Charging service vehicles with battery and generator sources

• US 9,007,020 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2012
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engie Storage Services NA LLC (ENGIE SA)
• Original Assignee: Green Charge Networks LLC (ENGIE SA)
• Inventors: Prosser, Ronald D., Taddeo, Stephen R., Israel, Stephen P., Edgar, David L., Allendorph, Carl J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, SUN J
• Application Number:
  US13/480,388
• Publication Number:
  US 20120299544A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 320/104, 320/107, 320/109
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/36 Vehicles designed to transport cargo, e.g. trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/00 Methods of charging batteries, specially adapted for electric vehicles; Charging stations or on-board charging equipment therefor; Exchange of energy storage elements in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/57 Charging stations without connection to power networks
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/21 having the same nominal voltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2207/40 adapted for charging from various sources, e.g. AC, DC or multivoltage
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• 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 30/12 Remote or cooperative charging

Abstract

Charging service vehicles with battery and generator sources are disclosed. The service vehicle is a vehicle having electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment, removably mounted battery module(s) or a battery module connection point, and an alternator or generator transported by the vehicle. The alternator or generator is configured to provide power to the battery module or to the charging equipment. Battery modules used may be quick-disconnecting or have their discharge monitored and controlled by an onboard controller device, and in some cases are automotive SLI batteries. Some embodiments have connection points that can be configured as charging points to recharge battery modules on the vehicle or as discharging points to provide power to the EV charging equipment. These features are beneficial to extend the utility of batteries in a service vehicle, provide additional power for EV charging, and to efficiently utilize vehicle electronics and generation capability.

Claims

1. A service vehicle comprising:

a vehicle;

electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment transported by the vehicle;

at least one battery module connection point configured to receive a battery module, wherein the battery module can be removably mounted to the at least one battery module connection point, transported by the vehicle, and electrically connected to the EV charging equipment as a source of electrical energy for the EV charging equipment, and wherein the EV charging equipment is configured to provide charge to an EV from a battery module connected to the battery module connection point; and

an alternator/generator transported by the vehicle, the alternator/generator configured to provide power to the battery module connection point.

2. The service vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery module removably mounted to the battery module connection point.

3. The service vehicle of claim 2, wherein the battery module is quick-disconnectable such that power lines to the battery module are de-energized or disconnected when the battery module is prepared to be removed from the battery module connection point.

4. The service vehicle of claim 2, further comprising:

an onboard controller device configured to measure and monitor the EV charging equipment and the battery module.

5. The service vehicle of claim 4, wherein the onboard controller device is further configured to control operation of the EV charging equipment, a power connection to the battery module or the battery module connection point, and an output of the alternator/generator.

6. The service vehicle of claim 1, wherein the alternator/generator is configured to recharge a battery module while the battery module is mounted to the battery module connection point.

7. The service vehicle of claim 6, wherein the alternator/generator is powered by a motive engine or motor of the vehicle.

8. The service vehicle of claim 7, further comprising:

a battery module removably mounted to the battery module connection point, wherein the battery module is an automotive Starting/Lighting/Ignition (SLI) battery.

9. The service vehicle of claim 8, wherein the battery module is recharged by the alternator/generator through a power converter.

10. The service vehicle of claim 6, further comprising:

a battery module removably mounted to the battery module connection point, wherein the battery module is quick-disconnectable such that power lines to the battery module are de-energized or disconnected when the battery module is manually removable from the battery module connection point.

11. The service vehicle of claim 1, wherein the alternator/generator provides power to the EV charging equipment along a power line separate from a power line providing power from the alternator/generator to the battery module connection point.

12. The service vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage compartment configured to store additional battery modules, wherein the alternator/generator is configured to provide power to battery modules stored in the storage compartment.

13. The service vehicle of claim 1, wherein the EV charging equipment is integrated with or affixed to a body portion of the vehicle.

14. The service vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a grid connection port electrically connected to the battery module connection point such that a battery module connected to the battery module connection point is charged by an electrical utility distribution grid when an electrical connection is established between the grid connection port and the electrical utility distribution grid.

15. A service vehicle comprising:

a vehicle;

electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment transported by the vehicle;

at least one battery module removably mounted to and transported by the vehicle, the battery module electrically connected to the EV charging equipment as a source of electrical energy for the EV charging equipment such that the EV charging equipment can provide charge to an EV from the battery module; and

an alternator/generator transported by the vehicle, the alternator/generator configured to provide power to the EV charging equipment.

16. The service vehicle of claim 15, wherein the alternator/generator is powered by a motive engine of the vehicle.

17. The service vehicle of claim 15, wherein the battery module and the alternator/generator are configured to provide power to the EV charging equipment simultaneously.

18. The service vehicle of claim 15, wherein the battery module is an automotive Starting/Lighting/Ignition (SLI) battery.

19. A service vehicle comprising:

a vehicle;

a battery module connection point on the vehicle, the battery module connection point being selectively configurable as a charging connection point or a discharging connection point;

an alternator/generator transported by the vehicle, the alternator/generator configured to provide power to the battery module connection point if the connection point is configured as a charging connection point; and

electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment transported by the vehicle, the EV charging equipment configured to use the battery module connection point as an energy source to provide charge to an EV if the battery module connection point is configured as a discharging connection point.

20. The service vehicle of claim 19, further comprising a battery module removably mounted to the battery module connection point.