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

• US 9,975,444 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2017
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• 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:
  US15/694,421
• Publication Number:
  US 20180072175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 263 Days
• Field of Search: 320107, 320108, 320109, 320137, 320104
• 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 2310/48 : for electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 : acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00309 : Overheat or overtemperature protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 : concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 : Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• 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 vehicle at a charging station, wherein (a) the electric vehicle includes a plurality of spaced apart charge-receiving electrodes positioned on a roof such that each charge-receiving electrode of the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes extend along a direction of travel of the electric vehicle, and (b) the charging station includes a plurality of spaced apart charging electrodes configured to engage with the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes of the electric vehicle, comprising:

transmitting data between the electric vehicle and the charging station as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station;

positioning the electric vehicle using at least a portion of the data such that the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes of the electric vehicle is positioned below the plurality of charging electrodes of the charging station;

decreasing a gap between the plurality of charging electrodes and the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes to contact each charging electrode of the plurality of charging electrodes with a charge-receiving electrode of the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes; and

activating current flow from the charging station to the electric vehicle for charging.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting data includes transmitting the data when the electric vehicle is at a distance of between about 1-800 meters away from the charging station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting data includes transmitting data including at least one of (i) a state of charge of a battery of the electric vehicle, (ii) location of the electric vehicle relative to the charging station, (iii) electric vehicle identification information, and (iv) orientation of the electric vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1, further including automatically identifying the electric vehicle as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the automatically identifying includes using an RFID reader on the charging station to read an RFID tag on the electric vehicle as the electric vehicle moves towards the charging station.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning of the electric vehicle includes using data from one or more sensors located on the electric vehicle or the charging station to position the electric vehicle.

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

8. The method of claim 1, wherein positioning the electric vehicle includes moving the electric vehicle towards the charging station at a speed controlled by the charging station.

9. The method of claim 1, further including determining if the approaching electric vehicle is supposed to be charged at the charging station, and wherein lowering the plurality of charging electrodes includes lowering the plurality of charging electrodes only if it is determined that the approaching electric vehicle is supposed to be charged at the charging station.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the electric vehicle is a heavy duty vehicle.

11. A method of charging an electric vehicle at a charging station, wherein (a) the electric vehicle includes a plurality of spaced apart charge-receiving electrodes positioned on a roof such that each charge-receiving electrode of the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes extend along a direction of travel of the electric vehicle, and (b) the charging station includes a charge head having a plurality of spaced apart charging electrodes configured to engage with the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes of the electric vehicle, comprising:

identifying the electric vehicle as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station;

exchanging data between the electric vehicle and the charging station as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station;

positioning the electric vehicle such that the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes of the electric vehicle is positioned below the charge head of the charging station;

decreasing a gap between the charge head and the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes;

contacting each charging electrode of the plurality of charging electrodes with a charge-receiving electrode of the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes; and

activating current flow from the charging station to the electric vehicle for charging.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein decreasing the gap includes lowering the charge head towards the roof.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein identifying the electric vehicle includes automatically identifying the electric vehicle using an RFID reader on the charging station.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein positioning the electric vehicle includes using data from one or more sensors located on the electric vehicle or the charging station to position the electric vehicle.

15. The method of claim 11, further including determining that the electric vehicle approaching the charging station is supposed to be charged at the charging station prior to lowering the charge head.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein decreasing the gap includes decreasing the gap only if it is determined that the approaching electric vehicle is supposed to be charged at the charging station.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the electric vehicle is a heavy duty vehicle.

18. A method of charging an electric vehicle at a charging station, wherein (a) the electric vehicle includes a plurality of spaced apart charge-receiving electrodes positioned on a roof such that each charge-receiving electrode of the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes extends along a direction of travel of the electric vehicle, and (b) the charging station includes a charge head having a plurality of spaced apart charging electrodes configured to engage with the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes of the electric vehicle, comprising:

exchanging data between the electric vehicle and the charging station as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station;

using one or more sensors positioned on the charging station or the electric vehicle to align the electric vehicle with the charging station as the electric vehicle approaches the charging station;

positioning the electric vehicle such that the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes of the electric vehicle is positioned below the charge head of the charging station;

decreasing a gap between the charge head and the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes;

electrically connecting each charging electrode of the plurality of charging electrodes with a charge-receiving electrode of the plurality of charge-receiving electrodes; and

charging the electric vehicle.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein decreasing the gap includes lowering the charge head to land on the roof.

20. The method of claim 18, further including determining that the electric vehicle approaching the charging station is supposed to be charged at the charging station prior to lowering the charge head.