STRUCTURAL BOLLARD ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE INFRASTRUCTURE

• US 20130229141A1
• Filed: 12/13/2012
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brightfield Transportation Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Brightfield Transportation Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Johnson, Matthew E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,561,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/101
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• 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: Y10T 29/49623 Static structure, e.g., a building component

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein is directed to electric vehicle (“EV”) infrastructure, which includes a customizable charging station that comprises a modular bollard assembly having a structural tubular form that is secured to an electrical vehicle supply equipment to provide fuel to an EV. The modular bollard assembly is optionally fashioned with expansion elements, such as a solar canopy, which accommodate EV infrastructure requirements. The invention also includes methods of determining and manufacturing EV infrastructure based upon data pertaining to demographic, energy, EV, financial and geographic metrics.

Claims

1. A customizable charging station, comprising:

at least one modular bollard assembly having a substantially structural tubular form that is mountable upon a footing at one or more bollard attachment points upon a bollard attachment plate, and having at least one expansion attachment element fashioned on a first expansion plate;

electrical vehicle supply equipment secured to said modular bollard; and

a foundation.

2. The customizable charging station of claim 1 wherein said modular bollard assembly includes a tubular central portion having a hollow inner cavity, a first end portion and a second end portion, said first expansion plate secured to said first end portion, said first expansion plate having a plurality of apertures therethrough, said apertures constructed and arranged to cooperate with an expansion cap member, a second expansion plate secured to said second end of said tubular central portion, said second expansion plate including a plurality of apertures therethrough, said second expansion plate constructed and arranged to cooperate with said foundation for securing said modular bollard assembly to said foundation, said tubular central portion including a receiving port through a side wall thereof, said side window sized and shaped to cooperate with said electrical vehicle supply equipment, said side wall of said central tubular member being constructed of a material and having a sufficient strength to function as a structural support member of an overhead structure.

3. The customizable charging station of claim 2 wherein said expansion cap is pointed to prevent debris from settling on the top surface of said modular bollard assembly.

4. The customizable charging station of claim 2 wherein said expansion cap is an extended structural trunk member for support of an overhead structure.

5. The customizable charging station of claim 2 wherein said expansion cap is secured to said first expansion plate with fasteners, said fasteners extending through said plurality of apertures.

6. The customizable charging station of claim 4 wherein said structural trunk includes a first end, a second end, and at least one sidewall extending a length between the first end and the second end, said second end including at least one attachment point for a functional unit.

7. The customizable charging station of claim 6 wherein said functional unit is an overhead structure.

8. The customizable charging station of claim 7 wherein said overhead structure includes at least one photovoltaic panel secured thereon.

9. The customizable charging station of claim 7 wherein said overhead structure is a canopy, said canopy including a single vertical support member, said modular bollard assembly forming a portion of said vertical support member.

10. The customizable charging station of claim 7 wherein said overhead structure is a canopy, said canopy including a plurality of vertical support members, at least one said modular bollard assembly forming a portion of each said vertical support member.

11. The customizable charging station of claim 2 wherein said electrical vehicle supply equipment includes a housing and a bezel sealed with a gasket therebetween, said bezel attaching substantially flush to a face of said housing.

12. The customizable charging station of claim 2 wherein said modular bollard assembly includes a service entrance, said service entrance a point of electric utility grid interconnection.

13. The customizable charging station of claim 11, wherein the energy supply unit is fashioned with a cord wrap bezel.

14. The customizable charging station of claim 1, wherein the foundation comprises a concrete footing or at least one geotechnical screw.

15. The customizable charging station of claim 9, wherein said canopy is modular, expandable, and installed in a predetermined orientation.

16. A method of manufacturing a customizable charging station, comprising:

identifying a point of utility interconnection;

trenching to interconnection point;

forming a foundation; and

fastening a modular bollard upon the foundation at one or more receiving points.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

fastening a trunk upon an expansion plane of the modular bollard at a trunk first end; and

fastening a functional unit to the trunk at a trunk second end.

18. A method for planning electric vehicle infrastructure, comprising:

inputting research data;

analyzing and calculating the research data to determine the most economically, environmentally and socially effective manner of installing a renewable energy-powered charging infrastructure; and

outputting holistic cost and benefit values, environmental cost and benefit values, and financial cost and benefit values, wherein the benefits are determined by a comparative analysis to fossil fuel transportation derived figures.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the research data comprises:

electric vehicle market development, renewable and non-renewable energy, vehicles, financial forecasts, sales projections, tax codes and incentives, budgets, demographics, product life-cycles, greenhouse gas emissions, and/or ground-level air pollution.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the holistic costs and benefits comprise:

the volume of fossil fuels saved by geographical area or community;

savings retained by geographical area or community; and

jobs created by geographical area or community.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the environmental costs and benefits comprise carbon emission reduction values.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein financial costs and benefits comprise:

electric vehicle charger and renewable energy capacity required to meet fueling demand;

renewable energy credit revenue;

forecasted charging revenue;

a tax depreciation schedule;

a vehicle depreciation schedule;

a maintenance schedule;

return on investment; and

/or

regional economic development and job growth.

23. A customizable charging station, comprising:

at least one modular bollard having a form that is mountable upon a footing at one or more bollard attachment points upon a bollard attachment plate, and having at least one expansion attachment element fashioned on a bollard expansion plate;

electrical vehicle supply equipment being attachable to the modular bollard; and

a foundation.

24. The customizable charging station of claim 23, wherein the electrical vehicle supply equipment provides grid-based electricity to a vehicle.

25. The customizable charging station of claim 23, wherein the form is substantially tubular.

26. The customizable charging station of claim 23, wherein the energy supply unit is fashioned with a cord wrap bezel.

27. The customizable charging station of claim 23, wherein the foundation comprises a concrete footing or at least one geotechnical screw.

28. The customizable charging station of claim 23, the modular bollard further comprising an internal cavity and a panel that provides access to said internal cavity.

29. The customizable charging station of claim 23, wherein the modular bollard is fashioned with a protective cap that is securable upon the bollard expansion plane.

30. The customizable charging station of claim 23, wherein the modular bollard is fashioned with a structural trunk comprising a first end, a second end, and at least one sidewall extending a length between the first end and the second end.

31. The customizable charging station of claim 30, wherein said first end is securable upon the at least one expansion attachment element fashioned on a bollard expansion plane, and said second end fixedly engaged with a functional unit.

32. The customizable charging station of claim 31, wherein the functional unit comprises a canopy, a security lamp, a surveillance camera, and/or a beam or a joist.