Systems and methods for safe charging for electric or hybrid electric vehicles
AssigneeEfficient Drivetrains, Inc.
InventorAndrew Frank
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and/or methods for charging electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are disclosed. In various embodiments, charging to the battery pack may dynamically be changed according to a characteristic of the external electrical source to which the vehicle is plugged. While monitoring the characteristics, the charging level may be changed up or down depending on the characteristic.
Claims15
A system for safe charging an EVS, said EVS connecting to an external electrical power line to charge a battery pack, the system comprising:
- a controllable battery charger, said controllable battery charger configured to be in electrical communication with an external electrical power line;
- a safe charging system (SCS) module, the safe charging system module in electrical communication with the controllable battery charger, the SCS module receiving signals correlating to the electrical power from the external electrical power line and outputting control signals to the controllable battery charger;
- and
- wherein further the SCS module outputs control signals to the controllable battery charger to dynamically adjust the charging of the battery according to a function of measured external electrical power characteristics.
A method for the safe charging of an EVS, the EVS capable of electrically communicating with an external electrical power source and providing safe charging for a battery pack, the method comprising:
- (i) plugging in the EVS to an external electrical source;
- (ii) measuring a first characteristic related to the external electrical source;
- (iii) charging the battery pack at a first desired current level;
- (iv) dynamically changing the charging current level according to a metric depending upon the first characteristic;
- (v) charging of the battery pack for a desired time period;
- (vi) upon expiration of the desired time period, returning to (ii) for continue processing;
- and
- (vi) stopping the charging the battery pack according to the desired conditions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.