METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REAL-TIME AGGREGATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFORMATION FOR REAL-TIME AUCTIONING OF ANCILLARY SERVICES, AND REAL-TIME LOWEST COST MATCHING ELECTRIC VEHICLE ENERGY DEMAND TO CHARGING SERVICES

• US 20120095830A1
• Filed: 10/17/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Michaelis, Oliver, CONTRERAS DELPIANO, RAUL I., Wood, Andrew A., Jaime, Manuel E., Moallemi, Kamran
• Granted Patent: US 8,594,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.49
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• 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 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/08 Auctions
• 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 50/10 Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/14 Marketing, i.e. market research and analysis, surveying, promotions, advertising, buyer profiling, customer management or rewards

Abstract

Ancillary service capability data is received in real time from participating electrical vehicles (EVs) connected through EV charging equipment to a power grid. Aggregate offers based on the ancillary service capability data from participating EVs are generated and matched with requests received from electrical power generating entities for ancillary service electrical power. Associated with the matches, ancillary power is transferred from batteries of one or more EV batteries to the power grid and, based on received transaction parameters, transaction payment is made.

Claims

33. A method for real-time aggregating of electrical vehicles (EVs) charging, comprising:

aggregating, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of a plurality of the EVs; and

generating and communicating to an auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand.

34. The method of claim 33, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and

controlling, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the EVs.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein aggregating, in real time, includes communicating EV energy demand data from at least one of the plurality of EVs over a real-time wireless link.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the real-time wireless link is a wireless cellular communication link.

37. The method of claim 36, the method further comprising:

testing whether an operability of a real-time wireless communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and

if a result of the testing indicates the real-time wireless communication link fails to meet the given criterion, enabling the charging of the EV at a default rate.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein enabling the charging of the EV at the default rate includes communicating an indication to the EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the secondary communication channel is a text-messaging channel associated with the real-time wireless cellular communication link.

40. An aggregator for real-time aggregating of electrical vehicle (EVs) energy capacity for real-time auctioning of ancillary services, comprising:

means for receiving a set-up data identifying each of a plurality of participating EVs;

means for aggregating, in real-time, EV energy capacity data from each of the plurality of participating EVs;

means for generating, based on the EV energy capacity data, an aggregated ancillary services offer; and

means for communicating the aggregated ancillary services offer to an auction entity.

41. The aggregator of claim 40, wherein aggregating, in real time, includes communicating EV energy capacity data from at least one of the plurality of participating EVs over a real-time wireless link.

42. The aggregator of claim 40, the aggregator further comprising:

means for receiving from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of the aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement;

means for identifying at least one participating EV as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement; and

means for sending, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.

43. The aggregator of claim 40, the aggregator further comprising:

means for aggregating, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of the plurality of the participating EVs; and

means for generating and communicating to the auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand.

44. The aggregator of claim 43, the aggregator further comprising:

means for receiving, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and

means for controlling, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the participating EVs.

45. The aggregator of claim 44, the aggregator further comprising:

means for testing whether an operability of a real-time wireless communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and

means for enabling, if a result of the testing indicates the real-time wireless communication link fails to meet the given criterion, a charging of the participating EV at a default rate.

46. The aggregator of claim 45, wherein enabling the charging of the participating EV at the default rate includes communicating an indication to the participating EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.

47. The aggregator of claim 46, wherein communicating the indication over the secondary communication channel includes communicating over a text-messaging channel of a wireless cellular network.

48. The aggregator claim 42, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.

49. The aggregator of claim 48, wherein generating and communicating the aggregate ancillary services offer based at least in part on the EV location data from at least one of the EVs comprises:

calculating a virtual location based on the EV location data; and

including the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.

50. The aggregator of claim 48, the aggregator further comprising means for receiving from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of an aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement.

51. The aggregator of claim 50, the aggregator further comprising:

means for identifying at least one participating EV as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement; and

means for sending, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.

52. The aggregator of claim 51, the aggregator further comprising means for controlling a delivering of a power from a storage battery of at least one of the participating EVs to a power grid, based on the aggregator ancillary services control command communication.

53. The aggregator of claim 43, the aggregator further comprising means for sending, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.

54. The aggregator of claim 53, the aggregator further comprising means for receiving, from at least one of the at least one participating EVs and an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EV verification information corresponding to the EVSE ancillary services control command.

55. The aggregator of claim 54, the aggregator further comprising means for sending to the auction entity an aggregated verification information based, at least in part, on the EV verification information.

56. The aggregator of claim 55, the aggregator further comprising means for settling a transaction payment to at least one of the participating EV identified as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement.

57. The aggregator of claim 56, wherein settling the transaction payment is conditional on receiving an EV verification information from the at least one of the participating EVs.

58. The aggregator of claim 53, the aggregator further comprising means for controlling a delivering of a power from a storage battery of at least one of the participating EVs to a power grid, based on the aggregator ancillary services control command communication.

59. The aggregator of claim 58, the aggregator further comprising means for settling a transaction payment to at least one of the participating EV identified controlled for the delivering of the power.

60. The aggregator of claim 40, wherein the EV energy capacity information indicates a kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity of at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.

