Systems and methods for charging an electric vehicle at a charging station

• US 9,764,653 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2016
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Proterra Operating Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Proterra AG
• Inventors: Sarkar, Reuben, Finnern, Michael Alan, Walker, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): PACHECO, ALEXIS BOATENG
• Application Number:
  US15/144,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20160311335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 320109, 320137, 320104, 320149, 307 91, 307104, 307 10, 307 80
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/10 for automatic control superimposed on human control to limit the acceleration of the vehicle, e.g. to prevent excessive motor current electric devices for safety purposes B60L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/18 Buses
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/30 Trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/545 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/549 Current
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/62 Vehicle position
• 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 3/0038 relating to sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0046 relating to electric energy storage systems, e.g. batteries or capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0076 relating to braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/04 Cutting off the power supply under fault conditions protective devices and circuit arrangements in general H01H; H02H
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/005 without mechanical contact between the collector and the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/36 : with means for collecting current simultaneously from more than one conductor, e.g. from more than one phase
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 5/42 : for collecting current from individual contact pieces connected to the power supply line
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/40 : using propulsion power supplied by capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/66 : Arrangements of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/11 : DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/14 : Conductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 : Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 : Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/32 : by charging in short intervals along the itinerary, e.g. during short stops
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/35 : Means for automatic or assisted adjustment of the relative position of charging devices and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/36 : by positioning the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/51 : Photovoltaic means
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/52 : Wind-driven generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/53 : Batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/54 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/55 : Capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 : involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/12 : responding to state of charge [SoC]
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 58/40 : for controlling a combination of batteries and fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/18 : Controlling the braking effect B60L7/12, B60L7/14, B60L7/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/02 : for charging batteries from ac mains by converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 : Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• 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 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

Systems and methods for charging an electric bus having a charging interface on its roof may include determining that an approaching bus is supposed to be charged at the charging station, lowering the charging head of the charging station to land on the roof of the bus, and moving the bus with the charge head on its roof to engage the charging head with the charging interface.

Claims

1. A method of charging an electric bus at a charging station, the bus including a charging interface on a roof and the charging station including a charging head configured to engage with the charging interface to charge the bus, comprising:

determining that a bus approaching the charging station is supposed to be charged at the charging station;

lowering the charging head of the charging station to land on the roof of the bus;

moving the bus, with the charge head sliding on the roof of the bus, to engage the charging head with the charging interface; and

activating current flow through the charging head to charge the bus.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein lowering the charging head includes lowering the charging head to land on a region of the roof away from the charging interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further including raising the charging head from the roof after charging is complete.

4. The method of claim 1, further including determining a position of the bus relative to the charging station as the bus approaches the charging station.

5. The method of claim 1, further including receiving identifying information of the bus as the bus approaches the charging station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the bus includes stopping the bus when an electrical signal indicates electrical contact between the charging interface and the charging head.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein lowering the charging head includes detecting whether the charging head has landed in a desired region of the roof and raising the charging head from the roof if the charging head has not landed on the desired region.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein moving the bus includes moving the bus at a speed controlled by the charging station.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein lowering the charging head includes lowering the charging head only if it is determined that the approaching bus is supposed to be charged at the charging station.

10. The method of claim 1, further including locking movement of the bus when current flows from the charging head to the charging interface.

11. A method of charging an electric bus at a charging station, the bus including a charging interface positioned on a roof and the charging station including a charging head configured to engage with the charging interface to charge the bus, comprising:

identifying the bus as the bus approaches the charging station;

controlling a speed of the bus from the charging station;

lowering the charging head to land on the roof away from the charging interface;

moving the bus after the lowering to engage the charging head with the charging interface;

stopping the bus when an electrical signal indicative of electrical contact between the charging head and the charging interface is received; and

activating current flow through the charging head to charge the bus.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein lowering the charging head includes detecting whether the charging head has landed in a desired region of the roof and raising the charging head from the roof if the charging head has not landed on the desired region.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein moving the bus includes sliding the charging head on the roof of the bus towards the charging interface.

14. The method of claim 11, further including determining that a bus approaching the charging station is supposed to be charged at the charging station prior to controlling the speed of the bus.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein lowering the charging head includes lowering the charging head only if it is determined that the approaching bus is supposed to be charged at the charging station.

16. The method of claim 11, further including locking movement of the bus during charging.

17. A method of charging an electric bus at a charging station, the bus including a charging interface positioned on a roof and the charging station including a charging head configured to engage with the charging interface to charge the bus, comprising:

identifying the bus as the bus approaches the charging station;

controlling a speed of the bus from the charging station after the identifying;

detecting features on the roof of the bus to position the roof below the charging head;

lowering the charging head to land on the roof;

moving the bus after the lowering such that the charging head slides on the roof towards the charging interface;

stopping the bus when an electrical signal indicative of electrical connection between the charging head and the charging interface is received; and

charging the bus.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein lowering the charging head includes detecting whether the charging head has landed in a desired region of the roof and raising the charging head from the roof if the charging head has not landed on the desired region.

19. The method of claim 17, further including determining that the identified bus is supposed to be charged at the charging station prior to controlling the speed of the bus.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein lowering the charging head includes lowering the charging head only if it is determined that the identified bus is supposed to be charged at the charging station.