NETWORK-CONTROLLED CHARGING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

• US 20110148356A1
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chargepoint, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Coulomb Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Baxter, Dave, Mandal, Praveen, Bhade, Harjinder, Lowenthal, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,138,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/109
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/627 by WLAN
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/67 Controlling two or more charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/68 Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 55/00 Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00017 using optical fiber
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00024 by means of mobile telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00026 involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi, ZigBee or Bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/48 for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/322 the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00045 Authentication, i.e. circuits for checking compatibility between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 : characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• 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 10/72 : Electric energy management in electromobility
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/221 : General power management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A network-controlled charge transfer device for electric vehicles includes a control device to turn electric supply on and off to enable and disable charge transfer for electric vehicles, a transceiver to communicate requests for charge transfer with a remote server and receive communications from the remote server, and a controller, coupled with the control device and the transceiver, to cause the control device to turn the electric supply on based on communication from the remote server.

Claims

1. A network-controlled charge transfer device for electric vehicles, comprising:

a control device to turn electric supply on and off to enable and disable charge transfer for electric vehicles;

a transceiver to communicate requests for charge transfer with a remote server and receive communications from the remote server; and

a controller, coupled with the control device and the transceiver, to cause the control device to turn the electric supply on based on communication from the remote server.

2. The network-controlled charge transfer device of claim 1, further comprising an electrical coupler to make a connection with an electric vehicle, wherein the control device is to turn electric supply on and off by switching the electric coupler on and off.

3. The network-controlled charge transfer device of claim 2, wherein the electric coupler is an outlet.

4. The network-controlled charge transfer device of claim 1, further comprising:

a device to measure electricity used during charge transfer.

5. The network-controlled charge transfer device of claim 1, further comprising:

a current measuring device to measure current flowing through the network-controlled charge transfer device during charge transfer.

6. The network-controlled charge transfer device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate power consumed during charge transfer.

7. The network-controlled charge transfer device of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication device coupled with the controller, the communication device to receive the requests for charge transfer.

8. The network-controlled charge transfer device of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is to communicate requests for charge transfer with the remote server via a data control unit that is connected to the remote server through a wide area network.

9. The network-controlled charge transfer device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further to manage charge transfer based on power grid load data received from the remote server.

10. The network-controlled charge transfer device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further to manage charge transfer based on profiles associated with electric vehicle operators, wherein each profile associated with a particular electric vehicle operator indicates whether that electric vehicle operator wants to charge their electric vehicle only during periods of lower power rates.

11. A method in a network-controlled charge transfer device for electric vehicles, comprising:

receiving a first request for charge transfer for a first electric vehicle;

communicating the first request to a remote server for determination of whether to enable charge transfer; and

responsive to receiving communication from the remote server to enable charge transfer, enabling charge transfer for the first electric vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

responsive to detecting completion of the charge transfer, disabling charge transfer for the first electric vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein disabling charge transfer for the first electric vehicle includes causing a control device of the network-controlled charge transfer device to turn off an electric supply.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving information that indicates whether an electric vehicle operator wants to charge their electric vehicle only during periods of lower power rates;

receiving a second request for charge transfer for a second electric vehicle, the second request being received from the electric vehicle operator of the second electric vehicle;

responsive to determining a period of lower power rates exist, enabling charge transfer for the second electric vehicle; and

responsive to determining a period of higher power rates exist, disabling charge transfer for the second electric vehicle.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein enabling charge transfer for the first electric vehicle includes causing a control device of the network-controlled charge transfer device to turn on an electric supply.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

measuring electricity used during charge transfer.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

measuring current being transferred during the charge transfer.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining a running total of charge transferred between the first electric vehicle and a power grid.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

responsive to receiving communication from the remote server to disable charge transfer for the first electric vehicle, disabling charge transfer for the first electric vehicle.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the first request is received from an operator of the first electric vehicle.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein communicating the first request to the remote server includes communicating the first request to a data control unit that is connected to the remote server through a wide area network.

22. A method in a server of a network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles, the method comprising:

receiving a request for charge transfer for an electric vehicle at a network-controlled charge transfer device;

determining whether to enable charge transfer; and

responsive to determining to enable charge transfer, transmitting a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer device to enable charge transfer.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein determining whether to enable charge transfer includes validating a payment source for the charge transfer.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a load reduction requirement; and

transmitting a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer device to limit charge transfer.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator;

receiving a message that indicates a period of high electricity demand;

determining that the electric vehicle operator does not want to charge the electric vehicle during periods of high electricity demand; and

transmitting a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer device to stop charge transfer.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator;

receiving a message that indicates a period of high electricity demand;

determining that the electric vehicle operator is willing to sell energy stored in the electric vehicle to a local power grid coupled with the network-controlled charge transfer device; and

communicating to the network-controlled charge transfer device to enable charge transfer from the electric vehicle to the local power grid.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator, and wherein determining whether to enable charge transfer includes performing the following:

accessing a profile associated with the electric vehicle operator, wherein the profile indicates whether that electric vehicle operator wants to charge their electric vehicle only during periods of lower power rates; and

responsive to determining a period of lower power rates exist, determining to enable charge transfer.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator; and

transmitting information to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates whether the electric vehicle operator wants to charge their electric vehicle only during periods of lower power rates to enable the network-controlled charge transfer device to manage charge transfer based on that information.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator, and wherein determining whether to enable charge transfer includes performing the following:

accessing a profile associated with the electric vehicle operator; and

validating a payment source for the electric vehicle operator based on the profile.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

responsive to completion of charge transfer, requesting payment from the payment source.

31. A server in a network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles, comprising:

a computer configured to perform the following;

receive a request for charge transfer for an electric vehicle at a network-controlled charge transfer device,

determine whether to enable charge transfer, and

responsive to a determination to enable charge transfer, transmit a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer device to enable charge transfer.

32. The server of claim 31, wherein the computer is configured to determine whether to enable charge transfer through a validation of a payment source for the charge transfer.

33. The server of claim 31, wherein the computer is further configured to perform the following:

receive an indication of a load reduction requirement; and

transmit a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer device to limit charge transfer.

34. The server of claim 31, wherein the computer is further configured to perform the following:

wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator;

receive a message that indicates a period of high electricity demand;

determine that the electric vehicle operator does not want to charge the electric vehicle during periods of high electricity demand; and

transmit a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer device to disable charge transfer.

35. The server of claim 31, wherein the computer is further configured to perform the following:

wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator;

receive a message that indicates a period of high electricity demand;

determine that the electric vehicle operator is willing to sell energy stored in the electric vehicle to a local power grid coupled with the network-controlled charge transfer device; and

communicate to the network-controlled charge transfer device to enable charge transfer from the electric vehicle to the local power grid.

36. The server of claim 31, wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator, and wherein the computer is configured to determine whether to enable charge transfer includes the computer to perform the following:

access a profile associated with the electric vehicle operator, wherein the profile indicates whether that electric vehicle operator wants to charge their electric vehicle only during periods of lower power rates; and

responsive to a determination that a period of lower power rates exists, determine to enable charge transfer.

37. The server of claim 31, wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator, and wherein the computer is further configured to transmit information to the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates whether the electric vehicle operator wants to charge their electric vehicle only during periods of lower power rates to enable the network-controlled charge transfer device to manage charge transfer based on that information.

38. The server of claim 31, wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator, and wherein the computer is configured to determine whether to enable charge transfer includes the computer to perform the following:

access a profile associated with the electric vehicle operator; and

validate a payment source for the electric vehicle operator based on the profile.

39. The server of claim 38, wherein the computer is further configured to perform the following:

responsive to completion of charge transfer, request payment from the payment source.