Off-board station and an electricity exchanging system suitable for use with a mobile vehicle power system

• US 6,380,637 B1
• Filed: 07/08/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ZTEK Corporation
• Original Assignee: ZTEK Corporation
• Inventors: Hsu, Michael S., Ong, Robin Y. P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANEY, CAROL DIANE
• Application Number:
  US09/349,567
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 429/12, 429/13, 290/1.R, 290/4.R, 290/4.A
• US Class Current: 290/1.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/006 to power outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/72 Charging station selection relying on external data
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/72 Constructional details of fuel cells specially adapted for electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/18 Cables specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/63 in response to network capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• 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: B60L 58/33 by cooling
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/34 by heating
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/043 the engine being operated by expansion and contraction of a mass of working gas which is heated and cooled in one of a plurality of constantly communicating expansible chambers, e.g. Stirling cycle type engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2254/11 Catalytic burners
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/10 Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/20 Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/402 Combination of fuel cell with other electric generators combination of fuel cells with other electrochemical generator H01M16/003
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04 Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04268 : Heating of fuel cells during the start-up of the fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04298 : Processes for controlling fuel cells or fuel cell systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04597 : of auxiliary devices, e.g. batteries, capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 : of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0488 : of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04992 : characterised by the implementation of mathematical or computational algorithms, e.g. feedback control loops, fuzzy logic, neural networks or artificial intelligence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/0612 : from carbon-containing material
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 : Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 : Fuel cells
• 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: Y02T 90/40 : Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells
• 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

A mobile vehicle power supply system and an electricity exchanging system enhance the economic viability of different modes of transportation that incorporate generators, such as electric motors and fuel cells, to generate electricity. The power supply system provides for the off-board use of the electric power generated by the generator of a mobile vehicle, such as an electric car. Off-board use, or use remote from the vehicle, of the electrical power includes the delivery of power to a remote site. Off-board stations are provided for delivery of fuel to the vehicle and/or for receiving the electrical power generated by the fuel cell. The off-board station and the vehicle are appropriately equipped for quick and easy interconnection such that electrical power can be exchanged between the vehicle and off-board station and the electricity exchanging system. The electricity exchanging system is configured for installation at numerous locations for allowing a mobile vehicle operator to purchase or sell electricity. The operator employs a user authorization element to assist the recording or tracking of electricity exchanged between the vehicle and the electricity exchanging system.

Claims

1. An interface electricity exchanging system suitable for exchanging electricity with an electric powered vehicle, said system comprising

an interface housing having electrical coupling means for coupling to an electrical connection of the electric powered vehicle,

a monitoring stage for monitoring the amount of electricity exchanged between the vehicle and the housing,

a calculation stage for converting the amount of recorded electricity into a monetary value according to a predetermined conversion factor,

receiving means formed in the housing for receiving a user authorization element, and

storage for recording the exchange of electricity or fuel between the vehicle and the housing.

2. The electricity exchanging system of claim 1, wherein said user authorization element includes memory for recording the amount of electricity exchanged between the vehicle and the housing, and wherein said system further comprises an alteration stage for altering the monetary value stored in the memory of the user authorization element by an amount related to the value of the electricity exchanged between the housing and the vehicle.

3. The electricity exchanging system of claim 1, wherein said electrical coupling means further comprises means for coupling the housing to an electric vehicle mounting a fuel cell.

4. The electricity exchanging system of claim 1, wherein said electrical coupling means further comprises means for coupling the housing to an electric vehicle mounting at least one of a fuel cell, a battery, and a combustion engine, and a gas turbine with an electric generator.

5. The electricity exchanging system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises means for receiving electricity from the electric powered vehicle.

6. The electricity exchanging system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises means for supplying electricity to the electric powered vehicle.

7. The electricity exchanging system of claim 1, wherein said system further comprises means for determining the direction of the flow of electricity.

8. The electricity exchanging system of claim 2, wherein said alteration stage comprises means for decrementing a monetary value stored on the portable memory device in an amount related to an amount of electricity supplied to the electric powered vehicle when coupled to said coupling means.

9. The electricity exchanging system of claim 2, wherein said alteration stage comprises means for incrementing a monetary value stored on the portable memory device in an amount related to an amount of electricity supplied to the system by the electric powered vehicle when coupled together by said coupling means.

10. The electricity exchanging system of claim 1, wherein said electrical coupling means comprises an input electrical lead, and wherein said system further comprises an output electrical lead, and a switch coupled to said housing for selectively placing said input electrical lead into electrical communication with said output electrical lead.

11. A method for exchanging electricity between an interface electricity exchanging system and an electric powered vehicle, said method comprising the steps of

recording the amount of electricity exchanged between the electric powered vehicle and the electricity exchanging system,

converting the amount of recorded electricity into a monetary value according to a predetermined conversion factor,

providing a housing adapted for receiving a portable memory element, the portable memory element capable of having a selected alterable monetary value recorded thereon, and

altering the monetary value recorded on the portable memory element by an amount related to the amount of electricity exchanged between the electricity exchanging system and the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of coupling an electrical connection of the electric powered vehicle to the housing.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of coupling the housing to an electric vehicle mounting a fuel cell.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of coupling the housing to an electric vehicle mounting at least one of a fuel cell, a battery, and a combustion engine.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of receiving electricity from or supplying electricity to the electric powered vehicle.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of decrementing a monetary value stored on the portable memory device in an amount related to an amount of electricity supplied to the electric powered vehicle.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of incrementing a monetary value stored on the portable memory device in an amount related to an amount of electricity supplied to the system by the electric powered vehicle.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of selectively placing an input electrical lead into electrical communication with an output electrical lead to allow the transfer of electricity thereacross.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of

providing an input electrical lead and an output electrical lead, and

providing a switch coupled to said housing for selectively placing said input electrical lead into electrical communication with said output electrical lead for allowing the transfer of electricity thereacross.