61. The aggregator of claim 40, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.

62. The aggregator of claim 61, wherein the means for generating and communicating the aggregate ancillary services offer based at least in part on the EV location data from at least one of the EVs comprises:

means for calculating a virtual location based on the EV location data; and

means for including the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.

63. An aggregator for real-time aggregating of electrical vehicles (EVs) charging, comprising:

means for aggregating, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of a plurality of the EVs; and

means for generating and communicating to the auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand.

1. A method for real-time aggregating of electrical vehicle (EVs) energy capacity for real-time auctioning of ancillary services, comprising:

receiving a set-up data identifying each of a plurality of participating EVs;

aggregating, in real time, EV energy capacity data from each of the plurality of participating EVs;

generating, based on the EV energy capacity data, an aggregated ancillary services offer; and

communicating the aggregated ancillary services offer to an auction entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein aggregating, in real time, includes communicating the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the plurality of participating EVs over a real-time wireless link.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the real-time wireless link is a wireless cellular communication link.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

aggregating, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of the plurality of the participating EVs; and

generating and communicating to the auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand.

5. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising receiving from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of the aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one participating EV is identified as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement.

7. The method of claim 6, the method further comprising sending, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.

8. The method of claim 7, the method further comprising receiving, from at least one of the at least one participating EVs and the EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EV verification information corresponding to the EVSE ancillary services control command.

9. The method of claim 8, the method further comprising sending to the auction entity an aggregated verification information based, at least in part, on the EV verification information.

10. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising settling a transaction payment to the at least one of the participating EVs identified as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein settling the transaction payment is conditional on receiving the EV verification information from the at least one of the participating EVs.

12. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising controlling a delivering of a power from the storage battery of the at least one of the participating EVs to the power grid, based on the aggregator ancillary services control command communication.

13. The method of claim 12, the method further comprising settling the transaction payment to the at least one of the participating EVs identified controlled for the delivering of the power.

14. The method of claim 4, the method further comprising:

receiving, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and

controlling, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the participating EVs.

15. The method of claim 14, the method further comprising:

testing whether an operability of a real-time wireless communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and

if a result of the testing indicates the real-time wireless communication link fails to meet the given criterion, enabling the charging of the participating EV at a default rate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein enabling the charging of the participating EV at the default rate includes communicating an indication to the participating EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the secondary communication channel is a text-messaging channel of a wireless cellular network.

18. The method of claim 4, wherein the EV energy capacity data indicates a kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity of at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.

19. The method of claim 4, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein generating and communicating the aggregated ancillary services offer based at least in part on EV geographic location identifier from at least one of the participating EVs comprises:

calculating a virtual location based on the EV location data; and

including the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.

21. The method of claim 20, the method further comprising receiving from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of the aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein at least one participating EV is identified as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement.

23. The method of claim 22, the method further comprising sending, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.

24. The method of claim 23, the method further comprising receiving, from at least one of the at least one participating EVs and the EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EV verification information corresponding to the EVSE ancillary services control command.

25. The method of claim 24, the method further comprising sending to the auction entity an aggregated verification information based, at least in part, on the EV verification information.

26. The method of claim 25, the method further comprising settling a transaction payment to at least one of the participating EV identified as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein settling the transaction payment is conditional on receiving the EV verification information from the at least one of the participating EVs.

28. The method of claim 22, the method further comprising controlling a delivering of a power from a storage battery of at least one of the participating EVs to a power grid, based on an aggregator ancillary services control command communication.

29. The method of claim 28, the method further comprising settling a transaction payment to at least one of the participating EV identified controlled for the delivering of the power.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the EV energy capacity data indicates a kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity of at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein generating and communicating the aggregated ancillary services offer based at least in part on EV geographic location identifier from at least one of the participating EVs comprises:

calculating a virtual location based on the EV location data; and

including the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.

64. The aggregator of claim 63, the aggregator further comprising:

means for receiving, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and

controlling, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the EVs.

65. The aggregator of claim 64, wherein the real-time wireless link is a wireless cellular communication link, wherein the aggregator further comprises:

means for testing whether an operability of a real-time wireless communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and

means for enabling, if a result of the testing indicates the real-time wireless communication link fails to meet the given criterion, a charging of the EV at a default rate.

66. The aggregator of claim 65, wherein enabling the charging of the EV at the default rate includes communicating an indication to the EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.

67. The aggregator of claim 65, wherein communicating the indication to the EV of a default rate offer the secondary communication channel includes communicating a on a text-messaging channel of a wireless cellular network.

64-1. The aggregator of claim 63, wherein aggregating, in real time, includes communicating EV energy demand data from at least one of the plurality of EVs over a real-time wireless link.

68. A computer program product, having a computer-readable medium comprising a set of computer instructions that upon execution would cause an associated processor to perform a real-time aggregating of electrical vehicle (EVs) energy capacity for real-time auctioning of ancillary services, the computer instructions comprising:

instructions to receive a set-up data identifying each of a plurality of participating EVs;

instructions to aggregate, in real time, EV energy capacity data from each of a plurality of participating EVs;

instructions to generate, based on the EV energy capacity data, an aggregated ancillary services offer; and

instructions to communicate the aggregated ancillary services offer to an auction entity.

69. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the instructions to aggregate, in real time, include instructions to communicate EV energy capacity data from at least one of the plurality of participating EVs over a real-time wireless link.

70. The computer program product of claim 69, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to aggregate, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of a plurality of the participating EVs; and

instructions to generate and communicate to the auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand.

71. The computer program product of claim 70, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to receive from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of an aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement;

instructions to identify at least one participating EV as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement; and

instructions to send, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.

72. The computer program product of claim 70, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to receive, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and

instructions to control, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the participating EVs.

73. The computer program product of claim 72, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to test whether an operability of a real-time wireless communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the participating EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and

instructions to enable, if a result of the testing indicates the real-time wireless communication link fails to meet the given criterion, a charging of the participating EV at a default rate.

74. The computer program product of claim 73, wherein enabling the charging of the participating EV at the default rate includes communicating an indication to the participating EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.

75. The computer program product of claim 74, wherein communicating the indication over the secondary communication channel includes communicating over a text-messaging channel of a wireless cellular network.

76. The computer program product of claim 70, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.

77. The computer program product of claim 76, wherein generating and communicating the aggregate ancillary services offer based at least in part on the EV location data from at least one of the EVs comprises:

calculating a virtual location based on the EV location data; and

including the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.

78. The computer program product of claim 77, the instructions further comprising instructions to receive from the auction entity an aggregator ancillary services control command indicating a matching of an aggregated ancillary services offer with an ancillary services requirement.

79. The computer program product of claim 78, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to identify at least one participating EV as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement; and

instructions to send, to an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EVSE ancillary services control command, the EVSE ancillary services control command indicating a control of the EVSE for delivering a power from a storage battery of the associated participating EV to a power grid.

80. The computer program product of claim 79, the instructions further comprising instructions to control a delivering of a power from a storage battery of at least one of the participating EVs to a power grid, based on the aggregator ancillary services control command communication.

81. The computer program product of claim 78, the instructions further comprising instructions to receive, from at least one of the at least one participating EVs and an EV support equipment (EVSE) associated with each of the at least one participating EVs, an EV verification information corresponding to the EVSE ancillary services control command.

82. The computer program product of claim 81, the instructions further comprising instructions to send to the auction entity an aggregated verification information based, at least in part, on the EV verification information.

83. The computer program product of claim 82, the instructions further comprising instructions to settle a transaction payment to at least one of the participating EV identified as associated with the aggregated ancillary services offer indicated as matching the ancillary services requirement.

84. The computer program product of claim 83, wherein settling the transaction payment is conditional on receiving an EV verification information from the at least one of the participating EVs.

85. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the EV energy capacity information indicates a kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity of at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the kilowatt power delivery capacity of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.

86. The computer program product of claim 68, wherein the EV energy capacity data from at least one of the participating EVs includes a geographic location identifier indicating a geographic location of the participating EV, and wherein the generating and communicating to the auction entity at least one aggregated ancillary services offer is further based, at least in part, on the geographic location identifier of the participating EVs associated with said aggregated ancillary services offer.

87. The computer program product of claim 86, wherein the instructions to generate and communicate the aggregate ancillary services offer based at least in part on the EV location data from at least one of the EVs comprise:

instructions to calculate a virtual location based on the EV location data; and

instructions to include the virtual location with the aggregated ancillary services offer.

88. A computer program product, having a computer-readable medium comprising a set of computer instructions that upon execution would cause an associated processor to perform a real-time aggregating of electrical vehicle (EVs) energy capacity for real-time auctioning of ancillary services, the computer instructions comprising:

instructions to aggregate, in real time, EV energy demand data from each of a plurality of the EVs; and

instructions to generate and communicate to the auction entity, based on a result of the aggregating, at least one aggregated EV energy demand.

89. The computer program product of claim 88, the instructions further comprising:

instructions to receive, from the auction entity, an EV charging enablement data associated with an aggregated EV energy demand among the communicated aggregated EV energy demands and a matching EV charging service offer indicating an offering power generator; and

instructions to control, based on the received EV charging enablement data, a charging of at least one of the EVs.

90. The computer program product of claim 89, wherein the instructions to aggregate, in real time, include instructions to communicate EV energy demand data from at least one of the plurality of EVs over a real-time wireless link.

91. The computer program product of claim 90, wherein the real-time wireless link is a wireless cellular communication link, wherein the instructions further comprise:

instructions to test whether an operability of a real-time wireless communications link from an aggregator entity to one of the EVs fails to meet a given criterion; and

instructions to enable, if a result of the testing indicates the real-time wireless communication link fails to meet the given criterion, a charging of the EV at a default rate.

92. The computer program product of claim 91, wherein the instructions to enable the charging of the EV at the default rate include instructions to communicate an indication to the EV of a default rate offer, over a secondary communication channel.

93. The computer program product of claim 92, the instructions to communicate the indication to the EV of a default rate offer over the secondary communication channel include instructions to communicate over a text-messaging channel of a wireless cellular network.