Charging stations for electric vehicles

#Electric vehicles are limited by current infrastructure for transferring power to the electric vehicles. Some electric vehicles, such as electric trains and light rail cars, are permanently connected to a power source through hardware in the railing or through overhead lines. Other electric vehicles, such as electric cars, are charged by plugging in the electric vehicle at a charging station.

#While systems for maintaining a permanent electrical connection along a route taken by an electric vehicle can be used to transfer power to the electric vehicle, these systems are an eyesore, are unpopular, are costly to install and maintain, and can be unsafe. These systems often require the entire electric bus line to be suspended for periods of time while cities perform routing building maintenance or construction. Some of these systems do not enable an electrical vehicle to run independent of a railing or overhead line. Also, some of these systems are not adaptable to different vehicles with different characteristics. Furthermore, these systems may take a significant amount of time or effort to charge.

#Thus, there is a need to develop improved systems and methods for charging electric vehicles.

#The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

#FIG. 1 shows a charging station in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment of a charging station.

#The invention provides for systems and methods for charging an electric vehicle. One aspect of the invention provides for a charging station. The charging station can be used to transfer power to an electrically powered vehicle. The charging station may be used to transfer power to any electric vehicle, hybrid electric vehicle, or any other vehicle that may include a propulsion power source, such as a battery, ultracapacitor, or any other energy storage system. In some embodiments, an electrically powered vehicle may be a heavy duty vehicle, such as a bus or truck.

#For example, electrical vehicles powered by the system may include a transit bus, a school bus, a delivery van, a shuttle bus, a tractor trailer, a class 5 truck (weighing 16,001-19,500 lbs., two-axle, six-tire single unit), a class 6 truck (weighing 19,501-26,000 lbs., three-axle single unit), a class 7 truck (weighing 26,001-33,000 lbs., four or more axle single unit), a class 8 truck (weighing 33,000 lbs. and over, four or less axle single trailer), a vehicle with a GVWR weighing over 14,000 pounds, a vehicle with a cargo to driver mass ratio of 15:1 or greater, a vehicle with six or more tires, a vehicle with three or more axles, or any other type of high occupancy or heavy-duty vehicle. In some embodiments, a charging station may charge any other electric vehicle, including passenger vehicles. Any discussion herein of electric vehicles or electrically powered vehicles may refer to any type of vehicle discussed and vice versa.

#In some embodiments of the invention, the charging station can comprise a charging connection, such as a charging chassis or overhang, suspended from a charging mount for establishing an electrical connection between the charging station and the electrically powered vehicle. The charging connection can comprise a positioning device for controlling the position or orientation of the charging connection.