System and method for managing electric vehicle travel

• US 8,457,821 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2009
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Shmuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US12/419,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20100256846A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/22, 701/29, 701/200, 701/202, 701/209, 701/210, 701/123, 340/995.1, 340/995.14, 340/995.16, 340/995.23, 340/995.39, 340/932.2, 340/905, 180/65.8, 180/272, 180/287, 318/139, 318/272, 318/273, 464/147, 743/61
• US Class Current: 701/22
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/36 of vehicles
• 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: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/19409 Single forward and reverse

Abstract

An apparatus is provided in one example embodiment and includes a power management module configured to receive data associated with travel being proposed by an end user of an electric vehicle. The power management module is configured to suggest a starting time for the travel based on time of use (ToU) rates for electricity consumption and a current level of power in the electric vehicle. In more specific embodiments, the data associated with the travel includes a starting location, an ending location, and a proposed drive time. In other embodiments, the power management module is further configured to interface with a mapping tool in suggesting the starting time for the end user. The power management module can be configured to obtain the ToU rates from a utility, and the ToU rates are provided as a function of time.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a power management module configured to receive data associated with travel being proposed by an end user of an electric vehicle, wherein the power management module is configured to suggest a starting time for the travel based on time of use (ToU) rates for electricity consumption and a current level of power in the electric vehicle, wherein the power management module is further configured to interface with a utility in suggesting a different time for the travel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the travel includes a starting location, an ending location, and a proposed drive time.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management module is further configured to interface with a mapping tool in suggesting the starting time for the end user.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management module is configured to obtain the ToU rates from a utility, and the ToU rates are provided as a function of time.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management module is further configured to identify at least one potential charging station for the electric vehicle to use during the travel.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management module uses at least one additional factor for suggesting the starting time, the factor being selected from a group of factors consisting of:

a) topography associated with the travel;

b) traffic patterns associated with the travel; and

c) weather conditions associated with the travel.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management module is further configured to identify a geographical area for the travel of the end user, the identification of the geographical area being used for delivery of one or more advertisements to the end user for one or more business entities in the geographic area.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management module is further configured to interface with a home energy controller in order to transfer power to and from the electric vehicle via a residence associated with the end user, and wherein the power management module is further configured to interface with the home energy controller in order to borrow or return power between multiple electric vehicles.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power management module is further configured to interface with a calendar tool associated with the end user and to coordinate a transfer of power to or from the electric vehicle based on information within the calendar tool.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the suggestion of the different time results in a discounted energy rate for the end user.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a portion of the discounted energy rate for the end user is forfeited if the end user commits to the different time and subsequently departs from the suggested different time.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving data associated with travel being proposed by an end user of an electric vehicle;

suggesting by a processor a starting time for the travel based on time of use (ToU) rates for electricity consumption and a current level of power in the electric vehicle; and

interfacing with a utility in suggesting a different time for the travel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the data associated with the travel includes a starting location, an ending location, and a proposed drive time.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the suggesting further includes interfacing with a mapping tool in order to identify an associated geographic area for the travel for the end user.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the ToU rates are provided as a function of time, and wherein the suggesting further includes identifying at least one potential charging station for the electric vehicle to use during the travel.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

identifying a geographical area for the travel of the end user, the identification of the geographical area being used for delivery of one or more advertisements to the end user for one or more business entities in the geographic area.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

interfacing with a calendar tool associated with the end user in order to coordinate a transfer of power to or from the electric vehicle based on information within the calendar tool.

18. The method of claim 12,

wherein the suggestion of the different time results in a discounted energy rate for the end user, and wherein a portion of the discounted energy rate for the end user is forfeited if the end user commits to the different time and subsequently departs from the suggested different time.

19. A system, comprising:

means for receiving data associated with travel being proposed by an end user of an electric vehicle;

means for suggesting a starting time for the travel based on time of use (ToU) rates for electricity consumption and a current level of power in the electric vehicle; and

means for interfacing with a utility in suggesting a different time for the travel.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the data associated with the travel includes a starting location, an ending location, and a proposed drive time, and wherein the means for suggesting the starting time is further configured to interface with a mapping tool in suggesting the starting time for the end user.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for identifying a geographical area for the travel of the end user, the identification of the geographical area being used for delivery of one or more advertisements to the end user for one or more business entities in the geographic area.

22. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for interfacing with a calendar tool associated with the end user in order to coordinate a transfer of power to or from the electric vehicle based on information within the calendar tool.

23. The system of claim 19,

wherein the suggestion of the different time results in a discounted energy rate for the end user, and wherein a portion of the discounted energy rate for the end user is forfeited if the end user commits to the different time and subsequently departs from the suggested different time.

24. Logic encoded in non-transitory media for execution and when executed by a processor is operable to:

receive data associated with travel being proposed by an end user of an electric vehicle;

suggest a starting time for the travel based on time of use (ToU) rates for electricity consumption and a current level of power in the electric vehicle; and

interface with a utility in suggesting a different time for the travel.

25. The logic of claim 24, wherein the data associated with the travel includes a starting location, an ending location, and a proposed drive time.

26. The logic of claim 24, wherein the code is further operable to interface with a mapping tool in order to identify an associated geographic area for the travel for the end user.

27. The logic of claim 24, wherein the ToU rates are provided as a function of time, and wherein the code is further operable to identify at least one potential charging station for the electric vehicle to use during the travel.

28. The logic of claim 24, wherein the code is further operable to identify a geographical area for the travel of the end user, the identification of the geographical area being used for delivery of one or more advertisements to the end user for one or more business entities in the geographic area.