Stored energy and charging appliance

• US 8,299,754 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2010
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Webasto SE (Webasto Beteiligungs Verwaltung Gbr)
• Original Assignee: Aerovironment
• Inventors: Hayashigawa, Larry, Conver, Tim, MacCready, Tyler, Zambrano, Thomas, West, Kent Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US12/854,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20110055037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 320/104
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/30 using propulsion power stored mechanically, e.g. in fly-wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/62 charged by low-power generators primarily intended to support the batteries, e.g. range extenders
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• 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 53/51 Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/60 Monitoring or controlling charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/007 Regulation of charging or discharging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/04 Regulation of charging current or voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/34 : Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other dc sources, e.g. providing buffering H02J7/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 : using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 : with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles
• 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 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• 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]

Abstract

A charging system detachably drawing from a power source comprising: (a) an electrical output configuration; (b) an electrical input configuration; and (c) an energy store configuration; and methods of provisioning the energy store, the charging system, and electric vehicle charger devices.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

an electrical input configured to detachably connect to a power source;

an electrical output module configured to charge and detachably connect to an electric vehicle (EV);

an energy store configured to detachably connect to the EV and store power provided by the power source; and

wherein the energy store is configured to store energy supplied from the electrical input having a first power level and the electrical output module is configured to, via the energy store, supply power to the EV at a second power level, wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the output module is further configured to convert direct current from the energy store to alternating current.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the output module is further configured to condition the direct current from the energy store to a higher powered direct current.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the output module is configured to condition the direct current from the energy store to at least one of:

(a) a higher powered direct current and (b) an alternating current.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the energy store comprises a reversible chemical energy store, the energy store comprising a battery, wherein the battery is at least one of:

(a) a lead-acid battery and a lithium-ion battery;

(b) a lithium-ion battery; and

(c) a lead-acid battery.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the energy store comprises a plurality of capacitors.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the energy store comprises a fuel cell.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a processor configured to monitor at least one of current and voltage within at least one circuit of the device.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a processor configured to monitor an energy store level and communicate the monitored energy store level to at least one of:

a display and a wireless transmitter.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrical output module is configured to detach from the device and connect to a power line having a voltage greater than the power source.

11. A method comprising:

providing an apparatus to a subscriber, the apparatus comprising;

an electrical input configured to detachably connect to a power source;

an electrical output module configured to charge and detachably connect to an electric vehicle (EV);

an energy store configured to detachably connect to the EV and store power provided by the power source; and

wherein the energy store is configured to store energy supplied from the electrical input having a first power level and the electrical output module is configured to, via the energy store, supply power to the EV at a second power level, wherein the second power level is greater than the first power level;

determining payment obligations of the subscriber for use of the provided apparatus; and

withdrawing from the subscriber the apparatus based on a termination condition.

12. A method comprising:

providing to a user location a charging system comprising a first charger external to an electric vehicle (EV) and the first charger comprising an energy store, wherein the charging system is configured to store energy supplied from a power source of a first power level and wherein the first charger is configured to supply power to the EV at a second power level greater than the first power level; and

providing at least one of;

(a) the first charger detached from the charging system; and

(b) a second charger configured to charge the EV at a power level greater than the first power level.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of removing from the user location the charging system.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of removing from the user location the charging system without the detached first charger.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of:

transferring possession of the EV to the user.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of transferring possession of the EV to the user comprises at least one of:

(a) possession via a lease instrument;

(b) possession via a bill of sale; and

(c) possession via a bailment.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the charging system is configured to store energy supplied from at least one of:

a 110 VAC power line and a 220 VAC power line.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the charging system is configured to supply power to the EV at least one of:

(a) AC-to-DC charging ranges; and

(b) DC-to-DC charging ranges.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein the first charger comprises an AC-to-DC charging module configured to be detachable from the first charger;

the method further comprising the steps of;

(a) detaching the AC-to-DC charging module from the charging system; and

(b) wiring, proximate to the user location, the detached AC-to-DC charging module to an AC power line.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising the step of removing the charging system from the user location after the AC-to-DC charging module is detached from the first charger.

21. The method of claim 12 wherein the charging system is configured to store energy supplied from an alternating current power source.

