Charging Service Vehicles and Methods with Output Points and Cables
First Claim
1. A service vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle;
electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment transported by the vehicle, the EV charging equipment configured to be powered by energy stored in or generated by the vehicle;
a plurality of output points affixed to the vehicle, the output points configured as power outputs of the charging equipment, the output points comprising first-type electrical connectors capable of mating with second-type electrical connectors.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Charging service vehicles and methods with output points and cables are disclosed. The service vehicles are vehicles having electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and output points affixed. The output points are configured as power outputs of the charging equipment to which connectors may be attached. Output points are located on multiple sides of the vehicle and can receive charging cables to connect the charging equipment to an EV. The charging cables, and potentially extension cables, may be limited in size and weight to allow a user to reach the charging port of an EV without mechanical assistance. In some cases the vehicle may be connected to multiple EVs at once to provide charging services from multiple output points. These embodiments permit a service vehicle operator to quickly and safely reach EVs in remote roadside environments that would otherwise be inaccessible to vehicles with limited ports and fixed charging connection devices.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A service vehicle, comprising:
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a vehicle; electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment transported by the vehicle, the EV charging equipment configured to be powered by energy stored in or generated by the vehicle; a plurality of output points affixed to the vehicle, the output points configured as power outputs of the charging equipment, the output points comprising first-type electrical connectors capable of mating with second-type electrical connectors. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of connecting electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment of a service vehicle to an EV across an extended distance by a single human operator, the method comprising:
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connecting a first-type electrical connector serving as an output point of an EV charging equipment to a second-type electrical connector at an end of a charging cable extension by a single human operator; connecting a first-type electrical connector at the other end of the charging cable extension to a second-type electrical connector at an end of a charging cable by a single human operator; and connecting an EV charging connector at the other end of the charging cable to a charging port of an EV by a single human operator, wherein the distance between the output point of the service vehicle and the charging port of the EV is greater than 15 feet. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification