Vehicle equipped for providing solar electric power for off-vehicle use and systems in support thereof

• US 20070170886A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 07/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul Plishner
• Original Assignee: Paul Plishner
• Inventors: Plishner, Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/543,725
• Publication Number:
  US 20070170886A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/104
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/20 characterised by converters located in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/00 Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 8/003 Converting light into electric energy, e.g. by using photo-voltaic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/003 for electricity
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/008 Rewarding for providing delivery of electricity to the network
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/008 involving trading of energy or energy transmission rights
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• 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: 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 vehicle equipped to provide to a docking facility at a home or business structure, electric power derived from solar collectors formed on the surface of the vehicle, and the docking facility for receiving such power. Also provided is a system for providing to the public electric power grid such power received from a plurality of vehicles, and for compensating the owners. Corresponding methods of operation are also provided.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

a docking facility fixed on a premises, establishing an electrical connection to a vehicle parked on the premises; and

the docking facility receiving electric power from the vehicle, conditioning the electric power so as to be useable by a public electric power grid, and providing the conditioned electrical power for use by the public electric power grid or for use on the premises.

2. A method as in claim 1, further comprising the docking facility receiving electrical power from a plurality of vehicles parked on the premises, conditioning the electric power, and providing the conditioned electric power for use by the public electric power grid or for use on the premises.

3. A method as in claim 2, further comprising:

the docking facility receiving from each vehicle information indicating a vehicle account associated with the vehicle to which payment is to be made for the electric power provided by the vehicle, and measuring the electric power provided by the vehicle; and

the docking facility or a third party, communicably coupled to the docking facility, providing compensation to the vehicle account in proportion to the electric power provided by the vehicle.

4. A system, comprising a docking facility fixed on a premises, wherein the docking facility comprises:

means for establishing an electrical connection to a vehicle parked on the premises; and

means for receiving electric power from the vehicle, means for conditioning the electric power so as to be useable by a public electric power grid, and means for providing the conditioned electrical power for use by the public electric power grid or for use on the premises.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein the docking facility is configured to receive electrical power from a plurality of vehicles parked on the premises, to condition the electric power, and to provide the conditioned electric power for use by the public electric power grid or for use on the premises.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein the docking facility further comprises means for receiving from each vehicle information indicating a vehicle account associated with the vehicle to which payment is to be made for the electric power provided by the vehicle, and means for measuring the electric power provided by the vehicle, and wherein the system further comprises means for providing compensation to the vehicle account in proportion to the electric power provided by the vehicle.

7. A system as in claim 6, wherein the means for providing compensation to the vehicle account in proportion to the electric power provided by the vehicle is provided by the docking facility.

8. A system as in claim 6, wherein the system further comprises a third-party facility, and the third-party facility is communicably coupled to the docking facility for receiving the vehicle account and the measured electric power provided by the vehicle, and comprises the means for providing compensation to the vehicle account in proportion to the electric power provided by the vehicle

9. A system, comprising a docking facility fixed on a premises, wherein the docking facility comprises:

a fixed coupler, for establishing an electrical connection to a vehicle parked on the premises; and

a power conditioning unit, for receiving electric power from the vehicle, for conditioning the electric power so as to be useable by a public electric power grid, and for providing the conditioned electrical power for use by the public electric power grid or for use on the premises.

10. A system as in claim 9, wherein the docking facility comprises a plurality of fixed couplers and so is configured to receive electrical power from a plurality of vehicles parked on the premises, to condition the electric power, and to provide the conditioned electric power for use by the public electric power grid or for use on the premises.

11. A system as in claim 10, wherein each fixed coupler is configured to receive from each vehicle information indicating a vehicle account associated with the vehicle to which payment is to be made for the electric power provided by the vehicle, and to measure the electric power provided by the vehicle, and wherein the system further comprises means for providing compensation to the vehicle account in proportion to the electric power provided by the vehicle.

12. A system as in claim 11, wherein the means for providing compensation to the vehicle account in proportion to the electric power provided by the vehicle is provided by the docking facility.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a third-party facility, and the third-party facility is communicably coupled to the docking facility for receiving the vehicle account and the measured electric power provided by the vehicle, and comprises the means for providing compensation to the vehicle account in proportion to the electric power provided by the vehicle.

14. A vehicle suitable for use as transportation, comprising:

a solar collector formed on the surface of a vehicle, for providing electric power; and

an interface, for electrically connecting the vehicle to a fixed coupler situated on a premises, for providing the electric power to the fixed coupler, and also for providing a vehicle account associated with the vehicle and to which payment is to be made for the electric power provided by the vehicle.