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

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

• a biometric information input device, wherein the biometric information input device is associated with an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS);
• at least one memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a database residing thereon;
• a source of electrical energy, wherein the source of electrical energy can be connected to an electric vehicle (EV) for charging batteries of the EV;
• and
• a processor operably connected with biometric information input 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;
• 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 source of electrical energy 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.

An electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) comprised of:

• a biometric information input device;
• at least one memory device, wherein the memory device comprises a database residing thereon;
• an electrical switch, wherein the switch can electrically connect or disconnect a source of electrical energy with an electric vehicle (EV) for charging batteries of the EV;
• a network interface;
• and
• a processor, wherein the processor is operably connected with biometric information input device, the at least one memory device, the electrical switch 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;
• 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 source of electrical energy 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 source of electrical energy 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 the switch that electrically connects the 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 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.