System and method for optimizing grid charging of an electric/hybrid vehicle
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorBryan K. Pryor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicular charging system is provided that may be deployed on a vehicle configured to be charged from an external power source. The vehicular charging system comprises a battery assembly and a timer coupled to the battery assembly. The timer is configured to electrically couple the external power source to the battery assembly to commence charging the battery assembly at a predetermined charge initialization time.
Claims15
A vehicular charging system deployed on a vehicle configured to be charged from an external power source, the vehicular charging system configured to communicate with the central controller of a fleet charging management system, the vehicular charging system comprising:
- a battery assembly;
- a memory configured to store a predetermined charge initialization time;
- a transceiver deployed on the vehicle;
- and
- a processor coupled to said battery assembly, to said transceiver, and to said memory, said processor configured to:
- (i) establish the predetermined charge initialization time utilizing data received via said transceiver and provided by the central controller, and (ii) electrically couple the external power source to said battery assembly to commence charging said battery assembly at the predetermined charge initialization time.
A vehicular charging system deployed on a vehicle configured to be charged from an external power source, the vehicular charging system comprising:
- a battery assembly;
- a control module deployed on the vehicle and coupled to said battery assembly that monitors the charge level of said battery assembly;
- a memory configured to store a predetermined charge initialization time, a predetermined charge termination time, and a minimum charge threshold;
- and
- a processor coupled to said battery assembly, to said memory, and to said control module, said processor configured to:
- (i) commence charging said battery assembly when the charge level of said battery assembly is at least partially depleted and when the predetermined charge initialization time is reached, and (ii) terminate charging said battery assembly when the current time has reached the predetermined charge termination time and the charge level of said battery assembly is greater than the minimum charge threshold.
A method for charging a battery assembly from an external power source, the battery assembly deployed on a vehicle including a processor, a user interface, and a memory, the method comprising:
- storing a predetermined charge initialization time in the memory;
- monitoring the current time with the processor;
- receiving user input via the user interface selecting between an economy charge mode and a standard charge mode;
- when the battery assembly is connected to the external power source and the standard charge mode is selected, immediately commencing charging of the battery assembly;
- and
- when the battery assembly is connected to the external power source and the economy charge mode is selected, commencing charging of the battery assembly only after the current time reaches the predetermined charge initialization time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.