SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE IN DELIVERING ENERGY TO AN ELECTRICALLY POWERED VEHICLE WITHIN A PARKING AREA

• US 20130013382A1
• Filed: 07/06/2011
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Alexander, George William, Boot, John Christopher
• Application Number:
  US13/177,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20130013382A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/24 for parking meters
• 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 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A method of delivering energy to an electric vehicle with a charging device positioned within a parking area having a plurality of parking spaces is provided. The method includes calculating, by a parking validation device, a parking cost associated with a parking space used by the electric vehicle. An energy cost associated with an amount of energy delivered by the charging device to the electric vehicle is calculated. A retail transaction cost associated with an amount of retail purchases made at one or more commercial retail stores is calculated. The parking validation device determines whether to waive at least one of the calculated parking cost and the calculated energy cost based at least in part on the calculated retail transaction cost.

Claims

1. A method of delivering energy to an electric vehicle with a charging device positioned within a parking area having a plurality of parking spaces, said method comprising:

calculating, by a parking validation device, a parking cost associated with a parking space used by the electric vehicle;

calculating an energy cost associated with an amount of energy delivered by the charging device to the electric vehicle;

calculating a retail transaction cost associated with an amount of retail purchases made at one or more commercial retail stores;

determining whether to waive at least one of the calculated parking cost and the calculated energy cost based at least in part on the calculated retail transaction cost.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising determining at least one of the calculated parking cost and the calculated energy cost to be waived upon determining the calculated retail transaction cost is greater than or equal to a predefined retail transaction cost.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising notifying a user of the electric vehicle upon determining at least one of the calculated parking cost and the calculated energy cost is to be waived.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising calculating the parking cost based at least in part on the duration of use by the electric vehicle of the parking space.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the parking validation device, a request to access the parking area for use by the electric vehicle;

determining a user account associated with the electric vehicle;

permitting access to the parking area after determining the user account; and

calculating the parking costs associated with the user account.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, further comprising:

receiving a request to deliver power to the electric vehicle;

delivering power to the electric vehicle after verifying the user account associated with the electric vehicle; and

calculating the energy cost associated with the user account.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting, to the commercial retail stores, a retail transaction verification request including financial transactions associated with the user account;

receiving an indication from each commercial retail store of the financial transactions associated with the user account; and

calculating the retail transaction cost based at least in part on the received financial transactions associated with the user account.

8. A power delivery system for use in charging an electric vehicle, said power delivery system comprising:

at least one charging device positioned within a parking area including a plurality of parking spaces, said charging device configured to be electrically coupled to an electric vehicle for delivering energy to the electric vehicle; and

a parking validation device coupled to said charging device, said parking validation device configured to;

calculate a parking cost associated with a parking space used by the electric vehicle;

calculate an energy cost associated with an amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle;

calculate a retail transaction cost associated with an amount of retail purchases made at one or more commercial retail stores; and

determine whether to waive at least one of the calculated parking cost and the calculated energy cost based at least in part on the calculated retail transaction cost.

9. A power delivery system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said parking validation device is further configured to determine at least one of the calculated parking cost and the calculated energy cost to be waived upon determining the calculated retail transaction cost to be greater than or equal to a predefined retail transaction cost.

10. A power delivery system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a notification device configured to transmit, to a user of the electric vehicle, a validation message including a waiver of at least one of the calculated parking cost and the calculated energy cost.

11. A power deliver system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the parking validation device is further configured to calculate the parking cost based at least in part on the duration of use by the electric vehicle of the parking space.

12. A power delivery system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said parking validation device is further configured to:

receive a request to access the parking area for use by the electric vehicle;

determine a user account associated with the electric vehicle;

permit access to the parking area after determining the user account; and

calculate the parking costs associated with the user account.

13. A power delivery system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said parking validation device is further configured to calculate the energy cost associated with the user account.

14. A power delivery system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said parking validation device is further configured to:

transmit, to the commercial retail stores, a retail transaction verification request including financial transactions associated with the user account;

receive an indication from each commercial retail stores of the financial transactions associated with the user account; and

calculate the retail transaction cost associated with the user account based at least in part on the received financial transactions associated with the user account.

15. A parking validation device coupled to a plurality of charging devices for use in delivering power to an electric vehicle, said parking validation device comprising a processor coupled to a database, said processor programmed to:

calculate a parking cost associated with a parking space used by the electric vehicle;

calculate an energy cost associated with an amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle by a charging device;

calculate a retail transaction cost associated with an amount of retail purchases made at one or more commercial retail stores; and

determine whether to waive at least one of the calculated parking cost and the calculated energy cost based at least in part on the calculated retail transaction cost.

16. A parking validation device in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is further programmed to determine at least one of the calculated parking cost and the calculated energy cost to be waived upon determining the calculated retail cost is greater than or equal to a predefined retail transaction cost.

17. A parking validation device in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is further programmed to notify a user of the electric vehicle upon determining at least one of the calculated parking cost and the calculated energy cost is to be waived.

18. A parking validation device in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is further programmed to determine a user account associated with the electric vehicle, and calculate the parking costs associated with the user account.

19. A parking validation device in accordance with claim 18, wherein said processor is further programmed to:

receive a request to deliver power to the electric vehicle;

deliver power to the electric vehicle after determining the user account associated with the electric vehicle; and

calculate the energy cost associated with the user account.

20. A parking validation device in accordance with claim 19, wherein said processor is further programmed to:

transmit, to the commercial retail stores, a retail transaction verification request including financial transactions associated with the user account;

receive an indication from each commercial retail store of financial transactions associated with the user account; and

calculate the retail transaction cost based at least in part on the received financial transactions associated with the user account.