the electric vehicle charging stations terminate charging sessions based on reaching a limit for the charging session, wherein the limit is based on the energy readings and the electric vehicle operator specific rates.