CHARGING STATION FOR ELECTRIC AND PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLES

• US 20090287578A1
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dave Wilson, Michael Adam Paluszek, Pradeep Bhatta, Stephanie Thomas
• Original Assignee: Dave Wilson, Michael Adam Paluszek, Pradeep Bhatta, Stephanie Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, Stephanie, Paluszek, Michael Adam, Wilson, Dave, Bhatta, Pradeep
• Application Number:
  US12/468,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/34 of parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0069 relating to the isolation, e.g. ground fault or leak current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/31 Charging columns specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/127 Shopping or accessing services according to a time-limitation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/204 comprising interface for record bearing medium or carrier for electronic funds transfer or payment credit
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0014 for vending, access and use of specific services not covered anywhere else in G07F17/00 meter-controlled dispensing of liquid, gas or electricity G07F15/00
• 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 30/14 Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

This invention is a pay charging station for electric and plugin hybrid vehicles. A vehicle parks at a space with the charging station and uses a credit card, debit card, cash, smart card or network connection to a database like EZ-Pass to pay for the space and the electricity. The station automatically charges the vehicle as long as it is connected to the station. The station automatically stops charging when the vehicle is fully charged. The customer only pays for the space and the electricity consumed. If the charging circuit is broken the customer must reinsert the smart card or credit card to restart charging. Sufficient funds are removed from the payment method on initiation of charging. Any money not used for charging is returned to the funding account upon the user reinserting the smart card, credit card or debit card, or cash change is returned if cash was the method of payment.

Claims

1. A pay charging station for electric and plugin hybrid vehicles, the charging station comprising:

a case for containing and protecting components of the charging station;

a display for presenting status information to a user;

a smart card reader and associated smart card input slot;

a credit or debit card reader and associated credit or debit card input slot;

a paper money collector and associated paper money input slot;

a coin collector and associated coin input slot, the coin collector further connected to a button for the user to request return of change, and to a coin return chute;

a keypad for the user to input information, the keypad being in communication with a computer processor and associated memory, the processor operatively in communication with the display, the smart card reader, the credit or debit card reader, the paper money collector, the coin collector, the button and the keypad; and

a plug system for charging an electric or plugin hybrid vehicle;

wherein the processor and memory are configured to

accept payment information from the smart card reader, the credit or debit card reader, the paper money collector, the coin collector, or the keypad and button,

when necessary, communicate via a communication interface with a network to authorize charges; and

when payment has been made, provide charging power to the plug system for charging the electric or hybrid vehicle.

2. The pay charging station according to claim 1, in which the station can provide charging power for a different vehicle using the station without inserting a new payment means.

3. The pay charging station according to claim 1, wherein the communications interface uses wireless connectivity.

4. The pay charging station according to claim 1, further comprising the processor communicating with one or more payment databases.

5. The pay charging station according to claim 1, wherein the user can input online account information for payment.

6. The pay charging station according to claim 1, wherein the processor can communicate with a vehicle via the charging plug system.

7. The pay charging station according to claim 1, wherein the processor communicates with a vehicle through a wireless connection.

8. The pay charging station according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to return deposited cash when the user inputs a valid personal identification number (PIN).

9. The pay charging station according to claim 1, wherein a smart card with a built-in computer processor can be used for payment.

10. The pay charging station according to claim 1, that can utilize a credit or debit card for payment.

11. The pay charging station according to claim 1, further comprising an EZ-Pass reader in communication with the processor, wherein an EZ-Pass account is used for payment.

12. The pay charging station according to claim 1, in which multiple wireless power connectors are controlled by the processor.

13. The pay charging station according to claim 1, in which multiple wired power connectors are controlled by the processor.