APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE SHARING

• US 20170039631A1
• Filed: 08/04/2016
• Published: 02/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Inventors: Wall, Kenneth Edward, Luke, Hok-Sum Horace, Taylor, Matthew Whiting
• Granted Patent: US 11,538,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0645 Rental transactions; Leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• 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 90/167 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]

Abstract

A network of collection and distribution machines may collect, charge and/or distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). Electric vehicles available for sharing, renting or otherwise available for temporary use may be located at such collection and distribution machines or other designated areas. Users may request temporary use of such electric vehicles via a user interface of the collection and distribution machine, the user'"'"'s mobile device or that of the electric vehicle itself. During temporary use, the user may exchange depleted portable electrical energy storage devices of the vehicle being used for charged portable electrical energy storage devices at the collection and distribution machines and may be offered the opportunity to terminate the temporary use session or continue the temporary use session in conjunction with the portable electrical energy storage device exchange.

Claims

1. A method in a system for electric vehicle sharing, the method comprising:

making a determination, by one or more computer processors of a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, whether to release a portable electrical power storage device from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine for use in an electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine for temporary use of the electric vehicle;

sending, by one or more computer processors of the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, a signal, in response to the determination, to release a portable electrical power storage device from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine for use in the electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine;

sending, by one or more computer processors of the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, a signal, in response to the determination, to unlock a portable electrical power storage device compartment in the electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine; and

in response to the sending the signal to unlock the portable electrical power storage device compartment, recording, by one or more computer processors of the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, data indicative that the electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine has been released for temporary use.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by one or more computer processors of a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device is being returned to, an indication whether there is a request for continued temporary use of the electric vehicle; and

in response to the received indication whether there is a request for continued temporary use of the electric vehicle, making a determination, by one or more computer processors of a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device is being returned to, whether to release a charged portable electrical power storage device located inside the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device is being returned to in exchange for the return of the portable electrical power storage device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the making a determination whether to release a portable electrical power storage device includes making a determination whether there is authorized continued temporary use of the electric vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the determination whether there is authorized continued temporary use of the electric vehicle is based on a payment for continued temporary use of the electric vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the determination whether there is authorized continued temporary use of the electric vehicle is based on a current account status that allows for continued temporary use of the electric vehicle.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

prompting, by one or more computer processors of the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device is being returned to, to receive an indication whether continued temporary use of the electric vehicle is desired; and

receiving, by one or more computer processors of the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device is being returned to, the indication whether there is a request for continued temporary use of the electric vehicle in response to the prompting to receive an indication whether continued temporary use of the electric vehicle is desired.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the prompting includes:

in response to an indication that there is a return occurring of the portable electrical power storage device to a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine in the electric vehicle sharing system, causing, by one or more computer processors of the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device is being returned to, a prompt to appear on a user mobile device prompting to receive an indication whether continued temporary use of the electric vehicle is desired.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the indication whether there is a request for continued temporary use of the electric vehicle is received from a user mobile device.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the indication whether there is a request for continued temporary use of the electric vehicle originated from a user mobile device and is received via a remote electric vehicle sharing management system server.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

in response to the received indication whether there is a request for continued temporary use of the electric vehicle, sending a request for authorization of continued temporary use of the electric vehicle to a remote electric vehicle sharing management system server, and wherein the making the determination whether to release a charged portable electrical power storage device is based on an authorization of continued temporary use of the electric vehicle received from the remote electric vehicle sharing management system server in response to the sending of the request for authorization of continued temporary use of the electric vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the making the determination whether to release the portable electrical power storage device from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine includes making a determination to release the portable electrical power storage device from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine in response to an authorization signal received from a remote electric vehicle sharing management system server of the electric vehicle sharing management system to release the portable electrical power storage device from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the making the determination whether to release the portable electrical power storage device from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine includes:

receiving, by one or more computer processors of a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine of the electric vehicle sharing system, a request for temporary use of the electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine;

