MODULAR CHARGING STATION

• US 20130169227A1
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AddÉnergie Technologies Inc.
• Original Assignee: AddÉnergie Technologies Inc.
• Inventors: Tremblay, Louis, Desjardins, Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/822,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20130169227A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• 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 53/50 Charging stations characterised by energy-storage or power-generation means
• 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: 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

Abstract

A modular charging station for charging an electric vehicle, the modular charging station comprising: a frame having a receiving portion; a control unit removably secured to the receiving portion of the frame and electrically connectable to a source of electrical energy, the control unit for selectively controlling access to the electrical energy; and a distributing unit removably secured to the frame, electrically connected to the control unit for receiving the electrical energy therefrom, and electrically connectable to the electric vehicle for providing the electrical energy to the electric vehicle, a powering of the distributing unit being controlled by the control unit.

Claims

1. A modular charging station for charging an electric vehicle, the modular charging station comprising:

a frame having a receiving portion;

a control unit removably secured to the receiving portion of the frame and electrically connectable to a source of electrical energy, the control unit for selectively controlling access to the electrical energy; and

a distributing unit removably secured to the frame, electrically connected to the control unit for receiving the electrical energy therefrom, and electrically connectable to the electric vehicle for providing the electrical energy to the electric vehicle, a powering of the distributing unit being controlled by the control unit.

2. The modular charging station of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a receiving cavity for removably receiving the distributing unit therein.

3. The modular charging station of claim 2, wherein a shape of a rear face of the control unit matches a shape of the receiving cavity for a snuggly relationship between the control unit and the frame.

4. The modular charging station of claim 3, wherein the frame comprises an elongated V-shaped extrusion.

5. The modular charging station of claim 2, wherein the control unit comprises a switch for activating a powering of the distributing unit, a first electrical connector connected to the switch and connectable to the source of electrical energy, and a second electrical connector connected to the switch and the distributing unit.

6. The modular charging station of claim 5, wherein the distributing unit comprises a third electrical connector electrically connected to the second electrical connector for receiving the electrical energy therefrom.

7. The modular charging station of claim 6, wherein the first, second, and third electrical connectors each comprise a plug-in connector.

8. The modular charging station of claim 1, wherein the distributing unit comprises a vehicle electrical connector adapted to connect to the electric vehicle.

9. The modular charging station of claim 8, wherein the vehicle electrical connector is fixedly secured to a connector receiving portion of the distributing unit.

10. The modular charging station of claim 8, further comprising a flexible cable electrically connecting the vehicle electrical connector to the distributing unit, the distributing unit further comprising a connector receiving portion for holding the vehicle electrical connector thereon.

11. The modular charging station of claim 10, wherein the frame further comprises a cable receiving portion for receiving the flexible cable.

12. The modular charging station of claim 11, further comprising a retracting mechanism for retracting the flexible cable in the cable receiving portion.

13. The modular charging station of claim 10, further comprising a handle secured to the flexible cable.

14. The modular charging station of claim 10, further comprising a position sensor operatively connected to the control unit, the position sensor for determining whether the vehicle electrical connector is positioned on the connector receiving portion.

15. The modular charging station of claim 14, wherein the processing unit of the control unit is configured for terminating a transaction only if the position sensor detects that the vehicle electrical connector is positioned on the connector receiving portion.

16. The modular charging station of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a further receiving portion for removably receiving the distributing unit, the distributing being directly and removably to the frame.

17. The modular charging station of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises an identification module for identifying a user and powering the energy providing means upon successful identification of the user.

18. The modular charging station of claim 1, further comprising a communication unit for remote communication.

19. The modular charging station of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises an electricity meter for measuring an amount of electrical energy consumed during the charging of the vehicle.