SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MONITORING USAGE OF A CHARGING STATION

• US 20150291047A1
• Filed: 04/11/2014
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Nissan North America Incorporated (Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: SAITO, Daisuke, MURAMATSU, Toshiro
• Granted Patent: US 10,112,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/70 Interactions with external data bases, e.g. traffic centres
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/50 by future state prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• 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 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• 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 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

A method of monitoring usage of a charging station includes collecting probe data from a plurality of electric vehicles. The probe data includes charging activity history. A usage value associated with a charging station is determined based on the collected probe data. The usage value associated with the charging station is provided to a requesting electric vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring usage of a charging station, comprising the steps of:

collecting probe data from a plurality of electric vehicles, the probe data including charging activity history;

determining a usage value associated with a charging station based on the collected probe data; and

providing the usage value associated with the charging station o a requesting electric vehicle.

2. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 1, wherein

the usage value of the charging station is displayed within the requesting electric vehicle.

3. The hod of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 2, wherein

the usage value of the charging station is displayed on a map showing the location of the charging station.

4. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 1, further comprising

determining a plurality of usage values associated with a plurality of charging stations;

and

providing the plurality of usage values to the requesting electric vehicle.

5. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 4, wherein

the plurality of usage values associated with the charging station are displayed within the requesting electric vehicle.

6. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 5, wherein

the plurality of usage values associated with the plurality of charging stations are displayed on a map showing the locations of the plurality of charging stations.

7. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 1, wherein

the providing step includes sending data from a server directly to a telematics unit within the requesting electric vehicle.

8. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 1, wherein

the probe data includes a location of the charging station.

9. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 1, wherein

the probe data includes start and end timestamps of charging activity at the charging station.

10. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 9, further comprising

predicting vacant times of the charging station based on the start and end timestamps.

11. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 1, wherein

the probe data includes a charging indicator when one of the plurality of electric vehicles is presently charging at the charging station.

12. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 11, wherein

providing an estimated vacant time based on a charging status of the presently charging electric vehicle.

13. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 1, wherein

the probe data includes a current location and a state of charge of the requesting electric vehicle.

14. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 13, wherein

when the current location is proximal a charging station and the state of charge is not increasing, the usage value of the charging station indicates a waiting time for use of the charging station.

15. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 1, wherein

the usage value is provided as an average waiting time for the charging station.

16. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 1, wherein

the usage value is provided as a waiting probability.

17. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 1, wherein

the usage value is converted into an indication of congestion.

18. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 17, wherein

the indication of congestion is color coded.

19. The method of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 17, wherein

the indication is selected from the group consisting of vacant to indicate no waiting time, rarely occupied to indicate under approximately 10% vacant, slightly congested to indicate under approximately 30% vacant;

relatively crowded to indicate between approximately 30 to approximately 60% vacant and crowded to indicate over approximately 60% crowded.

20. A system of monitoring usage of a charging station, comprising:

a data center including

a data collector configured to collect probe data from a plurality of electric vehicles, the probe data including charging activity history; and

a determination unit configured to determine a usage value associated with a charging station based on the collected probe data; and

a transmitting unit configured to transmit the usage value;

a requesting electric vehicle including

a communication unit configured to receive the usage value associated with the charging station from the transmitting unit; and

a display configured to display the usage value.

21. The system of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 20, wherein

the usage value of the charging station is displayed on a map showing the location of the charging station.

22. The system of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 20, wherein

the determination unit determines a plurality of usage values associated with a plurality of charging stations;

the transmitting unit transmits the plurality of usage values;

the communication unit receives the plurality of usage values; and

the display displays the plurality of usage values.

23. The system of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 22, wherein

the plurality of usage values are displayed on a map showing the locations of the pluralities of charging stations.

24. The system of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 20, wherein

the usage value is converted into an indication of congestion.

25. The system of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 24, wherein

the indication of congestion is color coded.

26. The system of monitoring usage of a charging station according to claim 25, wherein

the indication is selected from the group consisting of vacant to indicate no waiting time, rarely occupied to indicate under approximately 10% vacant, slightly congested to indicate under approximately 30% vacant;

relatively crowded to indicate between approximately 30 to approximately 60% vacant and crowded to indicate over approximately 60% crowded.