Method and system for authorizing the charging of an electric vehicle's batteries from a central location based on biometric identity information

A system for charging an electric vehicle's batteries comprised of:

• a master station and a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) operably connected with the master station, wherein the master station is comprised of:
• a biometric information input device, wherein the biometric information input device is associated with the plurality of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs);
• at least one memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a database residing thereon;
• an EVCS identity device, wherein a user can specify one of the plurality of EVCS for charging an electric vehicle's (EV's) batteries;
• and
• a processor operably connected with biometric information input device, EVCS identity device and the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to:
• store, in the database on the memory device, biometric identity information for one or more individuals;
• receive, from the biometric information input device, input biometric identity information for a user;
• receive, from the EVCS identity device, information that specifies one of the plurality of EVCS;
• search the database for biometric identity information for the one or more individuals that substantially match the input biometric identity information for the user;
• and
• authorize the user to charge the EV's batteries using the specified one of the plurality of EVCS if the input biometric identity information for the user substantially matches biometric identity information for at least one of the one or more individuals in the database;
• and
• a source of electrical energy, wherein the source of electrical energy can be connected to the EV for charging batteries of the EV, wherein each of the plurality of EVCS are comprised of a switch and a controller, wherein the switch can electrically connect or disconnect the source of electrical energy with the EV and the switch is controlled by the processor through the controller, and authorizing the user to charge the EV's batteries using the specified EVCS comprises the processor of the master station sending a signal to the controller of the specified EVCS that actuates the switch that electrically connects the source of electrical energy to the batteries of the EV.

A master station for an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) system comprised of:

• a biometric information input device;
• at least one memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a database residing thereon;
• an EVCS identity device, wherein a user can specify one of a plurality of EVCS operably connected with the master station for charging an electric vehicle's (EV's) batteries;
• a network interface;
• and
• a processor, wherein the processor is operably connected with biometric information input device, the at least one memory device, the EVCS identity device, and the network interface, and wherein the processor is configured to:
• store, in the database on the memory device, biometric identity information for one or more individuals;
• receive, from the biometric information input device, input biometric identity information for a user;
• receive, from the EVCS identity device, information that specifies one of the plurality of EVCS;
• search the database for biometric identity information for the one or more individuals that substantially match the input biometric identity information for the user;
• authorize the user to charge the EV's batteries using the specified one of the plurality of EVCS if the input biometric identity information for the user substantially matches biometric identity information for at least one of the one or more individuals in the database, wherein authorizing the user to charge the EV's batteries using the specified one of the plurality of EVCS if the input biometric identity information for the user substantially matches biometric identity information for at least one of the one or more individuals in the database comprises actuating a switch in the specified one of the plurality of EVCS that electrically connects a source of electrical energy to the batteries of the EV;
• receive electrical consumption information related to the user charging the EV's batteries using the source of electrical energy;
• transmit the electrical consumption information over a network using the network interface to cause the user to be billed for the electrical consumption;
• and
• cause the switch in the specified one of the plurality of EVCS to electrically disconnect the electrical connection between the source of electrical energy and the EV's batteries when at least one of the following occurs:
• the batteries reach a predetermined level of charge, a defined period of time has elapsed, the user disconnects the electrical source of energy from the EV, a defined amount of electrical energy has been consumed by the batteries of the EV, or a predetermined cost is reached for the electrical energy consumed by the batteries of the EV.