in response to the request, authenticating, by one or more computer processors of the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, the request for temporary use of the electric vehicle; and

determining whether to release the portable electrical power storage device from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine based on the authentication.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the request for temporary use of the electric vehicle is received from a user mobile device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the request for temporary use of the electric vehicle originated from a user mobile device and is received via a remote electric vehicle sharing management system server.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by one or more computer processors of a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device is being returned to, an indication that there is a request to terminate temporary use of the electric vehicle; and

in response to verification that the portable electrical power storage device has been returned to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device is being returned to, recording, by one or more computer processors of the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, data indicative that the temporary use of the electric vehicle has been terminated.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising verifying that the electric vehicle is in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device has been returned to before the recording the data indicative that the temporary use of the electric vehicle has been terminated.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising, in response to the recording the data indicative that the temporary use of the electric vehicle has been terminated, sending, by the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device has been returned to, a signal causing the electric vehicle to be disabled or locked.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising, in response to the recording the data indicative that the temporary use of the electric vehicle has been terminated, sending, by the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device has been returned to, a signal causing a user account to be charged for the temporary use by the user of the electric vehicle.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine at which the portable electrical power storage device is being returned to is a different portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine of the electric vehicle sharing system than the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine that released the portable electrical power storage device.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to the determination, sending, by one or more computer processors of the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, a signal to enable operation of the electric vehicle for temporary use with the portable electrical power storage device released from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein being in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine is being within short range wireless signal range from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein being in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine is being within about 10 to 20 meters from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine.

23. A system, comprising:

at least one computer processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one computer processor, the at least one memory having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause the at least one computer processor to;

make a determination whether to release a portable electrical power storage device located inside a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine for use in an electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine;

in response to the determination, send a signal to release a portable electrical power storage device from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine for use in the electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine; and

in response to sending the signal to release a portable electrical power storage device from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, record data indicative that the electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine has been released for temporary.

24. The system for electric vehicle sharing of claim 23 wherein the at least one computer processor is a computer processor of a server machine in communication with and located remotely from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine.

25. The system for electric vehicle sharing of claim 23 wherein the at least one computer processor is a computer processor of a mobile device in communication with the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine or an electric vehicle sharing server computer.

26. The system for electric vehicle sharing of claim 23 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one computer processor to detect that the released charged portable electrical power storage device has been removed from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine for use in the electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine before the recordation of data indicative that the electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine has been released for temporary use.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one computer processor to send a signal via a user mobile device to unlock a portable electrical power storage device compartment of the electric vehicle.

28. The system of claim 23 wherein the at least one processor includes at least one processor of a remote server that the computer executable instructions cause to make the determination and at least one processor of a collection, charging and distribution machine that the computer executable instructions cause to send the signal to release the portable electrical power storage device.

29. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause at least one computer processor to:

make a determination whether to release a portable electrical power storage device located inside a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine for use in an electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine;

in response to the determination, send a signal to release a portable electrical power storage device from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine for use in the electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine; and

in response to the determination, send a signal enabling operation of the electric vehicle for temporary use with the portable electrical power storage device released from the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 wherein the determination whether to release the portable electrical power storage device located inside a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine for use in an electric vehicle located in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine is based on a request received via a user mobile device.

31. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one computer processor to:

receive an indication that there is a request to terminate temporary use of the electric vehicle;

in response to the indication there is a request to terminate temporary use of the electric vehicle, verify that the portable electrical power storage device has been returned to a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine;

in response to the indication there is a request to terminate temporary use of the electric vehicle, verify that the electric vehicle has been returned to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine;

in response to the verification that the electric vehicle has been returned to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, record data indicative that the temporary use of the electric vehicle has been terminated; and

based on the received indication that there is a request to terminate temporary use of the electric vehicle and in response to the verification that the portable electrical power storage device and electric vehicle has been returned to a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine, send a signal disabling operation of the electric vehicle.

32. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 31 wherein the verifying that the vehicle has been returned to a portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine includes receiving a periodic beacon sent from the electric vehicle over a short range wireless signal.

33. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 32 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one computer processor to:

monitor a location of electric vehicles at the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine by receiving periodic beacons sent from the electric vehicles in proximity to the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine over a short range wireless signal; and

if a beacon has not been received by the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine from an electric vehicle within a predetermined amount of time and the electric vehicle has not been authorized for temporary use, then send an alert indicating a possible missing electric vehicle.

34. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 wherein the at least one processor includes at least one processor of a remote server that the computer executable instructions cause to make the determination and at least one processor of a collection, charging and distribution machine that the computer executable instructions cause to send the signal to release the portable electrical power storage device.

35. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one computer processor to:

before making the a determination whether to release the portable electrical power storage device, receive a request for temporary use of the electric vehicle;

in response to the request for temporary use of the electric vehicle, retrieve data regarding a driver'"'"'s license or certification associated with the request; and

send a signal to limit a performance characteristic of the electric vehicle based on the retrieved data regarding the driver'"'"'s license or certification.

36. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35 wherein the sending a signal to limit a performance characteristic of the electric vehicle includes sending a signal to limit the performance characteristic of the electric vehicle to not exceed a level equivalent to a level for which use is authorized according to the retrieved data regarding the driver'"'"'s license or user certification.

37. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35 wherein the sending a signal to limit a performance characteristic of the electric vehicle includes sending a signal to limit electric current used by a motor of the electric vehicle such that the performance characteristic of the electric vehicle does not exceed a level equivalent to a level for which use is authorized according to the retrieved data regarding the driver'"'"'s license or user certification.

38. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 37 wherein the level for which use is authorized is a level regarding one or more of:

an engine size and a top speed.

39. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 35 wherein the performance characteristic is torque.

40. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause at least one computer processor to:

grant a request to terminate the temporary use of the electric vehicle based on the electric vehicle being in any authorized area including;

an officially designated parking space beside a sidewalk, along a curb or at a street corner, a designated lane, a parking space in a parking lot, a parking space in a parking garage, a particular building or designated area within a building or a stall in a designated rack.

41. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause at least one computer processor to:

determine a location of the electric vehicle based on GPS signals or other location data sent from a GPS module disposed in the electric vehicle.

42. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause at least one computer processor to:

determine a location of the electric vehicle based on information indicating a last location at which the electric vehicle was returned or parked when terminating a temporary use session of the electric vehicle was terminated.

43. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause at least one computer processor to:

determine a location of the electric vehicle based on image data of the electric vehicle recorded by a user camera or recorded by recording equipment at an authorized area at which the electric vehicle was returned.

44. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 43 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause at least one computer processor to:

grant a request to terminate the temporary use of the electric vehicle based on the image data of the electric vehicle recorded by a user camera or recorded by recording equipment at the authorized area at which the electric vehicle was returned.

45. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause at least one computer processor to:

before making the determination whether to release a portable electrical power storage device located inside the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine for use in the electric vehicle, determine whether the electric vehicle already has a portable electrical power storage device inside the electric vehicle based on information received from the electric vehicle; and

if it is determined that the electric vehicle already has a portable electrical power storage device inside the electric vehicle, then perform one or more of;

communicate an alert to a user mobile device to provide an opportunity to exchange the portable electrical power storage device at the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine; and

display an alert on a user interface of the electric vehicle to provide an opportunity to exchange the portable electrical power storage device at the portable electrical power storage device collection, charging and distribution machine.

46. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause at least one computer processor to:

after sending the signal enabling operation of the electric vehicle for temporary use, determine whether the electric vehicle has traveled outside a determined area; and

based on the determination whether the electric vehicle has traveled outside a determined area, send an alert to a user mobile device or to the electric vehicle indicating that the electric vehicle has traveled outside a determined area.