METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR CHARGING OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• US 20160339793A1
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Published: 11/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zeco Systems Pte Ltd. (Shell Plc)
• Original Assignee: Zeco Systems Pte Ltd. (Shell Plc)
• Inventors: Khoo, Lin-Zhuang, Mahabir, Ron, Siew, Terence, Noma, Renaldo, Jhanji, Neeraj
• Granted Patent: US 10,185,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/58 Departure time prediction
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/32 of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• 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 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• 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: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 : Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 : Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 : Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 : Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/24 : Credit schemes, i.e. "pay after"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/409 : Device specific authentication in transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0206 : Price or cost determination based on market factors
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 : Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 : Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 : Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/144 : on portable or mobile units, e.g. personal digital assistant [PDA]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 : Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2220/20 : Batteries in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 : for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 : the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 : Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/20 : Repeater circuits; Relay circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 : for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• 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 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 method for managing the charging of an electric vehicle is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for a charge transfer for an electric vehicle over a network link between an electric vehicle charging station and a cloud server. The network link has a mobile device disposed between the electrical vehicle charging station and the cloud server for facilitating communication between the charging station and the cloud server. The method further including authorizing the charge transfer request received at the cloud server using identification information and credit account information received from the mobile device; and sending, from the cloud server, a response enabling the charge transfer from the electric vehicle charging station to the electric vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a charging of an electric vehicle using an electric vehicle charging station, a mobile device, and a cloud server, the method comprising:

transmitting, from the electric vehicle charging station, a charge transfer request for an electric vehicle to the mobile device, wherein the electric vehicle charging station does not transmit a charge transfer request for an electric vehicle to the cloud server without relaying through the mobile device;

receiving, at the mobile device, the charge transfer request for the electric vehicle over a network link from the electric vehicle charging station, wherein a user of the mobile device is associated with the electric vehicle to be charged;

relaying, from the mobile device, the charge transfer request for the electric vehicle to the cloud server, wherein the charge transfer request relayed from the mobile device includes identification information and funding credit account information;

authorizing the charge transfer request received at the cloud server using the identification information and credit account information received from the mobile device; and

sending, from the cloud server, a response enabling the charge transfer from the electric vehicle charging station to the electric vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a component or module of the electric vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating credit card information based on the request for the charge transfer.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises an identification that specifies at least one of the following:

the electric vehicle charging station, the mobile device, the cloud server, a user, a vehicle, a utility account, and a communicating meter or communicating meter network.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving the identification from the electric vehicle charging station;

checking the identification against a plurality of available identifications to determine whether the identification is valid;

generating an access key if it is determined that the identification is valid; and

sending the access key to the electric vehicle charging station.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the access key is randomly generated.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the identification is received from the electric vehicle.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

associating the identification with one or more charging parameters; and

sending the charging parameters along with the response.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the charging parameters comprise at least one of the following:

a cable rating, a duty cycle for a charging current, a length of time for charging an electric vehicle, a threshold level for aggregate electrical consumption, a threshold level for instantaneous electrical consumption, a maximum allowable charge rate, a microgrid rating, a plug rating;

a price of electricity, a protection fuse rating, a quantity of electricity stored within a microgrid, a specific time for completing charging an electric vehicle, a total cost of charging an electric vehicle, an operational limit set by a utility, an option for econocharging, and an option for using green energy.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the response comprises an access key for enabling the charge transfer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the access key is randomly generated.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining whether the access key is valid or not.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising providing power to the electric vehicle if it is determined that the access key is valid.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the response comprises one or more charging parameters.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the charging parameters comprise at least one of the following:

a cable rating, a duty cycle for a charging current, a length of time for charging an electric vehicle, a threshold level for aggregate electrical consumption, a threshold level for instantaneous electrical consumption, a maximum allowable charge rate, a microgrid rating, a plug rating, a price of electricity, a protection fuse rating, a quantity of electricity stored within a microgrid, a specific time for completing charging an electric vehicle, a total cost of charging an electric vehicle, an operational limit set by a utility, an option for econocharging, and an option for using green energy.

16. A method for controlling a charging of an electric vehicle using an electric vehicle charging station, a mobile device, and a cloud server, the method comprising:

sending, from the mobile device, a charge transfer request for the electric vehicle over a network link to the cloud server, wherein a user of the mobile device is associated with the electric vehicle to be charged, wherein the charge transfer request from the mobile device includes identification information and credit account information; and

authorizing the charge transfer request received at the cloud server using the identification information and credit account information received from the mobile device; and

receiving, from the cloud server, a response enabling the charge transfer from the electric vehicle charging station to the electric vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the mobile device is a component or module of the electric vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the request is sent by a cloud server to an electric vehicle charging station.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising validating credit card information based on the request for the charge transfer.

