Charger peak power optimization for fleet depot

A method for charging a plurality of electric vehicles, comprising:

• determining a plurality of characteristics of each vehicle in a plurality of vehicles, the plurality of characteristics including a charge capacity of a battery system of each vehicle, a mission schedule for each vehicle, and an ability to participate in vehicle to vehicle charging for each vehicle;
• determining a plurality of characteristics of each charger in a plurality of chargers at a plurality of charging depots coupled to an electric power grid, the plurality of characteristics including a type of each charger and a charging capacity of each charger;
• determining a plurality of characteristics of each of the plurality of charging depots, the plurality of characteristics including when each charging depot reaches peak demand hours;
• processing the plurality of characteristics of each of the plurality of vehicles, the plurality of characteristics of each of the plurality of chargers, and the plurality of characteristics of multiple charging depots to identify charging opportunities for each of the plurality of vehicles over the course of a time period, the charging opportunities including vehicle to vehicle charging;
• performing a multiple charging depot optimization analysis to generate a power grid peak hour profile, the power grid peak hour profile being configured to minimize charging vehicles at any of the plurality of charging depots experiencing peak hour demand;
• performing a peak power optimization analysis to generate a vehicle charging profile, the vehicle charging profile being configured to activate a minimum number of chargers simultaneously and to minimize downtimes of the plurality of chargers to thereby distribute a power demand from the electric power grid and result in an initial peak power demand;
• and
• instructing a controller of each vehicle in the plurality of vehicles to cause the vehicle to either charge or supply energy back to the electric power grid at a time over the time period identified in the vehicle charging profile of each vehicle.

A controller for determining a vehicle charging profile for use in charging a plurality of electric vehicles using a plurality of vehicle chargers at a plurality of charging depots that are coupled to an electric power grid, comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing software which when executed by the processor causes the processor to:
• determine a plurality of characteristics of each of the plurality of vehicles, the plurality of characteristics including a charge capacity of a battery system of each vehicle, a mission schedule for each vehicle, and an ability to participate in vehicle to vehicle charging for each vehicle;
• determine a plurality of characteristics of each of the plurality of chargers, the plurality of characteristics including a type of each charger and a charging capacity of each charger;
• determine a plurality of characteristics of each of the plurality of charging depots, the plurality of characteristics including when each charging depot reaches peak demand hours;
• process the plurality of characteristics of each of the plurality of vehicles, the plurality of characteristics of each of the plurality of chargers, and the plurality of characteristics of the plurality of charging depots to identify charging opportunities for each of the plurality of vehicles over the course of a time period;
• perform a multiple charging depot optimization analysis to generate a power grid peak hour profile, the power grid peak hour profile being configured to minimize charging vehicles at any of the plurality of charging depots experiencing peak hour demand;
• perform a peak power optimization analysis to generate a vehicle charging profile, the vehicle charging profile being configured to activate a minimum number of chargers simultaneously and to minimize downtimes of the plurality of chargers to thereby distribute a power demand from the electric power grid and result in an initial peak power demand;
• and
• instructing a controller of each vehicle in the plurality of vehicles to cause the vehicle to either charge or supply energy back to the electric power grid at a time over the time period identified in the vehicle charging profile of each vehicle.