22. A method comprising:

providing at a location of charging a charging system external to an electric vehicle (EV), the system an energy store, and wherein in system is configured to be detachably connectable to a first power source and configured for storing energy and comprising a first charger configured for providing power to charge the EV at greater than at least one of;

(a) a power level; and

(b) a recharge rate over time, available to the EV by the EV drawing directly from the first power source at the location of charging; and

providing at the location of charging a second power source, and at least one of;

(a) the first charger detached from the charging system; and

(b) a second charger, the second charger configured to charge the EV at greater than at least one of;

(a) a power level; and

(b) a recharge rate over time, available via the EV drawing directly from the first power source at the location of charging.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising purchasing the electric vehicle to be charged at the location of charging.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising leasing the electric vehicle to be charged at the location of charging.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising removing from the location of charging the charging system after the second charger is provided.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein the charging system comprises a charging module comprising the first charger, a processor and addressable memory, the charging module configured to be detachable from the charging system;

the method further comprising the steps of;

(a) detaching the charging module from the first charger;

(b) providing the detached charging module; and

(c) wiring the charging module to an AC power line proximate to the location of charging.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of removing the charging system from the location of charging after the charging module is detached from the first charger.

28. A charging system comprising:

a first charger comprising an energy store, the first charger detachably connected to an electric vehicle (EV), and wherein the charging system is configured to store energy supplied from a power source of a first power level and wherein the first charger is configured to, via the energy store, supply power to an EV at a second power level greater than the first power level.

29. A charging system of claim 28 further comprising a second charger configured to charge the EV at a power level greater than the first power level.

30. The charging system of claim 28 wherein the first charger is further configured to convert direct current from the energy store to alternating current.

31. The charging system of claim 28 wherein the first charger is further configured to condition the direct current from the energy store to a higher powered direct current.

32. The charging system of claim 28 wherein the first charger is configured to condition the direct current from the energy store to at least one of:

(a) a higher powered direct current and (b) an alternating current.

33. The charging system of claim 28 wherein the energy store comprises a reversible chemical energy store, the energy store comprising a battery, wherein the battery is at least one of:

(a) a lead-acid battery and a lithium-ion battery;

(b) a lithium-ion battery; and

(c) a lead-acid battery.

34. The charging system of claim 28 wherein the energy store comprises one or more modules disposed on a heat sinking surface, each module comprising a reversible chemical energy store, the energy store comprising a battery, wherein the battery is at least one of:

(a) a lead-acid battery and a lithium-ion battery;

(b) a lithium-ion battery; and

(c) a lead-acid battery.

35. A charging system connected to a power source, the charging system external to an electric vehicle and detachably connectable to the electric vehicle, and wherein the power source is capable of providing sufficient power to charge the electric vehicle in a first period of time, comprising:

an energy store electrically connected to the power source, such that the energy store can store power provided by the power source;

a charger electrically connected to the energy store, wherein the charger is capable of providing sufficient power, via the energy store, to charge the electric vehicle in a second period of time; and

wherein the second period of time is shorter than the first period of time.

36. The charging system of claim 35 wherein the energy store comprises a reversible chemical energy store, the energy store comprising a battery, wherein the battery is at least one of:

(a) a lead-acid battery and a lithium-ion battery;

(b) a lithium-ion battery; and

(c) a lead-acid battery.

37. The charging system of claim 35 wherein the energy store comprises one or more modules disposed on a heat sinking surface, each module comprising a reversible chemical energy store, the energy store comprising a battery, wherein the battery is at least one of:

(a) a lead-acid battery and a lithium-ion battery;

(b) a lithium-ion battery; and

(c) a lead-acid battery.

38. The charging system of claim 35 wherein the power source provides power at least one of:

between about 110 volts and 120 volts or about 120 volts and about 16 amps or about that of a common United States grounded household receptacle or about 16.8 kW or alternating current, and the charger is capable of providing power to the electric vehicle at least one of;

a voltage between about 208 volts and 240 volts or between about 208 volts and 240 volts and between about 12 amps and about 80 amps or between more than 16.8 kW and about 44 kW or alternating current.

39. The charging system of claim 35 wherein the power source provides power at least one of:

a voltage between about 208 volts and 240 volts or between about 208 volts and 240 volts and between about 12 amps and about 80 amps or between more than 16.8 kW and about 44 kW or alternating current, and the charger is capable of providing power to the electric vehicle at least one of;

a voltage between about 300 and 500 volts or a voltage of about 480 volts or a current at about up to 400 amps or about 62.5 kW or direct current.