Method and system for charging of electric vehicles according to user defined prices and price off-sets

• US 8,154,246 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2009
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Itron, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Comverge Incorporated (Itron, Inc.)
• Inventors: Heitmann, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Borissov, Igor
• Application Number:
  US12/363,242
• Time in Patent Office: 1,166 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 320/155, 320/137, 705/400, 180/65.1, 180/65.21, 237/5
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• 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: 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 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A method and system provides for the charging of electric vehicles according to user defined parameters. The method and system can include an enhanced thermostat, personal computer, and/or an electric vehicle charger which can receive various user defined vehicle charging parameters such as an initial price set point at which to start the charging of an electric vehicle. Another charging parameter can include one or more price offsets relative to the initial set point that can be provided by a user or generated by a computer program. The price offsets allow charging of an electric vehicle at prices above the desired initial price set point when the time remaining to charge an electric vehicle has diminished and the desired initial price set point has not been reached by the energy market. The price offsets can be assigned according to predetermined increments of time, such as an on an hourly basis.

Claims

1. A system for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:

an apparatus for receiving input comprising one or more vehicle charging parameters, the apparatus comprising a first wireless communication device for transmitting the vehicle charging parameters in a wireless manner, at least one vehicle charging parameter comprising a price offset that is associated with charging the electric vehicle, the price offset defining a cost threshold that is applied against a current price level for electricity and which is used by a smart charger to initiate charging of the electric vehicle, the price offset prohibiting any charge of the electric vehicle if the current price level for electricity is not within a range defined by an initial price set point and the price offset, the apparatus supporting a user interface for allowing adjustment of the price offset; and

an electric vehicle comprising a second wireless communication device and the smart charger for receiving the vehicle charging parameters and using the vehicle charging parameters for controlling electricity which is fed into an energy storage unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a personal computer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein personal computer has an electronic calendar which receives scheduling signals from the smart charger.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the smart charger executes a charging program that monitors energy price levels from one or more regional transmission offices.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the electric vehicle comprises a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the vehicle charging parameters further comprise one of a price point in which charging of the electric vehicle can be started, a time needed to achieve a certain level of charge for the energy storage unit, and a current price level indicating a current price of electricity.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a smart thermostat.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the smart charger executes a charging program that monitors energy price levels from one or more regional transmission offices.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the electric vehicle comprises a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle charging parameters comprise one of a price point in which charging of the electric vehicle can be started, a time needed to achieve a certain level of charge for the energy storage unit, and a market signal indicating a current price of the signal.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle charging parameters further comprise a charge rate offset that may increase a charging rate for the smart charger.

12. A computer implemented method for recharging an electric vehicle comprising:

receiving by a processor one or more price offsets;

receiving by the processor an initial price set point for starting an electric charge for the electric vehicle;

calculating by the processor an amount of time needed to achieve a predetermined desired state of charge;

monitoring market signals with the processor for energy prices which are at or below the initial price set point;

if an energy price falls below the initial price set point, initiating with the processor charging of the energy storage unit of the electric vehicle;

if an energy price is above the initial price set point, then applying a price offset to the initial price set point with the processor, each price offset being associated with charging the electric vehicle, each price offset defining a cost threshold that is applied against a current price level for electricity and which may be used by a smart charger to initiate charging of the electric vehicle, the price offset prohibiting any charge of the electric vehicle if the current price level for electricity is not within a range defined by the initial price set point and the price offset; and

receiving by the processor one or more adjustments to at least one of the price offsets.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the one or more price offsets are received with a processor of one of a computer and a thermostat.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining with a processor if enough time exists to charge the electric vehicle.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining with a processor if uploading energy from the energy storage unit is advantageous to an operator of the electric vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising accessing an electronic calendar with a processor and scheduling use of the electric vehicle.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein monitoring market signals with the processor for energy prices which are at or below the initial price set point is performed by a processor of a smart charger.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the electric vehicle comprises a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV).

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising receiving with a processor one of a price point in which charging of the electric vehicle can be started, and a time needed to achieve a certain level of charge for the energy storage unit.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving with a processor a charge rate offset that may increase a charging rate for the smart charger.