20. A method for controlling a charging of an electric vehicle using an electric vehicle charging station, a mobile device, and a cloud server, the method comprising:

receiving a charge transfer request, at a mobile device, for an electric vehicle, wherein the mobile device is a component of the electric vehicle and communicates using Bluetooth, near-field communication, Wi-Fi, or combinations thereof;

sending, from the mobile device, a charge transfer request for the electric vehicle over a network link to the cloud server, wherein a user of the mobile device is associated with the electric vehicle to be charged, wherein the charge transfer request from the mobile device includes identification information and credit account information;

receiving the charge transfer request from the mobile device at the cloud server;

authorizing the charge transfer request received at the cloud server using the identification information and credit account information received from the mobile device; and

receiving, from the cloud server, a response enabling the charge transfer from the electric vehicle charging station to the electric vehicle.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the mobile device is a component or module of the electric vehicle.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein over the single networked link comprises a wireless connection.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein receiving the request comprises receiving a signal over an audio jack.

24. A system for controlling a charging of an electric vehicle, the system comprising:

a cloud server;

an electric vehicle charging station; and

a mobile device disposed between the electric vehicle charging station and the cloud server, wherein the mobile device relays communication from the electric vehicle charging station to the cloud server, and wherein the electric vehicle charging station is unable to transmit a charge transfer request for an electric vehicle to the cloud server without relaying through the mobile device, wherein the charge transfer request relayed from the mobile device includes identification information and credit account information;

wherein the charge transfer request received at the cloud server is authorized using the identification information and credit account information received from the mobile device; and

wherein the cloud server sends a response enabling the charge transfer from the electric vehicle charging station to the electric vehicle.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the mobile device is a component of an electric vehicle.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the network link further comprises a wireless connection between the mobile device and the charging station.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the mobile device connects to the charging station via a docking station.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the mobile device is a cell phone.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the mobile device uses a telematics platform to communicate with the cloud server.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein the mobile device comprises a mobile application for communicating with the cloud server, the charging station or both.

31. A method for controlling a charge transfer of an electric vehicle using an electric vehicle charging station, a mobile device, and a cloud server, the method comprising:

transmitting, from the electric vehicle charging station, a message regarding an electric vehicle to the mobile device, wherein the electric vehicle charging station is unable to transmit a message to the cloud server without relaying through the mobile device;

relaying, from the mobile device, the message regarding the electric vehicle to the cloud server, wherein the message relayed from the mobile device includes identification information and credit account information;

authorizing a charging control signal using the identification information and credit account information received from the mobile device;

receiving the charging control signal from the cloud server via the mobile device over a single networked link at the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the charging control signal is configured to enable or disable the charge transfer; and

enabling or disabling the charge transfer based on the charging control signal.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the single networked link comprises a wireless connection between the cell phone and the charging station.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the single networked link comprises a connection over an audio jack between the cell phone and the charging station.

34. A method for controlling a charge transfer of an electric vehicle using an electric vehicle charging station, a mobile device, and a cloud server, the method comprising:

transmitting, from the electric vehicle charging station, a message regarding an electric vehicle to the mobile device, wherein the electric vehicle charging station is unable to transmit a message to the cloud server without relaying through the mobile device;

relaying, from the mobile device, the message regarding the electric vehicle to the cloud server, wherein the message relayed from the mobile device includes identification information and credit account information;

authorizing a charging control signal at an electricity metering network using the identification information and credit account information received from the mobile device;

receiving the charging control signal from the cloud server at the mobile device;

sending the charging control signal from the mobile device to the electric vehicle charging station over a single networked link between the electric vehicle charging station and the mobile device, wherein the charging control signal is configured to enable or disable the charge transfer; and

receiving a response from the electric vehicle charging station that the charge transfer has been enabled or disabled.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the charging control signal is based on a communication with a grid utility.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the single networked link comprises a wireless connection between the cell phone and the charging station.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein a user inputs instructions and data into the mobile device over a user interface on the mobile device.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein a user interface on the mobile device provides charging information related to a charge transfer, including a length of a time period until a user'"'"'s charge transfer is complete, whether any complications occurred in a charging process, a current cost of a charging transaction, or combinations thereof.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein a user accesses a charging space by communicating with a charging station using the mobile device which is connected via a wireless connection.