Electric vehicle charging by adjusting charger current
First Claim
1. A method of charging an electric transit bus at a bus stop which includes a charging station, the electric bus being configured to be charged by the charging station at the bus stop at a first stop and at a second stop subsequent to the first stop, comprising:
- receiving, at a control system associated with the charging station, an operating schedule of the bus from a remote source, the operating schedule including information on both (a) a first layover time and (b) a second layover time, the first layover time being an amount of time the bus is expected to stop at the bus stop during the first stop to allow passengers to embark or disembark the bus, and the second layover time being an amount of time the bus is expected to stop at the bus stop during the second stop to allow passengers to embark or disembark the bus, the first layover time being different from the second layover time;
stopping the bus at the bus stop for the first stop;
calculating, using the control system, a first charge current, wherein the first charge current is a value of electric current that is needed to provide a desired amount of energy to the bus in a time period substantially equal to the first layover time;
charging the bus using the first charge current for a time period substantially equal to the first layover time;
stopping the bus at the bus stop for the second stopcalculating, using the control system, a second charge current, wherein the second charge current is a value of electric current that is needed to provide a desired amount of energy to the bus in a time period substantially equal to the second layover time; and
charging the bus using the second charge current for a time period substantially equal to the second layover time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for charging an electric vehicle at a charging station may include electrically connecting the electric vehicle to the charging station, and determining a desired amount of energy to be provided to the electric vehicle at the charging station. The method may also include determining a layover time of the electric vehicle using a control system associated with the charging station. The layover time may be an amount of time the electric vehicle is expected to be positioned at the charging station. The method may also include calculating a charge current using the control system, wherein the charge current is a value of electric current that is needed to provide the desired amount of energy to the electric vehicle in a time period substantially equal to the layover time. The method may further include charging the electric vehicle using the calculated charge current.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of charging an electric transit bus at a bus stop which includes a charging station, the electric bus being configured to be charged by the charging station at the bus stop at a first stop and at a second stop subsequent to the first stop, comprising:
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receiving, at a control system associated with the charging station, an operating schedule of the bus from a remote source, the operating schedule including information on both (a) a first layover time and (b) a second layover time, the first layover time being an amount of time the bus is expected to stop at the bus stop during the first stop to allow passengers to embark or disembark the bus, and the second layover time being an amount of time the bus is expected to stop at the bus stop during the second stop to allow passengers to embark or disembark the bus, the first layover time being different from the second layover time; stopping the bus at the bus stop for the first stop; calculating, using the control system, a first charge current, wherein the first charge current is a value of electric current that is needed to provide a desired amount of energy to the bus in a time period substantially equal to the first layover time; charging the bus using the first charge current for a time period substantially equal to the first layover time; stopping the bus at the bus stop for the second stop calculating, using the control system, a second charge current, wherein the second charge current is a value of electric current that is needed to provide a desired amount of energy to the bus in a time period substantially equal to the second layover time; and charging the bus using the second charge current for a time period substantially equal to the second layover time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for charging an electric bus at one or more bus stops that each includes a charging station, comprising:
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receiving, at a control system, an operating schedule of the bus from a remote source, the operating schedule including information indicative of (a) a first layover time and (b) a second layover time, the first layover time being an amount of time the bus is scheduled to stop at a bus stop of the one or more bus stops at a first time, and the second layover time being an amount of time the bus is scheduled to stop at a bus stop of the one or more bus stops at a second time, the first layover time being different from the second layover time; stopping the bus at a bus stop of the one or more bus stops at the first time; calculating, using the control system, a first charge current, wherein the first charge current is a value of electric current that is needed to provide a desired amount of energy to the bus in a time period substantially equal to the first layover time; charging the bus using the first charge current for a time period substantially equal to the first layover time; stopping the bus at a bus stop of the one or more bus stops at the second time; calculating, using the control system, a second charge current, wherein the second charge current is a value of electric current that is needed to provide a desired amount of energy to the bus in a time period substantially equal to the second layover time; and charging the bus using the second charge current for a time period substantially equal to the second layover time. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification