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US 11,453,299 B2Granted
Electric vehicles and charging stations
AssigneeProterra Operating Company, Inc.
InventorsDonald Morris, Dale Hill, John Horth, Reuben Sarkar, Teresa J. Abbott, William Joseph Lord Reeves, Ryan Thomas Wiens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.
Claims19
An electric vehicle configured to connect with a charging interface of a charging station, comprising:
- a charge receiving interface;
- and
- a guiding structure fixedly protruding from a roof of the electric vehicle,
- wherein the guiding structure is wider towards a front side of the vehicle and narrower towards a back side of the vehicle, and
- wherein the guiding structure is configured to receive and funnel the charging interface of the charging station towards the charge receiving interface.
2 more elements
A charging station for an electric vehicle, comprising
- a charging interface configured to electrically couple with a charge receiving interface of the electric vehicle via a guiding structure fixedly extended from an outer surface of the electric vehicle,
- wherein the guiding structure is wider towards a front side of the vehicle and narrower towards a back side of the vehicle;
- and
- wherein the guiding structure is configured to receive and funnel the charging interface towards the charge receiving interface to electrically couple therewith.
1 more element
A method, comprising:
- electrically connecting a charge receiving interface of an electric vehicle with a charging interface of a charging station by funneling, by a guiding structure of the electric vehicle, the charging interface of the charging station towards the charge receiving interface,
- the guiding structure fixedly protruding from an outer surface of the electric vehicle and beinq wider towards a front side of the electric vehicle and narrower towards a back side of the electric vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.