# US 10,873,210 B2 · Network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles

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- Number: US 10,873,210 B2
- Document ID: US10873210B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/894,788
- Filed: 2018-02-12
- Published: 2018-06-28
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-01-07
- Assignees: Chargepoint, Inc.
- Applicants: Chargepoint, Inc.
- Inventors: Richard Lowenthal; Dave Baxter; Harjinder Bhade; Praveen Mandal
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873210B2

## CPC

- H02J 13/1323: {using optical fibres}
- B60L 53/14: Conductive energy transfer
- B60L 53/305: {Communication interfaces}
- B60L 53/64: Optimising energy costs, e.g. responding to electricity rates
- B60L 53/665: {Methods related to measuring, billing or payment}
- B60L 53/67: Controlling two or more charging stations
- B60L 53/68: Off-site monitoring or control, e.g. remote control
- B60L 55/00: Arrangements for supplying energy stored within a vehicle to a power network, i.e. vehicle-to-grid [V2G] arrangements
- G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)}
- G07F 15/005: {dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles (electrical charging as such, B60L50/00)}
- H02J 3/322: {the battery being on-board an electric or hybrid vehicle, e.g. vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G], power aggregation, use of the battery for network load balancing, coordinated or cooperative battery charging}
- H02J 13/1331: {using wireless data transmission}
- H02J 13/1333: {by means of mobile telephony}
- H02J 13/1335: {involving a local wireless network, e.g. Wi-Fi®, ZigBee® or Bluetooth®}
- B60L 2240/627: by WLAN
- G07C 5/085: {using electronic data carriers}
- H02J 7/42: with electronic devices having internal batteries, e.g. mobile phones
- H02J 7/47: Arrangements for checking compatibility or authentication between one component, e.g. a battery or a battery charger, and another component, e.g. a power source
- H02J 7/50: acting upon multiple batteries simultaneously or sequentially
- H02J 2105/37: exchanging power with electric vehicles [EV] or with hybrid electric vehicles [HEV]
- H04L 12/28: characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] (wireless communication networks H04W {; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00})
- H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
- H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
- H04W 84/18: Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
- Y02B 70/30: Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
- Y02B 90/20: Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector (smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00)
- Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
- Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
- Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
- Y02T 10/72: Electric energy management in electromobility
- Y02T 90/12: Electric charging stations
- Y02T 90/14: Plug-in electric vehicles
- Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
- 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]
- Y04S 20/221: General power management systems
- Y04S 40/124: using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
- Y04S 40/126: using wireless data transmission
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00})
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS

## Abstract

A server of a network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles receives a request for charge transfer for an electric vehicle at a network-controlled charge transfer , determines whether to enable charge transfer, and responsive to determining to enable charge transfer, transmits a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer to enable charge transfer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method in a server of a network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles, the method comprising:
storing availability information of a plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices;
providing availability information of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to an electric vehicle operator, the availability information indicating for each of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices whether that network-controlled charge transfer is unavailable due to that network-controlled charge transfer currently being used for charging;
receiving a request for charge transfer for an electric vehicle at first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices that is indicated as being available through the stored availability information, wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator;
determining whether to enable charge transfer for the electric vehicle at the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices;
responsive to determining to enable charge transfer, transmitting a communication to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices that indicates to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to enable charge transfer; and
generating a report detailing power consumed by charging electric vehicles at the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to enable charge transfer includes validating a payment source for the charge transfer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving an indication of a load reduction requirement; and
transmitting a communication to the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices that indicates to the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to limit charge transfer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a message that indicates a period of high electricity demand;
determining that the electric vehicle operator does not want to charge the electric vehicle during periods of high electricity demand; and
transmitting a communication to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices that indicates to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to stop charge transfer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving a message that indicates a period of high electricity demand;
determining that the electric vehicle operator is willing to sell energy stored in the electric vehicle to a local power grid coupled with the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices; and
communicating to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to enable charge transfer from the electric vehicle to the local power grid.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to enable charge transfer includes performing the following:
accessing a profile associated with the electric vehicle operator, wherein the profile indicates whether that electric vehicle operator wants to charge their electric vehicle only during periods of lower power rates; and
responsive to determining a period of lower power rates exist, determining to enable charge transfer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
transmitting information to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices that indicates whether the electric vehicle operator wants to charge their electric vehicle only during periods of lower power rates to enable the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to manage charge transfer based on that information.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to enable charge transfer includes performing the following:
accessing a profile associated with the electric vehicle operator; and
validating a payment source for the electric vehicle operator based on the profile.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, further comprising:
responsive to completion of charge transfer, requesting payment from the payment source.

### Claim 10

A server in a network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles, comprising:
a computer configured to perform the following:
store availability information of a plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices;
provide availability information of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to an electric vehicle operator, the availability information indicating for each of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices whether that network-controlled charge transfer is unavailable due to that network-controlled charge transfer currently being used for charging;
receive a request for charge transfer for an electric vehicle at first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices that is indicated as being available through the stored availability information, wherein the request for charge transfer originates from an electric vehicle operator,
determine whether to enable charge transfer for the electric vehicle at the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices,
responsive to a determination to enable charge transfer, transmit a communication to the network-controlled charge transfer that indicates to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices that indicates to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to enable charge transfer, and
generate a report detailing power consumed by charging electric vehicles at the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The server of claim 10, wherein the computer is configured to determine whether to enable charge transfer through a validation of a payment source for the charge transfer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The server of claim 10, wherein the computer is further configured to perform the following:
receive an indication of a load reduction requirement; and
transmit a communication to the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices that indicates to the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to limit charge transfer.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The server of claim 10, wherein the computer is further configured to perform the following:
receive a message that indicates a period of high electricity demand;
determine that the electric vehicle operator does not want to charge the electric vehicle during periods of high electricity demand; and
transmit a communication to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices that indicates to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to stop charge transfer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The server of claim 10, wherein the computer is further configured to perform the following:
receive a message that indicates a period of high electricity demand;
determine that the electric vehicle operator is willing to sell energy stored in the electric vehicle to a local power grid coupled with first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices; and
communicate to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to enable charge transfer from the electric vehicle to the local power grid.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The server of claim 10, wherein the computer is configured to determine whether to enable charge transfer includes the computer to perform the following:
access a profile associated with the electric vehicle operator, wherein the profile indicates whether that electric vehicle operator wants to charge their electric vehicle only during periods of lower power rates; and
responsive to a determination that a period of lower power rates exists, determine to enable charge transfer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The server of claim 10, wherein the computer is further configured to transmit information to the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices that indicates whether the electric vehicle operator wants to charge their electric vehicle only during periods of lower power rates to enable the first one of the plurality of network-controlled charge transfer devices to manage charge transfer based on that information.

### Claim 17 (depends on 10)

The server of claim 10, wherein the computer is configured to determine whether to enable charge transfer includes the computer to perform the following:
access a profile associated with the electric vehicle operator; and
validate a payment source for the electric vehicle operator based on the profile.

### Claim 18

The server of clam 17, wherein the computer is further configured to perform the following:
responsive to completion of charge transfer, request payment from the payment source.