Harnessing heat during electric vehicle charging

• US 9,260,025 B1
• Filed: 03/18/2015
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proterra Operating Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proterra AG
• Inventors: McGrath, Seamus Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): DIAO, M BAYE
• Application Number:
  US14/661,060
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 320/109, 701/22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/302 Cooling of charging equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 15/00 Other domestic- or space-heating systems
• CPC Class Codes: F24D 2200/29 Electrical devices, e.g. computers, servers
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 3/022 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/0063 in air channels
• 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 90/167 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

A method of operating an electric vehicle charging station. The charging station may include a console housing components configured to receive current from an electric grid and convert the current to a form adapted to be received by the electric vehicle. The method may include transferring heat from the components in the console to air flowing through the console to form heated air, and directing the heated air from the console into a duct fluidly coupled to the console. The method may further include exhausting the heated air from the duct to a location remote from the console.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electric vehicle charging station, the charging station including a console housing components configured to receive current from an electric grid and convert the current to a form adapted to be received by the electric vehicle, comprising:

transferring heat from the components in the console to air flowing through the console to form heated air;

directing the heated air from the console into a duct fluidly coupled to the console; and

exhausting the heated air from the duct to a location remote from the console.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location remote from the console is located at a distance greater than or equal to about 5 feet away from the console.

3. The method of claim 1, further including electrically connecting an electric vehicle to the charging station, wherein exhausting the heated air includes exhausting the heated air proximate a charging interface of the electric vehicle to heat the charging interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein exhausting the heated air includes at least one of (a) exhausting the heated air proximate an open door of the electric vehicle, and (b) exhausting the heated air at a passenger waiting area of the charging station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein exhausting the heated air includes using the heated air to heat a curb area proximate the electric vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further including electrically connecting a charging interface on a roof of an electric bus with an overhanging charging head assembly of the charging station.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein exhausting the heated air includes exhausting the heated air into the charging head assembly.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the heated air from the console includes transferring heat from the heated air to a liquid at a heat exchanger.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the heated air includes directing the heated air through a duct located below ground.

10. A method of operating a charging station of an electric bus,

the charging station including a console housing one or more components configured to convert AC current from an electric grid to DC current for the electric vehicle and a charge head assembly configured to electrically couple with the electric bus, comprising:

transferring heat from the one or more components in the console to a coolant flowing through the console; and

directing the coolant to a location remote from the console to dissipate the heat at the location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the location remote from the console is located at a distance greater than or equal to about 5 feet away from the console.

12. The method of claim 10, further including connecting a charging interface of the electric bus to the charge head assembly, and using the dissipated heat to heat the charging interface of the bus.

13. The method of claim 10, further including using the dissipated heat to heat the charge head assembly of the charging station.

14. The method of claim 10, further including using the dissipated heat to heat a curb area proximate the bus.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the coolant is air, and wherein directing the coolant includes directing the coolant through a duct extending between the console and the location remote from the console.

16. A charging station for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a charging head assembly configured to interface and form an electrical connection with an electric vehicle;

a console electrically coupled to the charging head assembly, the console housing components configured to receive current from an electric grid and convert the current to a form that may be received by the electric vehicle, the console further being configured to direct a flow of air therethrough to absorb heat from the components and form heated air; and

a duct connected to the console to receive the heated air from the console and discharge the heated air to a location remote from the console.

17. The charging station of claim 16, wherein the duct is configured to discharge the heated air at a location greater than or equal to about 5 feet away from the console.

18. The charging station of claim 16, wherein the electric vehicle is a bus and the console includes a rectifier configured to convert AC current to DC current.

19. The charging head of claim 16, wherein the duct is configured to discharge the heated air on the charging head assembly.

20. The charging head of claim 16, wherein the duct is configured to discharge the heated air on the electric vehicle.