Heated charging interface of electric vehicle
AssigneeProterra Inc.
InventorsTaylor A. Ashworth, Seamus T. McGrath, Seneca A. Schepmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric bus may include a charging interface positioned on an external surface of the electric bus. One or more heating pads may be removably attached to the charging interface and configured to heat the charging interface. The heating pads may include a rigid plate forming an exposed surface of the charging interface. The plate may be positioned such that a first side of the plate forms a charging head contact surface when the charging head engages with the charging interface. A heating device may be attached to a second side of the plate opposite the first side. The heating device may include a heating element configured to heat the plate by resistive heating.
Claims20
An electric bus, comprising:
- a charging interface positioned on an external surface of the electric bus, the charging interface being configured to engage with a charging head of an external charging station to charge the bus;
- and
- one or more heating pads removably attached to the charging interface and configured to heat the charging interface, the heating pads including:
- a rigid plate forming an exposed surface of the charging interface, the plate being positioned such that a first side of the plate forms a charging head contact surface when the charging head engages with the charging interface;
- and
- a heating device attached to a second side of the plate opposite the first side, the heating device including a heating element configured to heat the plate by resistive heating.
An electric bus, comprising:
- a charging interface positioned on a roof of the bus;
- one or more heating pads removably attached to the charging interface and configured to heat the charging interface, the heating pads including:
- a metal plate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the first side being a surface exposed to atmosphere;
- a heating device attached to the second side of the plate, the heating device including a polymer encapsulated resistive heating element;
- and
- a control system configured to selectively operate the one or more heating pads to melt ice on the charging interface when an ambient temperature is below a threshold value.
A method of operating an electric bus, comprising:
- driving the electric bus, the electric bus including a charging interface on a roof and a heating pad removably attached to the charging interface, the heating pad including a metal plate having a first side exposed to atmosphere and an opposite second side with a polymer encapsulated heating element attached thereto;
- detecting an ambient temperature;
- and
- activating the heating pad to heat the charging interface when the detected ambient temperature is below a threshold value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.