VEHICLE CHARGING STATION

• US 20170028864A1
• Filed: 07/29/2015
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba International Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba International Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Gerhold, Richard Robert, Rayner, Mark Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 10,536,026 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• 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

Abstract

Present embodiments of the disclosure are directed to a zero-footprint charging station for use with vehicles having quick-charge batteries. The disclosed embodiments enable the “quick-charge” power conversion equipment to disappear entirely into a passenger station structure. The passenger station structure may include a structural component of a bus stop (or other vehicle station) that is designed to accommodate passengers waiting to board the bus (or other transportation vehicle). By housing the power conversion electronics within a larger structure that serves a purpose at the vehicle station, the system may enable larger amounts of power electronics to be incorporated into a relatively strong and stable structure conforming to a desired size for the area (e.g., bus stop).

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a passenger station structure for accommodating passengers awaiting a transportation vehicle;

power conversion electronics built into the passenger station structure to convert incoming power from a power source to charging power for charging a battery in the transportation vehicle; and

a charger outlet disposed proximate the passenger station structure and communicatively coupled to the power conversion electronics to transmit the charging power from the power conversion electronics to the battery in the transportation vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power conversion electronics are hidden entirely from view within the passenger station structure and form a part of the passenger station structure used by passengers awaiting the transportation vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the passenger station structure comprises a structural component of a bus station, a light rail station, a school bus stop, a bus stop, a rapid transit station, or a ferry weigh station.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the charger outlet extends from a surface of the passenger station structure.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the charger outlet is physically separate from the passenger station structure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a power grid connection disposed on the passenger station structure for coupling the power conversion electronics to a power grid, a solar panel disposed on the passenger station structure, a battery disposed in the passenger station structure with the power conversion electronics, or a combination thereof.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a controller disposed in the passenger station structure for controlling the power conversion electronics to output the charging power.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the passenger station structure comprises one or more passenger interface components.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the passenger interface components comprise one or more signs for conveying information to passengers, benches for supporting passengers, charge ports for passengers to charge electronic devices, security cameras, lights, emergency signaling components, or a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the passenger interface components are communicatively coupled to the power conversion electronics such that the power conversion electronics are configured to power the passenger interface components.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the power conversion electronics and the charger outlet are configured to quick-charge the battery of the transportation vehicle.

12. A system, comprising:

a transportation vehicle comprising a battery for providing at least partial motive power to the transportation vehicle; and

a transportation vehicle station for receiving the transportation vehicle, comprising;

a passenger station structure for accommodating passengers awaiting the transportation vehicle;

power conversion electronics built into the passenger station structure to convert incoming power from a power source to charging power for charging the battery; and

a charger outlet disposed proximate the passenger station structure and communicatively coupled to the power conversion electronics to transmit the charging power from the power conversion electronics to the battery.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the power conversion electronics are hidden entirely from view within the passenger station structure and form a part of the passenger station structure used by passengers awaiting the transportation vehicle

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the battery of the transportation vehicle comprises a quick-charge battery.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the transportation vehicle comprises a bus, a light rail, a school bus, a rapid transit vehicle, or a ferry.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the passenger station structure comprises one or more passenger interface components, the passenger interface components being communicatively coupled to the power conversion electronics such that the power conversion electronics are configured to power the passenger interface components.

17. A method, comprising:

controlling power conversion electronics housed in a passenger station structure of a transportation vehicle station, the passenger station structure being configured to accommodate passengers awaiting a transportation vehicle;

converting incoming power from a power source to charging power for charging a vehicle battery of the transportation vehicle via the power conversion electronics; and

outputting the charging power from the power conversion electronics to the vehicle battery via a charger outlet disposed proximate the passenger station structure.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising delivering the incoming power to the power conversion electronics from a grid power source, a solar power source, or a battery power source.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing power from the power conversion electronics for operating one or more passenger interface components disposed on the passenger station structure.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising hiding the power conversion electronics at least partially from view within the passenger station structure while enabling passengers to utilize the passenger station structure.