Systems and methods for prepaid electric metering for vehicles
First Claim
1. A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle, said method comprising:
- identifying, by an energy point server system, the electric vehicle at an energy delivery point, wherein the electric vehicle is associated with a customer account;
determining, by the energy point server system, a current balance of the customer account, wherein the current balance includes at least a portion of a prepayment amount based on a predetermined amount of energy to be delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point;
delivering energy to the electric vehicle;
metering, by the energy point server system and the electric vehicle, an actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle;
comparing the amount of delivered energy metered by the energy point server system and the electric vehicle;
determining, by the energy point server system, a transaction amount based on a first billing rate for the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point;
determining, by the energy point server system, whether the transaction amount exceeds the current balance of the customer account; and
applying, by the energy point server system, a second billing rate for the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle when the transaction amount exceeds the current balance of the customer account.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle is provided, wherein the electric vehicle is associated with a customer account. The method includes identifying the electric vehicle at an energy delivery point, and determining a current balance of the customer account, wherein the current balance includes at least a portion of a prepayment amount based on a predetermined amount of energy to be delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point. The method also includes delivering energy to the electric vehicle, metering an actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle, and determining a transaction amount based on the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle, said method comprising:
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identifying, by an energy point server system, the electric vehicle at an energy delivery point, wherein the electric vehicle is associated with a customer account; determining, by the energy point server system, a current balance of the customer account, wherein the current balance includes at least a portion of a prepayment amount based on a predetermined amount of energy to be delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point; delivering energy to the electric vehicle; metering, by the energy point server system and the electric vehicle, an actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle; comparing the amount of delivered energy metered by the energy point server system and the electric vehicle; determining, by the energy point server system, a transaction amount based on a first billing rate for the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point; determining, by the energy point server system, whether the transaction amount exceeds the current balance of the customer account; and applying, by the energy point server system, a second billing rate for the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle when the transaction amount exceeds the current balance of the customer account. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for providing energy to an electric vehicle, said system comprising:
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an energy delivery point configured to receive a unique identifier embedded in the electric vehicle, deliver energy to the electric vehicle, meter, by the energy point and the electric vehicle, an actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle, and compare the amount of delivered energy metered by the energy point and the electric vehicle; and a server coupled to said energy delivery point, said server configured to; receive the unique identifier from said energy delivery point; identify the electric vehicle based on the unique identifier, wherein the electric vehicle is associated with a customer account; determine a current balance of the customer account, wherein the current balance includes at least a portion of a prepayment amount associated with a predetermined amount of energy to be delivered to the electric vehicle by said energy delivery point; determine a transaction amount based on a first billing rate for the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle; determine whether the transaction amount exceeds the current balance of the customer account; and apply a second billing rate for the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle when the transaction amount exceeds the current balance of the customer account. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system comprising:
a controller coupled to an energy delivery point and a database, said controller programmed to; receive a unique identifier from the energy delivery point, wherein the unique identifier is acquired by the energy delivery point from an electric vehicle; identify the electric vehicle based on the unique identifier, wherein the electric vehicle is associated with a customer account; determine a current balance of the customer account, wherein the current balance includes at least a portion of a prepayment amount associated with a predetermined amount of energy to be delivered to the electric vehicle by the energy delivery point; receive, from the energy delivery point, an actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle, wherein the amount of energy delivered is metered by the energy delivery point and by the electric vehicle; compare the amount of delivered energy metered at the energy delivery point and at the electric vehicle; determine a transaction amount based on a first billing rate for the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle; determine whether the transaction amount exceeds the current balance of the customer account; and apply a second billing rate for the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle when the transaction amount exceeds the current balance of the customer account. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification