PAYMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVISION OF POWER TO ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES

• US 20120005125A1
• Filed: 07/01/2010
• Published: 01/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nation-E AG
• Original Assignee: Nation-E AG
• Inventors: JAMMER, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US12/828,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20120005125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/622 by satellite navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/80 Time limits
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/10 by alarm
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2250/16 by display
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/52 drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/54 Energy consumption estimation
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/64 Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
• 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: 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: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• 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: 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 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

The present invention provides computer-controlled payment systems for charging a fee for battery charging of an electric vehicle, the system including an electric vehicle including at least one battery, a master charger vehicle including a master battery module, a control system in communication with the at least one electric vehicle and the master charger vehicle to enable the master charger vehicle to reach the electric vehicle, wherein the master battery module is adapted to charge the at least one battery; and a payment system adapted to charge a fee to a user of the electric vehicle.

Claims

1. A computer-controlled payment system for charging a fee for battery charging of an electric vehicle, the system comprising:

a) an electric vehicle comprising at least one battery;

b) a master charger vehicle comprising a master battery module;

c) a control system in communication with said at least one electric vehicle and said master charger vehicle to enable said master charger vehicle to reach said electric vehicle, wherein said master battery module is adapted to charge said at least one battery; and

d) a payment system adapted to charge a fee to a user of the electric vehicle.

2. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 1, wherein the payment system is adapted to charge a user of said electric vehicle a fee for at least one of the following:

a quantity of power provided to said at least one battery;

a movement of said master charger vehicle to said electric vehicle;

a towing service of said electric vehicle;

a repair of said electric vehicle;

a repair of said at least one battery;

a replacement part of said at least one battery;

a replacement of said at least one battery; and

combinations thereof.

3. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 1, wherein said electric vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an electric land vehicle, and electric water vehicle and an airborne electric vehicle.

4. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 1, wherein said electric land vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an electric motorbike, an electric car, an electric truck, an electric emergency vehicle and an electric army vehicle.

5. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 1, wherein said electric water vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an electric boat, an electric yacht, an electric ship, an electric emergency water vehicle and an electric army water vehicle.

6. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 1, wherein said master charger vehicle further comprises:

a) an electricity converter module adapted to convert output power from said master battery module to input power suitable for provision to said at least one battery; and

b) a connection and transfer module adapted to transfer said input power from said electricity converter module to said at least one battery.

7. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 6, wherein said master charger vehicle further comprises at least one of the following:

c) a control system for controlling the master charger vehicle;

d) a communication display for displaying communications from at least one of said electric vehicle and said control center;

e) a positioning system; and

f) a mobile communication device.

8. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 1, wherein said control system is constructed and configured to send instructions to said master charger vehicle to go to a position selected from the group consisting of:

a) a current position of said electric vehicle;

b) a future projected position of said electric vehicle along a predetermined route;

c) a future projected position of said electric vehicle, wherein said at least one battery is anticipated to be at least partially depleted; and

d) a future projected position of said electric vehicle, wherein said at least one battery is anticipated to be fully depleted.

9. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 8, wherein said payment system is further adapted to enable said user to pay for receiving of an electric vehicle to pay for charging said at least one battery.

10. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 1, further comprising a breakdown vehicle.

11. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 10, wherein said breakdown vehicle comprises:

a) an on-board master battery module adapted to charge said at least one battery; and

b) an electric vehicle transportation module adapted to convey the electric vehicle onto said transportation module and to transport said electric vehicle to a destination.

12. A computer-controlled electric battery charging system according to claim 11, wherein said breakdown vehicle further comprises:

c) an electricity converter module adapted to convert output power from said master battery module to input power suitable for provision to said at least one battery; and

d) a connection and transfer module adapted to transfer said input power from said electricity converter module to said at least one battery.

13. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 12, wherein said breakdown vehicle further comprises at least one of the following:

e) a control system for controlling the master charger vehicle;

f) a communication display for displaying communications from at least one of said electric vehicle and said control center;

g) a positioning system; and

h) a mobile communication device.

14. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 11, wherein the payment system is adapted to charge a user of said electric vehicle a fee for at least one of the following provided by said breakdown vehicle:

a quantity of power provided to said at least one battery;

a movement of said breakdown vehicle to said electric vehicle;

a towing service by said breakdown vehicle of said electric vehicle;

a repair of said electric vehicle;

a repair of said at least one battery;

a replacement part of said at least one battery;

a replacement of said at least one battery; and

combinations thereof.

15. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one stationary service station.

16. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one stationary service station is adapted to charge said at least one battery.

17. A computer-controlled payment system according to claim 16, wherein the payment system is adapted to charge a user of said electric vehicle a fee for at least one of the following provided by said service station:

a quantity of power provided to said at least one battery;

a repair of said electric vehicle;

a repair of said at least one battery;

a replacement part of said at least one battery;

a replacement of said at least one battery; and

combinations thereof.

18. A computer-controlled payment method for charging a fee for battery charging of an electric vehicle, the method comprising:

a) receiving a communication from said roaming electric vehicle regarding a status of a battery of said electric vehicle;

b) sending one of a master charger vehicle and a breakdown vehicle, each comprising a master battery module to a suitable position associated with said electric vehicle;

c) charging said battery using said master battery module; and

d) charging a fee to a user of said electric vehicle for said charging said battery step.

19. A computer-controlled payment method according to claim 18, further comprising charging said user for at least one of the following:

a quantity of power provided to said at least one battery;

a movement of said master charger vehicle to said electric vehicle;

a towing service of said electric vehicle;

a repair of said electric vehicle;

a repair of said at least one battery;

a replacement part of said at least one battery;

a replacement of said at least one battery; and

combinations thereof.

20. A computer-controlled payment method according to claim 19, wherein said communication is selected from the group consisting of an on-board alarm-transmitted communication;

a control center communication;

a user-transmitted communication; and

a vehicle control system communication.

21. A computer-controlled payment method according to claim 18, wherein said electric vehicle is selected from the group consisting of an electric land vehicle, and electric water vehicle and an airborne electric vehicle.

22. A computer-controlled payment method according to claim 18, wherein said charging step comprises:

e) feeding output power from said master battery module to an electricity converter module;

f) converting output power from said master battery module to input power suitable for provision to said at least one battery; and

g) transferring said input power from said electricity converter module to said at least one battery.

23. A computer network system for charging a fee for providing power to a battery of a roaming electric vehicle, the computer system comprising:

a) a control center comprising;

i) a computer system connected via at least one communication line via a public network to at least one of;

1. a payment center;

2. a stationary electric vehicle service station;

3. an electric vehicle breakdown vehicle;

4. a master battery vehicle; and

5. an electric vehicle;

b) an electric vehicle comprising at least one of;

i. at least one display;

ii. at least one battery control system;

iii. at least one mobile location device; and

iv. at least one mobile communication device; and

c) a master charger vehicle comprising at least one of;

i. a master battery module;

ii. at least one display;

iii. at least one master battery control system;

iv. at least one mobile location device; and

v. at least one mobile communication device;

wherein said control center is adapted to communicate with said electric vehicle and said master charger vehicle to enable said master charger vehicle to reach said electric vehicle, wherein said master battery module is adapted to charge said at least one battery, and wherein said payment center is adapted to debit a fee from a user of said electric vehicle.

24. A computer software product for charging a fee for battery charging of an electric vehicle the product comprising a computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer, cause the computer to:

a) receive a communication from said roaming electric vehicle regarding a status of a battery of said electric vehicle;

b) send one of a master charger vehicle and a breakdown vehicle, each comprising a master battery module to a suitable position associated with said electric vehicle;

c) charge said battery using said master battery module; and

d) charge a fee to a user of the electric vehicle.